gloker:

Thanks for the info on Red River Valley... Lomax claims: "This latter day western piece stands as proof of what folk singers can do to refine and purify a song which comes to them from written sources. It has its origin in a ditty from new York State, "The Bright mohawk Valley" Western singers not only changed the locale of the song, they cut away much of the original pretentious from both teh melody and the lyrics. There emerges a chorus of great simplicity aand a lazy little tune that drifts straight into your heart like smoke from a lonely cabin rising and disappeaering into the prarie sky. Breathe this one softly through your harmonica or pump it gently out of your old concertina. Tou'll hear he summer wind swinging the tall grass. You'll see the sky of the West with its drifting herds of starts."

I like the Edith Fowkes version better...

Thanks very much!

Pete