Sally Malloy interview with James D. Latimer

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This audio begins with James D. Latimer playing the guitar and singing a song he wrote called Papa Bought a Great Big Billy Goat. At 1:27, Latimer and an unidentified woman sing We Were Walking One Night in Kentucky and Here Rattler Here. At 3:42 Latimer sings Prettiest Flowers and Wa Bash Cannon Ball. At 7:42, he sings Old Number 97 and Wreck of Number Nine. Next at 11:08, Latimer explains that he learned the song Wreck of Number Nine from his Uncle Bill, who worked on the railroad. Specifically, he worked on the train Crescent Limited, which had a 207 engine, the fastest steam locomotive engine on the Southern Railroad according to Latimer. At 14:21, Latimer plays Have I Told You Lately that I Love You, and Mother Queen of my Heart. Then at 18:01, Latimer tells two bedtime stories. One is about a boy who meets a bear in the forest and they become friends. The other is about a woman who eats a monsters big toe, after which he eats her. Latimer then plays a collection of songs until the end of the audio: 21:18: Silver Haired Daddy of Mine 23:40: Build Me a Cabin in Glory Land 25:11: Curly Headed Baby 26:08: Bill Bailey 26:47: Pistol Packin Mama 28:05: Just Because 29:50: Great Speckled Bird 32:16: The Talking Blues 35:26: Wont You Ride in my Little Red Wagon? 36:13: Shell Be Comin Round the Mountain 37:24: Way Down in Columbus, Georgia 39:00: New River Train 42:03: Mountain Top 42:51: Weeping Willow 44:25: You Are My Sunshine 45:35: Old Fadden Picture on the Wall 47:27: Cowboy Song 49:49: Alabama Girl
J.D. Latimer (1918-1991) was one of ten children born in Gainesville, Georgia, to Grover Cleveland Latimer (1886-1968) and Rose Lee Latimer (1889-1974). He married Carol Jo Hawks (1928-2010) and had two sons and one daughter. In 1940, he was drafted into the United States military services, during which he legally changed his name to James David. In 1944, Latimers song, Papa Bought a Great Big Billy Goat, won first place in the Monticella Stage Show, which was part of the Grand Ole Opry.
Railroad locomotives;
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U:'>\' , \ I.J~) ,f Cou (\\,\,kU"() (t~l\ :j~)dk() ,1\1., (\'ftt'l \0(\ 1'((' "'p, \r~') 1 Creator (Enter either an individual's name or an organization) Collection Name (within the organization) 2i;(\\ ~~ ~,~ cd \CJ'\ Burrison Folklore Class Georgia Folklore Archives , c.(~\ \)()I>I:il) Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (O((.}(j ,'\)1)'\ \,"':,/1(, ,d I,,~ \ -::>~ (use only one) r--;-----------+.....L.L:.>d'--'----'-'-'-',c.!l.l-'-'--'--'-'--"---'------+-"" .,d."- ---i Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Object Type Media Format (VHS, reel to reel, etc) Recording extent Derivatives Recording clip Time code for clip (h:m:s) Notes (interview summary) Year Span Image_ Text_ Text and image_ Video and sounfil_ Sound onIY_v_' Reel-reel Hours: 0 Minutes: S \ "v \4i Access copy: Yes or No rz'" ~~brNo Beginning:~.\a From To Access copy format: Clip extent: q .,./ 'l-( . ') End: 4:>',00 ' l. {;" I '\ I I'll, "\ \Ii'\ ~\)\\(.\,'\ (1 lie) 'tt' II :') (\ 2 Recording issues (background noise, echo, static, etc.) Subject Information Enter .InformarIon about the content 0 f the ObJ'lect here: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To SUbject Who Last Name First Name MI L C\:tIIYrC \ :::\ . Subject Country State County Town Locai Name Location \,Y';,/\ (U\ ~lc ICA.lt\P' Subject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOC sUbject headinas onlv) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names l cr\ \ \ \ \(' ~ , , \)" , 3 Corporate names lGoecaotgioranpshic At \(Ai I~r-( I C.:).l\\ Topics C'~'j/ \. ... . ,I., ()(l ,....., ~" '. I, \. ) 4 FoTIk1ore 300 FOLKLORE COLJ,J!:CTING PROJJ'")CT by Rally Malloy for John Burrison December 1, 1969 (l\ (I CONTll;NTS INTRODUCTION: 1 TRANSCRIPT: ,Side One: 1. " Papa Boup;h t a Great Big Billy Goat" 3 2. "We Were \Na1king One Nighb in Kentucky" 3 3. "Here RabbleI' Here" 1!- 4. "Prettiest Flowers" 4 5. "Wa Bash Cannon Ball" 4 6. "/Old Number 97" 5 7. "Wreck of Number 9" 5 Story about Uncle Bill 6 8. "Have I Told You T,a tel y That I Love You?" 7 9. "Mother Queen of M;y Heart" :7 Bed-time Story "Big Toe" 8 10. "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" 9 11. "Build Me a Cabi.n in Glory 'Land" 10 12. "Curly Headed Baby" 10 13. "BU1 Bailey" 11 14. " Pisbol Packin i Mama" 11 15. " Just Because II 11 16. "Great Speckled Bird" 12 Side Two: 1. "Tho Talkinp; Blues" 13 2. "Won't You Ride in My Little Red Wag(~on? " 14 3. "She'll be Comin' Round trle Mountain" 14 4. "Way Down in Columbus, Georgia" 15 5. "New River Train" 15 6. "Moun'bain Top" 16 7. '!Weeping Willow" 17 8. "You are My Sunchine" 17 9. "01 d Fadden Picture on the Wall" 17 10. "Cowboy Song" 18 11. "Alabama Girl" 18 On July 10, 1918, in Gainesville, Georgia, J D IJatimer was born to Mr. and Mrs. Grover Cleveland IJatimer. J D 's paternal grandfather was Emizire La timer, an imip;rant from Ireland. Unfortunately J D did not get to know his grandfather, hut they say that ,1 D's son, Walter Mi.chael I"atimer, is the spittin' ima~e of Emizire. J D was one of five boys and five gi.rls. Hi.s daddy and brothers, who were musicians, influenced J D and at the age of four-teen he decided (,hat he wanted a guitar for himself. He picked cotton to earn the $3.00 it took to buy the instrument. He taught himself how to play the guitar. Then he, his daddy and brother formed a three-piece band. J D can also play the mandeline, banjo, piano, juice harp and wash board. Another iI)fluence that he discussed with me in some detail was his Uncle Bill. His uncle was an engineer on the Southern Railroad. J D used to sit on the platform and wait for his Uncle Bill to pull up to get water for the engine. He would cl imb up in the cab and talk to his uncle. ,J D always knew that it was his uncle coming by the way he blew his whistle. J D's childhood association with and admiral;ion for his Uncle Bill created a !>;reat interest in railroad songs. The tape contains several railroad son,,;s and two railroad stories that J D told about his uncle. Some of J D's friends, Earl Scrubes, I,esl;er Flat and Lou Childres, have undoubtly had some inpression upon J D's singin~ style. Also, J D enjoyed enterin~ sta~e shows. In 19411-, he won firet p] ace in the Monticella Stage Show which was part of the Grand Ole Opera. The winning sonf5 was written by J D and it is the firRt selection on the tape, "Papa Bought a Great Big Billy Goat." I did my collecting on November 13, 1969 at the home of Mike TJatimer in lit] anta, Georgia. J D's two sons, wife daughter-in-law and p;rand-dauf';hter, my husband and I were 2 present. He preferred to sing two or three songs at a time and then rest for a moment and at times would pratice the next sonr;s to be sImp;. When I asked where he learned the sonp;s he said that he just picked them up and couldn't remember any particular f,ource. The exceptions were "Wa Bash Cannon Ball", taught to Mr. l,atimer by Roy Acuf f, and II Pistol PackLn' Mama", leacned from a recordinp;. Mrs. I,atimer added that "Prettiest Flower" was one of her favorites and that Mr. Latimer sang it to her when they were courting. IInother point of interest is J D's name. Mrs. l,atimer explained that in large families the mothers often only gave initials for the names of their children. J D is an example of this pratice. She also added that J D was given the name James David in the armed forces at the a[';e of 1+2. J D was very coopet'ative and seemed to enjoy singing for us. He patted his foot as he sang and laUgh~ out on several humorous son[';s and stories. TRANSORIPT Side One 1. "Papa Bought a Great Big Billy Goat" Papa hough-t a great hig hilly goat. Mama she washed most every day. She hang them white clothes out on the line. That darn old goat he came that way. He jerked down the old red flannel shirt, Boy-ye-oughta heard them buttons cracked. P,ll get even wi th the son of Cl gun, I'm gonna' tie him across the railroad track. Tied him across the railroad track And a freight was comin' at an awful rate. He bounced up that ole red shirt And he flaged down that darn ole train. Went to the depot and bought me a ticket And I walked right in and Bot righ-t down. Stuck that ticket in the hrim of my hat And that dog-gone wind blowed it out on the track. Oonductor come around and he asked for my ticket, Had to pay again or get left on the track. I'll get even with the son of a gun Go-t a round trip -ticket and I ainta' comin' hack. I acted a fool and I married me a widow And she had a daughter and her name was Maude. Around come my daddy and he maL'ried my daughter And now my daddy's my own son-in-law. Had a little hen, she had a WOOden leg. Best little hen that'a ever laid eggs. I,aid_ more eggs than an;y hen in the barn And another little drink wouldn't do me no harm. 2. "We We re Walking One Night in Kentucky" We were walking one night in Kentucky, Beneath the heautiful harvest moon. When I was a guy I was lueky But it all had ended too soon. As I sit here alone in the moonlight I see your smiling face. And I long once more for your embrace And the beautiful Kentucky walze. 3 3. "Here Rabtler Here" Oh, Rattler treeded the other night, He tbought he'd treeded a coon. When I come to find out He was barking at tbe moon. Chorus: Here Rattler, here, here Here Rattler, here Come on Rabtler from the barn, Here Rattler, here If I had a needle and thread As fine as I could sew. I'd sew my true love to my back, And down tbe road I'd go. Chorus Now Ratbler's dead, Hel's gone where good dogs do. You better not act a fool, Or you'll be goin' there too. Chorus 4. "Prettiest Flowers" Prettiest flowers were made for blooming, Prettiest stars were made to shine, Prettiest girls were made for' boy love And I thought you's made for mine. How can you talk your love to ftlglbers As you talked your love to me? Many a night wbile you lie sleeping Dreaming of some sweet repose. Many poor boy lie broken hearted Listening to the wind that blow. If I 1 isbened t,o my mother I would not be en here today. Bu t you being so young and tender You have stole my heart away. Go and leave me if you wish to Never let me cross your mind. If you thi.nk you cannot love me Go your way love, I'll go mine. 5. "IVa Basil Cannon Ball" 4 6. "Old Number 97" Oh, they give me his orders at the Monroe, Virginia Saying,"8teve you're way behind time. This is not ole 38 but it's ole 97 You musb put her in Spencer on time." Oh, he turned around and says to his black r.>;reasy fireman, "Just shovel in a little more coal, And when we cross the wide open mountain You can watch ole 97 roll. It's a mighty ruff road from Llynchburg to Danville And I l 11 line out that three mile grade." It was on that grade when he lost control of his air brakes And ;you Gee what a junk he made. He was goinp; down the grade, makin' 90 miles an hour When his whistle broke into a scream. He was found in the wreck with his hands on the throttle. He was scaulded to death by the steam. Come all you ladies both young and old Take warning from now and on. Never speak an unkind word to your true lovin' husband He may leave you and never return. 7. "Wreck of Number 9" On a cold winte~s night, not a star waB in sight When the north wind came howlin' down the line. With a sweet heart so dear stood a brave engineer Wi th his orders to pull ole number 9. Oh, she kissed him goodby with a tear in her eye Al1d the joy in his heart he could not hide. For the whole world seemed bright when she told him that nif';ht That tomorrow she'd be his b1ushin' bride. Oh, the wheels hammered a song as the train rolled along, When the blac~ Bmoke came pouring from the stack, Whenbhe head] ight a gleem seemed to brip;hten his dream For tomorrow would he be going back. Oh, he spun arouna the hill and his brave heart stood still For a head light was shinning in his face. For he whispered a prayer, as he drew on bhe air, For he 1mew tho:t would be his final run. 5 In the wreck he was found, liein' there on the ground And they asked him to raise his weary head. As his breath slowly went, this is the message he sent Tobhe maiden who thought she would be wed. "There's a 1ittle white home that I bought for our own And I dreamed we'd be happy by and by. And I'll leave H to you, for I know you'll be true 'Hll we meet at those Golden Gates, good by'." J D: Well, that song too that I just finishe,l, I use to go down to Gainesville, Georgia and my uncle was an engineel' on the Southern Railroad and I used to set on the platform and Uncle Bill used to pull in there and get water for the engine and I'd climb up intl:ihe cab and talk to him and ugh we, we could always hear him comin' cause we knew that way that he blowed the whisble on the steam engine. And so this W8.S the way that I got Btarted to sanp;ing these two songs cause I thought about him a lot. I know one particular time we bad a ice and snow storm on and the ice pulled bhe telephone pole down acrOSB the track and Uncle Bill said he saw it, that somethin' on the track about a mile ahead, he could tell it was somethin', and he managed to get the train stopped and theY; moved the pole off of the track. Then he went on which he would have probably de-railed if they hadn't gotten the pole off the track. But anyway then another time, he stopped at Gainesville, to get water to go in his steam engine, boiler and he was late and didn't nobody didn't tell him to stay, so he pulled out on the main track leavin' Gainesville and when he pulled out he said he hear,l the Cresent I,imi t f10win' down bout Flour Brance, I believe he said. But then he got his train started. It was a freight train and he out run it from Gainesville to Greenville, South Carolina, with pulling 96 box cars behind him. So that's all. Oh, he waB pullin' ug, 207 I believe it was the enp;ine he waB runnin'. But the CreBent I,i'nit waF; the fasteBt train on tbe Southern Railroad. Mrs. I,atimer: PasBenger train IT D: PasBenger train and before he died he p;ot to, he was ~lnnin' theCreBent Limit train that was a pasBenger train. MrB. La timer: They were usin' coal. J D: Yeah, that was a steam engine coal burner. Mlke I,atimer: Didn't he set the limit, that he held the fastest Bteam locomotive record. in Georgia, and Btll1 does? 6 J D: Yeah Mrs. Latimer: Grandpa Latimer has his picture J D: in the Atlanta paper showed his picture where he out run that. They didn't bust him off t}la t but t1ley could have, you know for pullin' off ]ike that. And ug, he run the fastest freight trrcdn that ever been run from Gainesvil1e to Greenville, that was 90 some thin ' mile an hour after he p;ot started. 8. "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" Have I told you lately that I love you? Could I tell you once again somehow? Have I told you why the nights are long when I'm not with you? Oh darlin', I'm tellin' you now. This heart would break into if I refuse you. I I m no good wi. t1l0ut you anyhow. Have I told you lately that I love you? Well darlio', I'm tellin' you now. Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin', All the dreams I dream of you fJomehow? Have I told you why the nights are long when I'm not with you? Oh darl in I, I'm telU.n' you now. Mike Latimer: Sing "Mother Queen of My Heart". ,T D: o k. 9. "Mother Q,ueen of My Heart" I had a home out i.n Texas Down wThlere the blue bonnets grew. I had the kindest ole mother How happy we were ,1ust we two. Till one day the angels called her, Death that we all have to pay. She called me close to her bedside These last few words to say, "Son don't start drinkin' and gambl in I , Promise you'll always go straight." 7 Ten years since her partin' That's broken that I'm must say. One n Lght I bet all my money Nothin' was left to be seen. And all that I needed to beat them Was one card and that was the queen. Cards were deal t round th e table, Each man could start on the draw. I drew the one tho. t could beat them, And I turned it and here's what I saw. I saw my mother's picture Bomehow she seemed to say, "Son you have broken your prorrli-se." So I tossed those cards away. My winnins' I gave to a newsboy. I lmew I was wrong from the start. I'll neve' forget that promise To the mother, the queen of my heart. J D: a k. Well this is a litUe story T want to tell. This use to be a bedtime story. When I'as a boy, I had a dog and my dog was !lamed Rover. And so I went down in the woods, way" down in the woods a huntin , and I got lost. It got dark and so I didn't know tlle way back home and so I racked me up a big pile of leaves by a big ole tree and T thought Rover my dog would sleep in the leaves. And so it was a big ole hude;e hollow tree and so we got down in the leaves and it was a big ole bear come out of the hollow tree and it said, "Come in here and sleep with me." It was get Lin' c old tonight in the leaves and so we went in tlle hollow tree and I got in there and scrutched up by the bear and I, I was scared but I was warm. And so my mother, she didn't know where I was but anyway the next morni.n' I woke up. And sathe ole bear had some honey stored away in there and he gave me some honey and I told him I had to go home. And so he told me, "Well, to come back any time you want to." A.nd so I went home and I told my mother. fihe said, "Where have you been? I've bec')n worried ahout you." And I said) "Well, Mama, I slept with a bear last nig;ht." And she said, "That ole bear will get you." And I said, "No, th e bear's my friend." Milee La timer: . ~ '1'e11 them about \!'Big Toe".J J D: all, this I recon, I don ,t know whether this is a true story or not but I've been te1lin' it. Ah, one time this lady went out in the garden to dig ~ome Irish potatoes. And 8 so she was scratchin' and di~in' potatoes. ~nd so she found a black piece of meat. She didn't know what it was. ~nd so she carried i.t in the house and she washed it and scrubed ib, and she couldn"b ~et the black stuJ'f off. So anyway, she ~ot her potatoes ready. And she put it in the pot witb the pobatoes and cooked it. And so Bhe eal; some of it that day for d lnner. And so that night for supper she eat most the rest of it. And BO Ghe went to bed and she got in the bed and she heard GOlnethin' say, "I want my big toe. I want my big toe." So she got up and she loo],ed under her bed and she looked around in the livin' room and she didn't see anything so she went back and , ug, got back into bed and bout gettin' ready to get backbo sleep and Bhe heard somethin' again, III want my big toe. I want my big toe." So she decided she'd get up and 1001< again. So she went in the ldtchen and looked around, looked in l;he aabinet and thing and she couldn't see anything in there. So she opened the Btove and she looked in there and she saw somethin' with big ole eyes. She said, ''Wool'" said,"What big eyes you got." And this thing said, "Better to see you with." Said, "What big feet you got!" "Better to run you with." "What big hands and feel; you ,,;ot!" "Better to grab you and eat you up!" Joe I,atimer: You've told me that one in bed before. Mike Latimer: Your're gonna sin~ a couple of songs? J D: Yeah, 1 et I s see. 10. "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" In a vine covered shack in tbe mounting Bravely fightinf'; the bat Ue of time, Tis tIl e dear one whose wi tb 1 ife sorrow Tis that silver haired daddy of mine. Ohorus: If T could recall all the heartaches Dear ole daddy I've caused you to bear. If I could erase those lines from your face And bring back the p;old to your hair. If God would but ~rant me the power Just to turn back the pages of time. I would give all I own, if I could but atone To that Bilver haired daddy of mine. Now I know it's too l.ate, dear ole daddy To repay for the sorrow and cnres. 9 For dear mother iB waiting in heaven JUBt to cOlllfor't and Bo1ace you there. ChoruB 11, "Build Me a Cabin in Glory I,and" Many yearB I've been lookin' for a place to call home But I fail h'Jre to find it, BO I IlIUBt travel on. I don "t care for fine manBionB on earth' B Bin1(ing Band. Lord, build me a cabin in the corner of Glory Land. ChorUB: Lord bui.ld me this cabin in the corner of Glory Land In the Bhade of the tree of life, that it may ever Btand. Where I can jUBt hear the anr>;elB sing and shake JesuB's hand. Lord, build me a cabin in the corner of Glory Land. Blessed Lord I'm no't askin' to play in tha't band, For I know I'm not worthy such splender as this. But I'm asking for mercy, while humbly I stand. I,ord, build me a cabin in the corner of Glory I,and. Chorus 12. "Curly Headed Baby" She's my curly headed baby, Use to si,t on mama's knee. She's my curly headed baby, She's from sunny Tennessee. I am fond about the women, I will tell you what they'll do. They'll be cryin' over your shoulder, And :i1 irtin' w:Lth anoth e r 'too. She's my curly headed baby. 1 don't care what people say. She's my curly hoaded baby. She's from sunny Tennessee. 10 11 13. "BIll Bailey" Want chu Bill Bailey, want chu come home? I do the work all day long. I do the dishes honey, I pay the rent. I know I've done you wrong. Remember the rainy evenin' I turned you out with nothin' but a fine toothed comb? Ain't that a shame, I know I'm to blame, Bill Bailey won't you please come home? ll~. "Pistol Packin' Mama" Drikin' beer in a cabaret and was I havin' J1un. Till one night, she caught me right, and now I'm on the run. Chorus: Lay that pistol down babe, lay that pistol down. Pistol packin' mama, lay that pistol down. She kicked ou11 my windshield, she hit me over 'the head. She cussed and she cried and she said I'd lied and wished that I was dead. Chorus Where you every night babe? Where you every day? I'll be your rang1er daddy, if you put that gun away. Chorus 15. "Just Because" Just because you think you're so pretty. Yea! Just because you think you're so hot. Jus't because you think you've got somethin' That nobody else ain't got. You run around and spend all my moaney. Laugh and call me your Santa Clause. Honey I'm te11in' you, I'm through with you. Because, just because. They'll come a day you'll be lonesome. Yea! They'll come a day you'll be blue. You won't have ole Santa Clause to pay all those bills for you. I'll have to admit you're an eye full. Yea! Baby you're as pretty as can be. So honey don't you see whUe you.,' 're playin' round with me I'm expectin' some thin , from you in return. Repeat first verse 16. "Great Speckled Bird" What a beautiful thought I am thining, AB concerning the great speckled bird. You remember her name is recorded, On the pages of God's Holy Word. All the other birds flogging around her, She iB now despised by the squad. For this great, speckled bird in [;tIe Bible, Hepresenting Lhe great Church of God. Well, I'm glad I have learned of her mee\<1ness. I am proud that my name is on her book. For I want to be one never fear him On the face of my savior to look. When he descended down from heaven As be arise in his cloud on his word. Will be joyfull to carry to meet him On tbe wings of t.baL great speckled bird. 12 Side Two J D: Ok, I'm gonna' sang a 11ttle song called "The Talkinr;; Blues". And, uh, I put some with it so I'm go put my part in it too when, as I go along. 1. "Tbe Talking Blues" Way down in Florida, sittin' on a log, aimed m;y e~un at a hog. Pulledthe triger and the r~un went flip, And I went on the hog with all my grip. Hog eye, love chittl in', yam, yam. If you want to get to heaven, let me tell you how to do it, Just g:['ease your feet in mud and stew it. Stand r:Lp~ht out in th e devD' shand, And sl:Ld right over in the Promise Land. Better take it easy, cause it is greasy, slip and slidin'. Down in the hen houBe had no light, And tbe white folks told me I better be quiet. Reached on in, reached and got a goone, And the white folks naid for me to turn him loose. ,rumpin' gullies, dodgin' 'bullets and leapin' bushes, Tryin' to get out the way of keepin' from gettin' shot. Well I greased my feet with a little axile grease While sl ippin' up and down on the mountain peaks. Stealin' tobacco, matches, cigarettes, snuff. Ain't no use in me a workin' so hard I got a woman in tbe white folk's yard. When she cooks a chicken, she saves me a piece. She thinks I'm a workin'. I'm loafin' in the streets. Havin' a good time. Talkin' witt) the girls. Talkin' bout her. Down in the hen house, down on my knees, I thought I heard a chicken snee:z,e. Tt tweren' t nothin' but a roos [;er f";ivin' out prayers, And sayin' his praye:cs for the hens upstairs. Pullets testifyin', roosters takin' up collection, Hen payin' off in hard boiled eggs. Ain't no use in me a workin' GO hard, I got a woman in the white folks' yard. When she cooks a chicken, she saves me the head. She thinks I'm a workin', I'm a layin' in the bed. Havin' a good time, dreamin' about her. 13 Well I married me a gal, her name was Jenny Mae. And wh"t made me do it, I don't know today. "This is my part" She's got a glass eye, wooden leg and she wears a wig. She's just about artificial allover. If you want to get to heaven, let me tell you how to do it, Jus t grease your fe et in mud and stew it. Stand rirc>;ht ou-t in the devil's hand, And slide right over in the Promise Land. Now that's slidin' some. Down in the barn, in the straw, When I looked up the road seen my mother-in-law. '.'lent to th e house and I packed my grip, And I told my wife I was takin' a trip. Escapin' trouble, a devil without any horns. Well I greased my feet in a little hog-eyed lard, And I slipped up and down in ,the white folks' yard. Havin' a good time Just 11ickin' up every thine; I could get my hands on. 2. "Won't You R';.de in My J.1i ttle Red Wagon?" Won't you ride in my little red wagon? For you are my sweet heart to be. When we come to the top of a hill, We'll coast down the hill you and me. Won't you ri.de in my little red wagon? For you are my sweet heart to be. When we come to the top of a hill, W&'ll coast down the hi] 1 you and me. Won I t you ride in my Jj ttle red wagon? For you are me sweet heart to be. 3. "She'll be Comin I Ro\md the Mountai.n" She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes, etc. She'll be ridin' i.n a wagon when she comes. etc. She'll be dressed in silk and satins when she comes. etc. Oh, we'll Id]l the old red rooster when she comes. etc. 4. "!Nay Down in Co lumbus, Georgia" Way down in Columbus, Georgia, I want to be back in Tennessee. Way down in Columbus stockade, Where my family went back on me. Chorus: Go away and leave me if you wish to, Don't never let me cross your mind. In your heart you love another, I,eave me darlin' I don't mind. Last night as I lay sleepin' I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, I was mistaken I was peepin' through the bar8. Chorus La8t night as I lay sleepin' I dreamed I held you in my arms. When I awoke, I was mi8taken I was peepin' through tlle bars. Mike r,a timer: Sing "New River Train" 5. "New River Train" Chorus: Ilidin' on that New River Train Ridin' on that New River Ir-rain That same ole train that brougbt me here, Gonna carry me away again. Darlin' you can't love but one. Darlin' you can't love but one. Oh you can't love 1mt one and have any fun. Oh darlin' you can't love but one. Chorus Darlin' you can't love two. Darlin' you can't love two. Oh you can't love two and let your heart be true. Oh darlin' you can't love two. 15 Dar1in' you can't love three. Darlin' you can't love three. Oh you can't love three and st,il1 love me. Oh darlin' you can't love three. Dar1in' you can't love four. Dar1in' you can't love four. Oh you can't love four and love anymore. Oh darlin' you can't love four. Chorus Dal'lin' you can't love five. Darlin' you can't love five. Oh you can't; love five and get honey from my beehive. Oh dar1 in' you can't love five. Dar1in' you can't; love six. Dal'lin' you can't love six. Oh you can'b love six and t;hE'm,'come betwix. Oh dar1 in' you can "b love six. Darlin' you can't love seven. Darlin' you can't love seven. Oh you can't love seven 8.nd then get to heaven. Oh dal'lin' you can't love seven. "I better stop." Chorus 6. "Mountain Top" If I was on some foggy mountain top I'd sai1 away bo the wind. I'd sail around trlis whole round world, To the one I love the best. When you see th8t girl of mine There's somethin' you can tell her. You can tell her she may be waistin' her time A. cour'bin' some other feller. If I was on Bome foggy mountain top I'd sail away to the wind. I'd sa i1 around the whol e round world. To the girl I love the best. 16 7. "Weeping Willow" My heart is sad and I'm in sorrow Thinkin' of the one I love. And never shall I see him over Till we meet in heaven ahove. Oh bury me beneath I,he willer, Beneath the weepin' willer tree. And when he knows where I am sleepin' Then perhaps he'll tbink of me. Tomorrow was our wedding day Bub where, oh where ean be be? He has gone, has gone to wed another And he capes no more for me. Oh bury me beneath tbe willer, Beneath the weepLn' willer tree. And when he knows where I am sleepin' Then perhaps he'll wait for me. 8. "You are My Sunshine" 9. "Old Fadden Pieture on bhe Wall" There's an ole fadclen pieture on the wall. It's been hangin' there for many-a, many-a year. Tis the picture of my mother. And I know -there is no other That ean tak.e the plaee of mother on the wall. ChoruB: On t11e wall, on the wall Yes, I love that dear ole picture on tbe wall. Time is swiftl.'1 passin' by And I bow my head and cry Fo~' I know I'll meet my mother after all. Yes I love that dear ole mother years ap;o. There has be en no one to take he r place, I know. AB my banjo strums bhis cord, I am praying to the I,ord Just to b1esB that dear ole pieture on the wall. Chorus 17 18 10. "Cowboy Song" A group of jolly cowboys Discussed a plan and a leave. Says one,"I'll tell you somethin' if you only listen please, I'm juat an ole cow puncher, I'm here all dressed in rags, But I use to be a tuff one and take a great biEs jag. I have a home in Dixie, a good one you all know, All though I have not seen it since long, long ago. I'm going back to Dixie, bnce more to see them all. I'm gain' to see my mother when the works all done this fall. When all the round up is over and all the shippin' is done, I'm going straight home boys, when all the money's c;one. For when I left my home boys, my mother for me cried, She bee;ged me not to go boys, for me she would have died. My mothcH"S heart is breaking, is breakin' from life's fall. Imd when he tried to help her, I'll see her thts fall." That very night the cowboys went au t to stand th e guard. The night was d!u'k and cloudy and storming very hard. The cattle got frightened and went i.nto a wild stampede. He tried his best to head them, while ridin' at a speed. While rLdin' through the darkness, so loudly he did rohout. Tryin' his best to head them mnd turn the herd about. His horse he did stumble and on him he did fall, But he longed to see his mother when the work'ro all done this fall. 11. "l\labama Girl" Chorus: Alabama girl (or gal) won't you come out tonie;ht, Come out tonight, come out tonight? Alabama girl (or gal) won't you come out tonight, And dand.e in the light of the moon? Danced wi th a girl wLth a ho] e in her' stocldn' And her heel kept a rockin', and her heel kept a rockin' Danced with a girl with a hole in her stockin' And danced in the light of the moon. Chorus Old Aunt Kate got a bug on me, got a bug on me, got a bug on me. Old Aunt Kate got a bug on me, but; theJ:e ain't no bug on you. Chorus First verGe Chorus
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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.
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