American Old Time Song Lyrics: 04 Nelly Was A Lady

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 4

NELLY WAS A LADY.

Down on the Mississippi floating,
Long time I travelled on the way,
All night the cotton-wood a toating,
Sing for my true love all the day.

Chorus.
Nelly was a lady,
Last night she died;
Toll the bell for lovely Nell,
My dark Virginny bride.

Now I'm unhappy, and I'm weeping,
Can't toat the cotton any more;
Last night while Nelly was a-sleeping,
Death came a-knocking at the door.-Chorus.

When I saw my Nelly in the morning
Smile till she open up her eyes,
Seem'd like the light of day a-dawning.
Just before the sun begins to rise.-Chorus.

Close by the margin of the water,
Where the lone weeping-willow grows,
There lived Virginny's lovely daughter,
There she in death may find repose.-Chorus.

Down in the meadow among the clover,
Walk with my Nelly by my side;
Now all those happy days are over-
Farewell, my dark Virginny bride!-Chorus.