The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #161948   Message #3852276
Posted By: Joe Offer
24-Apr-17 - 10:53 PM
Thread Name: Little Log Cabin
Subject: ADD: Little Log Cabin in the Lane
I came across "Little Old Cabin in the Lane" on a Smithsonian/Folkways album titled "CLARENCE ASHLEY and TEX ISLEY,"
Here are the liner notes: http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW02350.pdf

And the lyrics:

THE LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN IN THE LANE
An old popular song written by Will Hays in 1871,
LOG CABIN was recorded in 1923 by Fiddlin' John
Carson and became the record that began the country
music recording business. It was widely recorded and
was given some dreadful readings by tenors in the days
of 78's and cylinders, as well as heartfelt performances
by country people like Tom Ashley, who, though they
had no experience with "old Mahssy and Mist'us," still
felt a strong sense of loss of and nostalgia for the older
forms of southern life.

Oh, I'm getting old and feeble, I can no longer work
My rusty bladed hoe I've laid to rest
Old Mahssy and old Mist'us they are sleeping side by side
While their spirits am a-wandering with the blessed

(Chorus) Oh, the chimney's falling down, the roof is tumbling in
The leak lets in the sunshine and the rain
The only friend I've got now is this good old dog of mine
In that little old log cabin in the lane

Oh, it was such happy times not many years ago
My friends and loved ones gathered 'round the door
They would sing and dance at night while they played the old banjo
But alas they cannot play it any more
(Chorus)

The hinges they have rusted, the door is falling down
The roof lets in the sunshine and the rain
The only friend I've got now is this good old dog of mine
In that little old log cabin in the lane

The paths they have growed up that led us around the hill
The fence have all gone to decay
The streams they have dried up where we used to go to mill
Everything has changed its course another way
(Chorus)

I ain't got long to stay here, what little time I've got
I try to rest contented while I stay
Until the day death calls me to find a better home
Than this little old log cabin in the lane
(Chorus)

And there's a Wikipedia page on the song.