Nelly Was A Lady Alvin Youngblood Hart Words and music by Stephen Collins Foster 1849 Traditional arrangement by Alvin Youngblood-Hart © 2004 Pea Vine Publishing (ASCAP) Produced and recorded by Alvin Youngblood Hart Recorded at the Blood Bank, Memphis, TN Alvin Youngblood Hart: vocals, guitar, mandolin Down on the Mississippi floating, Long time I travel on the way, All night the cottonwood a toting, 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, Cain’t tote the cottonwood no 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 ‘til she opened up her eyes, Seemed like the light of day a dawning, Just ’fore the sun begin to rise 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 ‘mong the clover, Walk with my Nelly by my side Now all them happy days are over, Farewell my dark Virginny bride Chorus