The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #16090   Message #148531
Posted By: dick greenhaus
12-Dec-99 - 01:02 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Tarrytown / Wild Goose Grasses (Allison)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tarrytown/Butcher Boy
Hi- John Allison was (is?) a collector of broadside ballads who then wrote his own tunes, coming up with some very nice stuff. His best-known songs are Tarrytown (Wild Goose Grasses), Bowery Grenadiers and Rifleman's Song at Bennington. While he claimed words and music for Tarrytown, I believe that the words were trad and that Allison wrote the tune. In addition to the other variants noted, don't forget Tavern In the Town (which Rudy Vallee holds [held] a copyright for.)