Oh, when I left old East Virginia
North Carolina I did roam
There I courted a fair young lady
What was her name I did not know
Her hair it was all a-dark brown curly
Her cheeks they were a rosie red
Upon on her breast she wore a ribbon
Oh, don't I wish that I was dead
Her poppa said that we might marry
Her momma said it would not do
Oh, come here dear and I will tell you
I will tell you what I'll do
Some dark night we'll take a ramble
I will run away with you
For I'd rather be in some dark holler
Where the sun refused to shine
As for you to be some other man's woman
Never on earth to call you mine