My Darling Nelly Grey

[patthecatman]

phil crosby disputed gary's book as "rantings" and called his brother a "dirty, rotten liar". there are pros and cons to bing's personal life; he was a stanch catholic for most of it..

[patthecatman]

i heard crosby doing this on an early 40's radio recording.  he introduced it as being written by a young man, i believe named hamby. by the way, crosby's treatment of the song was simply beautiful.

[josephcormier]

@patthecatman J R HANBY. You're absolutely right. Bing did a great job of any song he sang. Too bad he abused his children, to the point of Gary killing himself. Not much of a legacy to leave behind. But, yes, he was the best.

[wbhenderson]

Very lovely rendition. This has been called the "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" of ante-bellum songs. However, this wasn't written by Foster (common mistake), although it definitely sounds like his work. Written in 1856 by Benjamin Russell Hanby, an American composer who wrote approximately 80 songs, including "Darling Nelly Gray", the Christmas song "Up on the House Top", and the hymn "Who Is He In Yonder Stall?".

Also, a "folk song" technically has no known author, place, date, etc.

[josephcormier]

@wbhenderson Yes I found this out after. But thank you for the lovely comment. God bless.

[wqpeb]

Just listening to you again doing this beloved classic. Many many times before, it has brightened my heart, dear friend. All the very best of blessings to you and yours in 2011, and always remember...you are much loved.

Jordan

[josephcormier]

@wqpeb Thank you so much Jordan. That means a lot to me. God bless you.

[blclawn3]

I learned this song when I was a little girl. I believe my grandmother taught it to my mother. I don't recall any words about the white man and binding with chains, but I recall another verse that I haven't heard in these you tube videos.

[blueslidejoe]

Hey brother thats so beautifull, I have been doing that with my jazzband for years but

I know I never sang it with such a true feeling you do. Thats great! Thank You brother

Take care. BSJ

[LittleBirdPathfinder]

I LOVE this song.........I set on my World War I Father's knee and hear these words again.....a sad song but beautiful meaning........Not many had a Daddy who was 61 years young when they were born

[josephcormier]

Yes, that is a great experience to have a Dad 61 years young at your birth. God bless you.

[drifterls]

My father used to play this on the fiddle ,,The only words I ever heard in the song were ,,Oh my darling Nelly Gray they have taken you away.,,and that was it...I never new how beautiful this song was until just now,,and I didnt know it had anything to do with slaves...How sad. But it did bring back sweet memorys of my Dad who passed in 1980..Thank you so much for posting this one.. Chuck. Ontario .Canada.

[josephcormier]

I lived in Ontario for many years. London and Kitchener. God bless you.

[chasethemtail]

Darling Nelly gray the song was written by

B.R.HANBY, I have a song book copy right

1915 and the second print 1923. I see no where , that it say the white man came and bound her with chain. this must be your words.

[josephcormier]

Yes, below you will see that we now know who wrote. However there are several variations of this song. But they all indicate that Nellie Grey was a slave. Thankyou for your comment. None of these lines are mine.

[eringobragh915]

@chasethemtail This song is much older than that. It was played during the Civil War. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee had a horse who he named Nelly Gray.

[josephcormier]

@eringobragh915 Yes you are absolutely right. It is very old.

[josephcormier]

@chasethemtail Yes you are right. I'll get it straight some day? LOL!

[wqpeb]

check out my comment above banjony.

you are FAR from alone today in wondering about the significance of these things.

Take care, and be well.

[wqpeb]

God has blessed you also josephcormier. Your life is of great value to us all.

banjony, 11 months ago you commented that you did not understand the significance of the beautiful black girl in this video. She is of course in reference to the deeply missed Nelly Grey. Shame this is the reality today in modern society. Schools leave out such things as teachings on genuine gems like this song. Sure, it was written long enough ago, but the truth it reveals is as poignant today as then.

[josephcormier]

Thank you for this very important comment.  Racism must stop, or this world will come to a very sad end. GOD BLESS YOU!

[comradeshow]

@josephcormier Nice comment. I'm a Civil War reenactor and this song is so true to what slaves went through. God bless ya and have a happy thanksgiving

[josephcormier]

@comradeshow God bless you my friend.

[wqpeb]

Shame people are so bloody thick these days.

(Nothing personal banjony. Many would end up asking just what you did here.) But we have lost so much of our care and our desire to know about our past.

Thank God for you josephcormier and this sweet and dearest rendition of a very sad tale indeed..

[josephcormier]

Thank you very much for listening, and hearing the message. God has blessed you.

[banjony]

Did I make a comment? I love this tune? Wqpbeb what are you referring to?

[deez890]

This is Beautiful Song. Thanks for the post. However, it wasn't written by Stephen Foster. It was written by Benjamin Hanby. Hanby composed the song while attending Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio in 1856, in response to the plight of a runaway slave named Joseph Selby or Shelby. Benjamin Hanby's father, Bishop William Hanby, a United Brethren minister who was active in the Underground Railroad, was attempting to raise money to free Selbys beloved.

[josephcormier]

I want to thank you very much for setting me straight on this song, and who wrote. I wish more people were this helpful. I'm getting old. I forget stuff. Thanks again.

[LittleBirdPathfinder]

I think it is appropriate that there is such a pretty black woman on here. It shows how far our society has come. Now, we have a President whose skin color is black. This song also takes me back to my Daddy's knee....a Daddy who was 60 years young when I was born. Every time it would play I would cry. Daddy said, "I wont sing it because it will make you cry." I begged him and promised not to cry but every time I couldn't help it! What a phenomenal message this carries! Thanks for a great edition

[josephcormier]

Thank you for pointing out the importance of this song. Thanks for getting it.

[sirg31]

thanks for singing the traditional version of this song...nellie gray is a lost "story" because it is so often edited...most modern bluegrass song books leave out the verse that explains why nellie is gone...good job,,,5 stars.

[josephcormier]

Thank you for pointing that out my new friend. God bless you!

[Killeybegs]

So True Joseph, It was written in regards to a Slave Girl of African Heritage and was 1 of The late Great Ole Georgie Boy, Mr. Riley Pucketts early hits on the "Columbia & Brunswick Discs". I have it on Brunswick 78 and it is about a half inch thick 78 record. Thanks for your Great Rendition.  Jerry

[josephcormier]

Thank you Jerry. These songs mean a great deal to me and the fight against Racism.

[banjony]

Hot girl in the video....but out of place in this montage...what gives?

[josephcormier]

Nelly Grey was taken as a SLAVE. She was a Black girl. That's what the song is about!

[LittleBirdPathfinder]

This song takes me back to my Daddy's knee. Phenomenal! Love it!

[bagup59]

Nice