Origins: Julia Belle Swain

Subject: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 07:39 PM

We want to use this song on a CD but having trouble finding the songwriter, whose last name seems to be Stuart. I am now confused because google says John Hartford wrote it and he owned the boat????
The singer on CD says he wrote one verse.

We need to find the owner and the copyright info . THe singer has searched high and low but not under John Hartford. I will see if he is on H ? Fox. Any info will be appreciated.

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Thread #30961   Message #400229
Posted By: GUEST,Riverboat Annie
17-Feb-01 - 01:37 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: John Hartford songs
Subject: Lyr Add: JULIA BELLE SWAIN (John Hartford)^^

JULIA BELLE SWAIN
(John Hartford)

This is a song about the Julia Belle Swain

1. Oh, the Julia Belle Swain is a mighty fine boat, got a mighty fine captain, too.
Got a big red wheel that goes around and around and a bunch of old hippies for a crew.
Well, I can't stay here; well, I gotta get away; I'm Chattanooga Tennessee bound.
Gonna get my banjo and put it on my back when the Julia Belle comes down,
When the Julia Belle comes down.

2. When the Julia Belle comes to Peoria, you know that summer's here,
And up on the Illinois River, that's the very best time of the year.
Those steam boat days in August like a hazy, lazy dream,
I want to be at the foot of Main Street when the Julia Belle raises steam,
when the Julia Belle raises steam.

3. Well Dennis and Moon and Bob Burnett, and Doc and Murray too,
Are one big steamboat family and the Julia Belle steamboat crew.
Me, I tell you, I gotta getta away; I'm Chattanooga Tennessee bound.
Gonna get my banjo and put it on my back when the Julia Belle comes down,
When the Julia Belle comes down.

4. Now the Julia Belle Swain is a women's lib boat, the first I ever knew.
Got girls in the pilothouse and girls on deck and a lady in the engine room.
Now Donna's got her license; Cindy's learning to steer.
Little Julie keeps Moon outa trouble by wandering off everywhere,
By wandering off everywhere.

5. When the Julia Belle gets in a steamboat race, she's a mighty hard boat to beat.
She raced the Belle of Louisville; she beat the Delta Queen.
She don't need no help to get her turned around; she'll come right around on a dime.
And after the race she heads up the river 'cause the Julia Belle's still got time,
'Cause the Julia Belle's still got time.

6. Well, I sure do love the Tennessee River, the Ohio and the Illinois,
And I love the old Mississippi River; it's a good old place for a boy
Just to step on board the steamboat, ride all the way to the sea.
Where else but a muddy old river would a person want to be,
Would a person want to be?

7. Well, I come up the river the other night, darker than the inside of a cow.
Ain't nothin' like a crooked old river, straighten my head right out.
Now I love my love; she's pretty as could be, and I love to take her down.
Those pretty ladies really like to ride when the Julia Belle comes down,
When the Julia Belle comes down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdXu_V1qkcU

Subject: RE: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 08:04 PM

I went to fox agency and it seems to go through with Hartford as the author. I went to Grok and grok says there are two songs by the title.one by Stuart and one by Hartford. since Hartfor d piloted the boat it seems more logical that he would have written it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 08:07 PM

could someone give me a couple of verses of this song so i can compare. and if you know the stuart song likewise. thanks.

Subject: RE: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: maeve
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 08:55 PM

John Hartford lyrics:

https://www.songlyrics.com/john-hartford/the-julia-belle-swain-lyrics/

Subject: RE: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 10:35 PM

I added the John Hartford lyrics to the first message in this thread. They were originally posted by Harpgirl. I checked them, and they are exactly the lyrics in the John Hartford recording. It can be licensed through the Harry Fox Agency.

As far as I can tell, the other song by Chris Stewart is titled "Julia Belle" and was recorded by the Cane Creek Bluegrass Band. It is an entirely different song, so don't worry about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCcmafGWQi0

Subject: RE: Origins: Julia Belle Swain
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Mar 26 - 11:44 PM

I have to worry about it because we would have to license 2 songs and I just can not afford it now. Prices have doubled.

We have recorded the Stuart song but singer included the John Hartford verses, modified.

What do people recommend? I recommended leaving out the hartford verse, which is the best verse, or recording only the hartford song.

we could easily cut out the hartford verse.