The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #54404   Message #844460
Posted By: Charley Noble
10-Dec-02 - 08:53 AM
Thread Name: Steamboat coonjine songs
Subject: RE: Steamboat coonjine songs
I'll have to reread "Life on the Mississippi" and see if there are any more clues about "syphons" but I think you've about wrapped it up.

Here's a river version of "Roll the Woodpile Down" that appeared in another Mudcat thread which I think belongs here in full:


HOLD THE WOODPILE DOWN

Saw my love the other night
Hold the woodpile down
Everything wrong, just a-nothing was right
Hold the woodpile down
She can make me lovely, can make me glad
Hold the woodpile down
I kissed her, till here come her dad
Hold the woodpile down

But I was travellin', travellin'
As long as the world goes around
Oh the black gals shine on the Georgia line
Oh hold the woodpile down

Come to town the other night
Hold the woodpile down
Heard a little noise and I see'd a little fight
Hold the woodpile down
Police watchin' and a-runnin' all around
Hold the woodpile down
Glory, white lightning done come to town
Hold the woodpile down
But he was travellin', travellin'
As long as the world goes around
Oh the black gals shine on the Georgia line
Oh hold the woodpile down
Boat keeper swallowed a nickel one day
Hold the woodpile down
Run him most crazy, I must say
Hold the woodpile down
Oh listen now and I'll tell you what it's about
Hold the woodpile down
He's a nickle in and and a nickle out
Hold the woodpile down
But he was travellin', travellin'
As long as the world goes around
Oh the black gals shine on the Georgia line
Oh hold the woodpile down
Down to the packing house, stoled a ham
Hold the woodpile down
Folks don't know how bad I am
Hold the woodpile down
Carried it home and I laid it on the shelf
Hold the woodpile down
Just so bad, I'm scared of myself
Hold the woodpile down
But I was travellin', travellin'
As long as the world goes around
Oh the black gal shine on the Georgia line
Oh hold the woodpile down
Love my wife, I love my baby
Hold the woodpile down
Love them biscuits a-broken in gravy
Hold the woodpile down
Carry my dice for to throw my passes
Hold the woodpile down
Love them flapjacks floating in molasses
Hold the woodpile down
But I was travellin', travellin'
As long as the world goes around
Oh the black gals shine on the Georgia line
Oh hold the woodpile down.

Source: Uncle Dave Macon 'Hold the Woodpile Down' Recorded 7 May 1927. Reissued on Uncle Dave Macon 'Go Long Mule' County CO-CD-3505.


Charley Noble