On the banks of the lonely river Ten thousand miles away,

voiceCollected by Mary Celestia Parler; Transcribed by Neil Byer W. T. Dethero Batesville, Ark. April 13, 1955 Reel 223, Item 2 Ten Thousand Miles Away ("This is a story about a girl who was grieving for her mother ten thousand miles away, she's away from home.") On the banks of the lonely river Ten thousand miles away, I have an aged mother Whose hair is turning gray. Then blame me not for weeping, Oh, blame me not, I say, For I must see my mother Ten thousand miles away. And I wish I was a little bird, Could fly so far away, I'd fly to my lonely river Ten thousand miles away. Last night as I lie sleeping, A vision I did see, I dreamed that I saw my mother A-praying there for me. As years rolls on before me, I sometimes kneel and pray On the banks of the lonely river Ten thousand miles away. Today I got a letter, It came from a sister dear, It told me of my mother, I wish that she was here. Reel 223, Item 2, con't. It said that she lay sleeping In the cold and silent grave On the banks of a lonely river Ten thousand miles away. Say, I wish I was a little bird, Could fly so far away, I'd fly to that lonely river Ten thousand miles away.Funding for digitization provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Happy Hollow Foundation