This is the version my aunt taught me about ten years ago; it's based on
Leadbelly's, which is the version most people my age know, courtesy of
Kurt Cobain. Leadbelly called it "
Black Girl," Cobain called it "
My Girl" or "In the Pines," and my
Pete Seeger book calles it "
Little Girl." For some reason, I used to think that she killed her husband, but I guess he was in an accident.
Chorus:
E E7 A G
Black girl, black girl, don't lie to me
E B7 E B7
Tell me where did you sleep last night?
E E7 A G
In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't never shine
E B7 E
And I shivered the whole night through
E E7 A G
My husband was a railroad man
E B7 E B7
Killed a mile and a half from here
E E7 A G
His head was found 'neath the drivers' wheel
E B7 E
And his body never was found
It caused me to weep and it caused me to moan
And it caused me to leave my home
I wish to God I'd never seen his face
I'm sorry he ever was born