From the sheet music at the Levy Collection:


THE LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN BY DE STREAM
Words and music by Happy Billy Radcliffe
Cincinnati: Geo. D. Newhall & Co., ©1880.

1. Way down in old Kentucky 'twas many years ago,
Where we used to hunt de possom and de coon,
And de darkies used to gather round and have a merry dance
While de banjo and de fiddle were in tune.
No more we'll hear dose merry sounds nor see dose days of yore
Nor dose little darkeys playing on de green,
Nor de merry smile of Rosie Lea, the only flow'r that bloom'd
In dat little old log cabin by de stream.

CHORUS: Den hang up de banjo and de fiddle on de wall,
And lay away de bones and tamborine,
Since death has taken off my […]* only flow'r that bloom'd
In dat little old log cabin by de stream.

2. I never never can forget the happy hours we spent,
As we wandered together o'er de hill,
Or sat beneath the willows and watched the rolling stream,
And listened to the clatter of the mill;
And when the night was coming on and darkies work was done
How dey used to come and gather on de green,
And de banjo and de fiddle would make de forest ring
Near de little old log cabin by de stream.

3. The stream is running just the same, the willows on de side,
Are now waving o'er the grave of Rosa Lea;
'Tis there I sit beneath her grave to pass the hours away
And wonder when the same shall shelter me,
My steps are growing feeble, my hair is turning gray,
But still the grass is growing fresh and green,
And here I'll wait 'till death shall take me to my Rosa Lea,
From my little old log cabin by de stream.


* The sheet music is torn and something is missing; probably two syllables.