The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172497 Message #4175437
Posted By: cnd
25-Jun-23 - 08:20 AM
Thread Name: Tune Req: Oh, Johnny come a tell to me
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Oh, Johnny come a tell to me
The "Max" the people in the commentary refer to after Lucille sang is almost certainly renowned Missouri and Arkansas folklorist Max Hunter, whose collections are held at Missouri State - click. Sadly, it doesn't seem as if Ms. Lucille reported the song to Max.
It does bear some resemblance to a song in that collection, How Come That Blood On Your Coat Sleeve, specifically the 6th stanza. This song is related to Edward as posted by Joe above (read more). I'll copy the whole song below.
How Come That Blood On Your Coat Sleeve Cat. #0253 (MFH #175) - As sung by Mr. Clyde Johnson, Fayetteville, Arkansas on October 1, 1958
VERSE 1 How come that blood on your coat sleeve My son, come tell it to me It is th blood of th little yellow pony That plowed a fur for me, me, me That plowed a fur for me
VERSE 2 O, it tis too red for that My son, come tell it to me O, it is th blood of th little guienie gay halk That sailed away from me, me, me Sailed away from me
VERSE 3 O, it tis too red for that My son, come tell it to me O, it tis th blood of the little yellow pony That plowed a fur for me, me, me That plowed a fur for me
VERSE 4 O, it tis too red for that My son, come tell it to me O, it tis th blood of my dear ole brother That rode aside of me, me, me Rode aside of me
VERSE 5 What you an' your brother fall out about My son, come tell it to me We fell out about that sycamore bush That might a made a tree, tree, tree, That might a made a tree
VERSE 6 O, what'a you gonna do when your Father comes back My son, come tell it to me I'll set my foot on yonder ship An' sail across th sea, sea, sea An' sail across th sea
VERSE 7 O, what'a you gonna do with your pretty little children My son, come tell it to me I'll leave them here for my dear ole Mother To keep her company, nee, nee To keep her company
VERSE 8 O, what'a you gonna do with your house and barn My son, come tell it to me I'll leave them here for my dear ole Mother To raise my chilren on, non, non Raise my children on
VERSE 9 O, what'a you gonna do with your pretty little wife My son, come tell it to me I'll set her foot on yonder ship An' sail across th sea, sea, sea, An' sail across th sea
VERSE 10 O, when you gonna come back My son, come tell it to me O, I'm not coming back till th sun and th moon Both set in the North, and I'm sure it'll never be, be, be An' I sure it'll never be