«Red River Valley» is a folk song and cowboy music standard of uncertain origins that has gone by different names (such as «Cowboy Love Song», «Bright Sherman Valley», «Bright Laurel Valley», «In the Bright Mohawk Valley», and «Bright Little Valley»), depending on where it has been sung. It is listed as Roud Folk Song Index 756 and by Edith Fowke as FO 13. It is recognizable by its chorus (with several variations):
From this valley they say you are going.
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway a while.
So come sit by my side if you love me.
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
Just remember the Red River Valley,
And the cowboy that has loved you so true.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time, ranked #10
Some recordings
1926 Kelly Harrell «Bright Sherman Valley»
1927 Hugh Cross and Riley Puckett «Red River Valley»
1928 Jimmie Rodgers «Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea».
1944 Woody Guthrie for Asch Recordings 19 April 1944. G
1946 Gene Autry recorded «Red River Valley» for Columbia
1947–50 Bill Haley and the Four Aces of Western Swing – vocal by Tex King.
1950s Jack Arthur for Peter Pan Records (453B).
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://whentcowboysings.com/marty-robbins-red-river-valley/&media=https://whentcowboysings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/tarquin45-YouTube-Channel.jpg&description="Red River Valley" is a folk song and cowboy music standard of uncertain origins that has gone by different names (such as "Cowboy Love Song", "Bright Sherman Valley", "Bright Laurel Valley", "In the Bright Mohawk Valley", and "Bright Little Valley"), depending on where it has been sung. It is listed as Roud Folk Song Index 756 and by Edith Fowke as FO 13. It is recognizable by its chorus (with several variations):From this valley they say you are going.We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,For they say you are taking the sunshineThat has brightened our pathway a while.So come sit by my side if you love me.Do not hasten to bid me adieu.Just remember the Red River Valley,And the cowboy that has loved you so true.Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time, ranked #10Top recordings1926 Kelly Harrell "Bright Sherman Valley" (Victor 20527 9 June 1926).1927 Hugh Cross and Riley Puckett "Red River Valley" (Columbia 15206-D).1928 Jimmie Rodgers "Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea".1944 Woody Guthrie for Asch Recordings 19 April 1944. Guthrie also recorded for Asch the Spanish Civil War version, "Jarama Valley".1946 Gene Autry recorded "Red River Valley" for Columbia Records on August 30, 1946 which issued in 1947 with the 78 rpm set Gene Autry's Western Classics and later appeared on various compilations including The Gene Autry Collection and The Essential Gene Autry 1933-1946.1947–50 Bill Haley and the Four Aces of Western Swing – vocal by Tex King.1950s Jack Arthur for Peter Pan Records (453B).1959 Bing Crosby recorded the song for his album How the West Was Won.){kind=link}