I toiled upon my father's farm
Till I was twenty one.
And then I took a farm myself
And manhood's life begun.
I wore a coat of homespun brown,
It wasn't fair to see.
And all the maidens in the town
Laughed at my coat and me.

I fell in love with Mary Braid,
Whose father kept the store.
And never was a maiden loved
More tenderly before.
But Mary she was very proud,
And haughty as could be.
She said that she could never wed
My old brown coat and me.

I never stopped to plead my case,
For pleading was in vain.
I bade farewell to Mary Braid,
Nor saw her face again.
I'm forty summers old today,
And riches fill my store.
My children on the sward do play,
My wife sings at the door.

I've lands enough and money now,
And honor fills my fee.
And all the maidens in the town
Respect my coat and me.
I've grain enough upon my land,
My house stands proud and high.
There's not a man in all this town
Can wear such cloth as I.

But Mary Braid, who so despised
My old brown coat and me,
Is married to a lawyer's son,
His name is Jason Lee.
He wore a coat of shiny black,
And talked so proud and great,
That Mary thought he'd surely make
A rich and noble mate.

Like many other girls she found
He error quite too late.
And now her heart is sad and sore,
She mourns a grievous fate.
For, oh, alas! Her husband roams
A pirate on the sea.
And Mary wishes she had wed
My old brown coat and me.

Come listen, maidens, to my song,
For it's of countless price.
Just think upon the truth I sing,
And follow this advice.
When you are called upon to choose,
To bow the bended knee.
Just think upon that fatal scorn,
My old brown coat and me!

                             Author Unknown