Written by Loretta Lynn/Patsy Lynn Russell
INTRO: G VERSE 1: G One of my fondest memories C Was sittin' on my daddy's knee G Listenin' to the stories that he told G He'd pull out that old photograph C Like a treasured memory from the past, and say G D G "Child, this here's the Van Lear Rose" G VERSE 2: G Oh, how it would bring a smile C When he talked about her big, blue eyes G And how her beauty ran down to her soul G She'd walk across the coal miner's yard C Them miners would yell loud and hard G D G And they'd dream of who would hold the Van Lear RoseVERSE 3: G Now, the Van Lear Rose could of had her pick C And all the fellers figured rich G Until this poor boy caught her eye G His buddies would all laugh and say, C "You're dreamin' boy,she'll never look your way G D G You'll never, ever hold the Van Lear Rose" CHORUS BRIDGE: G Then one night in mid-July C Underneath that old blue Kentucky sky G Well, that poor boy won that beauty's heart Then my daddy would look at my mommy and smile C As he brushed the hair back from my eyes and he'd say, G D G "Your mama, she's the Van Lear Rose" CHORUS D G Right under their nose, stole the heart of the Van Lear RoseC She was the belle of Johnson county G Ohio river to Big Sandy D G A beauty to behold like a diamond in the coal C All the miners they would gather 'round G And talk about the man that came to town D G Right under their nose, stole the heart of the Van Lear Rose