Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?

Subject: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 08:46 PM

I will (again) be telling stories at the Whitman Mission (National Park) in a coupla weeks, and they love it when I add music.

Some songs I already know and can make fit are:

Days of '49

Root Hog, or Die

Acres of Clams

Sweet Betsy from Pike

Frozen Logger

Any thoughts on obvious things I am missing? Yeah, I know about "Give 'em Jessie;" it's a boring campaign song, and requires a history lesson.

this is a fun time for me; I don't get to do much "professional" storytelling anymore. I cheerfully delete verses derogatory to anybody.

TIA, MA

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 08:46 PM

PS: except bad guys.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: winniemih
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 08:53 PM

The Colorado Trail. I heard this on a Connie Dover cd but I think it's traditional. It's on The Wishing Well.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 25 Jul 00 - 09:50 PM

You have a very wide selection of songs to choose from! While everything you've mentioned is historically accurate, keep in mind that these people sang much more than Sweet Betsy from Pike. Among the church hymns wouild have been "Old One Hundred" As a Civil War reenactor, people expect things like "Battle cry of Freedom". They don't necessarily expect "Jug of Punch" or "Rosin the Beau". "Bonaparte's Retreat" "The Hunters of Kentucky" and "The Boatman Song" might also work. And may I recommend also "The Banks of the Ohio" anf "What was Your Name in the States?" ( That tune is the same as/ and is a corruption of "What was Your Name in Ireland") I hope thios helps, With Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Allan C.
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 10:38 AM

K.W. Todd has written a wonderful song called "The Oregon Trail" which can be found on Tania Opland's CD. A review of that CD can be found here. That track alone was enough to make me want to buy the CD. It sings of the hardships and the folks who didn't live to see the other end of the trail. Here's a bit of it:

Where the mountains rise,the wagons got heavy.
So the oxen were doubled to lighten their load.
It snapped the yoke shackle while Darcy Jones was droving.
She landed in pieces so far down below.

It was because of this song that I was so pleased when Sorcha invited Bill and me to visit the Oregon Trail wagon ruts near her home in Wyoming. The song is even more real to me now.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Les B
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 02:28 PM

Irish sergeant - What traditional words do you use to "Bonaparte's Retreat" ? The ones I'm aware of were written in the 1940's by a country western singer.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 02:49 PM

How strict are you? I like The Goodnight-Loving Trail. Do you remember one called The covered wagon rolled right along?....I dont know all of it, just 2 verses..Someone else maybe?

..At playing poker pappy won his fame
Once he got an Indian Chief into the game
Pappy wound up with 4 deuces, and a squaw with 6 papooses
And the covered wagon rolled right along.

When we crossed the reservation of the Sioux
The Indians stood and watched us passing through
Not a redskin dared to trifle while old pappy held his rifle, and the covered wagon rolled right along.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 03:31 PM

I know "Goodnight Loving Trail;" if I'm playing it outside of a fair use situation, I need to ask Utah Phillips, or at least tell him. It's Western, anyway.

How have I missed Tania Opland? That review was posted by an organization to which I belong! Again, since it is not traditional, I would need permission. I doubt I can learn it in time, anyway.

this is great!

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 06:32 PM

Les B; To be perfectly honest and sound totally ignorant, I was unaware there were words to Bonaparte's Retreat. I'v always heard the song as an instrumental. The version I have is on the Lewis and Clark soundtrack CD. I'd be interested to know those words and if there were words when the song originated. NEIL

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 06:39 PM

Wow. A Mudcat moment.

Also see current thread,

Help: Childrens Folk Music (click me)

Can youse two get together?

~S~

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Les B
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 06:52 PM

Irish sergeant - The words were written by Pee Wee King. They are at the Cowpie site (sorry, I'm too nerdy to do a blue clicky thing) - the last time I heard them sung was a few years ago when Glenn Campbell had a minor hit with it. I always assumed the tune itself was one of several "Napoleon Bonaparte" fiddle tunes that, as far as I know, had no original words.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 06:55 PM

How about My Darlin' Clementine? Shenandoah would also be appropriate.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 26 Jul 00 - 09:17 PM

I hope Sally has joined us from the other thread; yes, searching the DT under @west brings up a few things. How clever of me to have thought of a lot already.

For fifth graders?? Well, Mrs. Samuel taught us the bowdlerized version of that back in school, and we liked it. (and Sourwood Mountain, and a lotta other good stuff. Thanks, Mrs. S., wherever you are.)

Westward expansion tends to depend on where you are standing. 200 years ago, crossing the Alleghenies made you a pioneer.

Erie Canal is a pioneer song; anything about Johnny Appleseed qualifies; "Please, Mr. Custer" if you want to stretch. The 784 secti9on of your school or public library will have folk song books, including cowboy songs (well, they should, anyway.)

Playing the midi files in class is a stroke of genius.

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: mg
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 01:47 AM

Bill Gallaher wrote an absolutely wonderful song about Canadians making similar journeys..based on a true story of Augusta and Katherine....I think that might be the name...

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: mg
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 01:49 AM

thought of another one..Linda Allen..are you still here? Isn't your Dandelion song about pioneers bringing the dandelions over...and remember Westward Ho the wagons...had some great songs on it...Green Grow the lilacs was one...

mg

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Rex
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 10:58 AM

Well I haven't seen Buffalo Gals yet. Also known by its earlier name, Lubly Fan published in 1844. That would fit nicely. Old Dan Tucker published 1843. Oh Susanna published 1848. The public love to discover that these familier ditties go that far back. A good source to date songs to see if they fit your time period is here:

www.pdinfo.com

It has an extensive list of songs in the public domain with publishing dates. A useful site is "History in Song" which can be found in the Mudcat links here.

Rex

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Allan C.
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 11:14 AM

I forgot to say that if any of you decide to purchase Tania Opland's CD be sure to mention my name and that you heard about it on the Mudcat. It won't get you a discount or anything but Squire will probably remember me as will Tania (though I've never met either of them). I've been trying to convince Tania to become a 'Catter. Thanks

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 01:30 PM

Take a peek at a song in the DT called "Sioux Indians", if you search using 'Indians' you might come up with a few others that may be of interest. Good luck, Barry

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Jon W.
Date: 27 Jul 00 - 01:48 PM

How strictly Oregon trail are you? I've got a number of Mormon pioneer songs, many of which are secular rather than religious. "Whoa Haw Buck and Jerry Boy" is one that is an adaptation of the "Turkey in the Straw" tune that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. Here it is in the DT

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 01:46 PM

I suspect you're right about Bonaparte's Retreat. I have always heards it done as an instrumental and one that predominately features fiddles. Neil

Subject: RE: Oregon Trail/pioneer songs?
From: raredance
Date: 28 Jul 00 - 09:49 PM

Here's a few other possibilities:

"Way Out In Idaho"; "Seeing the Elephant"; "The Hand Cart Song"; "The Way They Emigrate"; "The Mormon Doo Dah song"; "Once I Lived In Cottonwood"; "The Wyoming Nester"; "The Range of The Buffalo (Buffalo Skinners)"; The Buffalo Hunters"; Starving To Death On A Government Claim"; "Crossing The Plains"; "Emigrant From Pike"; "Arrival of the Greenhorn"; "Johnny's Dead"

rich r