Barbara Romberg interview with Laura Belle Terry, Willie Sue Dillard, Mamie L. Dillard, Flora Fore, Orville Hyatt, Pluma Hyatt, and Forrest Lee Clowdus

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.
The interview starts at 13:50 with Laura Belle Terry singing Something Got Ahold of Me. At 16:41 Willie Sue Dillard sings Barbara Allen and Once I Had a Loving Sweetheart. Next at 25:19 Mamie Dillard sings Little Rosebud Casket. She plays a short song on the piano and then harmonizes with her daughter, Willie Sue Dillard, to the song Give My Love to Nell." Then Flora Fore sings The Girl I Loved in Sunny Tennessee. At 33:39 the interview with the Hyatts begins with Pluma Hyatt demonstrating to Barbara Romberg the childrens rhyming game William, William, Tremble Toe. The Hyatts then take Romberg on a trip along Chandler Mountain in their wagon. At 35:55 Orville Hyatt sings the fah soh la song, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. He also explains the origin of this style of singing, which the Denton family of Tennessee developed as a new way to sing white spirituals during the religious revival of the 1840s. At 38:24 Orville Hyatt sings another fah soh la song, Thou Teachest. At 41:14 Forrest Lee Clowdus sings Beautiful Brown Eyes, Down in the Valley, Goodbye, Goodbye, Little Darling (Nobodys Darling But Mine), You Are My Sunshine, I Love Little Willy, and Rose Connelly. He also plays Boil Them Cabbage Down'' and Camptown Races on the harmonica between 49:39-52:24.
Mamie L. Dillard (1911-?) married Thomas Dillard (1909-?), and they had one child, Willie Sue Dillard (1935-2006). Willie Sue Dillard married Charles Auburn Beatty (1930-1990), and they had one child, Carl Stanley Beatty (1957-1958). Flora Flore (1885-1979) worked as a teacher at Fort mountain, Georgia. Pluma Hyatt (1900-?) married Elisha Hyatt (1891-?), and they had one son, Orville Hyatt (1928-?), who married Marie Hyatt. Forrest Lee Clowdus (1933-1983) married Mary Yvonne Hyatt (1934-?), and they had three children: Jackie Faye Clowdus (1953-1953), Janice Marie Clowdus (1955-1979), and Roger Lynn Clowdus (1962-1965). Additional biographical information has not been determined.
Fasola singing; Sacred Harp singing;
A COLLECTION OF' FOLK SONGS FRO"! THE I:'EOPLE: Barbar@o R@rnb@rg, Englisb 406, Mr.John Burrison, Ms,rch 3rd, 1968. It WB~S eo,rly in the morning when I arl"jved ut Ohundler mountain to visit some of the families who live there, and, if lucky, to collect some geod songs. The day wos cold, crisp ;end sunny and my spirits werj high. I had besn to Ohandler mountain in the past, visiting the Spring Arts and Crafts Show at Horse I~ns 40, B,nd the sir;ht of some of the f6,rmers' Hives w"orin" th03ir oldtJ.mey sun bonnets D,S they worked in the fielrJs ws,s not struIwe to m. Farming was the re',e,son "Trdch brought settlers to the urea :lnitl"lly. Chandler mountaIn 11'01,8 numed ",fter ,Joel Ohandler, vlho moved to Cleo~r Springs at the foot of the mounts,ln in ei.l;hteen fourteen. From the cove that surrounded lvlr.Oh''1'!rJler's spring there WEd3 '1, p::'.th le:::dJ.ng up thE' n1'Juntai.n to 8, well knovll1 hunting, spot. By those who pa,ssed by his c9,bin on the vray to the hunting -2- spot the mountcdn became known s,s Cb;;mdler mountaIn. The fIrst wbite settler cc'me to Cbandler mountaIn In eii,;btecm rocks about i'ourteen feet bigh. eIg,bty five. Chandler mountain :ts a plateau i801;~jtf3d by It is about nine milGs long and tVio snd a ball' miles wide. Nortb of BirminGham, Al 8"bama , tbe mountain Is situated clofle to tbe tOVins of AsbVille, Oneonta 8"nd Attall,,". 'I'be community on top of tbe mountain is lmovln ss Steele. Almost all of tbe settlers bere migrated from Nortb Geor5ia. Tbere is good farming seil here, especially for temstoes. (Cbandler mountain tomD,toes can even compete i'avour"i,bly I'li th Englisb tomatoes.) Isoh,ted for 8, long, long tIme, tbe mountai"n noVi is beIng invaded by bIg business - I saw a tomato processing plunt, and some Hido roads vrere being constructed. Soon tbere will be mucb communication wIth tbe outside I'/orld mId the survivIng folk tJ:1adition will be further vlealtened. lVIy first stop Vias at tbe home of lVIrs. Laura Belle 'Perry. Her bouse is at a bigb end of tbe mountain. Al thougb not expectlng me, and bavIng tbree young, cbildren around bel' "rbo needed 8/Gtentton, Bbe \n,',8 leind enougb te agrec~ to sing some songs. Mrs.Terry said she used to sing mostly religious sengs tG bel' cbildren wben tb!\!y \'rere babies, 2md sbe sang one for us wbicb sbe bad made up berself, witb a hymn added to it, SometbInf' Got ftHold of Be. LeaVing Mrs. '1'erry, \'/e travelled down to &,notber lady, lVIrs. Mam Ie Di 11 ard . Ghe is un eld!E'rly lady, and said sbe could not sing any Bongs for us, but luckily for me, her d,mf',bter was visiting bel', who ,said shre wouldn't mind singing at all. Willy l<ifacy IJ,ppears to be in her twenties. '['bere were tbrCO'2 8 istoros :.'nd !.l brotber, Mrs. DIllard saId, and tbe as cblldr@n, o.nd whIle working. Her son plays tbe Vlitar, Hr's. DH18rd sl3.ld, but he plays all tbe 11.8\'1 rock and roll music .. Wben I asked bow .he IGarned the songs whicb she bu.d pURsed on to her cb:i.ldren she s":1d she had learned some from bel' parents, eJ.ncl ll10st of tlVHll from th'3 young Willy Vl o.s not sure of the Vlor-ds to the songs she sung., so I gave her the words. She sane; Barbara Allen, Once I Had a Loving D.n old English ballad \'1hich was brougbt Qver to 1'.mer:1c8. by tbe e~rlie8t settlers. '['here are ll1!WY var:1ants. l Mrs.Knipp, he says in his J'unuary entry 1666. The song was pos2.ibl!i' a libel con Barbe..r'" Vi lliers and her relut:1.ons wIth Charles 11. 2 Goldsmith, in 1765, in bis third essaY,tells of how an old duirymkld used to sing him to tears \'lith Bo.rbara ALlen. Once I Had 8. Bl'leetbeu.rt is Sl.lS0 knoH11 in 'renncBsF:L3', M:ls81s8iP.oi Lend Nort.h OriJ.X'olinr" ,Sl,ltbougb, she EL':J..ld, sbe only remembered a couple of 8t(~_nZiJ,s. 'I.'hen she pl'J.Yed tbe pio.no for U8. It was oasy to picture her \'lith ber i'D,mily grouped ""round the piano and 8:1ng1n(.': 'the old 8ong[~, Mrs, mlL,rd and Willy M"y 'then harmoniz,ed QivcJ\1,y Love tQ, Nell. 'I'his song \'las I}, music hall faVOU1"i'te whleh estb,blished itsolf in tradi'tion. 3 I was Cju.ite sorry to leave tho Dillards; I hoped they hod enjeyed 'the songfest (',S much [,S I hEd. 'rhe bool{ 'th,oy used Vias Arnold, A lady of eighty three was nex't on my list, It il3 thrilling to be given the name of someon0 who might know sromo more songs, and wi'th hip;h hopes I HCsnt to see Mrs.F'larO', ITore. Her houso has B large cornfield at 'ohm back, and is surrounded by sheds n,lled with old f,u'minf~ 8,nd pI0uf"hing tmplements. The field bad reoently boen gatbered, and fOT'mod an impress:ive cmdhoButiful background to tbe reugbHor voice was a pleasure to listen to, in spite of ber saying it vl21S getting, old, Sbe had some 'tl'ouble undel"stLmding me, and I am not .sUl'e whethel' it 1'T80S me or a little deafness on her part. I told ber wbat I was doing on Cbandler mountain, and she said sbe used to be a te&wbel' at Fort mountGd.n, Georgia, many years Gtgo, before they oct-me to live on the mountain. She \'iOS weal'ing wbat looked lil{e 8, bomespun jacket, 2nd dark stockings, and I \40uld bave lilnldto have ta],en ber pboto,IT,l'aph, but did not wfusb to ttre bel' as sbe bad been so kind as to sIng. I could not r(0sist haVing my own picture'l taken, howevel', out in the field, standIng amid the alien corn, A little later in the day I went to visit tbe Hyatts. Aunt Plurrr::a, Hyatt, the mother of Ml',OrvUle Hyatt, \'rbo later sung me some fah sob la songs, showed me the childl'en's ga.me -5- 1i'lilll":Q1..>._\'!.111i.:l'!), 1'remble 1'ee, and told me how she puts s horsesboe Into tbe fire to keep the h'Ci.wks from the chIckens. The horseshoe becomos very bot, ,a.nd tbe hawks vlill not then come near. Her son and his \'lIfe, Orville [,-nd Ivl"rlo Hyatt trlentoek us along the mOlJ.ntain In a wagon they used to use, tmtil Mr. Hyatt bought a trucl" to transport goods to market. They are farming people, as ore most of the people who lIve on the mountaln. '1'wo other promInent crops, besIdes the tomatoes, a:ppear to be corn and cabbage. In the back of the w@,gon we rode along the mountuln and through the trees and underbrllsh whIch I'rore yet barr'en of leaves beneath the brigbt crIspness of the wlnter sky. When we passed threugh some thIcker underbrUllh I was hIt a couple of tlmes by the strIplIngs of twigs, whIch felt lIke s whiplash across my fsce, and so I crouched close to the bottom untll I felt all W8S clear. As 11'0 travelled Mr.Hystt began to sIng a fah so la song. and lovely voice. He to tall 8.TId blg, {],ud h~;lS D. str0ng, deep It was a thrillIng experience, travililling along the side of the bluff In the crIsp ,sunshIne, hearlng blm sing. He attends rC?gule'rly the fah soh 1.1:mG'c,tIngs whlch are held In Oneonta. Oneonta is a known centre for fah suh 18 meetIngs, I understand. The fah soh la style is four pc"rt harmonIsing, and was beg";un by tbe Denton famIly of Tennessee. OrIgInally lntended as a new and better way of olnging the whIte splrltuals whIch came Into belng after the tblrd rellgious revival of the ilghteen fortIes, fah soh 1m appears on the wrItten pase In the form of dIfferent shaped notes, euch shape constitutIng one part of the ha.rmony. 'l'he harmony Itself ls fairly sImple. Many old -6- hymns have been set to the four part harmony, as well as the origin".l white spirituD.ls, and Ivlr.Hyatt s8.nr,; one of the old hymns, beginning by singi.ng the names of the notes which is the style of fah soh la singing, \'l e re &10 hed Oedar Hock overlook, 8. beautiful ,gpot on the bluff of the mountain, from whi.ch one can ,gee for mi.les; on this most be&lutiful of days the vi.sibil:1.ty was almost unlimited. In this lovely spot Mr. Hyatt s2.ng another f2h soh 1", song, nove Divine, All Lov8sExc0?lling, an old and compelling hymn tune, I was very gratefUl to the Hyatts this day for adding so greatly to my field collection. I had another piece of luck up here. Unable to track down any informatJ.on on 1'he De8th of Pompey I finally ct',ught e. hurried last fr8.gment of the elusive song!l. (see +,,-pe.) On a later d,J,y I 1vsnt to visit ]vIr. Forrest Lee 01o"/dus, a180 of Steele,Alabama. Mr. 01 G\'ldu s h 8.S sung at folIes one~ festivals anc] bas a. very fine V0?:1.CE3 and manner of singing. '\~t) He is enrployc;d at th0? ~_ plant in Oneonta. He was watching televi.s:1.on when I went to see him. His small son Has L'lslec:p in hi8 arms, and his v-life ,qa.8 s:t a church He enjoys singing the songs, be says, songs he has kno1"m for years. He S1lrlf Birminp;h~;m Jail, Beantiful (0.Q:QfZh'(C;;_.1oc?dD'(fj II Jtrc dO,,;'~{II'\\ \(iJV~ (\r--e---~~~;Lf 1 L(;0{~ !- rio \rJ\d\{ Brovrn Jyes "wd Rose Oonnele". Ins dE1Ur.""bter, "Iho was -,--- 7ft ,) about t\velV8 yc:ars old, IY'8r.sunded bim to sIng the It:cLter- - although Mr.OloVldu8 did not need persuad:ing - as she liked hie si.ng:1.ng that Gong. There "w.s ,9.n [d.r of etlSY'.content- ,ent in that house, a lovely atmosphere which I wanted to tak0? bo.ck w:1.tb me. He appear0d to fuvour the sad songs, D,nd Vlben I d him Why he sa1.d they were the ones whi,ch sprung most re,,,cUly to mind. -7- His mother's family had known When I 10ft jylr.61owduB I felt e, botter person thab I had folt before I had visited with him. Gvjdence which Gupported its orir1.n as bcinv in ttle Un1,ted St tr,:?8, 3nd nonG r1U etj.V2 of British ari h~!d 8tlng the Bongs, Mr.Gl.oW&lS then pl, ua t,une on memory of it still rems,ins fr08 h'H1<J b appy one. 18'0 Sometb inp; Got lUI old of :Me, sung by Mrs. LQ,UrD, Bello Ire rry t StE'ele, Al c:!... I went to the church the other nlght The devll sald don'cha go in . lsd, "It won't hurt, r'll .Just step inslde, And st&tnd s' far back 8.8 I C5m. II Somethlng got s hold of me Yes something got a hold of me I went there to fight the Lord that night But somethlng got :,. hold of me. Amti,zing fsra,ce hOH sweet the sound 1'hat saved a wretch 11ke me I 1Iilnce '''as lost, but now I'm found '110,8 blind but novi I see. Somothing got a hold of me Yes something get 8 hold of me I vrent there to fight the lLorc1 that night Bu t God got a hold of me. GIve Tv1y Love to Hell Bu..rb 11'Y Al10n 'gy :inform::1nt l/~:',S Ullf:jUrC' text. P.p. 76,77. .Hc):r. Ar'nol d, J~o lk..:.~~g~~.. g~L.. i}d~ ::;.l?_.UIl ,,~ 0 elive ~lY--:-\s?y.~_t0 __E~~I1., ,Jl E~ 0 took t 11(~ from the text. P.p. 8,9. My inform ~~~, rho sung "lords 61' tbls biJ.1Hld Once I Hod 11 Lovin' Sweetheart, sung by WJ.lly Sue Dillard, :3teele, ills" Once I had a loving sweetheart His love was brave Bnd thle He told me that be loved me And of course He proved it so. He often came to see me As the sun \1aS Sinldng 10\1 His bail' was dark and curly His loving eyes was blue He was li1{c all other boys and girls He had a 13l?HBfl4.E..!.-sH'tl?1lI friend and cbum lmd oft togetb(1r they would [';0 [<'or pleasure and for fun. Some boys persu.dB him off from me I never knew what for They per81wde him off to Journey Into the 'Merican war. When he come to say goodbye My heart did overflow He said, "Be good my darlin' little girl For 1"rance I must go." He bought a golden fJnger rin[1; He pl,wed H on my h3.11d And he 8Edd, "Remember me, "Ihen I'm in a far off land. II He promised to wrj,t@ me a letter His Dromise he kept true He \"Irote these ev'ry words to me I'm coming back to you. This war is nearly ovor The end is just 3.hea~ Li ttle Rosebud C1Js]{et., ,9,mg by Mrs. lJl.l'lillard, Bt(,ele, Ala. Del.doll cl~~'8~f~cs t~e song 0,8 lJo1ng 2 typical piece of 1. j, tsrD,ry GGnt iment ~.J ~'he f3 hn,g only tJ(:~c:r1 [.11 no Qv(~rcc1 :in. }Jrlnted. form onc<2~ nr.l.cl flO hD,S 8troni7 oral trucJjtlon of t3uy'viv::1.1. It :LS, E). tYJ;J:lc:J,,1 p;:Lrlour lJon.c~" 'vI:ltb much sentjrnemtalityo My informont was eble to rmmember only t ,\\r 0 ~;~ t DI1Z D,S b __-..Jj)tt\$!~ There's a rli~tle rosebud casket CasUng Ol~Jmarble stlJnd With a package of love letters Written by my true love's hand. There's been a change in the ocean There's been a change in th'sea There' ,9 been D. chm1.ge 1n yowt dar11ng But there's been no change in me, On a morntne; brtght and clear '1' 0 myoId h orne I drew ne ar Just a vtllage dOVin tn sunny Tennessee I was speedtng on the tratn That would brtng me back agatn To the gtrl that hed been watttng there for me It had been a few short years Stnce I ktssed a'lls,y her tears As I left her by my dear old mother's stde And each do,y He'd been epe,r:b She'd groHn dearer to my heart Than the ntght I asle of her to bf,) my brtde. You could hear the d8,rkies singinp; As she said farewell to me Far across the field of cotton IIfy oId hom,estea,d I could see As the moon rose in its glory There I told life's sweetest story (ro tl1e girl I loved in sUYl.ny JrennefjSEH~; ,t,\s the train drew up a,t laBt Old famtlier scenes I passed And I kil;sed my mother at the stc"tJon door l\.nd a8 old fr:iendD g.D,therE'd round Te,~1r8 on evr 2;r:y 1'13,ce I found But I mls,,"jed the onc:' that 1 1 0 been long,:'i.nc,:'; for d,. i'c"'lO' I 1,'ll'l "'-':>J.-"'~./.. c'-,nv.,o",(i - ~_, lIv'''th'r .ll"J t;:'O'OJ" dE~,::'r Wbere l s my Mary, she's not here?tl tal tlJe,' world seemed lost uXlc1 8,',J,clnesu came to me For she 'Dointed to GDot In tho cGurchyurc1's li~tlc lot itlbere my sV.J8'ethe?rt sle0IJs ~_n Bunny Tc::;nne,ssee. YCJl.1 could h(0D,r ttH3 darl\:ies stne:tnp: As she said farewell to me Far across the field of cotton ]{y old hOfncstea.d I could see As the moon rOB in its ory T re I told life's sweetest story Ira ti'H:; g)l'l I lovc;;d 1n Gunny ~>3nn8si3eH3. 11 i L.'ov~~,,_"2?lyj~ :nc:-'_J~:.lL Lqv r ;;lL~,.:.~E~11il.l[:~'JI~-1:,h_",~i2tl,_~.::}~, E;lUIlE:, by M.L" Orvll1(~ HyL1,tt, Stl :;(21c, il..l~:r". l:jl~Jb ~0 E-'.,h I 1:1 1 0 1 0 1 ,-:\h me3 .CO d) 1 {:1, " .L J. u oh 13 oh r3 oh fa,h I n. 1 0 fDJ,1 n oh fn,b 1 ,.h Inc ..:' 1 ,"'1 .r:- .1h I 1 c 1 0 1 :'h me f uJJ 1 8 ob c- ob .' L I.L .-;; ',-' .;~ ! ff).b I n 1 0 f eb 8 ob f c.h 1 (;J.1 me; J', ;,;O(J J -c'b LOV0 divjne 211 lOVGS excelling Joy ,::::<[' b\?'\vr.:::Y1. t() '2 l'th corne (Jo,:nl Fix in us thy hunlble dwellj.np All thy mercy sob 'n lah cro0n~ Fah, f8.h soh !B-l~ fah soh f In 19, soh Fah 'n J.a soh la soh fsh SQh fah Ff)b ff)b sob fab 'n 10 soh foh soh Fab 'n 10 sob 10 soh foh soh foh Q};Joh soh 10'0 Bob Goh 1:, 80b la Fah 1& soh 80h soh f Is soh Fah fo,h soh fah soh fo.h In la sob Ii'(3.h 'n 1:3-, 80b 15\ sob fah In Boh fo.b. rrbou te ch(~)st ;;U1.c! tl.1iGscSt the a,ir v'lr{ in ,;V/;;VS no long",eY' 8.re Bvr@et How Is t'ull the sweetness to me hlais midsummer But whe:n I EUll hC<!Jpy 1n Him Decembor's as pleDsant as M~y. Hilly my dSTlin' I love you I love you with all 0' my he'rt For many long years we been p8,rted And liquor h(:Hi f UEt :::'_PiJ,rt. Be:!),utiful, bt1j,'Jltiful bro\"n e 8 J3e~,'lltjful, Bt:L!ut1.ful brown 8 Be ,'_'-ut:lful be-:-.ut:tfl.ll brovln y.::;s I '11 neV~:11' love hluc~ eye:~3 ,},g:},in" , , DCYVln to t,ho ba,rny:'n....d h(s- st red He fell in the barny,9,rd door' And tbe lC1.Bt fsv,f V!oi4 ds tl1D,t he utte:r\<;:;d 18 III t 11 never set drunk L:J:1:,{more. II Bc'c'ut.iful, ber:utiftll,lorovln E s Be,-1utiful bG~?utJ.:['ul bro\'In eyes BeDutiful be'3utiful brown eyes I'll never love blue G 2,g'J:ln, ~TOH come ull ;'10 ;/ounp-:: illri,lcl0:;n.s ListeT1 \'Tb5.1e ye CEUJ. You neVEdc knew of yeur troubles lJnt1.1 you C)D.ve ma.l"rlcS'd. a m:.J.D. Be(:.utiful ber111t1ful brov,Yn eyes BCiJutiful be.g;ut:i ful brov!l1 eyes Beoutlful bec!ut:iful 01'0\1/11. e';les I'll never love blue ey(~s again. v) til'/ ~tt~ Lf ilJ'cd, (~~.j(/IA, , Down in 'I'be 'h,lley, (,(, \ c~,ii/':'Yi)'lh(>' Down in the valley The valley so low Hm1g your' bead over And heD,r the wine] blol'!. lille)!,"r the wind blo\'l love He r the vlind 1,101'1 Hang your head over And beeT the I'd nd bl 01'1, Vi ol(-?t[~ love sunshIne H08C:8 1 ave dew AH~-~G~~~e-~H-~@g~QAngel :in beaven. Know that I love yeu. by riil". Clowd1JS Down in the valley The v'0,lley so 101'1 Hang your he'Id over And hear the wind blow, Write me G letter Senel :l t by m,,),n Send it in care ef :rhe Birmlrlgbam js),il. lThe Birmlrlghc,.nl j 1, love IJ.1he Dtl"min.gham j cd.1 , Send it in care of ~h8 Birmingham jail, Down in the valley The valley so low H,me; yOUl" heed ov@r And heRr the wind blow. Goodbye, Goodbye little darlin', Gonw l:ly your cool band on my brow lind promise me tbat you wIll n'ivor Be nobody'B d:)~rlin' but min". Nobody'" chrlln' but mine love BehoneBt, be fctithful bc? kind And promi Be me tl1E,~t you \'I ill l1JVCjr Be nobody'.s d,u'lln' but mine. My mother .she'.s doad and In h.'ven My daddy h:EJS gone there I 1'11.01'1 Sister has f'~one to ilF2et mother And where 1[11 go nobedy knows. Goodbyp - _ -C', i::S-- "oOdl)vo' -- ''"J m",}, IJ'hLJp .GIJ _,,; dO-]l",' .,:<.,1 .. L_ Come 'n lBi,y your cool bands on my brow And promise me that you wIll nevor Be nobody'E, clar'lln' but mine. Nobody's darli.n' but mine love Be hone.st be faithful be kind And promise me that you wi!bl never Be nobody~ B darlin' but mine. You Ire 8Vleet tt8 8, flo\'ler I'll tbe springtlme You're .svwet 2.S the del; of the rose I hod rather be somebody's dorlin' Than a poor boy that nobody knows. Goodbye goodbye my little darlin' I'm le2.vin' thls whole world behind Promise me that you will never Be nobody's dorlin' but mlne. You are my sun,9c'ine my only sunshine You make me happy vlhen skies a.re grey Mou'll never know de ,'.U how much I :j.ove you Pl(3tJ.,se don I t take my 8uush ine a\\ray. I'll echlays love you and ml1ke you happy If you lv1ll only say tb" S,Uile But if you lwave me for another VIe'll regret it all .some day. The other night dear as I lay sleeping I c1rwned I held you in my arms But when 1 woke dear I was mistaken .~c1 I hung my head down and cried. You are my sunshine my only sunshine You make me h'''.Pl)y when skies are grey You neve I' kno\'1 de I~r how mu chI love you rlease don't t"Jee my sunshine away. I Lve Little 1;lilly, sung by Mr. CI o\'ldu 8 I love little Willy I do (,jlomma I love little Willy Ha ha ha ha I :j.ove lIttle Willy but don'clB, tell Po. E'or be Houldn' t IHl:e it you know Momma He gave me this ring he did Momma He gave me this ring ha ba ha ba He ~8V. me this ring but don'cha tell Po. E"or he vlouldn't like it you kno\'l Momma. Wel~e goin' be illurrj.ed we are Momma We're gain' be married ha ha ha ha We're gain' be married but don'tG~8, tell Pa For he wouln' t like it you know 1VI0mms" He's gone t'got the license he has Momma He's gone t'get the license ha ho. ha ha He's galle t' get the license but don' ch8, tell 1'0. For he wouln' like it you kno\'l Momma. I SOB him comin' I do Momma I see him a'comin' haha ha ho. I se,~ him o.'comin' but don'chl" tell Po. For he \'IOuldn' t 1 ike it you know Momma. A preacher's with him he is Momma prescher's with him ha ha ha ha Th., pre[wher's 1'lith him but don'cha tell Pa For he WOUldn't like it you know Momma. And novi 'de' re mD.rried we are Momma And nOI'/ \'Ie' re married ha ll!l ha h2. And now we're m:::rrl1ld snd you CI],!'] tell ]'0. For be CUll.' t laelp It you know Momma. Hose Conneley, sung by Mr.Clowdus DO\'ln in the willowg",arden Where me and my love did meet /ON' 11 here we se,.t 8.-court~in My love dropped off to sleep. I had a bottle of Gordon's \'Iino 'dhicb my trues-love cUd not lmov/ And thc,ro I poisoned tho.t dear little Down under the bsn~s below. I dre':l a sa'piur through her Which was s bloody knIfe I thre\'l her in the rl1ter ','Ihich WES 8, dreadful sight. My father often told me That money would set me free If I would murder that dear little girl ,{hose n,d.me VlI~S Hose Conneley. Mow he sits in hi,s ovm c!"bin girl door "\'lipin' his tear dimmed eyes A'\'Iatbhin' his own dear son Upon the scaffold so high. My race is run beneath the sun TtJ!l" hlnl is Iw.itln' for me For I did murder that dear little rl Vv'hOS8 n,':me Vlas Hose Conneley 8 l:t'ootnotes 1" BOl1i,lVI.B. ,Lloyd,N., F1 :l.res:1.de Book, C?f F'ollu:Jongs, 3imon /Y, Sohuster-,-New 'York 26~-1947:-p~l04. 2.Brown, F'rB,nk 6., North Co,rolirw, F'oU;lora, vo1.ll, Duke Univ. l'refJ8,Durham, N.C., 1952. p.lll. '3. Arnold, B., ~"oJJ{s.()~1.g!3 of AlabRmi;, Univ, of AID,bams" Pr-es8, 13j rrdngham, Ala., 1950. p.76. 11. Brol-m, :F'rcmk C., Op,Cit., lJ.2118. Arnold, B., F'olkBon[';fl of AID,bDmD" Univ. of Alab,",mD, T'resfl, Blrmingb;JIll, AID,., 1950. Boni, M.D., Lloyc1~N., F'il'GBjde Book of FolksongG, Simon 8~ Schuster, Now York 20, 1947. drown, Fr,~,nk C., 09.-(,;;1. Nortb CarolIna FaUn or8, vol 11, DUkeUniv., DU1"ham, N.C. 1952.
A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access.
Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions.
As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created. Additionally, our work to use reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.