East Kentucky Fibers

I was born in East Kentucky, South Carolina I did go

I fell in love with a fair young lady but her age I did not know

Her hair was of a dark brown color her cheeks was of a rosy red

upon her breast she wore white lilies, many a tear of her I’ve shed.

She often told me that she loved me saying “darling you’re my own”

but now she’s a-loving another stranger while I’m weeping all alone 

I’d rather be in some dark holler where the sun does never shine

than for you to be some rounder’s woman, think about you can’t be mine

you carry your photo and your letters, press them closely to your heart

but this ring you gave me darling from my hand shall never part

when I’m dead and in my coffin and my pale face to the sun

I want you to come and sit down by me, think about the way you’ve done.