There's a Conley These Rocks

Subject: There's a Conley in These Rocks
From: GUEST,Alice
Date: 12 Aug 20 - 07:53 PM

I am looking for a traditional song. (lyrics and tune) Any similar song could be it! My grandfather, in West Virginia, used to sing it. It seems to be American, (because of the gun reference)... but songs changed a lot as they traveled back and forth across the ocean from the British Isles. This is the only portion of lyrics that the older members of my family could remember. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

"There's a Conley in these rocks
He steals old guns, that's got no locks"

"I wish old Conley I could see
I'd shoot him or he'd shoot me”

Subject: RE: There's a Conley These Rocks
From: cnd
Date: 13 Aug 20 - 10:04 AM

I couldn't find anything like this song.

Sometimes, finding things like this is just a matter of the right phrasing -- there's so much stuff on the internet that searching for it is harder just because you've got to sift through more. See if there's any chance they remember slightly different phrasing or any more words if they can.

You may also have some luck trying to contact a local traditional music preservation society.