YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS
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Time signature: 4/4
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Composer: unknown, but assumed to be African American. The earliest published version dates from 1853.
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UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Everything needs to be checked.
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ACCORDION (BUTTON) NOTATION
Beats per bar = 4
Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
(based mainly on the 1858 published music)
Either row = Buttons 4 to 8 |
Verse 1 (of 3)
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 "5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
There's a yel-low rose in Tex - as I'm__ go-ing back to see
.7 | .7 .5 .5 .7 | .7 :7* .6 | .6* .6 ;7* "7 | .:7*
No oth-er fel-low loves her, no - bod - y, on - ly me
.5 | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 "5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart
.5 | .5 .8* .8* .8* | "8* "7 :7 .7* | .6 .5 ;7 "7* | .:6
And if I ev - er find her, we nev-er more will part
Chorus
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 .4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
She's the sweet-est rose in Tex- as this fel-low ev - er knew
.5 | .5 .7 .7 .7 | .7 :7* .6 | .6* .6 ;7* "7 | .:7*
Her eyes are bright as dia-monds; they spar-kle like the dew
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* .5 ;5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
You may rave a - bout your Cle-men-tine, and sing of Ros - a Lee
"5 "5 | .5 .8* .8* .8* | "8* ;7 ;7* .6 | .6 .5 ;7 "7* | .:6
But the yel-low rose of Tex - as is the on - ly girl for me
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 "5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
There's a yel-low rose in Tex - as I'm__ go-ing back to see
.7 | .7 .5 .5 .7 | .7 :7* .6 | .6* .6 ;7* "7 | .:7*
No oth-er fel-low loves her, no - bod - y, on - ly me
.5 | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 "5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
She cried so when I left her, it like to broke my heart
.5 | .5 .8* .8* .8* | "8* "7 :7 .7* | .6 .5 ;7 "7* | .:6
And if I ev - er find her, we nev-er more will part
Chorus
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* :5 .4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
She's the sweet-est rose in Tex- as this fel-low ev - er knew
.5 | .5 .7 .7 .7 | .7 :7* .6 | .6* .6 ;7* "7 | .:7*
Her eyes are bright as dia-monds; they spar-kle like the dew
"5 "4* | .4 .5 .5 .5 | .5* .5 ;5 "4* | .4 .5 ;6 "7* | .:7
You may rave a - bout your Cle-men-tine, and sing of Ros - a Lee
"5 "5 | .5 .8* .8* .8* | "8* ;7 ;7* .6 | .6 .5 ;7 "7* | .:6
But the yel-low rose of Tex - as is the on - ly girl for me
GUITAR (STRUMMING) NOTATION Keys of C & G
To sound in Keys of Ab, A or Bb: place Capo at Fret 1, 2 or 3, and play in key of G
To sound in Keys of D, Eb, or F: place Capo at Fret 2, 3, or 5, and play in key of C
To sound in Keys of D, Eb, or F: place Capo at Fret 2, 3, or 5, and play in key of C
Verse 1 (of 3)
G
C
There's a yellow rose in Texas I'm going back to see
D D7
G G7
No other fellow loves her, nobody, only me
G
C
She cried so when I left her, It like to broke my heart
C G D7 G
F C G7 C
And if I ever find her, we never more will part
Chorus:
G
C
She's the sweetest rose in Texas this fellow ever knew
D D7
G G7
Her eyes are bright as diamonds; they sparkle like the dew
G
C
You may rave about your Clementine, and sing of Rosa Lee
C G D7 G
F C G7 C
But the Yellow Rose of Texas is the only girl for me
G
C
There's a yellow rose in Texas I'm going back to see
D D7
G G7
No other fellow loves her, nobody, only me
G
C
She cried so when I left her, It like to broke my heart
C G D7 G
F C G7 C
And if I ever find her, we never more will part
Chorus:
G
C
She's the sweetest rose in Texas this fellow ever knew
D D7
G G7
Her eyes are bright as diamonds; they sparkle like the dew
G
C
You may rave about your Clementine, and sing of Rosa Lee
C G D7 G
F C G7 C
But the Yellow Rose of Texas is the only girl for me
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Eighteen videos in the keys: Ab,A,Bb=1 A=4 A,Bb=1 C=4 D=3 F=1 G=3 G,Ab=1
As with most really "old" songs, there are wide variations among the videos on this page, especially for the song's lyrics, but also, though to a lesser extent, the song's tune. For some musical phrases, you may have to depart from the above accordion notation to play along with the tune; also the case for singing along with some lyrics. It is hoped that at least one of these videos will match your button accordion and your singing voice.
Also note that some of the performances have musical interludes between the verses (& chorus) that are not covered by the accordion notation above.
Also note that some of the performances have musical interludes between the verses (& chorus) that are not covered by the accordion notation above.
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Key: Ab for 1st verse & chorus
A for 2nd verse & chorus Bb for 3rd verse & chorus Group: Mitch Miller Orchestra Posted by: chester10 |
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Key: A
Group: The Avett Brothers Posted by: crackerfarm |
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Key: A
Singer: Lawrence Shoberg Posted by: Historic Vinyl |
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Key: A
Singer: Johnny Desmond Posted by: CatsPjamas1 |
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Key: A
Pianist: Andrew Holdsworth Posted by: Andrew Holdsworth - Topic Piano instrumental. It is interesting that a folksong that has been used as a marching tune can also be played as a lullaby. This four-minute lullaby, covering two verses (& choruses), is played slowly and may be easy for beginners to play along with. Andrew separates the verses (& chorus) with a few spacing notes, not given with the accordion notation above. |
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Key: A for most of the song
Bb for the final chorus Group: Foster & Allen Posted by: Oldies But Goodies They omit the second verse (compared with lyrics given below) |
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Key: C
Singers: Hoyt Axton, John Hartford, Kris Ballinger and others Posted by: AmericanExperience They omit the second verse (compared with the lyrics below) and add a different verse. Beautifully done, however. |
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Key: C
Group: The Confederate Army Posted by: Josiah McBeth |
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Key: C
Singer: ? Posted by: Dixie Dawn This performance has a different order of verses (compared with the lyrics below), and lots of instrumentation. This video uses our chorus as its first verse, and our first verse as its chorus. Still, a fine performance. |
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Key: C
Performer: Gary Coover Posted by: angloconc Concertina instrumental. |
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Key: D
Group: ShoreGrass Posted by: Shoregrass - Topic |
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Key: D
Group: Rebel Son Posted by: RebelSon TV Omits the second verse. |
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Key: D
Group: The Cumberlands Posted by: The Cumberlands - Topic |
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Key: F
Tempo: ~ bpm Singer: Tommy Faile Posted by: Tommy Faile - Topic |
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Key: G
Singer: David Allan Coe Posted by: the winner |
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Key: G
Singer: Bobby Horton Posted by: Bobby Horton - Topic Substitutes a different third verse. |
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Key: G
Singer: James 'Sparky' Rucker Posted by: MyMoppet52 Adds a final verse, not given in the lyrics below. |
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Key: G for first two verses (& choruses)
Ab for final verse and chorus. Singer: "Texas" Bill Strength Posted by: finnigan49 |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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Lyrics:
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There's a yellow rose in Texas
I'm going back to see No other fellow loves her Nobody, only me She cried so when I left her It like to broke my heart And if I ever find her We never more will part Chorus: She's the sweetest rose in Texas That a fellow ever knew Her eyes are bright as diamonds They sparkle like the dew You may talk about your Clementine And sing of Rosa Lee But the Yellow Rose of Texas Is the only girl for me Where the Rio Grande is flowing And starry skies are bright She walks along the river In the quiet summer night I know that she remembers When we parted long ago I promised to return And not to leave her so Oh, now I'm gonna find her For my heart is full of woe We'll do the things together We did so long ago We'll play the banjo gaily She'll love me like before And the Yellow Rose of Texas Shall be mine forevermore Additional verses are included by some performers. |