WHEN I SAW SWEET NELLIE HOME 
(aka I WAS SEEING NELLIE HOME)
(aka AUNT DINAH'S QUILTING PARTY)
(Music: John Fletcher / Words: Frances Kyle - 1856)


Edison Male Quartette - 1906
Sons Of The Pioneers - 1952
Country Gentlemen - 1963
Karl Shiflett & Big Country - 1999


Also recorded by: Frances Herold; Charlie Moore;
Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass; Joe 'Red' Hayes;
Floyd County Ramblers; Country Ham; Billy Edwards; 
Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner; Hart & Ogle;
Estil C. Ball: ......... and others.




In the sky the bright stars glittered
On the grass the moonlight fell
Hush’d the sound of daylight bustle
Closed the pink eyed pimpernell
As adown the moss grown wood path
Where the cattle love to roam
>From an august evening party
I was seeing Nellie home


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


In the sky the bright stars glittered
On the grass the moonlight shone
>From an august evening party
I was seeing Nellie home


White hairs mingled with my tresses
Furrows steal upon my brow
But a love smile cheers and blesses
Life’s declining moments now
Matron in the snowy kerchief
Closer to my bosom come
Tell me do’st thou still remember
When I saw sweet Nellie home


In the sky the bright stars glittered
On the grass the moonlight shone
>From an august evening party
I was seeing Nellie home




******************




ALTERNATE VERSION:




In the sky the bright stars glittered
On the bank the pale moon shone
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


I was seeing Nellie home
I was seeing Nellie home
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


On my arm a soft hand rested
Rested like as ocean foam
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


I was seeing Nellie home
I was seeing Nellie home
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


On my lips a whisper trembled
Trembled till it dared to come
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


I was seeing Nellie home
I was seeing Nellie home
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home


On my life new hopes were dawning
And those hopes have lived and grown
And ‘twas from aunt Dinah’s quilting party
I was seeing Nellie home














(Contributed by  - September 2007)