Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)

Subject: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 11:54 AM

Yes I searched first.

What is this song about, why was it written, and why is it sung? This is the one that goes something like this here:

Just drop whatever you're a-doin'
Your lone wolf is here to bark for you
The hungrier I get, well
The hungrier I yell (howl)

Just look way down in your pocketbook
Send me a quarter and get yourself a book
The lonesomer I get, well
The lonesomer I yell (howl)
(repeat first verse)

Is the book a bet thing? What is the quarter? Why would I have a lone wolf, and why would it bark for me? I have this on the Cisco Houston Sings Woody Guthrie album, so I'm assuming it's Woody's...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WRD61HBlpQ

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:04 PM

Interesting that you mention this today because Mike Regenstreif played Cisco Houston singing it yesterday on Folk Roots/Folk Branches on CKUT.

It was a theme song for a radio show that Woody had for a time in Los Angeles in the late 1930s. He out together little songbooks of the songs he performed on the show and sold them for 25 cents. Send in your quarter and you got yourself a book.

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:04 PM

Hi Mrz, Yeah, I've heard that song as well. I think Woody could get fascinated with expressions he liked. He certainly was a "Lone Wolf" in that his sociability was rationed out sparely. Not all his songs were gems, and this one certainly never grabbed me. It's on one of the Asch re-issues, put out by Smithsonian Folkways.

Rick

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:07 PM

When I said "out together," I meant "put together."

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:09 PM

Hi tedham. Do you have any idea whether a transcript of any of those radio shows exist? Man, that would be fascinating. S'pecially any duets with Lefty Lou.

I finally heard some complete "border Radio" shows with The Carters, and they were interesting to say the least. A.P. on his own (with his own guitar) had guts but not much else!!

Rick

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Tedham Porterhouse
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 12:13 PM

Rick,

I can't say that I'm aware of any transcripts. You might ask Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, at the Woody Guthrie Archives in NYC.

Subject: RE: Clarification: Lone Wolf (W. Guthrie)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 01:30 PM

Thanks for the info on the quarter and the book, suddenly the song almost makes sense. Almost. But if it's a theme song, then it doesn't have to make sense, so thanks a bunch!