Ray Frank called me this week. He had a tune running through his head, and couldn't identify it. I couldn't, either, although I certainly was familiar with the tune. He called Robert Rodriguez. Rober is blind and has to store all his information in his head, so he's a remarkable resource. Robert knew right off that it was "Willie Moore."
Does anybody know if other songs have used this tune?
-Joe Offer-
Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:
Willie Moore
DESCRIPTION: Handsome young Willie Moore has courted and won the heart of fair Annie. Her parents do not approve of him. When Annie realizes her parents will not relent, she runs away and dies (kills herself?). Willie takes to wandering (and dies of a broken heart?)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (recording, Burnett & Rutherford)
KEYWORDS: courting love death separation hardheartedness father mother suicide burial
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Randolph 795, "Willie Moore" (1 text, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 90-92, "Willie Moore" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 795)
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 36, "Willie Moore" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 140, "Willie Moore" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, WILLMOOR*
Roud #4816
RECORDINGS:
Burnett & Rutherford, "Willie Moore" (Columbia 15314-D, 1927; on AAFM1, BurnRuth01)
Notes: Randolph's informant, Paul Wilson, reported meeting a Rev. William Moore in 1936 who claimed this song was about him. This is one of those instances where one would prefer documentation. - RBW
File: R796Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index InstructionsThe Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.