I know this dress I'm wearing doesn't hide the secret I have tried concealing   When he left he promised me that he'd be back by the time it was revealing   The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover   And time is running out for me I wish that he would hurry down from Dover      He's been gone so long when he left the snow was deep upon the ground   And I have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown   And any time a tiny face will show itself 'cause waiting's almost over   But I won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from Dover      My folks weren't understanding when they found out they sent me from the home place   My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face   My mamma said I was a fool and she did not believe it when I told her   That everything would be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from Dover      I loved him more than anything and I could not refuse him when he needed me   He was the only one I'd loved and I just can't believe that he was using me   He couldn't leave me here like this I know it can't be so it can't be over   He wouldn't make me go through this so long, oh he'll be coming down from Dover      My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where I'm lyin'   Our baby has been born but something's wrong it's much too still I hear no cryin'   I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her   And dying was her way of telling me he wasn't coming down from Dover