American Old Time Song Lyrics: 28 Darling Nelly Gray

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 28

DARLING NELLY GRAY.

There's a low, green valley on the old Kentucky shore;
There I've whiled many happy hours away,
A-sitting and singing by the little cottage door.
Where lived my darling Nelly Gray.

Chorus.
Oh! my poor Nelly Gray, they have taken you away.
And I'll never see my darling anymore;
I'm sitting by the river, and I'm weeping all the day.
For you're gone from the old Kentucky shore.

When the moon had climbed the mountain, And the stars were shining, too,
Then I'd take my darling Nelly Gray,
And we'd float down the river in my little red canoe,
While my banjo sweetly I would play.- Chorus.

One night I went to see her, but she's gone-the neighbors say
The white man bound her with his chains;
They have taken her to Georgia, for to wear her life away.
As she toils in the cotton and the cane.-Chorus.

My canoe is under water and my banjo is unstrung­I'm tired of living anymore;
My eyes shall look downward, and my song shall be unsung,
While I stay on the old Kentucky shore. - Chorus.

My eyes are getting blinded, and I cannot see my way;
Hark! there's somebody knocking at the door;
Oh! I hear the angels calling, and I see my Nelly Gray-
Farewell to the old Kentucky shore.

Chorus.
Oh! my darling Nelly Gray, up in heaven there they say
That they'll never take you from me anymore;
I'm coming, coming, coming, as the angels clear the way-
Farewell to the old Kentucky shore.