“Way Down in Old Virginia”

Description

"'Way down in old Virginia Where I was bred and born, On the sunny side of that country I used to hoe the corn." The singer recalls those happy times: "And I couldn't stay away." He recalls his old mistress and master, who were "good and kind"

Supplemental text

Way Down in Old Virginia
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Dorothy Scarborough, On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs,
pp. 225-226. Supplied by "Mrs. Bartlett"; the ultimate source
is not listed.

'Way down in ole Virginia
Where I was bred and born,
On the sunny side of that country
I used to hoe the corn.
Like childhood's happy moments,
When I was going away,
I strayed from the old place,
And I couldn't stay away!

      Chorus
    And I couldn't
    And I wouldn't
    And I coudln't stay away!
    And I couldn't
    And I wouldn't
    And I coudln't stay away!

Well, my ole mistis, she was good and kind,
She was good and kind to me.
She fed me awful good meat and bread
And sometimes hominy.
Well, my ole mistis, she was good and kind,
She was good and kind to me.
She fed me awful good meat and bread
And sometimes hominy.

(1 additional stanza)

Notes

I find it highly unlikely that this is of actual Black composition; I suspect that the woman who sent it to Scarborough was unclear or inaccurate about its source. The fact that Dean (whose repertoire is strongly northern and contains much from the stage) has it may be indicative. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" (theme)

References

1. Scarborough-NegroFS, pp. 225-226, "'Way Down in Ole Virginia" (1 text)
2. Dean, p. 111, "I Couldn?t Stay Away" (1 text)
3. ST ScaNF225 (Partial)
4. Roud #9578
5. BI, ScaNF225