pairlee Lyrics

pairlee was a bastard child
born in east tennessee
mama left her one day, granddaddy took her away

grandpa just tended his mill
and he planted the corn in the field
pairlee works by his side, they sing up to the sky

pairlee, pairlee
died under an apple tree
one cold winter's night, the frost took her life

they'd walk through the woods at night
holding hands, he'd let her lead
dreamt of days without corn, prayed with hands that were worn

there's something about them woods
a child can never know
where the old fallen leaves go when they float down the stream

pairlee, pairlee
died under an apple tree
one cold winter's night, the frost took her life

and grandpa, he loved pairlee
but his mind was getting so old
one night beneath that tree, pairlee fell asleep

and grandpa just wandered around
in the dark down by the creek
it was mid december when her forgot her

pairlee, pairlee
died under an apple tree
one cold winter's night, the frost took her life

now pa just sits in his yard
no corn to tend in his mill
'neath that tree he finds shade, right where pairlee laid