Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!

Subject: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: 2581
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 01:46 PM

I'm only unsure of one word in this great old coal mining song - "Coal Loadin' Johnny" performed by Flatt & Scruggs - and that is the name of the coal miner referenced in the speaking intro to the song.
   The song begins, "Now gather round, folks, and I'll tell you a little story about a Harlan County coal loader. His name was John Henry ________, but we always just called him..."
   Can anyone figure out the coal miner's last name? The YouTube link is below. Thanks for your help!


what is the coal loader's name - John Henry ________?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 02:39 PM

Sounds like Mair, Mayor or Mayer to me.

CC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Noreen
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 03:11 PM

According to this Mudcat post it's: Merdin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Noreen
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 03:19 PM

Lyr Req: Coal Loadin' Johnny (Flatt & Scruggs)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: 2581
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 04:05 PM

Thanks, Noreen. I know that somewhere on the internet, it's listed as "Merdin", but I spend a good deal of time in Harlan County (KY) and I've never heard that name. Two common names in eastern Kentucky are "Miracle" (often pronounced "Mar-kul") and "Merida", but I just can't tell... Thanks for your help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Apr 13 - 10:37 PM

I listened, and I think it's Murray. Almost rhymes with 'story.'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 02:27 AM

Unfortunate that the instrument interferes with the sound but to me it sounds like Murphy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 08:23 AM

If you look at the audio it unfortunately tails off after the first syllable. You can head MUR (as in Murray as leeneia suggests) and it's followed by a faint drawn out Y sound.

It could be Murray as leeneia suggests. I think your own suggestion of Merida could also be pronounced like that. I'm not sure about Merdin; I can't hear any hint of a D sound, but if it disappeared after Mer- it might just be possible. (I'm also not sure about Mayor, but it would just about be possible).

The problem is that after the first syllable there's not really enough there to make it out clearly. Without some external information (or an alternative recording with possible better enunciation) you may not be able to get the word.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: 2581
Date: 16 Apr 13 - 10:47 AM

Leeneia ---
   I think you could be right about "Murray", but as Mick suggested, we may never know. I am not aware of any cover versions even though the song was written 50 years ago...
   Thanks to everyone for your feedback!
                Best wishes, Tony

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 May 13 - 12:47 AM

It actually sounds like "Merritt" to me, although I suppose "Merrick" is another possibility.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 May 13 - 03:49 AM

If sites list it as 'Merdin' maybe they have/had some good reason.
Mick says he can't hear a 'd' sound.
Maybe there's some Welsh connection here (we exported Coal miners worldwide). If so there is a Welsh name of Merddyn (=Merlin) which is pronuonced as 'mare thin' (with the 'dd' pronounced as a 'hard' 'th' as in 'this' rather than the soft 'th' in 'thin'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Please listen - just one word needed...!
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 16 May 13 - 03:53 AM

It is impossible to understand the name from the recording, but it seems that the original audience was expected to know the story, from newspapers or internal rumour. "Merdin" is not what mere guessers are likely to come up with (except for jokers in the category "Pardon My French"); the name is rare but does exist in the region. The best bet may be to search the archives for Merdin and Murdin etc.