Hattie Presnell said it must have been "Lie Hew," since he hewed out such whoppers all the time. "Lie Hew" (probably Elihu) was an itinerant songster/yarnspinner who appeared with some regularity in the Beech Mountain community of northwestern North Carolina. He's fondly remembered as a charming old reprobate who conned his winter lodging from local folk in exchange for songs and tall stories. His picture, moonshine jug and rifle close at hand, is in the booklet accompanying my Beech Mountain field recordings. No one seemed to know where he came from, or where he went when the weather warmed up a bit. Often, when I would ask a singer, "Where'd you learn that old song?" the reply would be "Lie Hew!" followed by a burst of laughter.

Sandy