Oh, when I left old East Virginia,
North Carolina I did roam.
There I courted a fair young lady.
What was her name I did not know.
Her hair it was all a-dark brown curly.
Her cheeks they were a rosie red.
Upon on her breast she wore a ribbon.
Oh, don't I wish that I was dead.
Her poppa said that we might marry.
Her momma said it would not do.
Oh, come here dear and I will tell you.
I will tell you what I'll do.
Some dark night we'll take a ramble.
I will run away with you.
For I'd rather be in some dark holler,
Where the sun refused to shine,
As for you to be some other man's woman.
Never on earth to call you mine.
North Carolina I did roam.
There I courted a fair young lady.
What was her name I did not know.
Her hair it was all a-dark brown curly.
Her cheeks they were a rosie red.
Upon on her breast she wore a ribbon.
Oh, don't I wish that I was dead.
Her poppa said that we might marry.
Her momma said it would not do.
Oh, come here dear and I will tell you.
I will tell you what I'll do.
Some dark night we'll take a ramble.
I will run away with you.
For I'd rather be in some dark holler,
Where the sun refused to shine,
As for you to be some other man's woman.
Never on earth to call you mine.