Lyr Add: Axe Cabin (Willis Brothers)

Subject: Lyr Add: AXE CABIN (Willis Brothers)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 03:48 PM

Gene sent me a recording of this, and I've transcribed it the best I could. I can't even be sure of the title - is it Hack's Cabin, Axe Cabin, or Ike's Cabin?? Gene says it's a recording by the Willis Brothers (Guy, Vic, & Skeeter)

Anybody have more information/corrections for it? I think this is a job for Stewie, or maybe Dale Rose.

-Joe Offer-

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Axe Cabin

Don't go to Axe Cabin, Stay away from Axe Cabin
You'll never be seen any more

There's a beautiful valley in the State of Virginia
That hides a dark, tragic tale;
At the end of this valley, hidden from view
There's a cabin at the end of a trail
Axe Cabin at the end of a trail

A man named Jess Chamberlain had a pretty wife named Ginny
But he was not satisfied;
He loved Nan Crockett, he met her in secret
Axe Cabin's the place they would hide
Axe Cabin's the place they would hide


Don't go to Axe Cabin, Stay away from Axe Cabin
The devil you'll meet at the door
Don't go to Axe Cabin, If you go to Axe Cabin
You'll never be seen any more
You'll never be seen any more

Sweet Ginny grew tired of waiting home
Then came the thing that she did;
She followed Jess and Nan with an axe in her hand
To Axe Cabin, the place they were hid
Axe Cabin, the place they were hid.

As they sprang apart, the blade struck his heart
In anger, she then turned on Nan;
She ran to the river, she jumped in the water
She died with blood on her hands
She died with blood on her hands

Don't go to Axe Cabin, Stay away from Axe Cabin
The devil you'll meet at the door
Don't go to Axe Cabin, If you go to Axe Cabin
You'll never be seen any more
You'll never be seen any more


To me, the tune sounds kind of like Willie Nelson's "Red-Headed Stranger."

Subject: RE: Axe Cabin - info needed
From: open mike
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 04:00 PM

or red-handed stranger....
yikes i think i'll stay away from that place!
would this be a good song for a Valentine's
day radio show featuring love songs?

Subject: RE: Axe Cabin - info needed
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 04:34 PM

Well, Joe, probably not much help, but in looking at a couple of genealogy links for place names and surnames, I found there were definitely both Axe and Hacks families in ol' Virginny.:-)

Subject: RE: Axe Cabin - info needed
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 05:11 PM

Still looking for information on this song. Stewie doesn't know anything about it, and I haven't heard from Dale Rose yet. Anybody else?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Axe Cabin - info needed
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 05 Feb 04 - 10:41 PM

Nope, looked in all my usual places and came up with nothing. I don't always see Dr. Bill at work (different buildings), but I will TRY to think to get down to see him tomorrow, weather permitting, that is.

Subject: RE: Ax Cabin - info needed
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Feb 04 - 12:02 PM

Gene found a few more clues to our mystery song. - the title was "Ax Cabin," and the performers were the Willis Brothers. Label was Starday 625. The song on the flip side was "Pvt. Lee."

Anybody know more?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Axe Cabin / Ax Cabin - info needed
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Feb 04 - 07:16 PM

AMG - All Music Guide says that the Willis Brothers consisted of James "Guy" Willis, Charles "Skeeter" Willis, and John "Vic" Willis. It lists 12 original albums they released between 1962 and 1971.

They also performed under the name Oklahoma Wranglers.

They recorded at least one album as a backup band for Johnny Bond.

From this article called The Starday Records Story you can follow the links to a discography, but it seems incomplete, and at any rate, seems to only cover albums and not singles. I couldn't find any mention of "Ax Cabin." It does mention a song called "Private Lee from Tennessee."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ax Cabin (Willis Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 12:10 PM

My dad used to sing this song aong with other ballads when I was a girl. I learned them from him. I can't guarantee that I am correct on all tunes etc. But I do partially know this song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ax Cabin (Willis Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 12:12 PM

Sorry, by the way, the title is "Axe Cabin"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ax Cabin (Willis Brothers)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 12 - 03:43 AM

i loved this song as a kid,sang it all the time.willis brothers had some great songs,,hud842

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ax Cabin (Willis Brothers)
From: Gene
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 03:23 AM

The Willis Brothers hold a VERY SPECIAL SPOT in country music history.

As the above mentioned Oklahoma Wranglers, they backed up HANK WILLIAMS on his very first recordings for Sterling Records.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Axe Cabin (Willis Brothers)
From: GUEST,Baileygirl
Date: 12 Oct 13 - 05:40 AM

Joe Offer do you have this recorded? Do you know of anywhere I can buy it? I have been looking for this song! Loved Pvt Lee too.