I came across "Little Old Cabin in the Lane" on a Smithsonian/Folkways album titled "CLARENCE ASHLEY and TEX ISLEY," Here are the liner notes: http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW02350.pdf And the lyrics: THE LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN IN THE LANE An old popular song written by Will Hays in 1871, LOG CABIN was recorded in 1923 by Fiddlin' John Carson and became the record that began the country music recording business. It was widely recorded and was given some dreadful readings by tenors in the days of 78's and cylinders, as well as heartfelt performances by country people like Tom Ashley, who, though they had no experience with "old Mahssy and Mist'us," still felt a strong sense of loss of and nostalgia for the older forms of southern life. Cf:- Fiddlin' John Carson THE LITTLE OLD LOG
CABIN IN THE LANE OKeh 4890, 1923 - Riley Puckett LITTLE LOG CABIN IN THE LANE
Columbia 15171, 1927 Fiddlin' Powers and Family THE LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN IN THE LANE Victor 19448, 1925 - Uncle Dave Macon and Sid Harkreader LITTLE OLD
LOG CABIN IN THE LANE Vocalion 14864 - Fiddlin' John Carson and Moonshine Kate I'M OLD
AND FEEBLE Montgomery Ward 4850 - Ernest Stoneman & His Dixie Mountaineers THE
LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN IN THE LANE Victor 20235 Oh, I'm getting old and feeble, I can no longer work My rusty bladed hoe I've laid to rest Old Mahssy and old Mist'us they are sleeping side by side While their spirits am a-wandering with the blessed (Chorus) Oh, the chimney's falling down, the roof is tumbling in The leak lets in the sunshine and the rain The only friend I've got now is this good old dog of mine In that little old log cabin in the lane Oh, it was such happy times not many years ago My friends and loved ones gathered 'round the door They would sing and dance at night while they played the old banjo But alas they cannot play it any more (Chorus) The hinges they have rusted, the door is falling down The roof lets in the sunshine and the rain The only friend I've got now is this good old dog of mine In that little old log cabin in the lane The paths they have growed up that led us around the hill The fence have all gone to decay The streams they have dried up where we used to go to mill Everything has changed its course another way (Chorus) I ain't got long to stay here, what little time I've got I try to rest contented while I stay Until the day death calls me to find a better home Than this little old log cabin in the lane (Chorus) And there's a Wikipedia page on the song.
|