Rosalie McFall
(Grateful Dead Version)

Out on the lonely hillside in a cabin low and small
Lived the sweetest rose of color my Rosie McFall
Her eyes were bright and shining and her voice was sweet to me
Knew that I would always love her and I hoped that she loved me

My eyes turned to me, my darlin' and this is what she said:
You know that I would always love you when you and I are wed.
Then God way up in heaven one day for her did call
I lost my bride, oh how I loved her, my Rosie McFall

I searched this wide world over through cities great and small
But I never found another like my Rosie McFall


This was on the 1980 Grateful Dead Reckoning album.
found at This Greateful Dead Website.

---

The link Sorcha posted also has a Peter Rowan version -


Peter Rowan's version with the Red Hot Pickers has rather different lyrics:

Up on a lonely hillside
In a cabin low and small
Lived my sweeheart of the mountains
My Rosa Lee McFall

Her eyes were bright and shiny
And her lips were ruby red
On her breast she wore white lilies
Where I long to lay my head

Her eyes like flowing rivers
Her lips were sweet as wine
I told her that we could be happy
If she'd only say she's mine

But God way up in heaven
For her one day did call
I missed my girl, oh how I loved her
My Rosa Lee McFall

I'll roam this wide world over
Through cities great and small
Till God prepares my home in heaven
With Rosa Lee McFall

---

The Traditional Ballad Index has a little information, but not much. Looks like it's not in any of the songbooks the Ballad Index has covered.

Rosa Lee McFall

DESCRIPTION: Singer loves Rosa Lee McFall and sings her praises. He proposes to her; she accepts, but then dies. He vows to roam the world alone "'till God prepares my place in heaven With my Rosa Lee McFall"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE:
KEYWORDS: grief courting love death mourning travel
FOUND IN: US
RECORDINGS:
Charlie Monroe & His Kentucky Partners, "Rosa Lee McFall" (RCA Victor 21-0054, c. 1949)
New Lost City Ramblers, "Rosa Lee McFall" (on NLCR13)
Notes: This plot shows up enough times that I have the sneaking suspicion "Rosa Lee McFall" is a variant of another song. Since I don't know which, however, I've indexed it on its own. - PJS
File: RcRLMcF

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.