1 Down in a pleasant valley A gentle streamlet flows, Beside a cottage lovely A weeping willow grows; Within that cottage dwelling A mother bless'd the day That gave her an angel In the form of Nellie Gray.
Chorus- Merrily the birds are singing At the dawning of each day Merrily the birds are singing At the dawning of the day, Joyfully they greet the coming Of charming Nellie Gray. (For last verse- Nevermore theyll greet the coming &c.)
2 She grew in form and beauty, Her counsel was the guide Of all who were in sorrow And many tears she dried; Whene'er the sun was shining O'er flow'ry meadows gay, I daily went a roaming With charming Nellie Gray. 3 She called me her Willie And I was happy then, My life seemed full of sunshine While in the willow glen; She often spoke of home above I listened long each day To that sweet voice, those words of love, From charming Nellie Gray. 4 Beneath the bending willow The gentle streamlet's wave Now daily moistens flowers That bloom o'er Nellie's grave; One morn she said, "I'm going," And gently passed away, A mother mourns, and all around Now mourn for Nellie Gray.
Thomas H. Howe, composer. Piano and guitar score. Ditson & Co., Boston, 1882. Sheet music at American Memory.