Humor / West Virginia

She came rollin’ down the mountain

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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Some know the song as “Nancy Brown,” others as “The West Virginia Hills,” but according to The Frank Gullo Music Sheet (sic) Collection at Millersville University, “She Came Rollin’ Down the Mountain” was written by Arthur Lippmann, Manning Sherwin, and Harry Richman and published by Crawford Music Corporation in 1932.

A six-stanza parody of "She Came Rollin' down the Mountain" was published in 1952 by textile tycoon Elliot Springs, to advertise his Spring Maid bedsheets. Here's an illustration from that campaign.
A six-stanza parody of “She Came Rollin’ down the Mountain” was published in 1952 by textile tycoon Elliot Springs, to advertise his Spring Maid bedsheets. Here’s an illustration from that campaign.

The ditty tells the tale of Nancy Brown, who throws over one suitor after another until she finds the man she’s been waiting for: “A city slicker with hundred dollar bills.” They live happily ever after, until…

In the hills of West Virginia
There’s a gal named Nancy Brown
She was the fairest maiden
in city or in town

Now Nancy and the Deacon
climbed the mountainside one noon
they climbed up to the summit
but very very soon

She came rollin’ down the Mountain,
rollin’ down the mountain
Rollin’ down the mountain mighty wide

No, she didn’t give the Deacon
not a thing that he was seekin’
She remained just as pure
as the West Virginia sky.

Then there came that ol’ cowboy
came a cowboy with his song
took Nancy up the mountain
but she still knew right from wrong

She came rollin’ down the Mountain
rollin’ down the mountain
Rollin’ down the mountain by the Dam

And despite that cowboys urgin’
she remained the village virgin
she remained just as pure
as the West Virginia sand

Then there came that Old trapper
with his words so soft and kind
took Nancy up the mountain
but when she read his mind

She came rollin’ down the Mountain
rollin’ down the mountain
Rollin’ down the mountain by the shack

She remained as I have stated
not the least contaminated
she remained just as pure
as Satin’s apple jack

Then there came a city slicker
with a hundred dollar bill
took Nancy and his Packard
way up on the hill

Oh, she stayed up on that mountain
stayed up on that mountain
she stayed up on that mountainall that night

She came down next morning early
more a woman than a girly
and her pappy kicked that hussy out of sight

And now she’s livin’ in the city,
she’s living in the city
livin’ in the city mighty swell

Now her life’s all beer and skiddles
and she lives on fancy viddles
and those West Virginia hills can go to hell.

Well there came a big depression,
and the slicker lost his pants;
First he lost his Cadillac,
and then he lost his Nance.

And she came back to the mountain,
She came back to the mountain,
She came back to the mountain mighty sore,

And the cowboy and the deacon
Got that thing that they were seekin’
And she’s known as West Virginia’s biggest…used car dealer.

Recorded versions:
Blue Ridge Mountain Girls, “She Came Rollin’ Down the Mountain” (Champion 16743, 1934)
The Sons of the Pioneers’ “Songs of the Prairie” (Bear Family 5-CD box set #15710, 1998)
The Callahan Brothers: ‘The Callahan Brothers’ Old Homestead (OHCD-4013, 1936)
The Aaron Sisters: Various Artists ‘Flowers in the Wildwood: Women in Early Country Music 1923-1939’ (Trikont US-1310)
Tex Morton’s “Regal Zonophone Collection V.2” (EMI CD 8142052, 1997)

Callahan Brothers - She Came Rollin' Down The Mountain

sources: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=308390
www.csufresno.edu/folklore/drinkingsongs/mp3s/field-work/other-collections/ed-cray-collection/american/westvirg150.txt
www.library.millersville.edu/sc/manuscripts/manus/scoreS.htm
www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Nancy_Brown.htm

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3 comments

  1. In the hills of West Virginia
    Lived a girl named Nancy Brown.
    You’ve never seen such beauty
    In village or in town.

    Now Nancy and the deacon
    Climbed the highest peak one day.
    But when they reached the summit
    Up there they did not stay.

    She came rollin’ down the mountain,
    She came rollin’ down the mountain,
    She came rollin’ down the mountain
    By the mill.

    She remained as I have stated
    Not one bit contaminated,
    Just as pure as a West Virginia hill.

    Then came the cowboy
    With his guitar and his song.
    Took Nance up in the mountains
    But they did not stay there long.

    She came rollin’ down the mountain,
    She came rollin’ down the mountain,
    She came rollin’ down the mountain
    By the dam.

    And despite that villains urgin’
    She remained the village virgin
    Just as pure as a West Virginia ham.

    Then came the city slicker
    With his hundred dollar bills.
    Took Nance up in the mountains
    Way up in them there hills.

    And they stayed up in the mountains,
    And they stayed up in the mountains,
    And they stayed up in the mountains
    All that night.

    She came down next mornin’ early,
    More a woman than a girley
    And her pappy kicked that hussy out of sight.

    Now they’re livin’ in the city,
    Now they’re livin’ in the city,
    Now they’re livin’ in the city
    Mighty swell.

    And instead of beer and skittles,
    Why they’re eatin’ fancy vittles
    And the West Virginia hills can go to hell.

    Then came the recession,
    Kicked the slicker in the pants.
    He lost his great big Caddy
    and he’s all washed up with Nance.

    She came rollin’ back to the mountains,
    She came rollin’ back to the mountains,
    She came rollin’ back to the mountains
    Mighty sore.

    Now the cowboy and the deacon
    Why they’re gettin’ what they’re seekin’
    And she’s known as a West Virginai whore.

  2. Back in 1960, a musical group of Harvard undergrads labeled “The Raunch Hands” cut an LP entitled “The RH pickin’ and singin'” with an Ivy-league version of this song. Here it is:
    THE RAUNCH HANDS – Pickin’ and singin’ – Epic Records LN 3698 (1959)
    Rollin’ Down The Mountain (Nancy Brown)
    INTRO
    Some years ago, in Harvard Square, there was a banner on sale which read : “When better women are made, Harvard men will make them”.
    This song is the story behind that banner.

    In the hills of West Virginny lived a girl named Nancy Brown
    She was the finest filly for many miles around
    A deacon come a-courtin’ the valley from below
    He almost reached the summit but no further would she go
    She come rollin’ down the mountain, rollin’ down the mountain
    She come rollin’ down the mountain shouting “No!”
    And she didn’t give that deacon everything that he was seekin’
    She remained as pure as West Virginny snow.
    Well, along come a Yalie with his words so sweet and fine
    Sent Nancy up the mountain but alas she read his mind
    And she come rollin’ down the mountain, rollin’ down the mountain
    She come rollin’ down the mountain heading back
    She remained as I have stated not one whit contaminated
    She remained as pure as Pappy’s applejack.
    Then came a Princeton man and he wooed her with a song
    He took her up the mountain but she still knew right from wrong
    And she come rollin’ down the mountain, rollin’ down the mountain
    She come rollin’ down the mountain breathing scorn
    And she left her bold companion to the coyotes in the canyon
    She remained as pure as West Virginny corn.
    Along come a Harvard man with his hundred-dollar bills
    Took Nancy in his Cadillac way up into the hills
    And she stayed up in the mountain, she stayed up in the mountain
    Oh she stayed up in the mountain all that night
    She returned next morning early, more a woman than a girly
    And her Pappy kicked that hussy out of sight.
    Now she’s livin’ in the city, she’s livin’ in the city
    Oh she’s livin’ in the city mighty swell
    She is dancin’ she is dinin’, on her fanny she’s reclinin’
    And the West Virginny hills can go to hell (x2)

  3. Pingback: You must know the six types of married folks - Appalachian History

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