Guest Q,

Austin and Fife reference their B text, beginning 'As I was passing Tom Sherwin's bar room', as coming from 'three volumes extracted from the manuscript collections of John A. Lomax in the archives of the Texas Historical Society, Austin'. No date is given. Do you know when this was collected? There's no one carrying a coffin and no fifes or drums. It is mainly expressions of sorrow to family - father, mother, brother, sister - and lover: 'I got in a battle while playing stud poker/And I don't want my people to share in my shame'.

I am puzzled that the first stanza of the B text [Austin & Fife 'Cowboy and Western Songs', #119 'Streets of Laredo', p 322] is different from what you quote as printed in Austin and Fife. It has 'Sherwin' rather than 'Sherman':

As I was passing by Tom Sherwin's bar room -
Tom Sherwin's bar room so early one day -
Who should I see but a handsome young cowboy
Stretched out on a blanket and all pale and gray

Did you quote from a different Austin & Fife book? The A text in the volume I have is the Thorp piece with the action in Galveston.

--Stewie.