I was born in East Virginia North Carolina, I did go There I met the fairest maiden Her name and age I did not know Her hair it was a light brown color Cheeks that were a ruby red On her dress she wore white lilies Where I long to lay my head I was born in East Virginia North Carolina, I did go There I met the fairest maiden Her name and age I did not know Cotton doves know my sorrows Cotton doves don't know my pain Once they've courted one another They never fly away again I was born in East Virginia North Carolina, I did go There I met the fairest maiden Her name and age I did not know Her name and age I did not know