“I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again”

Description

"When I was single, marriage I did crave. Now I am married, it's trouble to my grave. Lord, I wish I was a single girl again!" The wife complains of hard work in the kitchen, of poverty, of poor clothes, hungry children, and a husband who steals her money

Notes

Roud lumps "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again" and "Single Girl, Married Girl" (and perhaps others). Definitely a stretch, though the songs can easily cross-fertilize. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "I Wish I Were Single Again (II - Female)"
• cf. "Single Girl, Married Girl"
• cf. "Sorry the Day I Was Married"
• cf. "When I Was Young (II)" (theme)
• cf. "For Seven Long Years I've Been Married" (theme)
• cf. "Married and Single Life" (subject)

Recordings

• Anne, Judy, & Zeke Canova, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Brunswick 264, 1928)
• Cousin Emmy [Cynthia May Carver], "I Wish I Was a Single Girl, Again" (Decca 24215, 1947)
• Vernon Dalhart & Co., "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Edison 51610, 1925)
• Sid Harkreader, "I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again" (Vocalion 15035, 1925)
• Kelly Harrell, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Victor 19563, 1925; on KHarrell01) (Victor 20242, 1926; on KHarrell01)
• Roscoe Holcomb, "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again" [LP] or "Single Girl" [CD] (on MMOK, MMOKCD)
• Lulu Belle & Scotty, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Conqueror 9189, 1938; Vocalion 04772, 1939)
• New Lost City Ramblers, "Single Girl" (on NLCR14)
• Frank Proffitt, "Single Girl" (on FProffitt01)
• Riley Puckett ,"I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (Bluebird B-8083, 1939)
• Pete Seeger, "When I Was Single" (on PeteSeeger07, PeteSeeger07b)
• Henry Whitter, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (OKeh 40375, 1925)

References

1. Warner 126, "I Wish I Were a Single Girl Again"
2. Belden, p. 437, "When I Was Single" (1 text, with no letter designation; the lettered texts are all "I Wish I Were Single Again (I - Male)")
3. BrownIII 28, "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again" (3 texts)
4. Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 320-321, "The Single Girl" (1 text plus a fragment of "I Wish I Were Single Again (I - Male)"; tune on p. 442)
5. Fuson, p. 188, "Oh, I Wish I Were Single Again" (1 text)
6. SharpAp 86, "The Single Girl" (5 texts, 5 tunes)
7. Scott-BoA, p. 171, "The Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Lomax-FSUSA 13(A), "When I Was Single (I)" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Lomax-FSNA 84, "Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 154-155, "When I Was Single" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Darling-NAS, pp. 272-273, "Single Girl" (1 text)
12. Arnett, p. 59, "Single Girl" (1 text, 1 tune)
13. DT, SNGLGRL3*
14. Roud #436
15. BI, Wa126