Malindy fell way down deep in love
With a mountain boy she knew.
But it was quite the proper thing
As she was mountain too.

She hastened home to tell her Pap
That shortly she would wed
One likely Mr. Rufus Brown,
When Pap looked up and said,

No, honeychile, you cain't do that
You'll have to find another.
Don't tell your Ma but Rufus Brown
Is sorta your half-brother.

Malindy shed a few tears
and slowly went her way
And soon she met another boy
And hastened home to say,

Now, Pap, I'll marry that Smith boy
Who lives on down the street.
He ain't got no bad habits
And he dresses mighty neat.

But Pap, he slowly shook his head,
And looked across to Mother
And whispered now, you cain't do that.
That Smith boy's also your half-brother.

Then Malindy, she forgot her oath
And blurted out to Mother
Pap says I cain't marry Rufus Brown
Cause he's my half-brother.

Then when I loved that Bobby Smith,
Although it sounds like treason,
Pap says I cannot marry him
For just that same old reason.

Then Ma says, Honeychile, don't cry.
Put on your weddin' cap
And marry either one you want.
You ain't no kin to Pap!