Lyr Req: Barlow Knife

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From: Barry Pitts
Date: 25 May 97 - 08:18 PM

Although the Barlow Knife is mentioned many times in various tunes, I've never heard any lyrics applied. A banjo playing friend of mine played this song strictly as a banjo piece. B.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From: H. Burhans
Date: 25 May 97 - 04:49 PM

I've always known the following words (don't remember where from)

i've been a poor boy all my life all I want's a Barlow knife Barlow handle, Barlow blade best durn knife that's ever been made

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From: Jeff Chumley
Date: 25 May 97 - 01:53 PM

I posted this question here and have since found this bit of info about the tune Barlow Knife. Mike Iverson from the Banjo-L list says...

I haven't heard any verses sung to this song, but I did hear a refrain at Weiser Idaho once. It went: "Barlow knife and a Barlow blade, best damn knife that's ever been made" I learned the song as a three part tune with this refrain sung to the second part. I too would be interested in any lyrics to this piece.

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From: Gene Graham
Date: 24 May 97 - 01:41 PM

go to: http://www.deltablues.com

and do a power search...set the CUR/OLD sw. to OLD

and search for: [ lyrics | barlow ]

you'll find a SLOGAN verse about the BARLOW KNIFE and several references to tunes that included a verse referring to BARLOW KNIFE..."COTTON MILL" that Les mentioned is one, Doc Watson's "SHADY GROVE" is another and one or two more.

and I saw another song SOMEWHERE about THE BARLOW KNIFE..but at the moment cannot recall where or if I saved it to DISK...I generally do!

Subject: RE: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From: Les Blank
Date: 24 May 97 - 01:18 PM

Two songs come to mind:

1. Cotton Mill Girls by Hedy West(Vanguard, circa 1960), begins " Worked in a cotton mill all of my life and I ain't got nuthing but a Barlow Knife ..."

2. Randall Knife by Guy Clark on his Dublin Blues (Asylum, 1995)

Any Help ?

Subject: Lyrics? Barlow Knife
From:
Date: 24 May 97 - 10:30 AM

I don't know if this tune has lyrics but I suspect it does. ANyone Know?