[Disclaimer: this song contains derogatory racial terms. No hatred is intended. It is presented here in its original form as part of musical history.]
a 1858 minstrel song that was marched to in the Civil War
music by J. K.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
- There’s a yellow rose in Texas
That I am going to see
No other darkey knows her
No darkey only me
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
We never more will part
Chorus
She’s the sweetest rose of color
This darkey ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew
You may talk about your dearest May
And sing of Rosa Lee
But the yellow rose of Texas
Beats the bells of Tennesse
- When the Rio Grande is flowing
And the starry skies are bright
She walks along the river
In the quiet summer night
She thinks if I remember
When we parted long ago
I promised to come back again
And not to leave her so - Oh! now I’m going to find her
For my heart is full of woe
And we’ll sing the song together
That we sung so long ago
We’ll play the banjo gaily
And we’ll sing the songs of yore
And the yellow rose of Texas
Shall be mine forevermore
Sung here by Fred Feild: