One of my fondest memories

Was sittin' on my daddy's knee

Listenin' to the stories that he told

He'd pull out that old photograph

Like a treasured memory from the past

And say child

This here's the Van Lear Rose



Oh how it would bring a smile

When he talked about her big blue eyes

And how her beauty ran down to her soul

She'd walk across the coal miner's yard

Them miner's would yell loud and hard

and they'd dream of who would hold

The Van Lear Rose



[Chorus:]

She was the belle of Johnson County

Ohio river to Big Sandy

A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal

All the miner's they would gather 'round

Talk about the man that came to town

Right under their nose

Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose



Now the Van Lear Rose could've had her pick

And all the fellers figured rich

Until this poor boy caught her eye

His buddies would all laugh and say

Your dreamin' boy she'll never look your way

You'll never ever hold the Van Lear Rose



[Chorus]



Then one night in mid July

Underneath that ol' blue Kentucky sky

Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart

Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile

As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say

Your mama

She's the Van Lear Rose



[Chorus]



Right under their nose

Stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose