Down by the river that flows by the coal yards.
stands wooden houses with shutters torn down
there lives a girl everybody calls patches
patches my darling of old shanty town
We plan to marry when june brought the summer
i couldn't wait to make patches my bride
now i don't see how that ever can happen
my folks say no, and my heart breaks inside
Patches oh what can i do
i swear i'll always love you
but a girl from that place would just bring me disgrace
so my folks won't let me love you
Each night i cry as i think of that shanty
and pretty patches there watching the door
she dosn't know that i can't come to see her
patches must think that i love her no more
I hear a neighbor tellin my father
he said a girl name of patches was found
floating face down in that dirty old river
that flows by the coal yards in old shanty town
Patches oh what can i do
i swear i'll always love you
it may not be right but i'll join you tonight
patches i'm coming to you.