Artist: Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters
Author: traditional
Label: Columbia
Year: 1927

19th century ballad among Texas slaves. Partly inspired by real persons, Emily Morgan being one of them. She was a young black (The Black Rose Of Texas?), supposed to entertain General Santa Ana during the battle of San Jacinto. The first Texan folksong gaining national popularity. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a fan. The Library of Congress in Washington holds a sheet music version dating back to the days of the Civil War. Credited to initials J.K., never identified. Same tune was used for the Song Of The Texas Rangers. The melody to the chorus is from church hymn He's The Lily Of The Valley, which was taken from Little Old Cabin In The Lane.