Black is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
And I love the ground whereon she stands
I go to the Clyde where I mourn and weep
But satisfied I never can be
And I'll write her a letter just a few short lines
And I suffer death a thousand times
For black is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
And I love the ground whereon she stands
I love my love, and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes
And I wish the day soon would come
When she and I could be as one
There are many versions of the tune. It is best known as a tune from the Southern Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. It is probably based on an 18th century English tune. This Scottish folk song is about a girl, whose lover has failed to return, found its way to the Southern Appalachians. There is a version with a similar tune but different lyrics, Black is the Color of My True Love's Eyes, and an English tune with similar lyrics but a different tune, Dark is the Color of my True Love's Eyes.
