The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #7324   Message #44891
Posted By: Kansas Annie
10-Nov-98 - 09:15 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Great American Bum
Subject: RE: Great American Bum
I don't think this is figured out yet. My source is adamant that the recording she remembers as "The Great American Bum" was on the flip side of "Big Rock Candy Mountain," but the words to "The Great American Bum" as posted above don't match her memory. She's very insistent the song contained the words "You say this land is rolling, now if this is true (I'll tell you what to do-John in Brisbane's quote), just roll it down to this shady nook,and I'll see what I can do." I don't think the song I'm looking for is "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum," which is attributed to Harry McClintock. I think the next step is to find a source that contains the above words and/or delve into John Greenway recordings and go from there.