This song was orginally sung during the Mexican War, but became extremely popular with General John Bell Hood's Texas troops, who substituted "soldier" for the original "darkie", and added the final verse as a commentary on their General's disastrous tenure as commander of the Army of Tennessee. "Uncle Joe" in the last verse refers to Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, who was relieved of his command and replaced by General Hood during the Atlanta campaign in 1864. As an added note, my grandfather was sent overseas with a unit of soldiers from Texas during World War II, and he said they'd sing nothing but the "Yellow Rose of Texas". He got very sick of that song coming from Pennsylvania. (lol) Lyrics: There's a yellow rose in Texas That I am going to see. No other soldier knows her - No soldier, only me. She cried so when I left her, It like to broke my heart, And if I ever find her, We never more shall part. She's the sweetest rose of color This soldier ever knew. Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew. You may talk about your dearest May, And sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Beats the belles of Tennessee. Where the Rio Grande is flowing And the starry skies are bright; She walks along the river In the quiet summer night. She thinks, if I remember, When we parted long ago, I promised to come back again And not to leave her so. She's the sweetest rose of color This soldier ever knew. Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew. You may talk about your dearest May, And sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Beats the belles of Tennessee. Oh, now I'm going to find her, For my heart is full of woe, And we'll sing the song together That we sang so long ago. We'll play the banjo gaily, And we'll sing the songs of yore, And the Yellow Rose of Texas Shall be mine forever more. She's the sweetest rose of color This soldier ever knew. Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew. You may talk about your dearest May, And sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Beats the belles of Tennessee. Oh, now I'm headed southward, For my heart is full of woe, I'm going back to Georgia, To find my Uncle Joe, You may talk about your Beuregard And sing of Bobby Lee, But the gallant Hood of Texas He played hell in Tennessee! She's the sweetest rose of color This soldier ever knew. Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew. You may talk about your dearest May, And sing of Rosa Lee, But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Beats the belles of Tennessee.
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