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07 Aug 00 - 01:11 AM (#272715) Subject: Barlow Knife Chant From: Ebbie Does any 'Catter know this song? It is an old-fashioned-sounding fiddle tune to which I've heard a sung chant - or maybe that was just his singing style? Something like, Oh, the Barlow knife...and then dah, dah, dah; dah, dah, dah; dah dah dah dah dah dah dah; dah, dah, dah, etc. Got that? I would love to know the lyrics. Ebbie |
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07 Aug 00 - 05:11 AM (#272755) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: bill\sables Ebbie is it " I been working all my life and all I've gotten was a barlo knife Barlo knike and a Barlo blade , the best darn knife that ever was made If this is the one you are looking for I have the words somewhere. Cheers Bill |
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07 Aug 00 - 11:33 AM (#272862) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Ebbie Yes, Bill! That's the one. When you have time, would you post them? Thanks much. Ebbie |
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07 Aug 00 - 01:31 PM (#272951) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Joe Offer We had a thread on this song here (click) but didn't come up with a definitive set of lyrics. -Joe Offer- |
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07 Aug 00 - 01:49 PM (#272963) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,Stew All the versions I have heard have only one verse (the rest being instrumental),which goes like this:
I've been working all of my life hope this helps. |
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07 Aug 00 - 03:04 PM (#273016) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Ebbie Curioser and curioser... I know that the singer I heard in the past kicked in several times in the course of the tune but maybe he sang the same words each time? Bill, do you have more lyrics? Thankee...Ebbie |
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07 Aug 00 - 04:18 PM (#273071) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Margo I have heard it that way too, with only the above words. Dwight Diller plays Barlow Knife and that's all he sings, too. He sings it only once, so the piece is almost all instrumental. Margo |
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07 Aug 00 - 07:07 PM (#273193) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: bill\sables Still not found them but I will keep on looking |
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07 Aug 00 - 07:54 PM (#273229) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Bud Savoie Allen Block used to perform with a group called Ebeneezer, and he sang several verses, each one the same as the previous except for the singer's job: "I've been a lumbering...", "I've been sitting here...", "I've been [name it] al my life, and all I've got is a Barlow knife (twice)". To the B part: "Barlow handle and a Barlow blade; best old knife that ever was made (twice). The C part has no words. |
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07 Aug 00 - 08:01 PM (#273232) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Mbo I know the line from another song:
I've worked in the cotton mill all my life One of my favorite songs, especially love the Poozies' version. --Matt |
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08 Aug 00 - 04:53 AM (#273447) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: bill\sables I found the version I had which ,is like Bud says, just changing jobs, Lumbering, Wrangling,etc |
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08 Aug 00 - 06:20 AM (#273471) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler I should have commented when this came up on the "Send me the 'lectric chair" thread. I had always assumed the knife was "Bowie", never having heard of a Barlow. On the Mudcat you can find an expert on everything and learn at least one new thing each day (to try to keep up with the ones you are forgetting), which is why I keep coming back, despite the occasional (dare I say it!) Mudslinging. Thanks for continuing my musical education ( I certainly need it!) RtS |
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08 Aug 00 - 07:22 AM (#273482) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Bud Savoie Roger, I guess you never read Tom Sawyer. First time I heard of the Barlow was when Tom was given one as a reward for learning the Sermon on the Mount. He was given a "sure 'nough Barlow," and, if I remember correctly, "there was ineffable grandeur in that." That stuck with me over the years, and when I was visiting my sister up in Freeport, Maine, I visited the L.L. Bean store and actually found a Barlow knife for sale. I bought it, of course; and I don't know whether it's the best old knife that ever was made, but it's a wicked good one. |
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08 Aug 00 - 08:27 AM (#273498) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: JedMarum Hey Bud - I opened a show for Allen Block some years ago at a little coffee house in Massachusetts. When one of Allen's banjo tuners started slipping he asked the audience if someone had a screwdriver or a knife blade. I handed him my pocket knife and he was floored becasue it was a Barlow knife. He went on about the song, and was so impressed to have finally seen a real life Barlow knife - I gave it to him. Years later I was at a Folk Festival in New Hampshire and as I walked up to the seating area I heard the fellow onstage introducing this song, and he told the tale of someone givng him the knife; it was Allen again. I haven't seen him since. |
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08 Aug 00 - 09:40 AM (#273529) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,Stew Did some searching around on the net once in regards to the Barlow Knife. It seems that George Washington commisioned a local knifemaker in Valley Forge? by the name of Barlow to come up with a serviceable knife for his troops. Thus the Barlow Knife was born. Its a knife which has two blades which flip out at the same end. Usually the handle was finished in some kind of bone or staghorn. Not being an expert on American folk history I can only accept what I found to be a reasonable tale. Stew |
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08 Aug 00 - 02:14 PM (#273662) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: ol'troll Meebo. Cotton Mill Girls was written by Hedy West in the early 60's I recall hearing her do it at Rosalie Sorrels' house in Salt Lake City in 1962 or 63. troll |
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08 Aug 00 - 05:41 PM (#273795) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Jed at Work I di a bit of searching thsi AM, found lots on the knife, but little on the song ... only that sos and so had recorded it ... a couple of out of date midi-files ... |
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08 Aug 00 - 09:21 PM (#273935) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Bud Savoie Jed--I saw Allen Block a few years ago at the Seamen's Insstitute in Newport, RI. He's terrific, if not a snappy dresser. I requested Barlow Knife, but he never got to it. You would never know it by the way he holds the bow and fiddle, but he started out as a classical violinist. |
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09 Aug 00 - 12:10 PM (#274298) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Jed at Work He was a treat when I played with him, many years ago. He was travelling with a pleasant and attractive young woman who sang with him that night. I don't recall her name, and I don't know if they were regularly performing together. I'd love to see him again. I suppose I'd have to look up in that part of the world, though. Maybe I'll find his calendar on Musi-cal. |
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16 Dec 02 - 11:41 PM (#848628) Subject: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife From: GUEST,Stewmac Has anyone come across lyrics for Barlow Knife? The only lines I've ever heard are: "I've been working all my life, And all I wanted was a Barlow Knife, Elkhorn Handle and a Barlow blade Best darn that was ever made." Thanks in advance for any replies. Stewmac |
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17 Dec 02 - 12:25 AM (#848651) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Joe Offer Hi, Stewmac - I moved you over here, since this was the closest we ever got to an answer. Were you the "Stew" who posted the single verse above? That's all we've come up with, although Chet W said in another thread that he sings the "B" part this way: "Barlow handle and a Barlow blade, Best damn knife that ever was made" (2x) |
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17 Dec 02 - 12:29 AM (#848655) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Richie Here's a different version from my web-site: Click here More info can be found under "Cabin Creek" from the Henry Reed Collection on-line. The other version on my site is similar to the words you posted. The words, 'barlow Knife" show up in several other different songs. -Richie |
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17 Dec 02 - 07:31 AM (#848782) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: BanjoRay All that stuff about some guy called Barlow making one for George Washington is of course a load of old Hooie. The Barlow Knife is a good old knife made in Sheffield, England and exported in large quantities to the colonies. The facts are all here, a good website. Cheers Ray (who plays it frequently on his banjo in the Old Time session in Sheffield) |
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17 Dec 02 - 04:17 PM (#849137) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: mack/misophist Just to round things out, I had a Barlow knife once (and I bet a lot of you did, too). It was a damn good knife. I wouldn't traqde my Schrade to get it back, But for what it was, it was good. |
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17 Dec 02 - 05:56 PM (#849209) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: bill\sables When Allan C and I toured the USA a couple of years ago we searched for two things with musical connections, one was a plastic Jesus for the car dashboard which we never found and the other was a Barlow Knife. which also we didn't find. However a few months after I returned to the UK Allan sent me a package and wraped in tissue paper was a Barlow Knife. It doesn't look much but it is a good reliable knife and treasured because of the US trip connection. Allan Block has been to Old Songs in New York State the last two times I have been there, It was from a recording by Allan that I first heard the song. Cheers Bill |
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18 Dec 02 - 12:18 PM (#849679) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: chip a Barlow has come to mean a certain knife design these days. Lots of makers make them. Good and bad ones. Here's my Barlow story. My kids mom and I had delivered two of our kids at home. I cut the cords with new Case knives and saved the knives for each kid to have when they grew up. The next time we got pregnant, the Dr wanted her to have the baby in the hospital because of a slight problem with mom's heart. He said I could do the delivering and also that he wanted to supply the knife. Then he told us this story: He grew up poor as dirt not far from here in the Georgia mountains and when he was a boy he'd always wanted a Barlow knife but never got one. He put himself through college and made a Dr. On graduation a friend of his gave him a custom made, stag handled Barlow as a gift. He had treasured it and kept it unused in the original box since graduation. This was the knife he gave us. Last Christmas I gave the knifes to the kids. Rebekah, now eighteen with a baby of her own has the Barlow. The Dr is still practising not too far from here. Chip A. |
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07 Aug 04 - 11:24 AM (#1241724) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: The Shambles Four Men and a Dog have just recorded a fine version of Barlows Knife (Trad Arr) on their CD called Maybe Tonight (Hook002 2002). It was the first time I heard the tune and I was just going to create a thread to ask for some more info and I found this one. |
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27 Aug 12 - 03:47 PM (#3396015) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,badbullet the barlow knife was created in sheffield england around 1670.iv just ordered a beautiful stag,two blades with work back on the spines of the blades.the maker is taylor eye witness knives. |
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27 Aug 12 - 04:01 PM (#3396025) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Ebbie Fun to have this thread pop up again! |
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27 Aug 12 - 09:57 PM (#3396205) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Bob Bolton G'day sundry 'Catters, It's interesting to see this knife / song connection bob back up to the surface! The close equivalent to the US regard for their "Barlow Knife" ... wherever the original started life ... reminds me that the Australian equivalent would be the ubiquitous "Bunny Knife" ... a 2-bladed (larger 'clip' blade, smaller plain blade - kept as the designated "Sharp" blade). Back when I found myself in Tasmania, early 1966 ... and took a jack-hammer offsider job on a Hydro dam, I bought a neat little "Bunny" knife (a Taylor's Eye Witness brand) ... and that knife stayed in its pouch - when it wasn't doing every sort of cutting, trimming, maintenance job - on my belt pretty well until 1991. That was when the Photography Department I ran at the Sydney County Council (main eletricity distributor for most Of Sydney) Testing Laboratories was closed by a State Government ukase that all specialist jobs should be let out to right-wing friends of them - not experts who had years of training and experience in their specialist (and potentially dangerous fields. I moved into Training Publications area and was now based in the Sydney CBD. I found too many people couldn't understand the value, utility and simple safety of a small pocket/pouch folding knife. That's when I switched over to the Leatherman Tool ... only one 'model' way back then ... and that's taken the belt space ever since ... I guess it doesn't look enough like the "weapon" lifetime city dwellers imagine any personal knife to be! BTW: I haven't researched this ... but I remember someone claiming that the most frequent knife of (domestic) assault / homocide / murder is actually the "stay-sharp" kitchen knife sitting in its self-sharpening stand on most home kitchen food preparing surfaces! Hmmm ... all this is irrelevant to this site ... until someone crafts a "Leatherman" song ... Regard(les)s, Bob |
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28 Aug 12 - 04:51 AM (#3396287) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: johncharles here is Bo weevils version barlow knife john |
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28 Aug 12 - 05:20 AM (#3396293) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: MGM·Lion Belated response to a 12-yr-old post {ol'troll 08 aug 00}! Hedy West didn't 'write' Cotton Mill Girls, tho she may well have reworked a traditional song. Of his version on his old vinyl album Sue Cow [Argo 1969] (which, like Hedy West's, begins with the Barlow Knife verse but differs a fair bit thereafter ~ the version I sing on my youtube channel is an amalgam of their two versions), Tom Paley wrote, "I first heard this on a recording by a singer called Lester Smallwood. I have heard many other versions since, but all of them are inconsistent in the sense that some verses are from a woman's point of view and some from a man's. It's that sort of song." ~M~ |
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28 Aug 12 - 12:38 PM (#3396500) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Q (Frank Staplin) http://www.barlow-knives.com/history.htm The site has a good summary of the history. The type was first made in England, but was soon copied, they were made in the U.S. quite early. The two-blade folding knife was useful for many purposes. The Barlows were cutlers in Sheffield. |
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21 Sep 18 - 09:57 AM (#3951983) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST In response to my own post claiming no words to the third part of the tune, I have since found the following: "You can take my dog, you can take my wife, But you can't take my Barlow knife." |
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29 Jan 20 - 03:53 PM (#4031047) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,BarlowGuitar I just stumbled on this song (or verse) and therefor this thread, what a treat!! so much interesting information. Just to add to the Stories: My last name is Barlow, I cut the pinky finger on my fretting hand when I was 9 years old with my Own Barlow Knife. At the time the worst thing was that my pinky finger stuck out like i was drinking tea with royalty all the time. Later when I picked up the guitar it would present limitations. It also made it easier to mute the high strings when playing power chords, which was good. Playing power chords was enough to make an earnest attempt at song writing though. Later I would find all kinds of ways to make up for my bum pinky. Anyway, way cool to find this song now. Hope you enjoyed the dumb story haha. |
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29 Jan 20 - 03:59 PM (#4031049) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,BarlowGuitar I just stumbled on this song (or verse) and therefor this thread, what a treat!! so much interesting information. Just to add to the Stories: My last name is Barlow, I cut the pinky finger on my fretting hand when I was 9 years old with my Own Barlow Knife. At the time the worst thing was that my pinky finger stuck out like i was drinking tea with royalty all the time. Later when I picked up the guitar it would present limitations. It also made it easier to mute the high strings when playing power chords, which was good. Playing power chords was enough to make an earnest attempt at song writing though. Later I would find all kinds of ways to make up for my bum pinky. Anyway, way cool to find this song now. Hope you enjoyed the dumb story haha. |
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30 Jan 20 - 09:35 AM (#4031157) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,Starship Here's a melody for the song--or one of 'em. |
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12 Mar 21 - 07:16 AM (#4097281) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,henryp Guy Clark; My father had a Randall knife My mother gave it to him When he went off to WWII To save us all from ruin If you've ever held a Randall knife Then you know my father well If a better blade was ever made It was probably forged in hell |
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12 Mar 21 - 08:55 AM (#4097290) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,henryp And Frankie Lane too; Bowie knife, Bowie knife A long blade o'red steel If my gun don't take your evil life You can bet my Bowie knife will The Bowie knife knife was created by James Black in the early 19th century for Jim Bowie, who had become famous for his use of a large knife at a duel known as the Sandbar Fight. Wikipedia |
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12 Mar 21 - 09:28 AM (#4097292) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: GUEST,cnd Frankie Lane has a whole song about Bowie Knives, if I remember correctly -- or at least the title and song are based around it. Interestingly, they're named after Him Bowie, the hero of the Texas fight for independence. In Texas, they're pronounced "boo-we" knife while most of the rest of the US calls them "boe-wee" knives |
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13 Mar 21 - 02:27 PM (#4097487) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Rex Barlow Knife is on my CD with Mark Gardner, Frontier Favorites. The link is below. As for the lyrics, as we know them, Lived on Cabin Creek all my life, All I need is a Barlow knife. Got a buckhorn handle and a Barlow blade, Best damn knife that ever was made. Take my dog, take my wife, Just don't take my Barlow knife. Take my liquor, take my wife, Just don't take my Barlow knife. Barlow Knife from Frontier Favorites, Mark Gardner & Rex Rideout |
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13 Mar 21 - 02:29 PM (#4097490) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Barlow Knife Chant From: Rex “All the stores was along one street. They had white domestic awnings in front, and the country-people hitched their horses to the awning-posts. There was empty dry-goods boxes under the awnings, and loafers roosting on them all day long, whittling them with their Barlow knives; and chawing tobacco, and gaping and yawning and stretching – a mighty ornery lot.” – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn |