Richie

I went back and listened again carefully to the second stanza of the Kazee recording. In the first line, I still hear 'of a' rather than 'all', but it is definitely 'curly', not 'color'. In the second line, it could be 'a' or 'all'. In the last line you are right: it is 'there', not 'dead'. On the surface, I reckon it sounds like 'dead' but, when you listen closely, you can here the 're' of 'there'. Thanks for the corrections - I'm an Aussie struggling with American regional accents in these matters. Kazee is usually more distinct than this. He is a breeze compared to Uncle Dave, Charlie Poole, Fiddlin' John Carson and others. Kazee had also had some formal singing training and he recalled that he had to 'unlearn' his formal vocal techniques to get a record 'bad enough that it would sell'.

Perhaps a JoeClone could correct the second stanza of the Kazee transcriptions above.

Here is how I hear the Ashley lyrics you requested:

DARK HOLLER BLUES

I was born in old Virginia
South Carolina I did go
There I courted a purty little woman
But her age I did not know

Well her hair was brown and curly
Oh her cheeks was rosy red
On her breast she wore white lilies
Oh the tears that I have shed

When I'm asleep I'm dreaming about you
When I wake I have no rest
Every moment seems like an hour
Oh the pains go through my breast

I'd rather be in some dark holler
Where the sun don't never shine
(Than) for you to be some other man's darling
When you ain't no longer mine

Papa says I must not marry
Mama says it will never do
But, little girl, if you are willing
I will run away with you

I'd rather be in some dark holler
Where the sun don't never shine
(Than) for you to be some other man's darling
When you ain't no longer mine

When I'm asleep I'm dreaming about you
When I wake I have no rest
Every moment seems like an hour
Oh the pains go through my breast

Source: Clarence 'Tom' Ashley 'Dark Holler Blues' recorded 23 October 1929 in Johnson City, Tenn. Issued as Co 15489-D in February 1930. Reissued on 'The Music of Clarence "Tom" Ashley 1929-1933: Greenback Dollar' County CO-CD-3520.


GREENBACK DOLLAR

Once I loved a darling seaman
And he thought this world of me
Till another girl persuaded
Now he cares no more for me

I don't want your greenback dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want is your heart darling
Won't you take me back again

Many a stroll we've made together
Down beside the deep blue sea
If it's in your heart you love another
In my grave I'd rather be

I don't want your greenback dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want's my 32-20
Just to shoot out your dirty brain

Papa says we cannot marry
Mama says, ' He'll never do'
If you ever learn to love me
I will run away with you

Source: Clarence 'Tom' Ashley (vcl, gtr) and Gwen Foster (hca) 'Greenback Dollar' recorded 6 September 1933 in New York City. Issued as Vo 02554 in December 1933. Reissued on 'The Music of Clarence "Tom" Ashley 1929-1933: Greenback Dollar' County CO-CD-3520.

--Stewie.