Poor old slave

              Collected by Helen McAllister For Mary Celestia Parler Transcribed by Helen McAllister
Sung by Mrs. M. D. Meiser Springdale, Arkansas July 30, 1959
and Sue Holley
Reel 291, Item 3
Poor Old Slave
'Twas just a year ago today,
That I remember well,
I sat down by poor Nellie's side,
A story she did tell.
'Twas 'bout a poor unhappy slave Who lived for many a year,
But now he's dead and in his grave,
No master does he fear.
Chorus:
The poor old slave has gone to rest;
We know that he is free;
Disturb him not but let him rest Way down in Tennessee.
She took me arm, we walked along Down thro' an open field,
And there she paused to rest a while And to his grave did steal.
She knelt down on that little mound,
And softly whispered there,
Come to me father, tis thy child,
And gently dropped a tear.
Chorus
But since that time how things have changed. Poor Nellie that was my bride,
Now lies beneath the cold cold sod,
With her father by her side.
I planted on the little mound A weeping willow tree,
And bathed its roots with many a tear That it might shelter me.
Chorus.