Johnson City- Gera Norris (NC) c1930 Lunsford E
[No location or date, estimated from age, location of MSS in collection. From: Bascom Lamar Lunsford Collection, Box 69, Folder B; Southern Appalachian Archives, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies, Mars Hill University; Identifier mh00023. Minor corrections made in spelling, punctuation and form.
R. Matteson 2017]
Johnson City- contributed by Gera Norris
1. In Johnson City there once did dwell
A brown eyed boy, I loved so well;
I loved that boy I loved him well
I loved him more than tongue can tell.
2. He has courted me my life away
But now with me he will not stay
I love my papa and mama too
But I'll leave them both and go with you.
3. She went up stairs to make her bed
And to her mother these words she said
Was oh get me a chair and I'll sit down
With a pen and ink I'll write it down
At the last of every line I'll drop a tear,
And at the first of every verse cry, "Oh my dear."
4. Her father came home it was late in the night,
A-wondering where his daughter had gone;
He went up stairs the door he broke,
And found her hanging by a rope.
5. He took out his knife and cut her down
And in her bosom these words he found,
Was oh what a foolish girl I am,
To hang my self for a gambling man.
6. Must I go home must I go free
Must I love a boy that don't love me
Or must I take a childish part
To marry a man that broke my heart.
7. Go dig my grave both wide and deep
Place a marbled stone at my head
And put and on my breast place a turtle dove
To show to the world I died for love.