Lyr Add: Code of the Mountains

Subject: Lyr Add: CODE OF THE MOUNTAINS
From: Goose Gander
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 03:40 PM

CODE OF THE MOUNTAINS

There's a code in the mountains way down in the backwood
There's code in the mountains and an unwritten law
There Harry and Joe Brown way down in the backwoods
There Harry and Joe Brown shot Charlie McGraw.

Said Harry to Joe Brown way down in the backwoods
Said Harry to Joe Brown, "You thought you were brave,
But the code of the mountains way down in the backwoods
The code of the mountains says that we must die."

They caught them at daybreak way down in the backwoods
They caught them at daybreak, down on their knees
They pleaded for mercy way down in the backwoods
They pleaded for mercy, but they heard not their plea.

There's a code in the mountains way down in the backwoods
A code in the mountains and an unwritten law
There's a code in the mountains way down in the backwoods
Code in the mountains is the only law there.

Transcribed from the singing of Bonnie McKinney, recorded June 1991.

Source:
Folksongs & Ballads, Vol. 4 (Augusta Heritage Recordings, AHR 010).

Notes:
"A relative from Enoch, in Clay County, taught Bonnie this song. The family names indicate that it may be of local origin."

A song of commercial origin, written by Karl & Harty and Patrick McAdory, recorded by Brownie Ford and Tennessee Ernie Ford and Texas Ruby & Curly Fox, I believe (among others).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Code of the Mountains
From: Goose Gander
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 04:12 PM

I should have mentioned that AHR 010 is a compilation of West Virginia traditional singers. Here is some biographical information for McKinney from the cassette's sleeve notes:

"Bonnie McKinney, born in 1936, left her native Clay County in the early '60s to seek work in Ohio. As is the case with many West Virginians who have had to migrate to find employment, she and her late husband, Paul, a dulcimer player, returned at every opportunity to the mountains of West Virginia and what she still knows as 'home'".

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Code of the Mountains
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 05:53 PM

I first heard this song when the late Terry Wadsworth sang it in Seattle in 1957. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Code of the Mountains
From: Stewie
Date: 26 Apr 07 - 07:55 PM

Michael Hurley had a weird song by this title on his 'Blue Navigator' album on the long defunct Rooster label. It involved his characters Jocko and Boone, first introduced on his classic 'Armchair Boogie' album also on a defunct label - Jesse Colin Young's Racoon label.

'Where the code of the mountains is the law'.

--Stewie.

Subject: Code of the Mountains LYRICS
From: GUEST,Gladys
Date: 07 May 07 - 03:12 PM

Hi there....

Looking for lyrics to an older song... Bluegrass, I believe


The only words that I can remember are those two lines...



They buried my darling way down in the backwoods

The code of the Mountains is the only law there



Anhyone recognize what song this might be?

Gladys
:)

Subject: RE: Code of the Mountains LYRICS
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 07 May 07 - 03:20 PM

The lyrics are here on Mudcat:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=101132

Subject: Lyr Add: CODE OF THE MOUNTAINS
From: Goose Gander
Date: 07 May 07 - 04:08 PM

A more complete set of lyrics here, but no source cited . . .

Code of the Mountains

CODE OF THE MOUNTAINS

The code of the mountain, way down in the backwoods
The code of the mountain, the unwritten law
There Harry and Joe Brown, way down in the backwoods
There Harry and Joe Brown, shot Charlie McGraw

They caught him at daybreak, way down in the backwoods
They caught him at daybreak, down on his knees
He pleaded for mercy, way down in the backwoods
He pleaded for mercy, heed to my pleas

Said Harry to Charlie, way down in the backwoods
Said Harry to Charlie, you thought you were sly
The code of the mountains, way down in the backwoods
The code of the mountains, says you must die

He loaded his rifle, way in the backwoods
He loaded his rifle, Joe loaded up too
One shot and another, wat down in the backwoods
The code of the mountains, is the only law there

They buried poor Charlie, way down in the backwoods
They buried poor Charlie, without any prayer
The code of the mountains, way down in the backwoods
The code of the mountains, is the only law there

Deep in the earth now, down in the backwoods
Deep in the earth now, lies Charlie McGraw
For the code of the mountains, way down in the backwoods
The code of the mountains is the unwritten law

Subject: RE: Code of the Mountains LYRICS
From: GUEST,Gladys
Date: 07 May 07 - 06:21 PM

Thank you so much!

With all t he searching I did on Google and elsewhere...I wrongly
assumed that it wouldn't be on Mudcat - so I didn't ut it in searhc, sorry about that.

I am now trying to find a music clip of this song...no luck so far.

Thanks so much for your time

Gladys

:)

Subject: RE: Code of the Mountains LYRICS
From: Peace
Date: 07 May 07 - 08:06 PM

Music clip here.

Subject: RE: Code of the Mountains LYRICS
From: GUEST,Gladys
Date: 07 May 07 - 10:47 PM

Thank you so much !

:)