Seeing Nellie Home
(a.k.a. "When I Saw Nellie Home", "I Was Seeing Nellie Home" & Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party")
Words & Music:
Frances Kyle & John
Fletcher (1856)
This tune was first recorded
in 1906(!) by the Edison Male Quartette.
I remember it from Warner Bros. cartoons.
G D7 G
C
G
In the sky the
bright stars glittered, on the bank the pale moon shone.
G
C
D7
G
It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party I was seeing Nellie home
CHORUS:
G
C
G C
G
I was seeing Nellie
home, I was seeing Nellie home.
G
C
D7
G
It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party I was seeing Nellie home.
On my arm a soft
hand rested, rested light as ocean foam.
It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party I was seeing Nellie home.
CHORUS:
On my lips a
whisper trembled, trembled till it dared to come.
It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party I was seeing Nellie home.
CHORUS:
On my life new
hopes were dawning and those hopes have lived and grown.
It was from Aunt
Dinah's quilting party I was seeing Nellie home.
CHORUS:
EARLIEST LYRICS VERSION:
In the sky the bright stars
glittered; on the grass the moonlight fell.
HushÕd the sound of daylight
bustle; closed the pink eyed pimpernel.
As adown the moss grown wood
path where the cattle love to roam.
From an august evening party, I
was seeing Nellie home.
CHORUS:
In the sky the bright stars
glittered; on the grass the moonlight shone.
From an august evening party, I
was seeing Nellie home.
When the autumn tinged the
greenwood; turning all its leaves to the gold
In the lawn by elders shaded; I
my love to Nellie told.
As we stood together gazing on
the star bespangled dome.
How I blessed the august
evening when I saw sweet Nellie home.
CHORUS:
White hairs mingled with my
tresses; furrows steal upon my brow.
But a love smile cheers and
blesses lifeÕs declining moments now.
Matron in the snowy kerchief,
closer to my bosom come.
Tell me doÕst thou still
remember when I saw sweet Nellie home.
CHORUS: