Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
denise:^) Origins: Beware, Oh, Take Care (21) Origins: Beware, Oh, Take Care 08 Nov 02

I know that the lyrics to this song are in the database, but I have a question about one of the verses. (BTW, it's credited to "Blind Alfred Blake," but it should be "Blind Alfred Reed." The song was around before Blake, who *did* record it, was born.)

One verse has me a bit baffled:

Around their necks they wear a guard
(Beware, oh, take care)
And in their pocket is a deck of cards.
(Beware, oh, take care)

What does that mean--"Around their necks they wear a guard?" (I think I have the deck of cards part okay...;^)

Just wondering...I was thinking of adding this song to my "Laura Ingalls Wilder" music presentation (she mentions singing it in "By the Shores of Silver Lake," which *also* takes place before Alfred Blake was born, BTW...), and I thought I should know what it meant before presenting it and being asked about it in public!!

Anyone know?

denise:^)

Click for lyrics in the Digital Tradition

Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.