Yellow Rose of Texas

Ever wonder what the song "Yellow Rose of Texas" really means? The first recorded copy of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" was handwritten on a piece of plain paper circa 1836. The folksong's lyrics tells of a black American (presumably a soldier) who left his sweetheart (a "yellow rose") and yearns to return to her side.

The original transcription has many spelling errors, so it is believed the transcriber was somewhat uneducated, but it was signed with three embellished initials (H.B.C.). This copy is now housed in the archives at the University of Texas in Austin.

The first copyrighted edition of the song was published in New York in 1858.

The cover states it was "Composed and Arranged Expressly

for Charles H. Brown by JK." It was never known who JK was.

Soon after the song was published, it became very popular

worldwide! Yes, the song was even sung in Europe. It was adopted

as a marching song by soldiers everywhere, especially in Texas.

The song's lyrics were changed by early 1860 because it referred

to and was sung by a black American soldier, the term "darky"

was replaced with "soldier" and the first line in the chorus was

changed to "She's the sweetest little flower..." as apposed to

"She's the sweetest rose of color."

 In 1864, a fourth stanza was added to reflect the hopelessness

of General John B. Hood's retreating Texas Brigade after

its disastrous Tennessee campaign. Some of his troops were so

disoriented after the loss, they actually thought the war was over

and started returning home - singing, of course, "Yellow Rose of Texas."

Original lyrics:

There's a yellow rose in Texas

That I am a going to see

No other darky knows her

No one only me

She cryed so when I left her

It like to broke my heart

And if I ever find her

We nevermore will part

She's the sweetest rose of color

This darky ever knew

Her eyes are bright as diamonds

They sparkle like the dew

You may talk about dearest May

and sing of Rosa Lee

But the yellow rose of Texas

Beats the belles of Tennessee

In 1864 as General Hood's soldiers retreated in such confusion,

a fourth stanza was added:

And now I'm going southward

for my heart is full of woe

 I'm going back to Georgia

to see my Uncle Joe

You may talk about your Beauregard

and sing of Bobbie Lee

But the gallant Hood of Texas

played hell in Tennessee.

Some versions even read..."and sing of General Lee,"

referring of course to the Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

In 1955 Mitch Miller recorded an arrangement

for Columbia Records. The lyrics were, by then,

much altered:

She's the sweetest little rosebud

That Texas ever knew

Her eyes are bright as diamonds

They sparkle like the dew

You may talk about your Clementine

and sing of Rosalee

But The Yellow Rose of Texas

is the only girl for me!

They say that Emily D. West was the young woman of the song.

Click on Emily's name to learn more about her. She's a big part

of Texas history.

I would like to join Mary at Little Red House for

Mosaic Monday. What I didn't know was 

that Mary also has a blog with Yellow Roses!!

Imagine my surprise when I saw her

post this morning. Please pay her a visit. She's

FABULOUS!

Here's to your health!