Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia

Subject: Lyr Add: RIVERS OF GEORGIA
From: Turtle
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 11:44 AM

RIVERS OF GEORGIA

(adapted from Rivers of Texas, presumably by Fred Park and Jenny Armstrong; transcribed from their tape, Wild Hog in the Woods, where this version is listed as Rivers of Texas)

I crossed the Hiwassee, forded the Yellow,
Swum the Chattahoochee and followed the Soquee
The Savannah runs muddy, the Nottely runs clear
Down by the Coosa I courted my dear

Chorus:
Li li li lee lee lee give me your hand (3x)
There's many a river that waters the land

The broad St. Mary's runs glossy and gliding
The crooked Tallulah runs weaving and winding
The Withlacoochee it courses the plains
But I never will walk by the Coosa again

She hugged me, she kissed me, she called me her dandy
The Chestatee is rocky, the Suwannee is sandy
She kissed me, she hugged me, she called me her own
Down by the Coosa she left me alone

Now the girls on the Broad they are plump and they're pretty
The slim Hazard too has many a beauty
The Ochlockonee flows slowly past girls by the score
So I never will walk by the Coosa no more


I was given a copy of Fred and Jenny's tape by my friend Carol Ormand; this version of the song is the only one I've ever heard. Transcribing it for a song circle, I came to the Mudcat looking for the river names and looked it up by "Rivers of Texas"--what a surprise to find the Pecos, the Brazos, the Colorado in the lyrics there!

They don't seem to use the "pole the boat on" version of the chorus, though I've added it to the version I'll bring to song circle.

Knowing that Fred and Jenny live in Georgia, I made a wild guess at which state these rivers came from, and I've been consulting atlases and websites for lists of Georgia rivers since to make sure that I got them right. I found all of them except the "Soquee" and the "Hazard", so if someone from Georgia wants to correct me, I'd be grateful!

Turtle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Art Thieme
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 11:34 PM

Are they back together?? You must be talking about a VERY old tape?? I am quite confused. But it is April Fool today. Could that be it?

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 08:10 AM

Turtle, Are you there>

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 12:37 PM

By the rivers of George - I - A
Where we sat down,
She hugged & kissed me.
And called me "Baby"


Apologies to "Boney M"


Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Turtle
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:25 PM

Hi Art,

Sorry, didn't mean to disappear on you there...

I don't know Fred or Jenny personally, just through my friend Carol, who's also a dance caller and musician. But no, I don't think they're back together. I got the tape from Carol, oh, maybe 4 years ago--she got permission from Fred to dub it for me because he lost the master or some such thing. I have no idea how old the tape is, or if it's the only one they ever made. Sounds like you probably have more information about that than I do... it has some great songs on it, though. We'll be singing a couple of them tomorrow night!

Turtle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Art Thieme
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 05:58 PM

Turtle,

What confused me is that you said "they live in Georgia"---as in NOW----like together again?!

But now I see. (I once was blind.) ;-)

Art

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Turtle
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 06:07 PM

Yeah, it was a bit confusing the way I put it. I spoke with such assurance for someone who really has very little information!

Not to mention that it was April Fool's Day. I think a little perplexity is justified.

Turtle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 11:57 PM

They broke up a long time ago. Jennifer now lives in Maine (or is it New Hampshire?), has produced a solo CD or two recently, and tours frequently. Their two daughters also perform and have also made at least one CD. You'll probably find a web site via Google. We last saw all three of them at the memorial celebration for Jennifer's mother, Gerry Armstrong.
    Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rivers of Georgia
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 12:06 AM

I should have added that the original of the song under discussion here, namely "The Rivers of Texas," was collected by Vance Randolph from Irene Carlisle, who was a student at the University of Arkansas in Fayettville back before Randolph published his wonderful four volume Ozark Folksongs. All of the other versions -- and I've seen them from West Virginia and elsewhere, including Win Stracke's Illinois text -- must be considered parodies of the original, which has never before or since been reported from oral tradition.
    Sandy