Origins: Henry Clay Beattie (from Kelly Harrell)

Subject: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 01:37 PM

Wondering about the origins of Henry Clay Beattie sung by Kelly Harrell.

Here's the Ballad Index entry . . . .

Henry Clay Beattie
DESCRIPTION: Beattie is convicted of murdering a girl, but denies his guilt. His family tries to get him to confess, lest he "go to [his] doom with a lie." At last he confesses. On a Friday morning he is executed in the electric chair
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (recording, Kelly Harrell)
KEYWORDS: death murder prison punishment execution Hell
FOUND IN:
Roud #13147
RECORDINGS:
Kelly Harrell, "Henry Clay Beattie" (Victor 20797, 1927; on KHarrell02)
Notes: The use of the electric chair as a means of execution obviously dates this song to the few decades before Harrell's recording. This would seem to imply that it is based on actual events. But I can find no references to Beattie. - RBW

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:41 PM

I can't find much else on this one.

D.K. Wilgus in a review said only that Harrell's version was a ". . . rare ballad dealing with a 1911 murder case in Richmond." Journal of American Folklore Vol. 78, No. 309 (July 1965)

Norm Cohen wrote about it, "Henry Clay Beattie . . . Once a Folksong," JEMF Quarterly (Autumn 1973), but I haven't been able to locate a copy of his article.

I'm aware of no recordings other than Harrell's.

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 02:53 PM

Looks like Norm's article was reprinted in Exploring Roots Music published by Scarecrow Press, I'll have to pick up a copy.

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 03:11 PM

This looks to be a contemporary account of the Beattie case which I assume provided the inspiration for the ballad.

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson
Date: 20 Jan 07 - 04:08 PM

Great research work! and good song! Virginia's electric chair must have been busy; not too long after that they exectued Claude Allen and his father, subject of another couple good songs. (I have Hobart Smith singing one, and Fields and Wade Ward doing a different one)

Subject: Lyr Add: HENRY CLAY BEATTIE (from Kelly Harrell)
From: Goose Gander
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 02:15 PM

Here's my attempt at a transcription. I'm a little confused by the chronology - from Friday evening to Thursday evening to Friday morning?

HENRY CLAY BEATTIE

(As sung by Kelly Harrell)

Friday as the sun was setting
After the sun shown clear
Down in a cell sat a prisoner
Trembling with mercy and fear

In came his gray-headed father
Said, "Henry, this day you must die
If don't confess that you killed her
You'll go to your grave with a lie"

In came his brother and sister
To bid him their last farewell
"If you don't confess that you killed her
You'll go to your grave with a lie"

"If I confess that I killed her
By taking her sweet life away
But oh, how greedy and broody (?)
I was for taking her sweet life"

Was late on Thursday evening
After the sun went down
Henry Clay Beattie was bidding
Farewell to his friend's native town (?)

Then Friday as the sun was rising
Just before the sun shone clear
Henry Clay Beattie was dying
Down in electric chair.

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 02:24 PM

I'm guessing the first line originally read "Thursday as the sun was setting . . ."

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 02 May 07 - 05:45 PM

Also recorded (though never released) by Bob Cranford and A.P. Thompson of the Red Fox Chasers for Starr Piano Company in January of 1931, according to Norm Cohen in "'Henry Clay Beattie': Once A Folksong."

Charlie Poole used the same melody in 'Wreck of the Virginian No. 3"

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 03 May 07 - 10:12 AM

Maggie Hammons Parker sang it as "Henry Clay Beal"

Maggie was the queen of mondegreens.

PLUG
=====
It will be on Volume 3 of a set of 7 CDs of Maggie's singing.

The set will be part of the Hammons Legacy Project.

Russ (Permanent GUEST)

Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie
From: Goose Gander
Date: 03 May 07 - 11:52 AM

Thanks, Russ, I'll keep an eye out for that.