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Language
English
Comments
Folksong found in Appalachia, the American South and Lower Midwest. The song was collected by folklorist and professor at the University of Missouri, Henry Marvin Beldin in 1909. Most of the first recorded versions of this song were called "Birmingham Jail", based off the paragraph of lyrics referring to the jail in Birmingham, Alabama. Guitarist Jimmie Tarlton claimed to have written the Birmingham jail paragraph of lyrics in 1925 while he was jailed in Birmingham for moonshining, which is very possible since he and his partner Tom Darby were the first to record this as "Birmingham Jail" on November 10, 1927, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Down in the valley valley so low
Hang your head over hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow dear hear the wind blow
Hang your head over hear the wind blow.

Roses love sunshine violets love dew
Angels in heaven know I love you
Know I love you dear know I love you
Angels in heaven know I love you.

If you don’t love me love whom you please
Throw your arms ’round me give my heart ease
Give my heart ease love give my heart ease
Throw your arms round me give my heart ease.

Build me a castle forty feet high
So I can see him as he rides by
As he rides by love as he rides by
So I can see him as he rides by.

Write me a letter send it by mail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail
Birmingham jail love Birmingham jail
Send it in care of Birmingham jail.
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Added by tsk
Managed by Bastien

Reported errors

# Reported by Reported on Status Last update
#89573 Bastien 2018-03-22 09:13:08 UTC processed 2020-05-10 05:39:24 UTC by CarlDennis
#137200 Bastien 2020-06-08 14:19:47 UTC processed 2020-09-01 21:47:21 UTC by mduval32323
#144678 mduval32323 2020-09-01 21:45:58 UTC rejected 2024-01-07 23:21:21 UTC by sebcat
#145202 Bastien 2020-09-07 18:46:38 UTC processed 2020-09-09 00:46:26 UTC by mduval32323