I was born in East Virginia
North Carolina I did go
There I courted a fair young maiden
But her age I did not know
Oh her hair was dark and curly
And her cheeks were rosy red
On her breast she wore white lilies
Where I longed to lay my head
Molly dear go ask your mother
If you my bride might ever be
If she says no come back and tell me
And I'll run away with thee
No I'll not go ask my mother
Where she lies on her bed of rest
In her hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best
The ocean's deep and I can't wade it
And I have no wings to fly
I'll just get some blue-eyed boatman
For to row me o'er the tide
I don't want your green back dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want is you my darling
Say you'll take me back again
I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leave old North Carolina alone
Oh you know I'd like to see you
At my door you're welcome in
At my gate I'll always greet you
For you're the girl I tried to win
About This Song
East Virginia Blues (Greenback Dollar) is a traditional Appalachian song. Kelly Harrell, B. F. Shelton and Buell Kazee all recorded related versions in 1926 and 1927. Old-time banjo players know the same song in a darker form, the way Clarence Ashley and others sang it.
The second title comes from the verse that turns down a greenback dollar. Through the 1930s that verse grew into a family of separate "Greenback Dollar" songs. Don't confuse it with the Hoyt Axton song of the same name that the Kingston Trio recorded. Bluegrass players mostly learned it from the Stanley Brothers, who played it on stage throughout the 1950s. Several of their live and studio recordings have been issued.
Year
Artist
Notes
1927
Buell Kazee
As "East Virginia", usually counted as the first release under that name
1934
The Carter Family
As "The East Virginia Blues"; all major, and the version that set the words most people sing today
Also recorded by Flatt & Scruggs, the Country Gentlemen, Mac Wiseman and J. D. Crowe.
