Young Emily

Cat. #0349 (MFH #144) - As sung by Mrs. Pearl Brewer, Pocahontas, Arkansas on May 27, 1959

VERSE 1
Young Emily, was a servant girl
So often I've been told
Young Johnny, was a sailor
Who sailed on sea for gold

VERSE 2
O Johnny, dear Johnny
Stay with me this night
As you lay by
My Father runs a boarding house
All down by th river side

VERSE 3
Young Johnny, taken to drinking
Just at th going to bed
But little was he thinking
Of a sorrow crowned his head

VERSE 4
Young Emili, fell a sleeping
She dreamed a frightful dream
She dreamed, she saw her own true love
Go floating down th stream

VERSE 5
Young Emili, rose quite early
Just at th break of day
She went into her Mothers room
And this to her did say

VERSE 6
Mother, dear Mother
Come tell to me just right
What have you done with th sailor boy
Who stayed with you last night

VERSE 7
Daughter, dear daughter
He is dead now
His money will make a show
Where he has been sailing
All down in th lowland low

VERSE 8
She went to her Fathers room
And this to him did say,
Father, dear Father
You'll die a public'n sure
For drownding of my own true love
Who sailed on sea for gold

Daughter, dear daughter

Variants