Rosa Lee.
When I lib’d in Tennessee, U li a li o la e,
I went courtin’ Rosa Lee, U li a li o la e.
Eyes as dark as winter night
Lips as red as berry bright,
When first I did her wooing go,
She said, now don’t be foolish, Joe! U li a li o la e.
Courting down in Tennessee, U li a li o la e,
’Neath the wild Banana tree.
I said you lubly gal, dat’s plain, U li a li o la e,
Breff as sweet as sugar cane, U li a li o la e,
Feet as large and comely too,
Might make a cradle of each shoe,
Rosa take me for your beau,
She said, now don’t be foolish, Joe! U li a li o la e.
Courtin down in Tennessee, &c.
My story yet is to be told, U li a li o la e,
Rosa catch’d a shocking cold, U li a li o la e.
Send de doctor, fetch de nurse,
Doctor came but make her worse,
I tried to make her laugh, but no,
She said, Now don’t be foolish, Joe, U li a li o la e.
Courtin down in Tennessee, &c.
Dey gib her up, no power could save, U li a li o la e,
She ax me follow to her grave, U li a li o la e.
I take her hand, ’twas cold as death,
So cold I hardly draw my breff,
She saw my tear in sorrow flow,
And said, Farewell, my dearest, Joe, U li a li o la e.
Rosa sleeps in Tennessee, &c.