The Flower of Loudoun County

Daddy's only daughter born the Spring of eighteen three
Raised in lace and satin 'neath the tall magnolia trees
Face so fair and hair as gold as the Southern sun that shone
She was the flower of Loudoun County, old Virginia was her home

She read the tales of soldiers brave and love so bold and free
She dreamed of knights in castles and sailing ships at sea
But who'd have thought that underneath the powder and the curls
Such a restless heart was beating in a sixteen year old girl

All the boys in Loudoun County tried to win her hand
She was the prettiest girl for miles and her daddy was the richest man
A sight they were to see as they'd come courtin' round
But all they talked was politics, tobacco and hunting hounds

He was just a stable hand from down in Caroline
Daddy said "Daughter don't you know he's not our kind"
He had no gold he owned no land a sailor's all he'd been
But something in his distant eyes fanned her like the wind

She begged him to tell of London town and Mexico
As through the summer evenings hand in hand they'd stroll
Till one Loudoun County August night he held her to his breast
And told her he'd be leaving soon try his luck out in the West

Folks still recall the night he left it was almost harvest time
'Cause of what he took along with him not what he left behind
The silver moon shone down to light his midnight ride
And the flower of Loudoun County she rode right by his side

Down in Loudoun County they still talk from time to time
Of how she could have had it all; she left it all behind
And the note she left, "Dear Daddy, it's true love I have found
It's a flower I knew would never grow in your Loudoun County ground"

Down in Loudoun County they still talk from time to time
Of how she could have had it all and left it all behind
And the note still reads "Dear Daddy, it's true love I have found
And I need it more than all your gold
And all the tobacco you can grow in your Loudoun County ground"

(© 1982 by Harvey Reid)

Originally recorded on #102 "A Very Old Song"

As re-released on #116 "Dreamer or Believer"

As re-recorded on #117 "The Autoharp Album"