East Virginia- "In Old Virginny" Here is Sharp's No. 167C and -O Brother- is it a doosey! Combining "Man of Constant Sorrow" in the first verse and regular "In Old Virginny" text in the 2nd. This 1918 version compares to the date and time period of Burnett's 1913 "Farewell Song" which is the other early version with the "Man of Constant Sorrow" lyrics. I'll include "Farewell Song" for comparison.

EAST VIRGINIA- "In Old Virginny" collected by Sharp
No. 167- C; St. Peter's School- Calaway Va. Aug. 17-1918.

1) I am a man of constant sorrow,
I have seen trouble all my days.
I'll bid farewell to old Virginia,
The place where I was partly raised.

2) But when I was in old Virginia,
North Carolina I did go,
There I spied a handsome lady
O her name I did not know.

3) I always thought I had seen trouble,
But know I know it's common run;
I'll hang my head like a humble Christian,
And on my journey I'll go on.

4) When I am in some lonesome hour,
When I am walking all alone,
I'll wipe the briny tears of sorrow,
And think of you when far away.

The lyrics are to be found in a 1913 songbook printed by Richard Burnett of Monticello, KY. Here they are:

1) I am a man of constant sorrow,
I've seen trouble all of my days;
I'll bid farewell to old Kentucky,
The place where I was born and raised.

2) Oh, six long year I've been blind, friends.
My pleasures here on earth are done,
In this world I have to ramble,
For I have no parents to help me now.

3) So fare you well my own true lover,
I fear I never see you again,
For I'm bound to ride the Northern Railroad,
Perhaps I'll die upon the train.

4) Oh, you may bury me in some deep valley,
For many year [sic] there I may lay.
Oh, when you're dreaming while you're slumbering
While I am sleeping in the clay.

Also a brief comment on some of the recent posts. My friend Doc Watson who I'll be playing with Oct. 5 (lyrics poster by Lorraine) sings the "Go and leave me if you wish to, Never let me cross your mind." (posted by Dicho) lyrics to "Columbus Stockade" blues which he plays in Am with a capo.

These lyrics really get passed around. Frank Brown (Dicho's post) heard my grandfather play one of Frank Profitt's dulcimers in New York city and went to Beech Mountain to get one from him (Turtle Man's Beech Mountain post). Somehow everything seems to be related.

Before I "hang down my head and cry" I agree with Dicho but "Dear Companion" seems to be separate as Sharp No. 111. I think the "Dear Companion" tunes are related to "Dowie Dens o' Yarrow." Anyone want to have a go at this relationship?

Richie

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 25-Jan-03.