Van Lear Rose

INTRO: VERSE 1: One of my fondest memories Was sittin' on my daddy's knee Listenin' to the stories that he told He'd pull out that old photograph Like a treasured memory from the past, and say "Child, this here's the Van Lear Rose" VERSE 2: Oh, how it would bring a smile When he talked about her big, blue eyes And how her beauty ran down to her soul She'd walk across the coal miner's yard Them miners would yell loud and hard And they'd dream of who would hold the Van Lear Rose She was the belle of Johnson county Ohio river to Big Sandy A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal All the miners they would gather 'round And talk about the man that came to town Right under their nose, stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose VERSE 3: Now, the Van Lear Rose could of had her pick And all the fellers figured rich Until this poor boy caught her eye His buddies would all laugh and say, "You're dreamin' boy,she'll never look your way You'll never, ever hold the Van Lear Rose" CHORUS BRIDGE: Then one night in mid-July Underneath that old blue Kentucky sky Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say, "Your mama, she's the Van Lear Rose" CHORUS Right under their nose, stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose