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Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream

10 Jun 99 - 09:56 PM (#85721)
Subject: John Brown's Dream
From: gray03@ibm.net

I am searching for the words to this Old-TIme Traditional song. It is played by many Old-Time bands in southwest Virginia (i.e. Grayson County)

09 May 02 - 12:56 PM (#707473)
Subject: John Brown's Dream/lyric request
From: Saltlick

Looking for words to this old fiddle tune. I heard Tommy Jarrell recording but could not make out all of the lyrics.

09 May 02 - 04:58 PM (#707662)
Subject: RE: John Brown's Dream/lyric request
From: Sorcha

There is a previous request for this above. We never did find it.

09 May 02 - 07:01 PM (#707713)
Subject: RE: John Brown's Dream/lyric request
From: GUEST,Saltlick

Thanks, I guess it's time for some new words or at least anew interpretation.

09 May 02 - 08:07 PM (#707763)
Subject: RE: John Brown's Dream/lyric request
From: Irish sergeant

That sounds like a song challange top me but if there are words I would like to have them also as I play this song on guitar at Civil War re-enactments.Thanks Neil

20 May 02 - 10:49 PM (#714300)
Subject: RE: John Brown's Dream/lyric request
From: masato sakurai

From The Fiddler's Companion, which gives 2 lines:

JOHN BROWN'S DREAM. AKA and see "Brown's Dream," "Pretty Little Miss," "Herve Brown's Dream," "Little Rabbit." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina. A Major. AEAE or Standard. AABBCC (Brody): AABBCCDD (Phillips, Songer). A Galax, Virginia, area standard. Hobart Smith, of Saltville, Va., also played the tune on the banjo. Tommy Jarrell, of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, suggested that "John Brown's Dream," which he learned from his father, fiddler Ben Jarrell, was derived from "Pretty Little Miss."
***
('B' part vocal) John Brown's dream, the devil is dead.
('C' part vocal) Come on Lulu, come on Lulu, Come on Lulu, Put the hog in the bread.
***
Sources for notated versions: New Lost City Ramblers [Brody]; Kevin Wimmer [Phillips]. Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; pg. 148. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 126. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 111. County 524, "Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters: 1927 Recordings" (the fiddler for this band is Ben Jarrell). County 713, Cockerham, Jenkins and Jarrell- "Down to the Cider Mill." County CD2702, Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham - "Tommy and Fred: Best Fiddle-Banjo Duets" (1992). County CO-CD-2711, Kirk Sutphin - "Old Roots and New Branches" (1994). Folkways FA 2492, New Lost City Ramblers- "String Band Instrumentals" (1964). Folkways FTS 31041, New Lost City Ramblers- "Across the Great Divide." Kicking Mule 203, Art Rosenbaum- "The Art of the Mountain Banjo." Marimac 9038, Dan Gellert & Brad Leftwich - "A Moment in Time." Silvertone 5183B (78 RPPM), Da Costa Woltz's Southern Broadcasters (1927). Tennvale 003, Pete Parish- "Clawhammer Banjo." Tradition Records TLP1007, Hobart Smith - "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians" (1956).

Tommy Jarrell's "Brown's Dream" is notated in Miles Krassen's Appalachian Fiddle (Oak, 1973, pp. 66-67), without lyrics.

~Masato

18 Mar 11 - 12:20 PM (#3116486)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: Uncle Sinner

John Brown's dream,
John Brown's dream: the Devil was dead.

Come on, Lula
Come on, Lula
Come on Lula with your hog and your bread.

[I like to sing "the devil's in his head", personally]

01 Jul 11 - 07:19 PM (#3179985)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: GUEST

Here are some more.
Here is the source:
http://www.olyoldtime.org/resources/primer.pdf



Soon be time, soon be time to cook and eat again (2x)
Who's been here, Who's been here while I been gone
Pretty little gal, pretty little gal with the red dress on
C part:
1 5      1
Come on Lula, come on Lula, come on Lula with the hog and bread (2x)
Boatin' up Cindy, Cindy, Cindy, boatin' up Cindy how do you do (2x)
I'm gonna marry, I'm gonna marry, I'm gonna marry that pretty little gal (2x)
She took it off and I put it on, In come Sally with her big boots o

02 Jul 11 - 09:53 AM (#3180149)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: GUEST,999 LYRICS

Old-Time Song Lyrics - John Browns Dream

Google that. The lyrics are there.

09 Jul 11 - 11:10 AM (#3184345)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: Lighter

Shouldn't that be "Boatin' up *Sandy*"?

The Big Sandy River flows through West Virginia and Kentucky.

08 Apr 21 - 04:05 PM (#4101427)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: GUEST,#

http://www.asmylifeturnstoasong.com/john-browns-dream

Four versions done on that site. Some song history, too.

09 Apr 21 - 04:19 AM (#4101477)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Brown's Dream
From: GeoffLawes

http://www.asmylifeturnstoasong.com/john-browns-dream