Floyd Collins

Cat. #0932 (MFH #182) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on February 9, 1970

VERSE 1
Come all you young people
An' listen what I tell
Fate of Floyd Collins
A boy well all knew well
His color was fair an' handsome
His heart was true an' brave
His body now lies sleepin'
In a lonely sandstone cave

VERSE 2
O, Mother, don't you weary
Dear Father, don't be sad
Tell of my troubles
N' awful dream I had
I dreamed I were a prisoner
An' my life they couldn't save
My body now lies sleepin'
In a lonely sandstone cave

VERSE 3
To rescue party labored,
They worked, both night an' day
Moved that might barrow
That stood within th way
Th rescue party labored
Was th battle cry
We'll never, no never
Let Floyd collins die

VERSE 4
It was one one Monday morning
Th sun rose in th sky
Th workmans they were busy
We'll reach him by and by
But, O, how sad th warning
His life, we couldn't save
His body now lies sleepin'
In a lonely sandstone cave

Variants