Fortunately, Lee Monroe Presnell also sang his song, "Old Virginny" for Sandy Paton in the early '60s. Sandy's recording is of a better quality than that of the Warners. It is exactly the same song, and can be found on THE TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF BEECH MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA, VOL II, from Folk-Legacy (FSA-23). Here are Lee Monroe Presnell's lyrics:

Once I lived in old Virginny;
North Carolina was my home.
There I courted a handsome lady;
Oh, I called her my own.

Her hair was yellow and her eyes were sparkling;
On her cheeks were a diamond red
And on her breast she wore a white lily.
Oh, the tears that I have shed.

"Father said that I must not marry;
My mother said it would never do.
But, oh, kind miss, if you are willing,
I will run away with you.

"Oh, must I go to old Virginny,
Or, for you sake, must I die?
Oh, must I go, sad, broken hearted?
Oh, my darling, say, don't cry.

"Oh, when I'm asleep I'm a-dreaming about you;
When I'm awake I take no rest,
For every moment seems like an hour.
Oh, what a pain lies in my breast.

"Oh, when the golden sun is shining
On the top of Calvary,
Oh, it's sometimes, love, while you are thinking,
You must ofttimes think of me."

Sandy says,

"it is a most beautiful folk lyric and Uncle Monroe sings it magnificently. Listen to the gentle descent of his voice on the first word of the last line of each stanza, then try to repeat it exactly as he sings it. Such an attempt will, perhaps, enable you to appreciate the great artistry possible within the confines of a tradition. The folk aesthetic is a very demanding one."