The song I believe first came to us via Tommy Jarrell of Toast, North Carolina just outside of Mount Airy. There were several black families in Mount Airy one of which was named Rawley and another named Spencer. There were three (Maybe more?)musicians by the name of Rawley, two of whom are buried in the graveyard close to Tommy Jarrell's old home place in Toast.

I am indebted to a wonderful new book "Strings of Life" by Kevin Donleavy for this information. Masses of information, photographs and interviews with musicians and their families and descendants from the North Carolina/Virginia border counties. There is even a photgraph of one Jim Rawley and in the book the song is referred to as "Rawley and Spencer".

I know this doesn't answer the question of what the song refers to but it should save us the trouble of scouring the maps.

If you are interested in the music and musicians of this area I thoroughly reccommend the book, published by Pocahontas Press in Blacksburg, Virginia.

This is not a commercial plug just wanted to let you know of a mine of information. I'm about a quarter way through at the moment and find it totally fascinating.

Perhaps Tommy's son Wayne,or Tommy's nephew Kester could throw some light on the subject of the song. Any Mudcatters down there ?????