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Lyr Req: Rocking Over? Rockinover? Rockin'?

21 Mar 99 - 12:00 AM (#64662)
Subject: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: GaryD

I was just listening to a great documentary: Yodeling: music of the soul (or something like that)... Had great examples of Swiss & Country style yodeling.. included history, mechanisms, places to hear yodeling, & greats like Pasty Montana, Elton Britt, Wilf Carter (Montana Slim), Jimmie Rodgers, etc..

Anyway, they ended the program with a couple of sisters singing & yodeling in excellent harmony to a tune called Rocking Over, by Les Wilson. I kept running the tape over & over to write down the lyrics, but I couldn't clearly hear two lines. Can anybody help me?

In the chorus: Rockin' over, oh rocking over,
I'm singing with the river as I ride
Rockin' over, oh rocking over,
Oh(?) this *******, down the Mountain Side
Yodel..etc..

Last verse: Rockin' over, oh rocking over,
I;m singing with the river as I ride
Rockin' over, oh rocking over,
I'm headed for the spot up there
My pony knows & I don't care
?************************over on the**?
Yodel..etc..

By the way, I was absolutely stunned to find out that yodeling was done by black minstrels in the earliest days of vaudeville, and even earlier (early 1800's). There was, of course, white counterparts to that at the time too, also connections to traveling European & Swiss troupes during the Gay '90s and earlier. You can even hear yodeling in those operatic voices, so popular in the early western towns.

I think I'm going to start a thread on musical history. There are a lot of you Mudcatters who are incredibly knowledgeable about the origins of various types of music & songs... "Keep on the Sunny Side!"

21 Mar 99 - 11:44 PM (#64868)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: Arkie

GaryD, I'd sure like to get my hands on that yodel documentary. I produce annual tribute concerts to Patsy Montana and Elton Britt who were both natives of the Bear State. Britt came from the adjoining county. I have a friend who sings "Rocking Over". I'll get the lyrics from him.

22 Mar 99 - 01:42 AM (#64880)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: Gene

The [Cackle-sp?] Sisters
[toured with Eddy Arnold}
used to yodel a lot...

22 Mar 99 - 08:55 PM (#65142)
Subject: Lyr Add: ROCKINOVER RIVER
From: Arkie

GaryD,

Here's a version of the song the way its sung around here. Hope it helps.

ROCKINOVER RIVER

I'll take my guitar for a ride
Out here where the plains are wide,
You'll know where I'm goin', right or wrong.
I'm headed for a spot out there,
My pony knows he's headed where
The Rockinover River rolls along.

Chorus: Rockinover, Rockinover,
I'm singin' with the river as I ride,
Rockinover, Rockinover,
Flow ye crystal waters down the mountainside.
(Yodel)

The old campfire will soon be gleamin'
Dog and I are there a-dreamin'
Where old Rockinover rolls along.
Nightset comes and water falls,
I just ain't got no cares at all,
As long as I can sing my yodelin' song.

(Chorus, and yodel)

Dear old "Rocky" I'm a-comin'
Hear my old guitar a-strummin'
Singing as I'm riding all alone,
Never thought I'd see the day
I'd wander quite so far away
From my dear old rocky river home.

24 Mar 99 - 12:31 AM (#65523)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: GaryD

Thanks Arkie...Just what I needed... If you send me your snail address on my personal page, I'll mail you a copy of that documentary..It's about an hour long, so if I record it, I might just as well send you some other stuff that may amuse you to fill up the tape..

& Gene, so glad to hear from you again.. I got those songs from Cowpie..notice you are a heavy duty contributer.. love it!.. I am an eclectic with music.. like ALL types. (except the hard rock stuff)..used to have a huge country collection which I lent to someone a few years ago & because he had personal problems..skipped town.. lost ALL of my country stuff..been going on memory for most of the songs I sing.. sure glad there are people like you who can "walk on water" as far as music goes . ..(of course you know where the stones are!"...Keep on the Sunny Side!...Gary

14 Mar 09 - 04:47 PM (#2588910)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: GUEST,Paul Hazell

Glad you found the lyrics. You may be interested to know that the writer was singer / yodeller Les Wilson who came from New Zealand but eventually settled in Australia. He recorded in the 78s era but had a few LPs released. He was a fine yodeller in the Wilf Carter style and was famous for recording in an old building with echoy accoustics. On the yodel part he would turn away from the microphone and yodel to the far wall, creating a rudimentary echo sound.

Rockin'over River became a NZ country standard and was recorded by Eddie Low, Max McCauley, Owen Blundell, Wayne Horsburgh and others. Some US artistes siezed upon the song - if I recall, Jill jones did a fine versioon with hays Country gals & Pals.

Les's brother Cole Wilson was also a fine yodeller and made several albums, EPs and singles. Although also a big name in NZ he never recorded with Les but instead recorded with his own band, The Tumbleweeds.

I too would be interested in that yodel documentary. In return I could let you have a copy of one I did with the BBC a couple of years ago. I have also compiled several yodel albums for different labels. Feel free to email on paul@pithon.co.uk

15 Mar 09 - 02:28 AM (#2589117)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: Seamus Kennedy

Paul - please join the Mudcat, PM me and we can do a yodel info swap . I have a bunch of stuff you might like.

Seamus

11 Nov 18 - 04:44 PM (#3961236)
Subject: RE: Missing Verse!Yodel :Rockin' Over..Les Wilson
From: GUEST

Crystal waters down the mountain side....yodele