LORENA

Key F

Note. Lyrics as sung by Johnny Cash and Burl Ives.

(F) THE YEARS CREEP SLOWLY (F7) BY, LO - (Bb) RE - NA,
(C7) SNOW IS ON THE GRASS A - (F) GAIN;
THE SUN is sinkin' LOW (F7) LO - (Bb) RE - NA,
(C7) FROST IS WHERE THE FLOWERS HAVE (F) BEEN.

The music's sad and low, Lorena
Happy sounds have left the day
The banjos softly play, Lorena
Where once they rang so loud and gay

I hardly feel the cold, Lorena
I pray this darkness soon will pass
we'll sing those songs again, Lorena
you'll be in my arms at last

NOTE:
Words by Rev. Henry DeLafayette Webster, music by Joseph
Philbrick Webster (no relation to each other). Written in
1857, This is a pre civil war song which achieved wide
popularity during the conflict. For some reason, the song
became a particular favorite of the Confederancy and, in
time, came to be identified with the Southern cause.

Hundreds of Southern girls were named for the song's
heroine, while several pioneer settlements and even a
steamship proudly bore the name. One Confederate veteran
claimed to have "heard it more during the war than any
other song."

J.P. Webster, creator of the melody, was a collaborator of
S. Fillmore Bennett, with whom he wrote several Civil War
songs, including "The Irish Volunteer" and "The Negro
Emancipation Song." Their best-known work, however, was one
of the most popular hymns of all time, "Sweet By and By,"
1868.

J.P. Webster also wrote, "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets"
1860, which became, "Wildwood Flower."