Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:
Turnip Greens
DESCRIPTION: Singer dreams he meets Gabriel. Asked what he'll eat; he says, "Turnip greens." Asked why Ozark people are rough, yet clean; "Turnip greens." Gabriel says God's kingdom on earth is coming. Chorus: "...Cornbread and buttermilk/And good old turnip greens!"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1928 (recording, H. K. Hutchison)
KEYWORDS: food humorous
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (4 citations):
[Randolph 287, "Turnip Greens" -- deleted in the second printing]
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 243-245, "Turnip Greens" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 287)
Hudson 75, pp. 202-203, "Turnip Greens" (1 text)
Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 9, "Turnip Greens" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #4491
RECORDINGS:
Shorty Goodwin, "Turnip Greens" (Columbia 15411-D, 1929)
H. K. Hutchison, "Good Old Turnip Greens" (Gennett 6464/Champion 15525, 1928)
W. A. Lindsay & Alvin Connor, "Good Old Turnip Greens" (Okeh 45346, 1929; rec. 1928)
Neil Morris, "Turnip Greens" (on LomaxCD1707)
Pie Plant Pete [pseud. for Claude Moye], "Turnip Greens" (Champion 45063, 1935)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Greens" (theme)
NOTES: The description of this song is based on the Neil Morris recording. The Pankake text is much shorter, and is about Atmore residents rather than residents of the Ozarks. Similarly, Hudson's text is about the residents of Mississippi.
I have not heard all the 78 recordings listed above, so they too may be local or parodized versions. - RBW
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