Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY NAME IS MORGAN, BUT IT AIN'T J. P.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 05 - 09:57 PM

This song is in the DT (click here), but the lines are a bit jumbled, the racial references have been deleted, and there is no attribution. It may well be an accurate transcription of someone's recording, but it has been folk-processed a bit. Here is the original:

From The University of South Carolina Sheet Music Collection:

MY NAME IS MORGAN, BUT IT AIN'T J. P.
Words, Will A. Mahoney; music, Halsey K. Mohr; 1906.

1. A coon named William Morgan took his gal to see a play,
And on their journey homeward, they stopped in to a café.
As soon as she got seated, Liza grabbed the bill of fare,
Called the waiter, and she ordered ev'rything was there.
Bill says, "I knows you're hungry, gal, and I don't like to squeal,
But who do you suppose is gwine to pay for such a meal?
I'm satisfied to buy you two or three things that are there,
But the appetite you've got tonight would break a millionaire."

CHORUS 1: My name is Morgan but it ain't J. P.
There's no bank on Wall Street that belongs to me.
Forget your champagne appetite.
The best you'll get is beer tonight.
My name is Morgan but it ain't J. P.

2. Bill Morgan married Liza thinking he could change her way,
But what she did to William's purse I'm most ashamed to say.
Whenever she went shopping, she'd buy ev'rything she'd see,
And what she couldn't pay for, she'd have sent home C. O. D.
One day six big deliv'ry wagons backed up to Bill's door.
They asked him to accept the goods while they went back for more.
It didn't take Bill long to go and get his hat and coat.
When Liza came back home that night, she found this little note:

CHORUS 2: My name is Morgan but it ain't J. P.
You must think I own a railroad company.
You might know me pretty long,
But you've got my initials wrong.
My name is Morgan but it ain't J. P.

[Recorded under the title MORGAN AND HIS GAL by Don Cherry, Walter Smith and Friends, The New Lost City Ramblers, and Anne Hills & Cindy Mangsen. A version called MY NAME IS MORGAN was recorded by Chad Mitchell and by the Mitchell Trio. Max Morath recorded it as MY NAME IS MORGAN (BUT IT AIN'T J. P.).]

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 05 - 10:23 PM

Also recorded by the Bahaman singer Blind Blake

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: Stewie
Date: 05 May 05 - 11:32 PM

Meade et alia 'Country Music Sources' give 'P.J. Howley w&m 1906'. What's the story here?   Buster Carter and Preston Young recorded it, also under the title 'Bill Morgan and His Gal', on 26 June 1931 [Columbia 15758-D - issued June 1932].

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 06 May 05 - 12:17 AM

Copied from the other thread:

There is a great old version by Buster Carter and Preston Young from 1931 on Flying Cloud CD 014, Cotton Mills and Fiddles. The notes are dated 1990, but I think the album itself is somewhat newer than that.

I am bringing that over here, since this seems to be the thread that is active and the album Cotton Mills And Fiddles is still available with 15 less common North Carolina/Virginia recordings. Posey Rorer was the fiddler with Carter & Young, for those who are interested in such. This thread reminds me that I need to dig that recording out and play it again.

By the way, Stewie ~~ and other OT music lovers, while you are over there at Flying Cloud, please check out Marsha Bowman With hand raised, I guarantee that you won't be sorry. You'll find Leather Britches (free mp3) done to perfection, and a nice version of Little Annie as well. This is one I intend to get. Miss Bowman can flat out pick a banjo. She was about 19 when she did this, 23 now I think.

Front door to Flying Cloud Records

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: RWilhelm
Date: 06 May 05 - 11:08 AM

And, of course, the Holy Modal Rounders.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: Lanfranc
Date: 06 May 05 - 01:14 PM

Not to mention Diz Disley!

Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: GUEST
Date: 06 May 05 - 02:54 PM

Who I understand is now in a nursing home with Alzheimers. A very sad thought for someone who gave so much pleasure to so many.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Name Is Morgan But It Ain't J. P.
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 07 May 05 - 02:05 AM

Sorry to hear about Diz.
A great performer.
Dementia is so sad to watch. It can turn into a living death.