Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Feb 19 - 06:33 PM

Leenia: “Guys”? I figure you must mean me, since I’m the one who revived this thread after a 7-year hiatus. Maybe you don’t read carefully, or maybe you’re the kind of person who thinks the difference between “some bad company” and “shun bad company” is not important, or maybe you’re not interested in knowing which of several versions is the oldest, or which one was attested by an authority like John Lomax – but I’m interested in those details, and I figure I’m not the only one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: leeneia
Date: 01 Feb 19 - 12:59 PM

Guys, that set of lyrics has been posted to this thread 4 times.

Subject: Lyr Add: I WAS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA (Kelly Harrell
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 19 - 01:53 PM

My transcription from Spotify:


I WAS BORN IN PENNSYLVANIA
As recorded by Kelly Harrell on OKEH 40544, 1925.

Come all you young companions wherever you may be,
And listen to my story and shun bad company.

I was borned in Pennsylvania among those lovely hills.
The mem’ry of my birthplace lies in my mem’ry still.

I did not like my fireside; I did not like my home.
I had a view for rambling so far away from home.

I rambled into a city, was on a bright summer’s day.
It was there I took to gambling; I gambled by night and by day.

I courted a fair young lady; her name I will not tell;
And why should I disgrace her when I am doomed for jail?

It was on a bright cloundly(?)* evening when the stars were shining bright.
It was with some ugly(?) dagger I made her spirit fly.

I had a dear old mother as dear as dear could be.
Down on her knees before me how she did pray for me!

If I had listened to mother, I would not ‘a’ been here today,
So I was young and foolish, they’ve stole my heart away.

I’m now out on the scaffold; my time it is not long.
You may forget the singer, but don’t forget the song.

- - -
* He sort of stumbles over the word “cloudy” as if he realizes the incongruity.

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUNG COMPANIONS (from John Lomax)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jan 19 - 01:14 PM

This seems to be older than any version mentioned above. I’ll post the lyrics, although they may seem redundant since they are very close to the versions posted above.

From Cowboy Songs, and Other Frontier Ballads, collected by John A. Lomax (New York: Sturgis and Walton, 1910), page 81:


YOUNG COMPANIONS

Come all you young companions
And listen unto me,
I’ll tell you a story
Of some bad company.

I was born in Pennsylvania
Among the beautiful hills
And the memory of my childhood
Is warm within me still.

I did not like my fireside,
I did not like my home;
I had in view far rambling,
So far away did roam.

I had a feeble mother,
She oft would plead with me;
And the last word she gave me
Was to pray to God in need.

I had two loving sisters,
As fair as fair could be,
And oft beside me kneeling
They oft would plead with me.

I bid adieu to loved ones,
To my home I bid farewell,
And I landed in Chicago
In the very depth of hell.

It was there I took to drinking,
I sinned both night and day,
And there within my bosom
A feeble voice would say:

“Then fare you well, my loved one,
May God protect my boy,
And blessings ever with him
Throughout his manhood joy.”

I courted a fair young maiden,
Her name I will not tell,
For I should ever disgrace her
Since I am doomed for hell.

It was on one beautiful evening,
The stars were shining bright,
And with a fatal dagger
I bid her spirit flight.

So justice overtook me,
You all can plainly see,
My soul is doomed forever
Throughout eternity.

It’s now I’m on the scaffold,
My moments are not long;
You may forget the singer
But don’t forget the song.

* * *
The Internet Archive contains two recordings:

Carl T. Sprague, 1925.

Vernon Dalhart, 1927.

Spotify also has one by Ernest Stoneman.

Subject: Lyr Add: FATAL GLASS OF BEER (W. C. Fields)
From: Jon Corelis
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 09:58 PM

I know this may be getting a little off topic (and heavens we can't have that on mudcat now can we), but I can't resist quoting W. C. Fields's parody that skewers forever this whole genre of songs, "The Fatal Glass of Beer", from the film of the same name (quoted from IMDB).

THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER

There once was a poor boy and he left his country home,
And he came to the city to look for work.

He promised his Ma and Pa he would lead a sinless life,
And always shun the fatal curse of drink.

Once in the city, he got a situation in a quarry,
And there he made the acquaintance of some college students.

He little thought they were demons, for they wore the best of clothes,
But the clothes do not always make the gentleman.

Oh they tempted him to drink, and they said he was a coward,
'Til at last he took the fatal glass of beer.

When he saw what he'd done, he threw the glass upon the floor,
And he staggered through the door with delirium tremens.

Once upon the sidewalk he met a Salvation Army girl,
And wickedly he broke her tambourine.

Oh, she said "What Heaven - Heaven bless you," and placed a mark upon his brow,
With a kick she'd learned before she had been saved.

Now as a moral to young men who come down to the city,
Don't go around breaking people's tambourines.

Jon Corelis
Euripides' Hippolytos: A performance version with music

---

Fatal Glass of Beer thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: NightWing
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 09:11 PM

I see several (about a dozen) copies of the 78 for sale on various websites: search Google for <Decca 5983>. Also found several (two or more?) books with Doc Hopkins lyrics--I assume lead sheets w/ lyrics--by searching Google for <"Doc Hopkins" lyrics>.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: Lyr Add: BAD COMPANIONS (Carl T. Sprague)
From: GUEST,Chuck
Date: 16 Mar 12 - 02:38 PM

BAD COMPANIONS
As sung by Carl T. Sprague, 1925.

Come all you young companions, and listen unto me.
I'll tell you all a sad story of some bad company.
I was born in Pennsylvania, among those beautiful hills,
And the mem'ry of my childhood is warm within me still.

I did not like my fireside; I did not like my home.
I had in view for rambling, so far away did roam.
I had a kind old mother, who often would plead with me,
And the last words that she gave me were to pray to God in need.
I had two loving sisters as kind and beautiful could be,
And down on their knees before me they prayed and wept for me.

I bid adieu to loved ones; to home, I bid farewell.
I landed in Chicago, the very depths of hell.
'Twas there I took to drinking; I sinned both night and day,
And yet within my bosom, that feeble voice would say:
"Oh, fare thee well, my loved one; may God protect my boy,
And blessings ever with him, throughout his manhood joy."

I courted a fair young maiden; her name I will not tell,
For I would ever disgrace her, as I am doomed for hell.
'Twas on one beautiful evening, the stars were shining bright,
And with that fatal dagger, I bid her spirit fly.

Then justice overtook me, you all can plainly see.
My soul is doomed forever, throughout eternity.
It's now I'm on the scaffold; my moments are not long.
You may forget the singer, but don't forget the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:56 PM

Not got the words yet but it has let me find out more about Doc Hopkins. I found some videos recordings on Folkstream.net that tell the story of Stephen Wade and his show Banjo Dancer. How he made his journey through the process of learning and the people he met along the way.

Doc Hopkins was a key person.

I can't confess to having heard of Stephen Wade before on this side of the puddle but I'm sure he's well known to his fellow countrymen.

Just need those words now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 04:15 PM

Well done Jim. Gets me a bit further. Just need someone to have taken a fancy to the song and have the words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 01:57 PM

AllMusic.com says that "Leslie Beacon" was one of several pseudonyms used by Joe Davis.

I'm still not having any success finding an online recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 01:51 PM

WorldCat.org shows that Syracuse University holds a copy of the 78-rpm recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 01:28 PM

Now we're getting somewhere!

The Online 78-rpm Discographical Project shows that Doc Hopkins recorded BAD COMPANIONS in 1941; it was released as Decca 5983, as the B side of KITTY WELLS. Furthermore, it says Leslie Beacon wrote it.

Other 78-rpm recordings by Doc Hopkins:

DOWN ON THE OLD PLANTATION b/w LITTLE OLD LOG CABIN IN THE LANE, Broadway 8305, 1931.
SUGAR BABE b/w SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE, Broadway 8306, 1931
BARBARA ALLEN b/w GOOSEBERRY PIE, Broadway 8307, 1931
METHODIST PIE b/w LITTLE JOE, Broadway 8337, 1932
MOTHER, QUEEN OF MY HEART b/w THE PAL THAT IS ALWAYS TRUE, Conqueror 8748, 1936
GREAT JUDGMENT MORNING b/w THE CHURCH OF LONG AGO, Conqueror 8749, 1936
WRECK OF OLD 31 b/w WRECK BETWEEN NEW HOPE & GETHSEMANE, Decca 6039, 1941
FATE OF THE BATTLESHIP MAINE b/w MY LITTLE GEORGIA ROSE, Decca 5945, 1941

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 10:23 AM

I now know that singer of the song was certain Doc Hopkins. I believe he was a singer of some note. Will this help anyone to identify the song?

Subject: Lyr Add: BAD COMPANIONS (Ben Burroughs)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 10:58 PM

I know it's not what was wanted, but this bit of doggerel was too good (bad) to pass up.

From the St. Petersburg Times, Oct 13, 1953:

BAD COMPANIONS
(Ben Burroughs)

If you wish to detour evil,
Keep away from evil friends,
For it's easy to be taken
In a web of crooked bends.

Shady folks are cloaked in heartaches,
So they try to capture thee,
And just like the age-old saying,
They desire company.

And if you take on a friendship
With someone of wicked ways,
You will find before you know it,
You're the one who always pays.

Bad companions prelude downfall.
You will lose and never gain,
For the only thing they have to give
Is great heartache and pain.

So be careful when you're choosing
Someone for a friendly mate.
Keep away from bad companions
Now, before it is too late.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 10:17 AM

Thanks, but still not the one. The one I heard had 'keep away from bad companions' in each verse.

Subject: Lyr Add: BAD COMPANIONS (from MacEdward Leach)
From: Richie
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 12:18 AM

There are several versions maybe you are this of the 1925 one by Kelly Harrell as I Was Born in Pennsylvania.

Bad Companions (Collected by MacEdward Leach)

Come all you young companions and listen unto me,
I'll tell you all a story of some bad company;
I was born in Pennsylvania among the beautiful hills,
And the memory of my childhood is warm within me still.

I did not like my fireside, I did not like my home,
I had in view far rambling and far away did roam;
I bade adieu to loved ones, to my home I said farewell
And I landed in Chicago in the very depths of hell.

It was there I took to drinking, I sinned both night and day,
And still within my bosom this feeble voice would say:
"Oh, fare you well, my loved one, may God protect my boy,
May God forever bless him throughout his manhood joy."

I courted a fair young maiden, her name I dare not tell,
For if I should ever disgrace her while now I'm doomed to hell;
It was on a beautiful evening, the stars were shining bright,
And with a fatal dagger I bade her spirit flight.

So justice overtook me, as you may plainly see,
My soul is doomed forever throughout eternity;
Oh, now I'm on the scaffold my moments are not long,
You may forget the singer, but don't forget the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Oct 11 - 12:11 AM

There's a cowboy song called BAD COMPANIONS recorded by Carl T. Sprague, Vernon Dalhart, and others, around 1925-28. Does that ring a bell?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 08:34 AM

Love the words of the Gene Autry song but that's not it.
I may well give them a try as well.

Subject: Lyr Add: A GANGSTER'S WARNING (Gene Autry)
From: Tiger
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 08:26 AM

An old Gene Autry number I learned from my father-in-law about 45 years ago.

A Gangster's Warning — Gene Autry Words and music by Gene Autry Copyright 1932 by M. M. Cole Publishing Company I was brought up by kind parents, I once was their pride and joy. I started drinking and gambling, Wild life got the best of their boy. Some pals took me out on a robbery, I thought just once would be fun. But one crime led to another, Till it led to the use of a gun. In my pocket I carry a pistol. It's never away from my side. The notches that's carved in its handle, Tells how more than one man has died. I'm leading a trail that is crooked, My foes lurk 'round ev'ry bend. I know some day they will get me, I dread to think of the end. It seems there's no hope for a gangster, Not a moment of peace to be found. Whereever I go, I am hunted Like a fox that is chased by a hound. It's true I would like to be honest But I know it's too late to begin When you join with the gangsters, It's a game you must play to the end. I wish I had listened to mother, She said there would be days like this. I've lost all my true friends and sweetheart, No more will I know love's sweet bliss. So young men keep away from bad company, That's how I started in wrong, And if your pals try to tempt you, Remember the words of this song.

Subject: Lyr Req: Keep Away From Bad Companions
From: C Stuart Cook
Date: 28 Oct 11 - 08:06 AM

I heard a song from the 1930's I think with the words Keep Away From Bad Companion either as the title or just as a refrain/Line. It was a guy with a pleasant voice and just a guitar.

There was a reference to coppers and to parents.

I desperately need the words as I can't stop singing just the one line I can remember. It's getting embarasssing.

The only thing that net searches throws up is the reference to bad companions in 'Wash my Hands in Muddy Waters.