“The Southern Girl's Reply (True to the Gray)”
Description
"I cannot listen to your words, The land's too far and wide, Go seek some happy northern girl To be your loving bride." The southern girl tells how her youngest brother and lover were slain in the Civil War; she will not marry one who fought to kill them
Notes
The "Fitzhugh Lee" referred to in the first stanza was Robert E. Lee's nephew, and a cavalry officer. One of the senior generals under Jeb Stuart, he eventually commanded what remained of the cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia after Stuart's death and Wade Hampton's transfer. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Bonnie Blue Flag" (tune & meter) and references there
References
- Warner 156, "The Southern Girl's Reply" (1 collected text plus the original Rivers poem, 1 tune)
- Scott-BoA, pp. 251-252, "The Southern Girl's Reply" (1 text, tune referenced)
- DT, STHREPLY*
- Roud #7484
- BI, Wa156