Nelly Was a Lady

Down on the Mississippi floating

Long time I travel on the way

All night the cottonwood a-toting

Sing for my true love all the day

Nelly was a lady

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

Now I’m unhappy and I’m weeping

Can’t tote the cottonwood no more

Last night, while Nelly was a-sleeping

Death come a-knocking at the door

Nelly was a lady

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

When I saw Nelly in the morning

Smile when she opened up her eyes

It seemed like the light of day a-dawning

Just ‘fore the sun begin to rise

Nelly was a lady

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

Close by the margin of the water

Where the lone weeping willow grows

There lived Virginny's lovely daughter

There she in death may find repose

Nelly was a lady

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

Down in the meadow ‘mong the clover

Walk with my Nelly by my side

Now all them happy days are over

Farewell, my dark Virginny bride

Nelly was a lady.

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

Nelly was a lady.

Last night she died

Oh, toll the bell for lovely Nell

My dark Virginny bride

• Artist:David Olney
• Album:Happy Land: Musical Tributes to Laura Ingalls Wilder