Lyr Req: Inch Along (from James Crase)

Subject: Lyr Req: Inch Along - James Crase
From: GUEST,Abby the Spoon Lady
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 10:29 AM

Does anyone know anything - lyrics, origin - to this song INCH ALONG? I recently heard it on a Smithsonian Folkways CD - Music of Kentucky - but I think I know it from someplace else. THANKS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Inch Along - James Crase
From: 12-stringer
Date: 31 Aug 12 - 01:11 PM

Inch Along

INCH ALONG. Old‑Time, Breakdown. "Cotten Eyed Joe"??

***

Inch along, keep a‑pushin on,

Inch along, keep a‑pushin on,

Get along buddy, keep a‑movin, inch along.

***

Flying Fish FF‑336, Pete Sutherland ‑ "Poor Man's Dream" (1984).

Seems to me there is a c1937 recording in LOC called "Nig, Inch Along", from Alan Lomax's field trip to east KY. I don't recall it having lyrics. I can't understand much more of Crase than the occasional "nigger," though. (Yes, there is a recording by Luther Strong, downloadable here
Luther Strong but it's just a fiddle tune, no vocal except for a spoken ID at the end by Alan Lomax. Sounds pretty similar to Crase's tune.)

Fiddler's Companion likens it to "Cotton Eye Joe" but it reminds me more of "Sally Goodin."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Inch Along - James Crase
From: GUEST,Abby the Spoon Lady
Date: 16 Nov 12 - 08:16 PM

Thanks. :) Very much.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Inch Along (from James Crase)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Nov 12 - 07:44 PM

Here's what I think I hear:

INCH ALONG
As sung by James Crace on "Mountain Music of Kentucky" (1996)

1. A nigger and a white man playing seven-up,
The nigger told the white man, "Pick your money up." *

2. Had a little ….
Nobody hurt but a nigger knocked down,
Nigger knocked down, nigger knocked down,
Nobody hurt but a nigger knocked down.


[* This sounds like a variation on a line I have heard elsewhere:
"The nigger won the money but was scared to pick it up."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Inch Along (from James Crase)
From: GUEST,GENE SMALLWOOD
Date: 20 Mar 13 - 02:48 PM

I AM THE GRANDSON OF JAMES CRASE. MY FATHER WAS HIGH SMALLWOOD AND MOTHER WAS BESSIE CRASE, DAUGHTER OF JAMES CRASE. I LIVED WITH MY GRANDFATHER MY ENTIRE LIFE. I HEARD MY GRANDFATHER PLAY EVERY DAY. I ALSO KNOW THE WORDS TO INCH ALONG BY HEART, AND THE STORY BEHIND IT. IT WAS WRITTEN BY MY GRANDFATHER..JAMES CRASE.. IN 1899 WHEN JAMES CRASE WAS 17 YEARS OLD. IT IS BASED ON A TRUE STORY. THE NIGGER IN THE SONG IS.. IKE ISMOND..HE WORKED WITH MY GRANDFATHER LOGGING. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A MULE SKINNER AND IKE ISMOND CUT TIMBER. ONE SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER WORK THE WORKERS DRINKING MOONSHINE, AND PLAYING CARDS. THE NEXT DAY JAMES CRASE MADE A SONG ABOUT IT, HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS SOO FUNNY THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE. PLEASE NOTE: IKE ISMOND WAS OFFENED BY THE SONG. MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME THAT IKE WOULD ALWAYS ASK...PLAY MY SONG FOR ME JIMMY.... AND THATS THE STORY BEHIND INCH ALONG..   THE INCH ALONG TITLE REFERS TO PULLING LOGS WITH MULES..IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Inch Along (from James Crase)
From: GUEST,Abby the Spoon Lady
Date: 20 Mar 13 - 09:27 PM

Thanks for your time, answer and clarification. I would love to hear your words or lyrics so we can have them for record.   :)