Carrie Brown

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry

If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die

Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

The first time I saw Carrie Brown

She was so young and fair

A voice like spring rain fallin' down

And sunlight in her hair

I'd never seen her face before

So I asked all around

They said, "Her daddy owns a grocery store

And she lives in Bristol town"

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry

If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die

Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

I laid my last ten dollars down

Though I didn't need a thing

Just to touch sweet Carrie Brown

When she handed me my change

I hung around till closin' time

I scarce believed my eyes

My darlin' walkin' arm in arm

With a boy named Billy Wise

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry

If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die

Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

I walked around in Bristol town

A bitter broken man

A heart that pined for Carrie Brown

And a pistol in my hand

We met again on State Street

Poor Billy Wise and me

I shot him in Virginia

And he died in Tennessee

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry

If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die

Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die

Now I'm down in the Bristol jail

And all I do is cry

‘Cause the jury found me guilty

And the judge says I must die

I'm just a poor young mountain boy

Ain't never been to town

And I've come to ruination

For the love of Carrie Brown

Carrie, darlin', Carrie, Carrie Brown, I cry

If I can't marry Carrie Brown, believe I'd rather die

Believe I'd rather die, boys, believe I'd rather die