Help: Looking for roots

Subject: Looking for roots
From: Metchosin
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 10:40 PM

The delightful madness of this place has distracted and bolloxed me. I had initially come to the Mudcat on a quest and Max kindly jogged my memory this morning when he suggested that I post the following in the forum: I am seeking help in trying to trace the movements of my grandfather, Charles Edward Prewett, during the 15 years he spent in the U.S., in the late 1800's and early 1900's, prior to settling in British Columbia. He was an incredible banjo player and had two songs, in particular, in his repetoire, that I can't find on the DT, nor have I ever heard anyone else play or sing, both for obvious reasons. Although both songs have geographical references in them we do not belive he was ever in Tennessee. I was hoping there might be some one here who may have heard these songs before or know of someone else who might have them in a family repetoire. I realize that songs traveled rather quickly even in the late 1800's so this could be a wild goose chase as he was also the quintessential wild goose. My mother was hoping to find out where might have been and what he was up to, before she dies. As she is now almost eighty I'd better get cracking.
Down in d' Canebrake

Down in d' canebrake
Close by the mill
There lives a colored girl
Her name is Nancy Gill.
I told her I loved her
I loved her very long
I'm gonna serenade her
And this'll be my song:
Chorus:
Come my love come
My boat lies low
She lies high and dry
On the O-hi-o,
Come my love come Won't you come along with me?
And I'll take you down to Tennessee

Down in d' canebrake
Some happy day
You'll hear the wedding bells
A ringin' might gay
There's gonna be a cabin
And in a trundle bed
There'll be a pickaninny
And all because I said:
Chorus

Down in d' Canebrake
That's where I'll stay
'Long side my Nancy Gill
Till we are laid away
And when I get to heaven
And Peter lets us in
I'll start my wings a flappin'
And sing to her again:
Chorus

Nava Nava, My Navajo

Down on the sands of old New Mexico
There dwelt and Indian maid
One of the tribe they call the Navajo
Face of a copper shade,
And every night there came a coon
Softly his love to plead
And under the silvery light of the moon
He'd help her to string her beads
And under a starry sky
To her he'd softly cry:
Chorus:
Nava Nava my Navajo
I have a love for you that will grow
And if you'll have a coon for a beau
I'll have a Navajo.

Collected from the songs of Charles Edward Prewett. (1879-1966)

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 11:27 PM

We are going to go see my dad, probably around Thanksgiving week. I will take the lyrics with me and ask him. Will also ask our old fiddlemaker who is here in town, whose father was an old fiddlemaker and fiddler, who taught my father. If anybody would know them in the Colorado region it would be them or someone they know.

This is fun! I hope we can help.

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Metchosin
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 11:48 PM

Thanks Kat, I would really appreciate it and so would my Mom.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Judy Cook
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 11:59 PM

Jeff Warner sings a song that's very similar to the first one, though it's not exactly the same. I can't seem to put my hands on the recording to listen for the differences and to read the liner notes. I'll let you know when I find it. Meanwhile, if you want to email Jeff directly, he is at [e-mail].

Good Luck & Happy Hunting Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Metchosin
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 01:55 AM

Hi Judy, I tried sending an email but it came back user unknown. I double checked that I had the address you posted, because I find I quite often make errors and I had the correct address.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 02:43 AM

Judy and Metchosin, Jeff changed his e-mail address - I think he was getting a lot of spam. I don't feel comfortable posting his e-mail address publicly, but I sent him your question, along with a blue clicky to this thread. I'll let you know if/when I hear something, unless he shows up here.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Micca
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 08:42 AM

This may be no help at all but I'm fairly sure Burl Ives did the Ohio song or at least the chorus, years ago

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 11:57 AM

I talked to Jeff - he has no problem with his e-mail address being made public, and his recent change of address didn't have anything to do with spam, and I was just being paranoid. He has a LOT of information on the song, and is very interested in sharing it and hearing more.

His address is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Metchosin
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 04:20 AM

Thanks Judy and Jeri, I have been in touch with Jeff Warner regarding the first song and he has been most helpful.

Micca- I will see what I can dig up regarding Burl Ives, thanks for the tip.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Metchosin
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 01:40 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 02:00 AM

Check in Mary Wheeler's book Steamboatin' Days for a version of "Come, Love, Come." Dillon Bustin sings it, and we learned it from him, then decided to add a few verses from other songs in Wheeler's book. It's very similar to the one Jeff sings. Wheeler, by the way, was collecting from old roustabouts around Cincinnati about sixty years ago, if you're looking to trace the travels of your grandfather. The song seems to enjoyed some popularity on the old paddle-wheel showboats.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Bruce O.
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 01:00 PM

The Levy sheet music collction has Nancy Till, 1851, and Nava, Nava, 1903.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Shimbo Darktree
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 09:22 AM

I see this is a serious thread, so I won't make the comment
"Aren't we all!"
Those familiar with Aussie vernacular will understand.

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 09:45 AM

Metchosin,
sorry for sending you off the trail, but there's a German song resembling the second song in meter and structure. If you click here you'll find there beside the German lyrics (which are quite different by the way except for the Navajo setting) two different clickable tunes to this song. Is one of these tunes similar to the tune to the song above? If yes, I've found the English language origin to a German song (I'm rather sure with this song that it's not the other way round), if no, sorry and good luck with your search.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Help: Looking for roots
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 09:55 AM

Stupid me,
the Levy sheet music collection has the tunes and the tune to the second song above is definitely not Tune A on that link, but it still could be tune B (I can't play tunes on my computer right now).

Wolfgang