Origins: Bill Cheatham

Subject: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: GUEST,Derek
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 01:55 PM

Who or what is Bill Cheatham, of the popular old time tune?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Padre
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 04:27 PM

I always thought he was the middle partner in Dewy, Cheatham and Howe, Attorneys at Law

Padre

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 06:35 PM

Two points for Padre....

Are there lyrics to the song? I found a Midi here (click) - lots of nice tunes there. Doc and Merle Watson did a nice medley of "Salt Creek/Bill Cheatham" - no lyrics.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 09:13 PM

I don't have a clue. Who was Old Joe Clark?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Ernest
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 02:30 AM

Officially known as Joseph Clark Sr., Esquire.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 02:39 AM

....can't say we're getting very close to the actual facts in this inquiry - but we're having fun.
Whatever happened to "Just the facts, Ma'am"?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: BanjoRay
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 03:03 AM

I don't know where I heard it, but I understood Bill Cheatham (cheatum?) was a US civil war general of some persuasion or other.
Ray

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Melissa
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 03:06 AM

I always thought Bill Cheatham (and Sally Goodin too) were people from somewhere in/around the southern part of Missouri. The idea was reinforced by something I read a few years ago..but I have no idea where I read about him.

My best guess is that he was a guy from Mo/Ok/Ark..but it's mostly a guess. Maybe somebody who knows something will pop in here to save the day?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: deadfrett
Date: 24 Jan 08 - 08:13 AM

Wasn't he a used car dealer?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: GUEST,Terry SoRelle
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 10:31 AM

I can't remember melodies unless they have lyrics so I made some up to learn Bill Cheatham:

My old dog went rollin' in the pig pen
She come in the house and stunk up the kitchen
Kicked her out but she just come back again
Lying round the livin' room scratching out the fleas.

I'm sneezin' and a wheezin' from the hair in the air
She's crappin' in the corner and peein' everwhere
She's knocking down the baby and sleepin' on the stair
I yell and I holler but the dog don't care.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 06:55 PM

James Cole's String Band does a nice version with 4 sets of Couplets
sung to the second part of the tune:

Went to town to buy some rum
Knocked on the door, nobody come

I know a man called Bill Cheatham
Bought Peanuts and let me eat 'em

You swing Sal and I'll swing John
You swing the gal with the bonnet on

I know a gal she lives all alone
She can dance 'til the cows come home

It's one of my favourite versions.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Origins: Bill Cheatham
From: Stewie
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 01:55 AM

Meade ['Country Music Sources'] states at page 776: 'The verse used in the James Cole rendition [2nd verse in Hoot's above posting] ... is the only known textual evidence supporting the prevalence of this title [Bill Cheatham]'.

--Stewie.