Lyr Add: Laughlin Boy (Bill Joliff)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Laughlin Boy
From: Arkie
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 09:01 AM

AnneMC, thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Laughlin Boy
From: AnneMC
Date: 20 Jun 09 - 04:02 AM

Have some background here:

This is a William Jolliff poem set to a traditional tune and was recorded by Tracy Grammer.
Her liner notes tell that it is based on the tune "The Johnson Boys".
Quaker.com says:
-William Jolliff, an English professor at George Fox University, is a songwriter, poet, Quaker peace activist, and gospel bluegrass performer. He has written close to 40 songs and produced seven recordings. Folk singer Tracy Grammer's album "Flower of Avalon," includes a song Jolliff wrote. Laughlin Boy is a re-written traditional piece about a Civil War conscientious objector.

-A song written by William Jolliff(Writing/Literature) was included on folksinger Tracy Grammer's just-released albumFlower of Avalon. Jolliff's song,"Laughlin Boy,"is a rewritten traditional piece about a CivilWar conscientious objector. Jolliff has written close to 40 songs and produced seven recordings. Lyrics to the song are available at
tracygrammer.com/music.html.

Also found on the Internet:
'William Jolliff, who plays the banjo and guitar, says his grandmother introduced him to old-time country music as a young boy.He has a background in bluegrass but is now focusing on gospel."I tried to present gospel in a way that doesn't seem so narrow," he said.
...
William Jolliff, an English and literature professor at George Fox University since 1994, wrote "Laughlin Boy" while seeking heroic songs for a children's album he was in the process of recording.
...
Jolliff, a Quaker, decided to rewrite the lyrics into a song that glorifies peace rather than war.

"Its a great old tune, but it was time to get reformed," Jolliff said.

AnneMC

Subject: Lyr Add: LAUGHLIN BOY (Bill Joliff)
From: Arkie
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 09:08 PM

Is there a story behind this song?

LAUGHLIN BOY
(Lyrics: Bill Joliff, tune: traditional)

Have you heard many a story
Told by old and young with joy
About the faithful deed of daring
That was done by the Laughlin Boy
That was done by the Laughlin Boy

Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie
Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie

That Laughlin Boy was a boy of honor
And he loved Virginia well
But he would not fire a rifle
So he sat in a cold jail cell
So he sat in a cold jail cell

He was pierced and he was beaten
Forty stripes he gladly bore
But he would not serve the devil
In that awful civil war
In that awful civil war

Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie
Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie

Twelve grey soldiers stood before him
And they aimed their rifles true
He prayed lord, oh please forgive them
For they know not what they do
For they know not what they do

Those young soldiers would not fire
They defied the general's plan
So the army changed his sentence
Who could murder such a man?
Who could murder such a man?

Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie
Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie

They hauled him far away to Richmond
Far away from his kids and wife
There, pneumonia wracked his body
That good man soon lost his life
That good man soon lost his life

Now his wife is sadly weeping
Seven children wonder why
Lord it seems that truth and honor
Sure can come at an awful price
Sure can come at an awful price

Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie
Listen to me children, well I wouldn't tell a lie

Have you heard many a story
Told by old and young with joy
About the faithful deed of daring
That was done by the Laughlin Boy
That was done by the Laughlin Boy