Hobo's Lullaby

Subject: Hobo's Lullaby
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 03:32 AM

Do any Mudcat folks know more infomation on the song Hobo's Lullaby? The song was written in 1926 by Texas folk singer Gowbo Reves I don't think the tune is original. If you know more info of the song it would be nice to hear your stories from Joe.

Do any one know any infomation on the song Just Before The Battle Mother it was written in 1874 by George Root. The only recording I have come across was by Jerry Silverman who recorded it some time in the 1960s folk revival.. From joe and if more recordings exist please post them here!

Subject: RE: Hobo's Lullaby
From: DaveRo
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 04:16 AM

I have Hobo's Melody on 'Shine a Light' - Field Recordings from the Great American Railroad - sung by Billy Bragg & Joe Henry. It was recorded in Amtrak Station, Alpine*, Texas. (The songs are mostly recorded in Railway Stations.)

The notes say: It was written and recorded in 1934 by Goebel Reeves, "The Texas Drifter", who specialised in hobo-philosophical recitations and cowboy ballads.

*Alpine was founded in 1882 on the route of the Southern Pacific, completed in 1883. The current Alpine station was built in 1946 in 'Spanish Mission Revival' style. So it should have good acoustics.

Subject: RE: Hobo's Lullaby
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 04:25 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_Before_the_Battle,_Mother

For future ref, Guest, if you're looking for info on a song, put the name in the thread title - you may also find it in Mudcat's lyrics collection, though for me the internal search on the site isn't working too well - I find it easier to come on it by using a Boolean search on the wilds of the World Wide Web like so:

"Just Before the Battle Mother" site:mudcat.org

Subject: RE: Hobo's Lullaby
From: cnd
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 07:47 AM

A few other threads on Hobo's Lullaby:

Origins: Hobo's Lullaby (Goebel Reeves)
Req: Hobo's Lullaby /Oklahoma Hills (answered)
DT Entry (note: "tune is a harmony to Just Before the Battle, Mother")

And a few more on Just Before The Battle; currently no threads I'm finding, but two versions are in the DT:

Just Before the Battle Mother
Just Before the Battle Mother (Comedic Version) - note that this is close to several period versions of the song I've seen -- it's not a modern mockery.