Christine Leroy
No, brother, I'll never grow better
'Tis useless to tell me so now
My broken heart only is a-waiting
For a resting place under the snow
I was thinking last night, dear brother
How happy our home was with joy
When a serpent crept into our Eden
In the form of fair Christine Leroy
I was thinking last night of our wedding
One year ago only tonight
When we stood 'neath the gaslights so happy
In jewels and garments of white
When she came with the face of an angel
To wish us a lifetime of joy
My heart sank within at the malice
In the face of fair Christine Leroy
Diamonds gleamed high in her tresses
Falling back from her ivory brow
And glistened like stars in the heavens
On her fingers as white as the snow
When she gave her white hand to my husband
I knew he thought me a toy
By the side of that radiant beauty
That beautiful Christine Leroy
Time passed away and my husband
Grew thoughtless and careworn each day
I knew 'twas the wiles of the demon
Who so artfully lured him away
When at last one bright evening I found them
'Twas a sight all my life to destroy
Hand in hand, with her head on his shoulder
Sat my husband and Christine Leroy
Now brother, be kind to your darling
For my heart has grown sick now in pain
For the thoughts of the wiles of the demon
In the beautiful form of a saint
When I sleep 'neath the snowdrifts of winter
Where no sorrow or pain can destroy
Just tell them they murdered me, brother
God forgive him and Christine Leroy
Lyrics from the Mountain Music for Everyone Collection, a database of nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. The collection is provided by the Abbott family, which also offers books and CDs aimed at providing a path to playing by ear, songbooks, and play-along CDs for learning these traditional songs. Visit www.PlayingByEar.com for more.

