The Ballad of Nancy Rose

Her maiden call was Nancy Rose
Her fathers’ name was Jacob
Two sisters young, two brothers bold
Her mother close to dyin’

Now Jacob tilled and broke the land
Her sisters they were a’courtin’
Her brothers bold had left for war
Her mother close to dyin’

She heard from far a horrid cry
Her brother John had fallen
In battle plains so few return
She prayed for brother Gordon

A fortnight fled to see new days
Her sister Jane was weddin’
She smiled on Jane then turned and wept
Her mother close to dyin’

As moons had drifted slowly by
Old Jacob took a fever
And in the noon his life did ebb
Still clutching to his tiller

Now Nancy Rose was left alone
She lingered by her mother
Then came the news of Gordon Rose
Like brother John he’d fallen

Within her tears she did recall
Her family numbered seven
And still no word from sister Mae
Her mother close to dyin’

For three long years she toiled the land
Once toiled by her father
She washed the dress, prepared for two
Just Nancy and her mother

Her memories they lingered on
When she had been a maiden
But through the times her beauty fled
Beside her dyin’ mother

Her maiden call was Nancy Rose
Her fathers’ name was Jacob
Two sisters young, two brothers bold
She died before her mother