*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"East Virginia" — Buell Kazee (1929)

Click on the title to link to a presentation of the song listed in the headline.

The year 2009 has turned into something a year of review of the folk revival of the 1960s. In November I featured a posting of many of the episodes (via “YouTube”) of Pete Seeger’s classic folk television show from the 1960s, “Rainbow Quest”. I propose to do the same here to end out the year with as many of the selections from Harry Smith’s seminal “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” in one place, as I was able to find material for, either lyrics or "YouTube" performances (not necessarily by the original performer). This is down at the roots, for sure.

"East Virginia"

I was born in East Virginia,
North Carolina I did roam,
There I met a fair young lady,
Her name I do not know.

Oh Her hair was dark and curly,
And her cheeks were rosy red,
On her breast she wore white lilies,
There I long to lay my head.

I dont want your greenback dollar,
I dont want your watch and chain,
All I want's your heart darling,
Say you'll take me back again.

The ocean's deep and I can't wade it
And I have no wings to fly
I'll just get me a blue eyed boatman
Or you'll row me over the tide

I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leaving North Carolinians alone

I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leaving North Carolinians alone

In case I missed anything here is the full song

I was born in East Virginia,
North Carolina I did go,
There I met a fair young lady,
And her name I do not know.

Oh, her hair was dark and curly,
And her cheeks were rosy red,
On her breast she wore white lilies,
Where I long to lay my head.

I don't want your greenback dollar,
I don't want your watch and chain,
All I want's your heart darling,
Say you'll take me back again.

The ocean's deep and I can't wade it,
And I have no wings to fly,
I'll just get me a blue eyed boatman,
Or you'll row me over the tide.

I'll go back to East Virginia,
North Carolina ain't my home,
I'll go back to East Virginia,
Leaving North Carolinians alone.

I'll go back to East Virginia,
North Carolina ain't my home,
I'll go back to East Virginia,
Leaving North Carolinians alone.