Lyr. Add: EAST VIRGINIA (Buell Kazee)

I was born and bred in east Virginia
But it's North Carolina where I did roll
There I fell to a pretty fair lady
But her name and ways I did not know.

Her hair it was of a dark brown color
And her cheeks they were a rosy red
And on her breast she wore a white lily
And tears for her I have often shed.

Her father said that we would never marry
Her mother said "He's the devil, dear"
Well if you say you live for me
Then you surely have not a thing to fear.

When I was lost and in the mountains
The pretty birds were flying through the air
I dreamt of that girl that I loved so dearly
With her laughing face and flowing hair.

Now if you don't think that I'm a fool about you
Then honey just look what a fool I've been
And if you don't think that I'm sinking slowly
Then just see what a hole I'm in.

And when I'm gone and lost- forever
Our memory lost in the sun
I want you to come around
And think about what we could have done.

For I'd rather be in some dark holler
Where the sun refused to shine
Than for you to be another man's woman
And never on this sweet earth to call you mine.

East Virginia . Said to be the Kazee version (1927?). A bit over-written.

"The Broken Engagement" has been collected in Texas by William A. Owens, 1950, Texas Folk Songs, p. 172-173, with music. Texas Folklore Society.