A 1854 popular song.
Words by Geo. F. Meeser.
Music by Wm. B. Harvey.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- I lov’d a little color’d girl, she liv’d in Tennesee
She wasn’t much to any one, but all the world to me
Her master used her very hard, but mine he used me well
And how I pitied this poor gal there’s none but me can tell
Chorus
I lov’d her long nor thought it wrong and she lov’d me in return
But she left one day and went away, my pretty Dilly Burn
2. My heart grew sad, I could not work, my master wondered why
I told him how she left one day, and never said good bye
‘Twas then I learn’d from his dear lips, that Dilly had been sold
And how we sever’d had to be, for a paltry sum of gold
Chorus
I lov’d her long nor thought it wrong and she lov’d me in return
And massa said I soon would see my pretty Dilly Burn
3. Now after this, it was not long, my Dilly’s owner died
When massa bought her, good kind soul, and gave her as my bride
And now we’re happy in our cot, and massa’s pleased to see
How two fond hearts that truly love, tho black, can happy be
Chorus
I lov’d her long nor thought it wrong and she lov’d me in return
And now contented I can be, my pretty Dilly Burn
Song here by Alejandro Murgia: