Tragic Romance
Notation:
Standard Notation
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Mandolin Tablature
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Mandolin Tablature
Song Sheet
American
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
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Lyrics:
Nestled in the heart of the Tennessee hills,
Midst peaceful pines 'neath the rocks and the rills,
There stands my old homestead of long years ago,
Brings back sweet memories of the one I loved so.
I courted a maiden so sweet and so fair
With pearly blue eyes and with chestnut brown hair.
She promised to love and said she'd be mine
But I went away leaving her there behind.
I'll tell you the reason why I left her there
To roam this old world with its sorrow and cares.
I saw her one night in the arms of a man
Hugging and kissing as true lovers can.
I went to my home with a heart full of woe,
Packed my belongings, determined to go.
For many long years this old world I did roam
With thoughts of my sweetheart, my darling, my own.
While dining one day in a little country town
A stranger came in and he chanced to sit down.
While talking of loved ones I happened to find
That his sister was that old sweetheart of mine.
Now, I am the man who you saw that fateful night
Wrapped in the arms of my sister so tight.
She waited so long for the day you'd return
And why you had left her she never did learn.
When he heard my story to me then he said
The one that you loved has a long time been dead.
She loved you so dearly, but you broke her heart
Poor stranger, from her ever more you must part.
"Tragic Romance" is one of the most popular of the old country songs still being
sung. The tune is almost the same as the recording by G.B. Grayson of "Omie Wise".
The Morris Brothers, who recorded this early on, were the first to employ both
Don Reno and Earl Scruggs.
The song was recorded by
Cowboy Copas (1946),
Morris Brothers (Wiley and Zeke) (1946),
Lilly Brothers and Don Stover (1957),
Stanley Brothers (1960),
Dian & The Greenbriar Boys (1963),
Reno and Smiley (1964),
Grandpa Jones (1964),
Buck Ryan & Smitty Irvin (1965),
Mac Wiseman (1966),
Porter Wagoner (1967),
Stonewall Jackson (1968),
Stompin' Tom Connors (1970),
Doc Watson, Merle Watson with Eric Weissberg (1971),
Red Rector (1973),
Bobby Atkins & The Countrymen (1986),
Hank Snow (1991),
The Osborne Brothers (1991),
Tim & Mollie O'Brien (1994) and
David Grisman with Alan O'Bryant 2003.
It was printed in Cohen, Seeger and Wood's Old Time String Band Songbook (1964)
(Previously published as The New Lost City Ramblers Songbook).
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