In Dellie Norton's version above, she picks up a verse from "Pretty Little Pink". Mellinger Henry collected a version of "My Pretty Little Pink" from Austin Harmon of Varnell, Georgia, in 1929, that has overtones of "Black is the Color". The last several verses then switch over to a "final testimony" situation.
My pretty little pink, so fare you well.
You slighted me, but I wish you well.
The prettiest face, and the meanest hand;
I love the ground whereon she stands.
I saw you the other day; you looked so loving
And you were so gay; you fooled and trifled your time away.
If on earth no more shall see,
I can't serve you as you serve me.
I love me love and well she knows
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I would rather build my home on some icy hill
Where the sun refuses to shine; a trusting girl is hard to find.
But when you find one just and true,
Forsake not the old one for the new.
On the twenty-ninth of May the prison doors flew open wide
With guns and guards on ever side, and on my coffin made ride.
Come, welcome, death, I will go with you;
The roads are dark and lonesome too.
Come on, my dear, and see me die,
And meet sweet Jesus in the sky.
The rope is bought, the bolt is swung,
A innocent man, you all have hung.
Before they thought he was quite dead,
Down came a little dove, hovered around his head,
And they thought it was the Saviour dear.
Henry does not print a tune. Austin Harmon was the son of Sam Harmon of Cades Cove, Tennessee.