Yellow Rose of Texas

There’s a yellow rose in Texas, that I am going to see
No other soldier (orig darky) knows her, no soldier (orig darky) only me
She cryed so when I left her it like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her, we nevermore will part
She’s the sweetest rose of color this solider (darky) 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 belles of Tennessee
When the Rio Grande is flowing, the starry skies are bright
She walks along the river in the quite 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 songs togeather, that we sung so long ago
We’ll play the bango gaily, and we’ll sing the songs of yore
And the Yellow Rose of Texas shall be mine forevermore.
In 1864 General Hood and the Texas Brigade fighting in Tennessee, were defeated.
His men retreated in such confusion they thought the war was over.
Many headed home, and a fourth stanza was added:
And now I’m going southward, for my heart is full of woe
I’m going back to Georgia, to see my Uncle Joe
You may talk about your Beauregard, and sing of Bobbie Lee
But the gallant Hood of Texas played hell in Tennessee.