I have "Rambling Blues, The Life and Songs of Charlie Poole" by Kinney Rorrer. I'll ask Kinney about it as I'll be up in Eden playing with Doug Rorrer and Doc Watson next Sat. The lyrics posted by guest are correct. Shootin' Creek is a community in Western Franklin Co., Va. that Poole visited in his rambles. It's a combination of Ida Red with the chorus of Cripple Creek, which Poole renamed Shootin' Creek. I suspect that Poole heard Riley Pucket's popular 1926 version and used it make his own song.

In both Ceolas and Combs, Ida Red is supposed to represent an African-American male but has become through the years a female! With this sex change he/she is definitely not politically correct. However, we still don't have any early versions, or African-American versions.

Since Ida Red is listed as a Civil War song, shouldn't there be some early version to corroborate this inclusion. This is from my previous post:

Ida Red is also included in "Civil War Guitar" (Legend records GLC-6031), available at practically any of the U.S. Park Service visitor's centers. The arrangements consists of guitar, banjo and an occasional harmonica. This would date Ida Red back to the 1860's?

I think the chorus of Maybellene is the only part that is similar to Ida Red. Both Johnson and Berry reworked the song extensively.

Thanks to all who have helped. Anyone have other versions?

-Richie