Looking over my files, I found that I had transcribed (or tried to) no less than seven different versions by Lead Belly!

Some of them have a word or line that I couldn't make out, but I will start posting them as soon as I have slightly reformatted a few so they will work on the 'Cat. My apologies in advance if there are duplications of others' earlier posts.

Here's the first one - though I don't believe my transcriptions are in chronological order. Lines in parentheses at the end of the verses were, I believe, spoken. As I recall, this was from a commercially released recording, hence the substitution of Cunningham for Goddamn.

Whoa Back Buck - Lead Belly version #1

Chorus:
[Spoken:]
Ta, whoa-ho, gee, back up!

[Sung:]
Whoa, buck an' gee, by the lamb
Who made the back band, oh, Cunningham.
Whoa, buck an' gee, by the lamb
Who made the back band, oh, Cunningham.
Oh, ham, and oh Cunningham,
Who made the back band, oh, Cunningham.

Eighteen, nineteen, twenty years ago,
I taken my gal to a country store.
Taken my gal to a country store,
I bought my gal some calico.
("Ta-ya ho ho, gee, back up, yeah.")

(Chorus)

I taken my gal to a country store,
I bought my gal some calico,
Taken my gal to a party-o
And I wouldn't let her dance but a set or so.
("Ta-ya hey hey, gee, back up Buck, git over there, yeah.")

(Chorus)

You take Sal and I'll take Jane
Oh good lookin', but they ain't the same
You swing Sal and I'll swing Sue
Mighty little different between them two.
("Ta-ya hey, gee, back up, whoa git over...")

(Chorus)

("Ta-ya, whoa, gee, back up, yeah")