...oh and here is an Arkansas variant performed by Neil Morris (Jimmy Driftwood's daddy) and recorded on October 6, 1959 in Timbo Arkansas on "Southern Journey: Ozark Frontier"


TURNIP GREENS

Well I had a dream the other night
I dreamed that I could fly
Plopped my wings like an eagle
And I flew up to the sky

At the gate I met Mass Gabriel
And he looked at me so keen
He asked me what I'd have to eat
And I told him "turnip greens"

Mass Gabriel also asked me
From what country did I fly
And I told him from the Ozarks
That I flew up to the sky

He wondered why the men down there
Were rough and yet so clean
And I said "Why Mr. Gabriel
It's them good old turnip greens!

Turnip greens, turnip greens
Good old turnip greens
cornbread and buttermilk
And good old turnip greens

Mass Gabriel brought some angel food
On a great big silvery bowl
He said if you will eat this
It will rest your weary soul

Well it didn't taste like taters'
And it didn't taste like beans
And it didn't have the flavor of
Them good old turnip greens

Mass Gabriel said "Young man
I see that you're not satisfied
You'd rather be down yonder
On some Ozark mountainside

So I'll tell you the story
Of the country of your birth
The Lord's a getting ready
For his kingdom on the earth

Tomorrow we'll be moving
To that great land of the free
That band you hear a-playing
Is the Ozark jubilee. ^^