From: Jean Ritchie, Singing Family of the Cumberlands (1955; University Press of Kentucky, 1988, pp. 134-135; with music).

OLD VIRGINNY

I was born in old Virginny,
To North Carolina I did go;
I fell in love with a pretty fair maiden
And her name I did not know.

Her hair was of some brightsome color,
Her cheeks were of a rosy red,
And in my heart I loved her dearly
Many a tear for her I shed.

To my heart you are my darling,
At my door you're welcome in;
At my gate I'll meet you my darling,
O if your love I could only win.

When I am asleep I'm a-dreaming about you,
When I'm awake I find no rest,
And every moment seems like an hour
With aching pains all across my breast.

Your mama says that we never will marry,
Your papa says that it never will do;
If you'll have me, my darling girl,
I will run away with you.

I'd ruther be in some dark valley
Where that sun don't never shine,
Than to see you another man's darling
When I know that you should be mine.

When I am dead and in my coffin
And my feet's towards the sun,
Come and sit beside me darling,
Come and think on the way you done.

~Masato