Down on de Mississippi floating,
Long time I trabble on de way
All night de cotton-wood a toting,
Sing for my true lub all de day.
CHORUS.
Nelly was a lady,
Last night she died;
Toll de bell for lubly Nell,
My dark Virginny bride.
Now I’m unhappy and I’m weeping,
Can’t tote de cotton-wood no more:
Last night, while Nelly was a sleeping,
Death came a knocking at de door.
Nelly was a lady, &c.
When I saw my Nelly in de morning
Smile till she open’d up her eyes,
Seem’d like de light ob day a dawning
Jist for de sun begin to rise.
Nelly was a lady, &c.
Close by de margin ob de water,
Whar de lone weeping-willow grows
Dar lib’d Virginny’s lubly daughter,
Dar she in death may find repose.
Nelly was a lady, &c.
Down in de meadow ’mong the clober,
Walk wid my Nelly by my side:
Now all dem happy days am ober,--
Farewell, my dark Virginny bride,
Nelly was a lady, &c.