VANCE Song

There are several versions of the song Abner Vance wrote while in prison awaiting his execution. Below are the versions that I have of this song. I have not changed any of the wording, spelling, or phrases. They are exactly as I recieved them.

To You All Farewell,

Come my friends and good old neighbors, The truth to you, I'm going to tell, How my heart beats with contemplation, To think to bid you all farewell,

It grieves my heart, It grieves it sorley, The thought of bidding, you all farewell, But, when I'm a far an distance country, I hope to me, you will all prove kind,

On hills, and rivers, and high cap mountains, The howling billows between us call, My mind to you it is unfold, My love to you can never be told,

There is one thing, I wish to tell you, It lays so heavy on my mind, Some of my friends, they have been faithful, and some proved to me unkind,

I've been a man of constant sorrow, I have seen trouble all my days, I'll bid farewell to Carter County, where I was both born and raised, ______________________________________________________________________

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE VANCE SONG.

The woods are green on Sandys banks, Peace in they valley dwells, Wild bears lie up in laurel groves, And red bucks roam the hills,

But, Vance no more wil Sandy see, Or drink its cristial waves, A partial judge has sealed my doom, And Vance has found his grave,

By the help of all my enemies, Fals witnesses, and all, They have took me from my home, And confined me in these walls,

Then daniel Bill an Louis, Their lies against me swore, They planned to take my life away, That I should bee no more,

But, together we shall be again, When gabriles trump shall blow, Perhaps, when I am with Christ above, They will rol in a gulf below,

The judge with me offended was, Altho his life, once I did save, When I intervened in his behalf, When he stood near the grave,

The friendships I have shown for others, Has not been shown to me, The justice I dealt out to them, Is none the worse for me,

Green is the leaves on Sandys bank, And soft the west wind blows, The hills are covered with laurel bloom, The air perfumed with rose,

But, Vance, no more to Sandy can go, Or breath that sweet perfume, This day my eyes must close in death, Then Ile rest in my toomb,

But, heaven has spoken peace to mem This body wil soon decaym That blood that flowed on Calvarys hill, Washed all my sins away,

The holoy dove is standing by, To bare me to some happy shore, Where partial courts, and liering tongs, Wil batter nevermore

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ANOTHER VERSION OF THE VANCE SONG.

Green grows the woods were Sandy flows, And peace along its hills on the Valley, They black bear lies secure, The red buck romes the hills,

But Vance shall no more Sandy behold, Nor drink of its crystal wave. The partial Judge pronounced his doom, To the hunter a felons grave.

The Judge called me a hipracrate find, For Elliott's life I saved. I couldn't agree to Elliott's guilt, Humanity belongs to the brave.

The mercy that I to others have shown, Has never been shown to me. Humanity I say, belongs to the brave, And I hope it belongs to me.

Twas by advice of McFarland. Jodge Johnson did me call. I was taken from my native home, And placed in your stone wall,

My persecutors have gained their quest, Their promises to make good. They often swore they'd never rest, Till they had my lifes blood.

Daniel Horton, Bob and Bill, A lie against me swore, In order to take my life away, That I should be no more.

But they and I together must meet, Where all things are made known. And if I shed a humans blood, There'll mercy be me shown.

Bright shines the sun on Clinch hills. And soft the west wind blows. The Valleys are covered with bloom, Perfumed by the fragrant rose.

But Vance shall no more Sandy behold. Nor smell the sweet perfume. This day his eyes will close in death. His body laid in the tomb.

Farewell my friends, my children dear, To you I bid farewell. The love I have for your precious soles, No mortal tongue can tell.

Farewell to you my loving wife. To you I bid adieu, And if I reach fair Cannan's Shore, I'll wait and watch for you.

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ANOTHER VERSION OF THE VANCE SONG.

The Vance Song

Green are the woods where Sandy flows, And peace it dwelleth there; In the valley the deer they lie secure, The red buck roams everywhere; But Vance no more shall Sandy behold, Or drink of it's crystal wave, The partial Judge had promised his doom, The hunter was found his grave.

The Judge said he was my friend, Though Elliott's life he had saved; A juryman I did become, That Elliott he might live; The friendship I have shown to others Has never been shown to me, Humanity, it belongs to the brave, And I hope it remains to me.

It was by the advice of McFarlien, Judge Johnston did me call; I was taken from my native home, Confined in a stone wall; My prosecutors have gained their request, They promised to make good; They often swore they never would rest, Till they had gained my life's blood.

There are David Horton and Bob and Bill, A lie against me swore, In order to take my life away, That I might be no more; But they and I together must meet, When Gabriel's trump shall blow; Perhaps I will rest in Abraham's breast, While they roll in the gulf below.

I killed a man I don't deny; He threatened to kill me, And for this I am condemned to die, The jury all agree; But I and they together must meet, Where all things are well known; And if I have shed the innocent blood, I hope there is mercy shown.

Bright shines the sun on Clinch's Hill, So soft the west wind blows, The valley is covered all over with bloom, Perfumed with the red rose; But Vance no more shall Sandy behold, Nor smell its sweet perfume, This day his eyes in death must close, His body conveyed to the tomb.

Farewell, my friends and children dear, To you I bid farewell. The love I have for your precious souls, No mortal tongue can tell; Farewell, my true and loving wife, To you I bid adieu; And if I reach fair Cannan's Shore, I hope to meet with you.

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ANOTHER VERSION OF THE VANCE SONG.

Vance's Song

Green are the woods where Sandy flows, And peace it dwelleth there, There the bears they lie secure, The Red Bucks they roam everywhere. But Vance shall no more Sandy behold, Nor drink of its crystal wave; The partial judge pronounced my doom; The hunter has found his grave. The judge he said he was my friend, Though Elliott's life he saved; A jurman I did become, That Elliott might live. Twas by the advice of Mc Farlane, Judge Johnson me did call, And taken me from my native home, And confined me in a stone wall. I killed the man I don't deny; He threatened to kill me. For this I am condemned to die, The jury all agree. But the friendships I have shown to others, Has never been shown to me. Humanity belongs to the brave, And I hope it remains to me. There's Daniel Horton, Bob, and Bill A lie against me swore. In order to take my life away, That I might be no more. But I and they together shall meet, Where all things are best known; Perhaps I'll rest in Abraham's breast, While they roll in the gulf below. Farewell my friends and children dear; To you I bid farewell. The love I have for your precious souls no mortal tongue can tell. Farewell my true and loving wife, To you I bid adieu. And if I reach fair Canan's land, I hope to meet with you. I come, I come, ye angels of light; To the world of joy I come. Celestial Dove, convey me home, To the New Jerusalem.

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ANOTHER VERSION OF THE VANCE SONG.

Green grows the woods where Sandy flows, and peace along its rills; In the valley the black bear lies secure, the red buck roves the hills. But Vance no more shall Sandy behold nor drink of its crystal wave; The partial Judge pronounced his doom -- to the hunter a felon's grave.

The Judge called me 'incarnate friend,' for Elliott's lif I saved; I couldn't agree to Elliott's guilt, humanity belongs to the brave. The mercy that I to others have shown, has never been shown to me; Humanity, I say, belongs to the brave, and I hope it belongs to me.

Twas by advice of McFarland, Judge John- son did me call; I was taken from my native home and placed in yon stone wall. My persecutors have gained their quest, the promise to make good; They often swore they'd never rest till they had my life's blood.

Daniel Horton, Bob and Bill, a lie against me swore; In order to take my life away, that I should be no more. But they and I together must meet, where all things are made known; And if I shed a human's blood, there'll mercy be me shown.

Bright shines the sun of Clinch's hills, and soft the west wind blows; The valleys are covered o'er with bloom, per- fumed by the fragrant rose. But Vance no more shall Sandy behold, nor smell the sweet perfume; This day his eyes will close in death, his body laid in the tomb.

Farewell my friends, my children dear, to you I bid farewell; The love I have for your precious souls, no mortal tongue can tell. Farewell to you my loving wife, to you I bid adieu; And if I reach fair Canaan's shore, I'll wait and watch for you.


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Tim Vance

"Tim"