Cat. #0055 (MFH #310) - As sung by Mrs. George (Bessie) Owens, Batesville, Arkansas on April 9, 1958
VERSE 1
Come friends and relations
And listen unto me
I'll tell you a sad story
Bout little Johnny Lee
It was on the second of February
Eighteen hundred eighty six
When th snow begin to fall
And th clouds begin to mix
VERSE 2
His father said unto him,
You now must go to mill,
Tho the snow hit got so very deep
He could hardly climb the hill
His wife began to beg for him
And said, th boy would freeze
But th father still insisted
And said, I'll do as I please
VERSE 3
So, off to mill they started
Th boys seemed very bold
But they could not travel fast
They got so very cold
VERSE 4
At last they arrived at Uncle Sam's
Who lived upon th hill
Then Nathan said to Johnny,
Stay here, and I'll go on to mill
VERSE 5
Nathan at last arrived at th mill
But th miller was no sinner
He took him up onto his house
An' gave to him his dinner
VERSE 6
He then got back at Uncle Sam's
But his load it was not light
Hit was then getting late
So, they had to stay all night
VERSE 7
Then Johnny said to Nathan,
I think that I am beat
For I am very hungry
I've nothing yet to eat
The boys then got their supper
But lay upon th floor
And there they nearly froze to death
They slept so near the door
VERSE 8
When morning comes they start for home
But th saddest is not yet
For we've been told that they'd been told
T'was time for them to get
VERSE 9
The boys start on together
They travel with might an' main
And it took them just one'd hour
To go through Coleman's lane
VERSE 10
They traveled with all their might
But did not reach their home
Then Johnny said to Nathan,
I wish my pa would come
VERSE 11
He said this unto Nathan,
I can no further go,
His limbs are froze already
And he fell down in th snow
O, how he must have suffered
With th snow all o'er his head
He said unto his comrade,
I wished I had some bread
VERSE 12
He said this unto Nathan
And then began to cry,
I shall never, never reach my home
So, here I'll have to die
VERSE 13
No mothers hands to press his brow
No piller to lay his head
So now alas, what shall we do
Poor little Johnny's dead
Nathan at last arrived at home
And gave them all a-fright
The night was dark, the snow was deep
And he lay out there all night
VERSE 14
The neighbors gathered and buried him
Upon th west hillside
But on th resurrection morning
He will not be denied
But may he ever have a home
In that happy land of bliss
Where there'll be no more sorrow
Or stories told like this