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22 Sep 97 - 06:05 PM (#12879) Subject: Lyr Add: MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER? From: gene Here's a slightly different version of a song posted earlier. MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER? 1. One night it was dark and t'was raining 2. May I sleep in your barn tonight, Mister? 3. Now, I have no tobacco nor matches 4. It was three years ago last Summer 5. Now, the stranger was fair, tall and pleasant 6. Now, my wife thought his board and his lodging 7. One day, as I came from my workshop 8. But what did I find but a letter 9. And, this note said my wife and the stranger Note. Verses 5 and 6 included from a version posted earlier. They were not in this version.
Messages from multiple threads combined to make it easier to compare versions of this song. Except for the added verses 5 and 6, Gene's text is the same as I found in Brumley's Lamplitin' Songs & Ballads (1977) Click to playHere is the harmony version from the Brumley book: Click to play |
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08 Dec 98 - 10:05 PM (#48631) Subject: RE: ADD LYR: May I Sleep In Your Barn From: Pete Peterson The version you posted is the one James Roberts recorded in about 1926 and has a couple more verses than the more common one Charlie Poole recorded (CO 15038) in 1927. When I did it for my Marimac tape it was sort of a mixture of the two, and my stranger was "tall dark and handsome" as in the gypsy cliches. PETE |
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06 Apr 00 - 08:21 AM (#207592) Subject: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Cowpolk Would someone be able to help me with the lyrics to this song? |
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06 Apr 00 - 09:24 AM (#207624) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mis From: Alice Cowpolk, I refreshed two previous threads on this song for you. I found them by putting the word barn in the filter box and setting refresh to 3 years. alice |
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06 Apr 00 - 09:39 AM (#207635) Subject: Lyr Add: CAN I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT MISTER From: Stewie Here's Charlie Poole's version:
CAN I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT MISTER --Stewie. |
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06 Apr 00 - 09:43 AM (#207640) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mis From: Stewie Alice, you posted while I was typing. Never mind, better too much than nothing. --Stewie. |
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06 Apr 00 - 11:18 AM (#207698) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mis From: GUEST,Pete Peterson James Roberts starts with this verse: The night was dark and stormyI have to admit a liking for any song that starts out with the classic "It was a dark and stormy night" so I generally start with that verse. I am also guilty at times of adding an apocryphal last verse which Poole never recorded: Can I sleep in your barn tonight MisterBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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17 Nov 03 - 04:48 PM (#1055718) Subject: RE: Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Joe Offer Anybody have a tune they'd like to transcribe for us? The tune on the "Walter Smith and Friends" recording is exactly the same as "Red River Valley," but others use a tune that's slightly different. -Joe Offer- joe@mudcat.org Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry. I have Randolph, so I can transcribe the tune if we don't get a volunteer. Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight?DESCRIPTION: The tramp asks to be allowed to spend the night in the barn, adding that he had no tobacco or matches. He explains how he used to live a settled life, but then a stranger came to town and made off with his wife and son.AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (recordings, Charlie Poole, George Reneau) KEYWORDS: abandonment rambling poverty hobo request FOUND IN: US(SE,So) REFERENCES (4 citations): Randolph 841, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight?" (2 texts, 1 tune) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 502-504, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight?" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 841A) BrownIII 356, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?" (2 texts) Rorrer, p. 70, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister" (1 text) Roud #768 RECORDINGS: Gene Autry, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?" (Conqueror 7765, 1931) Boone County Entertainers, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister" (Supertone 9182, 1928) Jeff Calhoun [pseud. for Vernon Dalhart], "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?" (Grey Gull 4118, 1927) Harry "Mac" McClintock, "Can I Sleep In Your Barn?" (Victor V-40264, 1930) Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister" (Columbia 15038-D, 1925; on CPoole02) (Broadway 8146, c. 1931) Red Fox Chasers, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?" (Supertone 9182, 1928) Joe Reeves, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?" (Conqueror 7254, 1929) George Reneau, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister?" (Vocalion 15149, 1925) James Roberts, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?" (Romeo 5074, n.d.) Ernest V. Stoneman, "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?" (Okeh 45059, 1926); (Challenge 312, c. 1927) Kid Williams & Bill Morgan [pseuds. for Walter Smith & Lewis McDaniel], "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister?" (Perfect 160, 1931) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "The Tramp's Story" (plot) cf. "The Lehigh Valley" (plot) cf. "The Deserted Husband" (theme) SAME TUNE: Let Me Sleep in Your Tent Tonight, Beal (Greenway-AFP, pp.137-138) ALTERNATE TITLES: The Honest Tramp Can I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight, Mister? Notes: Carson J. Robison credits this to E. V. Body, but "Body" gets credit for too many things for the attribution to amount to much. - RBW File: R841 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
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18 Nov 03 - 08:48 AM (#1056139) Subject: RE: Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: nutty I've got a Noteworthy file ready to send Joe ...... I'll let MMario have it. |
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18 Nov 03 - 09:01 AM (#1056146) Subject: Tune Add: MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER From: GUEST,MMario X:1 T:MAY I SLEEP IN YOUR BARN TONIGHT, MISTER? C:unknown N:transcribed by Nutty N:source:"Lamplitin' Time in the Valley" (Songs and Ballads) N:copyright 1977 by Albert E. Brumley and Sons I:abc2nwc M:4/4 L:1/8 K:G z6D G|B2d d B2A B|A G6(D D)|B2D B d2e d| A6d c|(D2D) A D2A B|d E6E|D2F G A2B A| G6z2| I think I disagree somewhat with this transcription. Here's what I get from Brumley's Lamplitin' Songs and Ballads (1977), which may or may not be the same version Nutty has. -Joe Offer- Click to playTo play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net |
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19 Nov 03 - 11:12 PM (#1057454) Subject: ADD Version: May I sleep In your barn From: Joe Offer This is #841A in Randolph's Ozark Folksongs It's very similar to other versions, but I thought I'd post it to go with the MIDI. One night it was dark and storming When along came a tramp in the rain He was making his way to the station To catch a long distant train May I sleep in your barn tonight, Mister? It is cold lyin' out on the ground, And the cold north wind it is whistling, And I have no place to lie down. I have no tobacker nor matches, I am sure I will do you no harm, I will tell you my story, kind Mister, For it runs through my heart like a storm. It was three years ago last Summer, I shall never forget that sad day, When a stranger came out from the city And said that he wanted to stay. The stranger was .......... and handsome, And he looked like a man who had wealth, Said he came out from the city, Said he wanted to stop for his health. One night as I came from my workshop, I was whistling and singing with joy, I expected a kind loving welcome From my sweet loving wife and my boy. But what should I find but a letter, It was placed in the room on a stand, And the moment my eyes fell upon it I picked it right up in my hand. In this note said my wife and the stranger They had left and had taken my son, Oh I wonder if God up in Heaven Only knows what that stranger had done! Click to playSung by Mrs. Ray Oxford, Fayetteville, Arkansas, December 13, 1941 |
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19 Nov 03 - 11:16 PM (#1057459) Subject: ADD Ver: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Joe Offer As long as I'm at it, here's #841B from Randolph's Ozark Folksongs. Text from Miss Thelma Smith, Elkins, Ark., May 2, 1927. One night it was dark and stormy, Along came a tramp in the rain, He was making his way to some station To catch a long distant train. Can I sleep in your barn tonight, Mister? It's cold lying out on the ground, The cold north wind is whistling And I got no place to lay down. I have no tobacco nor matches, And I'm sure it will do you no harm, I will tell you my story, kind Mister, For it comes to my heart like a storm. It was three years ago last Summer, I can never forget that sad day, When a stranger come out from the city And said that he wanted to stay. My wife said she'd like to be earning Something to add to our home, In her talk it was finally decided That the stranger would stay in our home. One evening as I come from my workshop A-whistling and singing with joy, Expecting a kind-hearted welcome Which would come from my wife and my boy. But what could I spy but a letter Placed in the room on the stand, The moment my eyes fell upon it I picked it right up in my hand. It was a note from my wife and the stranger, They had run off and taken my son, I wonder if God up in Heaven Only knew what that stranger has done! Randolph says there were recordings by Charlie Poole, Joe Reeves, and Vernon Dalhart. Carson Robison credits the song to "E.V. Brody." There is a similar song called "The Honest Tramp," published in Milburn's The Hobo's Hornbook. |
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19 Nov 03 - 11:43 PM (#1057472) Subject: ADD: The Tramp Song From: Joe Offer There are two versions of "Can I Sleep In Your Barn" in the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, but they are so close to the versions posted above that I can't bring myself to post them. However, there are two songs in Brown that are closely related, and they deserve posting. Here's #357 from Brown: THE TRAMP SONG When passing down the street how many men you meet Who has nowhere on earth to lay their head! Oh, grasp him by the hand, and remember he's a man; For God knows what you may be before you die. Chorus: So if you meet a tramp who bears misfortune's stamp, If he's worthy of your aid, why, freely give Him a hearty grip, wish him good luck if you trust, And remember that a poor tramp has to live. 2 I once saw a tramp whom the people called a scamp And upon him set their dogs lest he should steal; And as he turned away I saw him kneel rand pray, And I know that God above heard his appeal. 3 How little do we know, as they tramped through rain and snow,* That once he was as happy as a king Till fortune's crude** dart came and pierced his manly heart And took away his home and everything. 4 How many men there are who rides in bolts and bar The door. .*** Because they've lots of gold their hearts turn icy cold; They ought to be condemned for it, I'm sure. 5 I once heard a tramp relate the true story of his fate And how he was an outcast shunned by all. He led a happy life, had a loving child and wife; But alas, like Eve, the woman had to fall. 6 How she proved both weak and frail—it's no use to tell the tale, How she turned his manly heart to sad despair. He never since has smiled on that handsome wife and child, But sadly now he roams from place to place. *The manuscript has "shine," but the rhyme calls for "snow." **So the manuscript seems to read, but the word should probably be "cruel." ***This stanza is defective in the manuscript. Probably the original says that the rich man bolts and bars his door; but the editor will not undertake to reconstruct it. Nor has he done anything about the curious syntax in stanzas 1, 3, and 4. No tune. |
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19 Nov 03 - 11:50 PM (#1057481) Subject: ADD: Tale of a Tramp From: Joe Offer One more related song from the Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, #358 TALE OF A TRAMP Let me sit down a moment A stone's got in my shoe. Don't you commence your cussin' I ain't done nothing to you. Yes, I'm a tramp—what of it? Folks say we ain't no good. Tramps have got to live, I reckon, Though folks don't think we should. Once I was young and handsome, Had plenty of cash and clothes. That was before I got to topplin'* And got gin in my nose. Way down in the Lehigh valley Me and my people grew; I was a blacksmith captain; Yes, and a good one, too. Me and my wife, and Nellie— Nellie was just sixteen, And she was the pootiest cretur The valley had ever seen. Beaux! Why, she had a dozen, Had 'em from near and fur, But they were mostly farmers; None of them suited her. But there was a city chap, Handsome, young, and tall— Oh, curse him! I wish I had him To strangle against yonder wall. He was no man for Nellie. She didn't know no ill. Mother, she tried to stop it, But you know young girl's will. Well, it's the same old story, Common enough, you'll say. But he was a soft-tongued devil And got her to run away. More than a month, or later, We heard from the poor young thing. He had run away and left her Without any wedding ring. Back to her home we brought her, Back to her mother's side. Filled with a ragin' fever She fell at my feet and died. Frantic with shame and sorrow Her mother began to sink And died in less than a fortnight. That's when I took to drink. Come, give a glass now, colonel, And I'll be on my way. And I'll tramp till I catch that scoundrel If it takes till judgment clay. *Perhaps merely miswritten for "tipplin'." No tune for this one, either. |
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20 Nov 03 - 01:59 AM (#1057551) Subject: Lyr Add: CAN I SLEEP IN YOUR ARMS (Hank Cochran) From: GUEST,Dale Then there's this adaptation which "borrows" the general framework as well as the tune (which of course has been borrowed many times over): CAN I SLEEP IN YOUR ARMS Lyrics by Hank Cochran Recorded By Jeannie Seely, 1973 Don't know why, but the one I love left me, Left me lonely, and cold and so weak, And I need someone's arms to hold me, 'Til I'm strong enough to get back on my feet. Can I sleep in your arms tonight Mister, It's so cold lying here all alone, And I have no (hold, hope, home??) to hold on you, I assure you I'll do you no wrong I haven't smiled since he left me, Cause a smile somehow seems out of place, And I just need two lips to kiss me, Then I can smile again and I can show my face. Can I sleep in your arms tonight Mister, It's so cold lying here all alone, And I have no (hold, hope, home??) to hold on you, I assure you I'll do you no wrong I can't quite make out that one word in the chorus. Back in '73, I would have sworn it was home. Now it seems like it ought to be hope, but I've seen it listed as hold. |
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20 Nov 03 - 03:02 AM (#1057567) Subject: RE: Req: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Joe Offer Hi, Dale - On Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson sings it "sleep in your arms tonight, lady." He has the line in question as "I have no hold to hold on you." I think Hank Cochran should have worked a little harder on that line. This page has the Willie Nelson version. -Joe Offer- |
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05 Oct 05 - 02:37 PM (#1576644) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: GUEST,thebouv34@msn.com my response is actuaaly in regard to the tale of a tramp. my grandfather had the tale memorized, and would recite it at family gatherings after having quite a few beers. i've been trying to find it as well as other family members to no avail. i was thrilled to find it through you, and can't thank you enough. is there any other information regarding the verse that you might be aware of, such as author and time of origin? thanks once again, ed bouvy |
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05 Oct 05 - 04:14 PM (#1576713) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Mark Ross Haywire Mac McClintock also recorded it to the tune of RED RIVER VALLEY. Mark Ross |
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12 Feb 06 - 09:05 PM (#1667147) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight, Mister? From: GUEST |
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15 Oct 06 - 11:13 PM (#1859949) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight, Mis From: GUEST There is one verse I never saw in any of these. it goes. Now I came to a farmhouse last summer, And they told me my baby had died, And there for the first time in life, sir, I fell down upon my knees and cried. Now I'm sure there's a God up in Heaven In whom I've been taught to believe. I am sure he will give to the stranger and ------ the tome that they ought to receive. |
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24 Oct 07 - 08:56 AM (#2178032) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: GUEST,Ed Herschberger It seems to me like I've seen an answer written to this song but I can't find it anywhere. Can anyone help me out? |
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24 Oct 07 - 10:08 AM (#2178102) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mist From: Midchuck Joe, posting a CLEAN version of "Down in the Lehigh Valley" is a terrible blow to American folklore. I won't try to reproduce the whole thing...but the proper first two verses are: Let me sit down a minute, as stone got in my shoe. Don't you commence your cursin', I ain't done nothin' to you. Once I was young and handsome, had plenty o' cash and clothes. That was before I got to tipplin', and the gin got in my nose. It was down in the Lehigh Valley, in the spring of '92, I was pimpin' in a whorehouse, and a mighty fine one too..... and the final stanza is: ...and I'll hunt the runt that stole my c***, if it takes 'till judgment day. Peter |
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24 Oct 07 - 12:58 PM (#2178235) Subject: Lyr Add: HOBO'S LULLABY (Goebel Reeves) From: topical tom I realize I'm off the track here but here are two of my favourite hobo songs:Hobo's Lullaby by Goebel Reeves Go to sleep you weary hobo Let the towns drift slowly by Can't you hear the steel rail humming That's a hobo's lullaby Do not think about tomorrow Let tomorrow come and go Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar Safe from all the wind and snow I know the police cause you trouble They cause trouble everywhere But when you die and go to heaven You won't find no policemen there I know your clothes are torn and ragged And your hair is turning grey Lift your head and smile at trouble You'll find happiness some day So go to sleep you weary hobo Let the towns drift slowly by Don't you feel the steel rail humming That's a hobo's lullaby ©1961,1962 (Renewed) Fall River Music, Inc. (BMI) All Rights Reserved. Hallelujah! I'm a Bum 19th Century John J. Husband 1. Oh, why don't you work Like other men do? How the hell can I work When the skies are so blue? Chorus: Hallelujah! I'm a bum, Hallelujah bum again, Hallelujah! give us a handout To revive us again. 2. Oh, I love my boss And my boss loves me, And that is the reason I'm so hungry. 3. Well, springtime has come And I'm just out of jail, Without any money, Without any bail. 4. Oh why don't you save all The money you earn? Well if I didn't eat, I'd have money to burn. 5. Oh, I like my boss, He's a good friend of mine, And that's why I'm standing Out in the breadline. 6. I can't buy a job 'cause I ain't got the dough So I ride in a boxcar 'cause I'm a hobo. 7. I went to a house and I knocked on the door, The lady said, "Scram, bum, You've been here before!" 8. I went to a house, and I asked for some bread; A lady came out, says, "The baker is dead." 9. I went to a bar and I asked for a drink, They gave me a glass And they showed me the sink. 10. Oh why don't you work Like other folks do? How can I get a job When you're holding down two? 11. Whenever I get all The money I earn, The boss will be broke And to work he must turn. 12. When springtime does come, Oh won't we have fun, We'll throw up our jobs And we'll go on the bum. guitar24s guitar12s guitar22s guitar29s |
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24 Oct 07 - 06:09 PM (#2178463) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Mark Ross HALLELUJAH I'M A BUM was written by Harry K. McClintock, also known as Haywire Mac. Who the hell is John J. Husband? Mark Ross |
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24 Oct 07 - 08:09 PM (#2178540) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I sleep In your barn tonight Mister From: Bob the Postman As masato told us in this thread, John J. Husband is the guy who wrote the tune for the hymn which is parodied in Hallelujah I'm A Bum. |
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15 Dec 07 - 11:58 PM (#2216293) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister From: GUEST,lizebeth My father used to sing "Can I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister?" for us. My only tape of him singing disintegrated and I have been trying to remember the lyrics. By using some verses from different contributers, I think I've got his version. Thanks! |
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25 Nov 12 - 12:28 PM (#3442021) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: May I Sleep in Your Barn Tonight Mister From: GUEST,crazy Ruth Entering a nursing home I was greeted by a woman with allshimers who usually calls out with unpleasant words, but she was singing "May I sleep in your barn tonight mister" and laughing. Looked up the song, got the words , listened to the singer and hope to have a monthly gathering of folk singers play this tune. They sit in a circle with everyone taking their turn to sind and play a favorite song. My basket is too full of holes for me to sing insuch a public place. Returned to the nursing home and we sang a duet and laughed and laughed. so did all in the diningroom people. Thank you |