The Well Below the Valley - James Olin Oden

The Well Below the Valley Lyrics

A gentlemen was passing by,
He asked for a drink as he got dry,
(refrain)
At the well below the valley-O
Green grows the Lilly-O,
Right among the bushes-O.
Me cup is filled up to the brim,
If I was to stoup I might fall in.
If your true love was passing by,
You’d hand him a cup if he got dry.
She swore be grass, she swore be corn,
That her true love had never been born.
He said “Young maid your swearing wrong,
For six fine children you have born.”

She said, “If you be a man of noble deed,
You’ll tell to me the father of them.
There’s two be your uncle Dan.
There’s two be your brother John.
There’s two be your father dear.
I you be a man of noble ‘steem,
You’ll tell to me what did happen to them.
There’s two buried neath the stable door.
There’s two buried neath the kitchen door.
There’s two buried beneath the well.
If you be a man of noble deed,
You’ll tell to me what will happen me self.
You’ll spend seven years a ringing the bell.
You’ll spend seven more a portin’ in Hell.
I’ll spend seven years a ringing the bell,
But the Lord above may save me soul,
From portin’ in Hell,
At the well below the valley-O
Green grows the lilly-O,
Right among the bushes-O.
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Lyrics submitted by James Olin Oden.