Lyr Req: Song 1961? / Ballad of Widder Jones

Subject: Lyr Req: Song 1961
From: GUEST,Katherine Collins
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 05:33 AM

Desperate to find a song have no idea who sang it I do know I heard it on the radio 1961 in Australia. The only words I can remember are
Widow Jones and Sitting in Down Town Dallas it is not the Widow Jones by JCR. I would love to know the name of this record and who sang it. I know it was sung by a man with an american accent, hope someone can help me. I have tried here in Oz on local radio.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song 1961
From: GUEST,999
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 10:51 AM

This it?



Subject: Lyr Add: THE BALLAD OF WIDDER JONES (Loudermilk)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Jun 11 - 01:11 PM

This almost certainly IS the song that was wanted by the first 3 posters to this thread.
Lyrics copied from a John D Loudermilk discography web site:


THE BALLAD OF WIDDER JONES (AND HER 25 ACRES OF SAND)
Words & music by John D Loudermilk,
©1961 Acuff-Rose Publ. Inc.
Recorded by George Hamilton IV, 1961.

When Ben Jones fell under Yankee lead, Ben Jones left a widder,
A lovely thing just turned eighteen who couldn't help but be bitter.
He didn't leave her nothing but a cabin and some vittles and some old back taxes
And twenty-five acres of sandy soil in the middle of Texas.

Now Widder Jones says, "Benny's gone, and it ain't no use in me cryin'."
So Widder Jones went into town and started drinkin' some wine.
She told the strangers all around the bar that she was all alone,
And that she'd give her land to the very first man who would take her home.

Well, the next morning found a tall dark stranger lookin' over his new land,
Said, "What good is twenty-five scrawny acres when you can't get grass to stand?"
He went back inside and told the Widder Jones she'd made a fool out of him,
And he laid widder Jones' dying bones 'neath her twenty-five acres of sand.

Now a hundred years has come and gone and Widder Jones is forgotten.
The tall dark stranger died in chains in San Quentin's dark bottom,
But poor fools they let hearts be ruled by passion, greed and malice,
'Cause today that twenty-five acres of sand is settin' in the middle of Dallas,
Is settin' in downtown Dallas.

(Source: Standard Songs Pop/ Country/ Blues/ Folk/ Instrumentals/ Novelty, Acuff-Rose Publications Inc. 1956-1973)

[Anybody know—is there any truth to this story?—JD]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song 1961
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 10:59 AM

You got to love a song with a message!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song 1961? / Ballad of Widder Jones
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 05:03 AM

Thankyou Thankyou, That is the song, it has been on my mind for years. Katherine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song 1961? / Ballad of Widder Jones
From: GUEST,jd
Date: 18 Dec 24 - 06:11 PM

I remember this song. Written by JD Laudermilk, maybe sung by George Hamilton? Hard to forget those last lines!