Lyr Req: McKinley's rag

Subject: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Dan Duryea
Date: 13 Sep 98 - 10:00 PM

Looking for some missing words in this tune from the Anne Hills/Cindy Mangsen CD "Never Grow Old". As usual, I can't quite get all the words from listening. In particular, the verse that talks about takin' the electric chair, the next verse that talks about goin' back to dixieland and the verse that starts "hush little children..." Thanks... dan from Boston

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Click for related thread

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 13 Sep 98 - 10:34 PM

This sounds much like "White House Blues" about the assassination of President McKinley-- best known recording is that of my hero, Charlie Poole, but the later Greenbriar Boys recording has the two verses

Jailer said to Czolgotz, What you doing here
Took and shot McKinley, gonna take the 'lectric chair
From Buffalo to Washington

Czolgotz told his jailer, Treat me like a man
You know that when I die I'm gonna go to Dixieland
From Buffalo to Washington

Hush little children, don't you fret
You know you draw a pension at your poppa's death
From Buffalo to Washington

(Noted: these are the Greenbriar Boys verses-- don't know the Hills/Mangssen CD but suspect they got it from the GB)

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 98 - 11:52 PM

Click here for a related thread that gives some interesting background information.
Are the entire Hills/Mangsen lyrics posted here somewhere?
-Joe Offer-

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On Sept. 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. McKinley, a Republican, died eight days later; he was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt.

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: mcmud
Date: 14 Sep 98 - 11:39 PM

Hedy West and Bill Clifton did this song on an album back in the 70s. I believe the album title is "Getting Folk out of the Country." They called it Whitehouse Blues, too, I think. If I can dig out the album, I'll post the verses.

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Rockaday Johnny
Date: 15 Sep 98 - 10:18 AM

The Hills/Mangsen version is based on the Greenbriar boys Version (Note the minor chords that certainly were not in the original Charlie Poole version) Also compare Jan Burda's guitar break -It's almost identical to John Herald's in the GB version --although Herald played it it the Key of E. Cindy Mansen, as I've said before, is my Favorite trad female singer

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Jay
Date: 15 Sep 98 - 09:48 PM

There is another great old timey song about the assasination which I would flip to find the lyrics for

It talks more about what a hero he was to the woking man, and to his family, and his children and all. can someone give me more information on that?

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: mcmud
Date: 16 Sep 98 - 12:16 AM

The version that Hedy West and Bill Clifton sing deals with McKinley's death from a gunshot wound, his wife's sorrow, and his relacement in office by Roosevelt. Let me know if you want the words posted.

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Sep 98 - 04:28 AM

Click here to get to the lyrics for two versions that are already in the database. The Hills/Mangsen recording is only slightly different, and I imagine the same may be true for the West/Clifton version. No need to post lyrics already in the database unless the differences are significant.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: mcmud
Date: 17 Sep 98 - 12:21 AM

West and Clifton do a subset of verses from Poole's version.

Subject: Lyr Add: MCKINLEY'S RAG^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:10 PM

OK, here's my best shot. Any corrections?
-Joe Offer-

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MCKINLEY'S RAG
(Riley Puckett)

Hey, Mr. McKinley
Why didn't you run?
See that man a-comin' with a Johnson forty-one
From Buffalo to Washington

Doctor, Doctor,
Do all you can,
A man just shot my husband with a handkerchief over his hand
From Buffalo to Washington

Doctor comes a-runnin'
Takes off his specs
Says, "Mr. McKinley, you've done cashed your checks"
From Buffalo to Washington

Mrs. McKinley in Brooklyn,
Dressed all in red
Weepin' and a-moanin' for her husband was dead
From Buffalo to Washington

Jailer said to Zolgotz,
"What ya doin here?"
Took and shot McKinley, gonna take the electric chair
From Buffalo to Washington

Zolgotz told the jailer,
"Treat me like a man,
You know that when I die, I got to go to Dixieland."
From Buffalo to Washington

Roosevelt's in the White House
Doin' his best
McKinley's in the gravehard, he's takin' his rest
He's gone a long, long time.

Hush, little children,
Don't you fret;
You know you'll draw a pension as your poppa's dead
From Buffalo to Washington

Hey, Mr. McKinley
Why didn't you run?
See that man a-comin' with a Johnson forty-one
From Buffalo to Washington

Transcribed from the "Never Grow Old" CD by Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen
A version of "White House Blues"

@murder @America @death
filename[ WHITHOU3
JRO

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:29 PM

Joe, as you know that's one of the CDs I lent and no longer have in my possession, but it's as close to perfect as I think you can get, as far as I recall, I can hear the harmomies now, just from your post!

It's one of Hardi's favorites, and mine, and we looked for that version of lyrics for a long time-- thanks from both of us.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WHITE HOUSE BLUES (Charlie Poole)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:02 AM

WHITE HOUSE BLUES
As sung by Charlie Poole

McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled
Doc said to McKinley, "I can't find that ball",
From Buffalo to Washington

Roosevelt in the White House, he's doing his best
McKinley in the graveyard, he's taking his rest
He's gone a long, long time

Hush up, little children, now don't you fret
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death
From Buffalo to Washington

Roosevelt in the White House drinking out of a silver cup
McKinley in the graveyard, he'll never wake up
He's gone a long, long time

Ain't but one thing that grieves my mind
That is to die and leave my poor wife behind
I'm gone a long, long time

Look here, little children, (don't) waste your breath
You'll draw a pension at your papa's death
From Buffalo to Washington

Standing at the station just looking at the time
See if I could run it by half past nine
From Buffalo to Washington

Came the train, she's just on time
She run a thousand miles from eight o'clock 'till nine,
From Buffalo to Washington

Yonder comes the train, she's coming down the line
Blowing in every station Mr. McKinley's a-dying
It's hard times, hard times

Look-it here you rascal, you see what you've done
You've shot my husband with that Iver-Johnson gun
Carry me back to Washington

Doc's on the horse, he tore down his rein
Said to that horse, "You've got to outrun this train"
From Buffalo to Washington

Doc come a-running, takes off his specs
Said "Mr McKinley, better pass in your checks
You're bound to die, bound to die"

CHORDS:
Mc(G)Kinley hollered, Mc(G)Kinley squalled
(C)Doc said to McKinley, "I (C)can't find that (G)ball",
From Buffa(D)lo to Washing(G)ton

SH

Subject: Lyr Add: MR. MCKINLEY (from Homer Brierhopper)
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:35 AM

Hear another version at Honkingduck by Homer Brierhopper.

~s~

========================================================

MR. MCKINLEY
As sung by Homer Brierhopper

Well Mr. McKinley,
Why didn't you run?
Saw a man a-comin' with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Send for the doctor,
The doctor he come.
He come in a walk, and he come in a run
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

(instr. break 2 verses long)

"Doctor, oh Doctor,
Do all you can!
A man shot my husband with a handkerchief over his hand
In Buffalo, in Buffalo."

He looked at McKinley,
Looked through his specs,
Told Mr. McKinley, he'd cashed in his checks.
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

(instr. break 2 verses long)

Rubber tired buggy,
(unclear-- Douglas?) City hack,
Carried him to the graveyard but 't won't bring him back
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

There's Mrs. McKinley in Brooklyn,
All dressed all in red,
A-weeping and a-mourning for her man was dead
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

(instr. break 2 verses long)

Jury says to Czolgotz,
"Whattaya doin' here?"
Says, "I shot McKinley, gonna die in the 'lectric chair."
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Czolgotz told the jury,
"Treat me like a man,
I've got to die, and I'm a-going to Dixieland."
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

(instr. break 2 verses long-- Honkingduck recording cuts out here)


SOURCE:
Honkingduck by http://honkingduck.com/BAZ/baz_side.php?meth=t&letter=m&title=Mr.%2520Mckinley&cuid=20237A>Homer Brierhopper.

Decca 5588, September 1938, Side A. Title: Mr. Mckinley
Artist: Homer Brierhopper

SH

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:58 AM

Joe-

On Sept 6, 1901, President William McKinley was shaking hands at an exhibition when he was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz.

I think the name- Czolgosz is misspelled in about every version posted. Should his name be spelled correctly?

I have several versions of White House Blues entitled, "Czolgosz." There are also some parodies to the song. I will post when I have more time.

-Richie

Subject: RE: LYRIC REQ: McKinley's rag
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 11:24 AM

That's great, Richie, and this is the place to put them, here in this thread.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr Add: CZOLGOSZ (Bascom Lamar Lunsford)
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 10:45 PM

CZOLGOSZ
by Bascom Lamar Lunsford

Czolgosz, mean man,
He shot McKinley with a handkerchief on his hand
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Czolgosz, you done me wrong
You shot me in the side when I's walking along,
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Sent for the doctor, the doctor come
He come in a trot, when he ought to've run,
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Pistol fire, McKinley fall,
Doctor said "McKinley, can't find the ball,"
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Forty-four boxes all trimmed in braid,
Sixteen-wheel drivers a-climbin' up the grade,
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

McKinley in the sleeper all trimmed in lace,
Please carry him to the baggage, boys, where I can't see his face
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

The engine whistled down the line
A-blowing every station that McKinley was a-dyin',
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Rubber-tire your buggies, decorate your hacks,
Take him to the graveyard where you can't bring him back
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Seventeen coaches all trimmed in black
Took McKinley to the graveyard but never brought him back
To Buffalo, to Buffalo

All around the mountain in brick and in cement,
There lays the rounder that killed our president
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

Mrs. McKinley took a trip, and she took it out west,
Where she couldn't hear the people talk about McKinley's death,
In Buffalo, in Buffalo.

McKinley had as wife all dressed in red,
She's going back to Buffalo where McKinley fell dead,
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Seventeen boxes all trimmed in white
Took Roosevelt to the White House but they didn't bring him back
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Note: This is the published version of Czolgosz by Bascom Lamar Lunsford. I'm not sure where that version on the toher thread ios from. Perhaps it's a version of Lunsford's.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McKinley's rag
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Oct 02 - 11:19 PM

Thanks, Richie.

~S~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McKinley's rag
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Oct 02 - 11:27 PM

Hi, Richie - I think the name should be spelled wrong, if it's spelled wrong in the source you're quoting from.
But my transcription comes from listening to a recording, so I dunno. I can't remember where I got the spelling from, but I imagine I looked it up. It's a transliteration, so there is no correct spelling in American English letters.
Besides, if there is a variety of spellings, the song is more likely to come up in a search.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McKinley's rag
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 09:05 PM

Thanks Joe,

I don't have any problem misspelling words. Just look at the end of my post on Czolgosz.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: McKinley's rag
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 14 Nov 16 - 09:45 PM

This version of the song has some differences in verse order and structure, but I haven't listened to the whole thing yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6l82yuC1VA

Subject: Lyr Add: McKINLEY (Riley Puckett)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Nov 16 - 10:43 PM

McKINLEY
As sung by Riley Puckett in link above

Similar to Homer Briarhopper's version above

Hey, Mr. McKinley, why didn't you run?
Seen a man a-comin' with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Mr. McKinley, why didn't you run?
Seen a man a-comin' with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Sent for the doctor; doctor, he come
Come in a-walkin; he come in a run
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Doctor, Doctor, do all you can
A man shot my husband with a handkerchief over his hand
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

He looked at McKinley, looked through his specs
Told Ms. McKinley, that he done cashed his checks
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Mr. McKinley, why didn't you run?
Seen a man a-coming with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Rubber-tired buggy, double-seated hack
Carried him to the graveyard but they won't bring him back
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Ms. McKinley in Brooklyn, all dressed in red
Weeping and a-moaning, for her husband was dead
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Hey Mr. McKinley, why didn't you run?
Seen a man a-coming with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Jailer told... Olgot*, "What ya doin here?"
"Took and shot McKinley, gonna take electric chair"
In Buffalo, in Buffalo

Czolgosz told the jailer, "Treat me like a man,
I've got to die and go to Dixieland."
From Buffalo, from Buffalo

Well, Mr. McKinley, why didn't you run?
Seen a man a-coming with a smokin' forty-one
In Buffalo, in Buffalo
---------------------------------------------------------------
Note that the gun used to kill McKinley was actually a .32 caliber revolver, not a .41 caliber gun, such as a .41 Long Colt that he seems to be referring to

Note also they say he wants to go to Dixie while the closest I can find of him going South is either Ohio or Penn.

* (I know it's Czolgosz or however you spell it, but it sounds like he just forgot it here)