I Followed Her Into the West

Tom Paxton

I followed her into the west
Where I had never been before
And never did she see me as
I stood there helpless by her door

Each day my resolution rose
And every day an oath I swore
Tonight I'll stand and be a man
Tonight I'll knock upon her door

And shaved and pressed, and clean and dressed
I'd start upon the quest once more
And each night ended as the rest
I could not knock upon her door

I paced my room and cursed myself
I swore that I would go no more
And as the sun was moving low
I heard a knocking at my door

And standing there with food for me
Standing there my heart's delight
Who said "I thought you must be ill.
I missed you at my door tonight"

"Now you must rest and you must eat
Your resolution to restore
And when you're fit and you return
Be sure to knock upon my door"