I have been singing a snippet of 'Black is the color' to my daughter as a lullaby and just logged on to find out the history of this song - it's amazing! I first played this song out of an old songbook on my piano when I was about 13, but it stuck with me all these years (I'm 31!). I guess that was the case with many others too. I have fudged the lines around to make it a love song without the despairing bits...a little bit better for just-before-bed! Thanks so much Peg for your added lines - they are lovely, and I will add them to my rendition too!

i was also amazed at the locale of this song - I learned it when growing up in Florida, but I ended going to college and making my home just over the mountains from Hot Springs in Waynesville NC. My family is also from east Tennessee and WV, so the strong Scots/Irish overtones must be appealing to something inside. Like I said, this song must resonate with a lot of folks the same way!

Anyway - I am so glad to find this site, and thanks again Peg!

rachelt