Lyr Req: Battle of New Orleans - Packenham verse?

Subject: Battle of N.O.
From: Frank Hamilton
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 11:46 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for a verse to Jimmie Driftwood's Battle of New Orleans that mentions Colonel Packenham, head of the British battalion. The Johnny Horton version doesn't mention him and I can't remember what Pete and I sang on the Nonesuch Album. Would be appreciated. Thanks.

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: wildlone
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 12:28 PM

Frank I found the song at OLGA. The florida site is still on line.I will go and get it and see if I can cut and paste to here.

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Dale Rose
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 12:30 PM

Battle of New Orleans (including Col. Packenham) right here in the DT.

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: LLewellyn
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 12:31 PM

It's a long time ago but, as far as I remember:

Now Packenham said we could take em by surprise
if we didn't fire a musket 'till we looked em in the eyes.
We held our fire 'till we saw their faces well
then we opened up our muskets and we really gave em hell

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Dale Rose
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 12:34 PM

Should have mentioned that I was fortunate to hear Jimmie Driftwood do this in person a good many times. In the last years of his life, he had to have the words there in front of him, but he sure delighted in entertaining people with it!

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 12:36 PM

"The French said Andrew you better run
'Cause Packinham's a comin' with a bullet in his gun
Ol Hickory said well I don't give a damn
An he swore he'd whip the britches offa Colenel Packinham.

Learned from the singing of Frank Hamilton and Pete Seeger on the Folkways album "Nonesuch"!

Hi Frank, if this ain't bringing the coals to Newcastle I don't know what is. I'm happy to help.

25 years ago I backed up Oscar Brand on a few radio shows. He asked me if I knew the chords for "bergundian Carol". I said "Sure, I learned 'em from your record". Well, YOU play the damned thing, and I'll sing it, he said, I never could remember them!
P.S. Now that I start thinking about it, it might have been "Coventry Carol". Guess my memory is shot as well!

Rick

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 31 Oct 99 - 11:24 PM

You forgot the next to last verse which is

The guide who brung the British from the sea
Come limpin' into camp just as sick as he could be
He said the dyin' words of Col. Pakenham
Was "better quit your foolin' when you're crossin' Uncle Sam"

Again-- learned from Frank Hamilton & Pete Seeger's Nonesuch! For what it's worth the family spelled the name without the "c" -- and Col. Pakenham's sister Kitty married Sir Arther Wellesly, better known as the Duke of Wellington. Wellington never suspected his brother in law was such an idiot or he never would have sent him out. . .

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 10:16 AM

Thanks Pete. Forgot that verse. But I think it was "ya better quit your foolin with you "cousin" Uncle Sam". I know! Let's ask Frank Hamilton!

Rick

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 10:40 AM

The Lonnie Donegan version which we Brits learned in 1956-ish implied Pakenham was on the other side:

"In 1814 we took a little trip,
Along of Col Pakenham down the mighty Mississip
We brough a little bacon and we brought a little beans
And we fought the blooming British at a town called New Orleans"

Although the error was quickly pointed out by historians, I don't think his version ever changed.
RtS

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Frank Hamilton
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 11:40 AM

Thank you everyone so much! Wound up using the DT version which seems to be pretty close to what I remember Pete and I doing.

I found an antecedent. The Hunters of Kentucky are also about the war of 1812, Old Hickory and Packenham. Wonder if Jimmie Driftwood knew this song?

Anyway, I think Jimmie's song is brilliant! And I thank all of you so much for your input.

Rick, not sure I remember about the "cousin" verse. I kept wanting to sing "when you're crossing Uncle Sam" but I think this may not be as good as "cousin".

I think the verse about the alligator is positivly wonderful. "The gator lost his mind...."

Anyone know about Jimmie Driftwood other than he was a high school teacher in Snowball Arkansas who tried to make history interesting for his students by writing these wonderful songs?

Thanks again,

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 04:56 PM

Hi Frank. Listened to the record again and I guess you are singing "crossin" although the album is so damned scratched by now, who can tell? I've read a number of fairly recent articles on Jimmie Driftwood. (Not so recent as to know whether He's still with us) What a guy! Seems he's devoted his entire life to teaching young people about the mountain lore. Sounds like he took his brief time in the limelight in stride and then went back to being an entertaining educator. Who found it? You or Pete. Did Johnnie Horton hear your recording?

Rick

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Gene
Date: 01 Nov 99 - 08:37 PM

* 1/previous forum thread on J. Driftwood *

* 2/previous forum thread on J. Driftwood *

Subject: RE: Battle of N.O.
From: Dale Rose
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 12:12 AM

Jimmy died on 12Jul98, age 91. His wife Cleda is not well, though I have not heard anything lately. (I can make a more accurate statement tomorrow if I think to ask at the Folk Center) There is another mention in this thread about the Tennessee Stud. Sorry, but the obituary and other articles from the News Democrat link mentioned in one of the threads posted by Gene are long gone, and I neglected to save the text anywhere. The actual print articles I gave to friends who knew him.

The Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Arkansas has a good article which is still on line.