I sang this song in HearMe last night and Night Owl was asking about its origins. I read the liner notes from Geoff Kaufman's cassette, "Fair Stood the Wind", from Mystic Seaport, in which he gives original credit to our own Mudcatter Sandy Paton's Folk Legacy's Records!

Anyway, I emailed Sandy Paton to let him know we all enjoyed it and that I had learned it at a women's sacred circle which got together once a month in Northampton, Massachusetts, and off of a Libana (women's acapella group in Boston) tape called "A Circle Is Cast."

This is what Sandy sent me in reply:

Nice to know you sing that song. I recorded it from Buna (Buna Vista) Hicks on Beech Mountain, NC, in 1961 or 1962. It's actually quite widely known in Appalachia, but I've always loved her version of it. It's included on my 2-volume "Traditional Music of Beech Mountain" set. Caroline and I have ended many a program with that one.

If you haven't heard this song I would urge you to contact Sandy & Caroline and get that set he mentions; it would be well worth it.

Thanks,

kat