Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?

Subject: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 05:30 PM

Does anyone know if there is a real Sourwood Mountain which the song is about? Do you know where in the Appalachians it is?

tku

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 07:37 PM

Malone seems to suggest that it was a real, but does not say where: 'Many tunes grew out of the frontier experience, referring to specific places such as "Cumberland Gap", "Cripple Creek","Sourwood Mountain" or "Natchez-under-the-hill"...' Bill C. Malone 'Country Music USA' Univ of Texas Press p18'.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 07:53 PM

Looking a bit further, I found this on the Fiddler's Companion site:

Sourwood is chestnut or other bark used in tanning leather, however, Sourwood Mountain is a placename in Massachusetts, where the ballad originated. It was one of the first trully American ballads, and the tale of a young man fatally bit by a snake made its way into folk traditions throughout the country. The tune in mentioned in a 1931 newspaper account as having been played at a LaFollette, northeast Tenn. fiddlers' contest. It was also listed as one of the standard tunes in a square dance fiddler's repertoire, as asserted by A.B. Moore in his History of Alabama, 1934 (Cauthen, 1990). Wolfe (1982) states it was popular with Kentucky fiddlers./ The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Many comic rhymes were sung with the tune:

Stewie.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 08:00 PM

Thank you. That will be of great help.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 08:00 PM

Thank you. That will be of great help.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: ddw
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 08:30 PM

Hi Kinderfolk,

Don't know if it has any connection with an actual place in the area, but Black Mountain, N.C. has a Sourwood Festival every year.

I was surprised to see in Stewie's post that sourwood is defined as "chestnut or other bark used in tanning leather." In western N.C. that is a beautiful tree specifically called a sourwood. In the fall it turns an incredible shade of red — truly like fire — and has long, cascading golden seed pods. It's conical shape makes it look like a bright red Christmas tree. It has to be my favourite tree in the whole world.

Next time I'm down there I'll poke around and see if one of the mountains in the area is called "Sourwood."

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 08:41 PM

tku, that would be swell.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 10:01 PM

The song Stewie refers to is "Springfield Mountain" a.k.a. "Pesky Sarpent." The words are, in one version

On Springfield Mountain there did dwell
a comely youth I know right well

Or words to that effect. "Sourwood Mountain" begins

Chickens a-crowin' on Sourwood Mountain
Chickens a-crowin' on Sourwood Mountain

I can't see any relationship between the two sets of words. Nor do the tunes to which I know these songs sound related.

T.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 10:21 PM

tku, but then how does that explain the first posting of Stewie's which is a quote from a reference, which clearly states there is a Sourwood Mountain in Masschusetts? That is confusing to say the least.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 10:22 PM

And "Springfield Mountain" is variously sung under other variants such as "Rattlesnake Mountain." Always makes me think of Stone Mountain in Virginia around Pennington Gap. In the summer evenings, there's a place up the mountain aways outside of there where you can hear the rattlers "singing"....not my kind of music, but I'll never forget being there one evening and listening.....AND looking around at the ground ALL the time.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 10:34 PM

I suspect that the Fiddlers Companion is in error. References are not always accurate. Our Okiemockbird seems to agree. The "pizen sarpint" ballad is usually known as "Springfield Mountain," although it may have attracted a few other names (like "Rattlesnake") along its varied pathway. Someone familiar with the old "Sourwood Mountain" fiddle tune might well have applied that name to the story at some time, but I doubt that "Sourwood Mountain" was the original location of the snakebite tragedy.

Sandy (a doubting Thomas)

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: ddw
Date: 05 Jan 00 - 11:31 PM

There's the other possibility about an exact location — that there are several Sourwood Mountains. Lord knows there are duplicates of almost every other name in various states. There's a Lookout Mtn., TN and There's a Lookout Mtn. in Montreat, NC and a Point Lookout about 30 miles east of it. So maybe there is a SM in Mass and another (others) in the Appalachians.

david

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 01:08 AM

I tried Stewart's Dictionary of American Place Names to no avail. Not listed.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Stewie
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 03:01 AM

The following is the full text of the entry from the Fiddler's Companion if that is of any help:

I GOT A WOMAN ON SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN. AKA and see "Sourwood Mountain." Old-Time, Breakdown & Song. USA, north Georgia. G Major. Standard. One part (Rosenbaum). A reworking of the traditional Appalachian song "Sourwood Mountain" by Georgia fiddler Earl Johnson, who added some new verses and subsituted the "hey-de-ing-dang, diddle ally-day" refrain with "What in the world can I do?" Well, I got a woman on Sourwood Mountain, What in the world can I do? Had so many children I couldn't count 'em, What in the world can I do? (Rosenbaum) Source for notated version: Earl Johnson via his protege L.D. Snipes who taught it to Ray Knight (Lumpkin County, Georgia) [Rosenbaum]. Rosenbaum (Folk Visions and Voices: Traditional Music and Song in North Georgia), 1989; pg. 216. County 544, Earl Johnson & the Clodhoppers - "Georgia Fiddle Bands, Vol. 2".

SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN [1]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Arkansas, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alabama. D Major (Thede): A Major (Phillips). Standard. AABB (Thede): AABB' (Phillips). The tune has been widely collected in the South, especially in a banjo settings. In the repertoire of Albert Hash (Rugby, Va.), and was identified by him as originating in the British Isles. Sourwood is chestnut or other bark used in tanning leather, however, Sourwood Mountain is a placename in Massachusetts, where the ballad originated. It was one of the first trully American ballads, and the tale of a young man fatally bit by a snake made its way into folk traditions throughout the country. The tune in mentioned in a 1931 newspaper account as having been played at a LaFollette, northeast Tenn. fiddlers' contest. It was also listed as one of the standard tunes in a square dance fiddler's repertoire, as asserted by A.B. Moore in his History of Alabama, 1934 (Cauthen, 1990). Wolfe (1982) states it was popular with Kentucky fiddlers./ The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. Many comic rhymes were sung with the tune: I got a gal on Sourwood Mountain, Da da da da-da da-da-da da; Pretty girls there 'til you can't count 'em, Da da da da-da da-da-da da. Sources for notated versions: Clyde Ward (Bates, Arkansas) [Thede]; W. Franklin George (W.Va.) [Phillips]. Phillips, Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 229. Thede, 1967; pg. 102. Recorded for the Library of Congress (2740-A-3 and 2744-A-1/2), 1939, by Herbert Halpert from the playing of both H.L. Maxey and J.W. "Peg" Thatcher (Franklin County, Va.). Recorded for Edison in 1925 and Victor in 1924 by Fiddlin' Cowan Powers (b. 1877, S.W. Va.), and for Vocalation in 1924 by Uncle Am Stuart (b. 1856, Morristown, Tenn.). County 778, Tommy Jarrell - "Pickin' On Tommy's Porch" (1984. Learned from his father, fiddler Ben Jarrell and his Uncle Charlie Lowe). Gennett Records (78 RPM), Taylor's Kentucky Boys {with Doc Roberts} (1927). Heritage XXIV, Tommy Jarrell - "Music of North Carolina" (Brandywine, 1978). Tradition TLP 1007, Boone Reid - "Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians" (1978).

SOURWOOD MOUNTAINS, THE [2]. American, Jig or Quadrille. USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard. AB. Unlike version #1, there is no relationship to the famous American folksong "Sourwood Mountain." Source for notated version: James Taylor (Greene County, Pa., and Wetzel County, W.Va., 1930's) [Bayard]. Bayard, 1981; No. 486, pg. 452.

Personally, I know the song best from the Earl Johnson 'I've got a woman on Sourwood Mountain' mentioned above. It has the sort of nonsensical fiddle tune words quoted, but nothing about snakes! It's a rip-roaring fiddle performance though. Gene Wiggins says the tune is of 19th century vintage and usually called merely 'Sourwood Mountain' but that Johnson 'wrought such a change' in it 'that it might be considered a different tune'. [cf G.Wiggins, liner notes to 'Georgia Fiddle Bands Vol 2 County LP 544].

Stewie.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Okiemockbird
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 09:48 AM

Stewie, thanks for the expanded quote. I think I agree with Sandy Paton the the FC is simply wrong to link "Sourwood Mountain" to "Springfield Mountain."

T.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 10:14 AM

Sorry for the thread creep (no, really!) but , ddw, what you describe sounds like the tree that I've seen in the S.Pacific Cook islands and in St Lucia,,WI, which I've heard called the flamboyant or flame tree. Is it the same? The pods are about a foot long and the flame red leaves/flowers are right at the top?
Botany is another thing (like music)that I know litle about!
RtS

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Laura
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 10:58 AM

I recently learned this tune. I heard that there is a Sourwood Mtn and its in NC near Galax. There is also a Sourwood tree and its found all over the mid atlantic.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: kinderfolk
Date: 06 Jan 00 - 06:42 PM

Thank you, everyone.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 04:55 PM

Adding after 2 1/2 yars- The sourwood is a small tree, Oxydendrum arboreum, with white flowers, one of the heath family, growing in eastern North America. It is no relation to the flame and flamboyant tree of the tropics.

Sourwood Mountain is a dance tune (as noted, no relation to Springfield Mt. and its snakes) with many verses often made up fresh by the performer. The variant in the DT is typical, but here are two from Randolph, with the common "rooster" verse in the first:

Lyr. Add: SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN

My gal lives at the head of the holler,
Hi di rinktum diddle dum a day
She won't come and I won't foller
Hi di rinktum diddle dum a day!

Roosters a-crowin' on Sourwood Mountain
Tell my love I better get away
Roosters a-crowin' on Sourwood Mountain
Hi di rinktum diddle dum a day!

Geese in the pond an' ducks in the ocean,
Hi di etc.
Devil's in the women when they take a notion
Hi di etc.

Oh the big dog'll bark an' the little un 'll bite you,
Hi di etc.
The big gal'll kiss an' the little 'un'll fight you,
Hi di rinktum etc.

Ms May Kennedy McCord, MO, 1938

Lyr. Add: SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN

Old man, old man, I want your daughter,
Hi ho diddle dum, hi ho day,
To make my bread an' pack my water,
Hi ho diddle dum a day.

Young man, young man, you can have her,
Hi ho diddle dum, hi ho day.
But she won't work, an' I cain't make her,
Hi ho diddle dum day.

Joshua C. Keithley, MO, 1940.
Both from Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 3, pp. 155-157

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: wilco
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 05:55 PM

If sanyone is ever in the Southeastern USA, try to locate some honey made from the sourwood tree. "Sourwood Honey" is considered some of the best here in Tennessee. Beekeepers will pull the honey from the hives before and after the sourwood run, to assure that the honey that the bees set is all from the flowers of the sourwood tree. I've heard three states claim that their Sourwood Mountain is the one referred to in the song (NC, TN, VA.) Wilco in Tennessee USA

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 26 Aug 02 - 06:02 PM

Add my cheers for local honeys. In the Big Bend country of Texas, I found a honey so dark that it looked almost black in the jar. I consider it to be the best I ever had. Of course no honey is 100% one species, but careful work, as you point out, can make it "mostly" pure.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 06:36 AM

There's another Sourwood Mountain; Quotation from: Kenansville Historical Trail:

17....Heartbreak Hotel

James Wallace Webb, whose brother ran Webb's General Store on Kenansville Rd., let rooms at $3 for a double for the first night, $2 for each additional night. Webb, from Sourwood Mountain in Teges, Kentucky, was born on September 8, 1919. He left there for Florida on November 8, 1939, and arrived in Kenansville on January 11, 1940. After three years, he moved to Arkansas, then moved back here three years after that.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: masato sakurai
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 07:45 AM

According to USGS: Geographic Names Information System (containing "entries for almost 2,000,000 geographic features in the United States"), there're two Sourwood Mountains on the record.

(1) Sourwood Mountain -- St: TN -- County: Jefferson -- Type: summit -- Latitude: 360428N -- Longitude: 0833456W

(2) Sourwood Mountain -- St: VA -- County: Russell -- Type: ridge -- Latitude: 370111N --Longitude: 0820820W

Other Sourwood names include Sourwood Spring (AL), Sourwood (KY), Sourwood Branch (KY, SC), Sourwood Creek (MS, TN), Sourwood Gap (NC), Sourwood Mountain School (school; VA), and Sourwood Ridge (WV). No Massachusetts place name is among them.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Jacob B
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 10:04 AM

If we are looking for the place the song originated, it sounds like we should be looking for a Springfield Mountain in Massachusetts. Is there such a mountain?

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Aug 02 - 12:18 PM

The Sourwood Mountain song has nothing to do with the Springfield Mountain song, as stated before by Sandy Paton and Okiemockingbird. Type Springfield into Digitrad and Forum Search for several variants of the poison snake song.

Subject: RE: I Got A Gal/ Rooster Crow On Sourwood Mt.
From: GUEST,Granddaddy from Hazard, Ky played a banjo an
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 02:39 AM

Chickens crowing on Sourwood Mountain, ho de ding dong doodle dolly day
So many pretty girls you can't count 'em ho de do dog diddle dolly day.
Little dog will bark; a big dog'll bite ya.
Little gal will spark; a big girl will spite ya----ho de etc.
My ol gal lives over in Lynch; she's a six foot tall wicked wench.
My ol gal lives bottom a Big Black Mountain; her big mouth is always a spoutin.
You kin have this verse, cause it kaint get much worse.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 02:54 AM

There's an extensive entry on this song at the Traditional Ballad Index:

Sourwood Mountain

DESCRIPTION: Dance tune with words; young man wants his true love, but she is coy. Versions often contain a variety of floating or spontaneous verses. First stanza may begin, "Chickens crowing on Sourwood Mountain...."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1916 (Wyman-Brockway)
KEYWORDS: courting love rejection nonballad playparty
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,SE,So)
REFERENCES (13 citations):
Randolph 417, "Sourwood Mountain" (4 texts plus a fragment, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 346-347, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 417A)
BrownIII 251, "Sourwood Mountain" (7 texts plus an excerpt and 3 fragments)
Wyman-Brockway I, p. 91 "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fuson, pp. 170-171, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
Sandburg, p. 125, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune); 320-321, "I Got a Gal at the Head of the Holler" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 24, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 276-277, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune, composite)
Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 897-898, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Chase, pp. 148-149, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
Darling-NAS, pp. 257-258, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 35, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
DT, SOURWOOD
Roud #754
RECORDINGS:
Coleman & Harper "Sourwood Mountain" (Perfect 12751, 1931) (Oriole 8095, 1935)
Fruit Jar Guzzlers, "Sourwood Mountain" (on CrowTold01)
I. G. Greer & Mrs. I. G. Greer, "Sourwood Mountain" (AFS; on LC12)
The Hillbillies, "Sourwood Mountain" (Vocalion 5022, c. 1926)
Earl Johnson & his Dixie Entertainers "I've Got a Woman on Sourwood Mountain" (OKeh 45171, 1927)
Kessinger Brothers, "Sourwood Mountain" (Brunswick 308, c. 1929)
Bradley Kincaid ,"Sourwood Mountain" (Gennett 6417/Silvertone 8220, 1928) (Brunswick 420, c. 1930) (Conqueror 8090, 1933) (one of these is on CrowTold02, but it's not clear which)
Clayton McMichen, "Sourwood Mountain [part of instrumental medley] (Decca 2649, 1939)
Fiddlin' Powers & Family, "Sour Wood Mountains" (Victor 19448, 1924)
Hobart Smith, "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (on LomaxCD1702)
Ernest V. Stoneman, "Sourwood Mountain" (Victor 20235, 1926)
Stove Pipe No. 1 [pseud. for Sam Jones], "Cripple Creek & Sourwood Mountain" (Columbia 201-D, 1924)
Uncle "Am" Stuart, "Sourwood Mountain" (Vocalion 15840, 1924)
Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett, "Sourwood Mountain" (Columbia 245-D, 1924)
Taylor's Kentucky Boys, "Sourwood Mountain" (on BefBlues3)
The Vagabonds, "Sourwood Mountain" (Bluebird B-5335, 1934)
Wade Ward, "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (on Holcomb-Ward1)
Henry Whitter, "Sourwood Mountain" (OKeh 7005, n.d.)
Notes: The Baptist church disapproved of dancing, but allowed playparties (dances with sung tunes instead of instrumental music) - PJS
It should be noted that this is primarily a fiddle tune; it's listed because it occasionally turns up with words. - RBW
File: R417

---

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Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 04:15 AM

This link:
http://www.maporders.com/loc/37/082/370000t0820730.shtml

will take you to a searchable USGS map-quadrant of Virgina and the precise location of Sourwood Mountain.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 10:48 AM

and this link will let you hear the song.

From this page

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 02:24 PM

I prefer the Sourwood Mountain in Jefferson County, Tennessee, also on the USGS Names list and quadrangle map as noted above by Masato.

Not on official maps, but locals recognize a Sourwood Mountain near Teges, KY. And how about Sourwood Ridge, WV?
There are others.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 08:28 PM

"Sourwood Mountain" in the Wolfe Collection: Sourwood Mt

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Aug 04 - 08:36 PM

Lots of missed connections with Mudcat tonight (needs more baling wire?). Link didnt work.
The Wolf Collection's Sourwood Mountain is at: http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/applesourwood1265.htm

Try again: Sourwood Mountain

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Joe_F
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 10:24 AM

"a small U.S. tree...of the heath family with white flowers and sour-tasting leaves", says MWC10.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 12:19 PM

http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/applesourwood1265.html

this is the right address, but they may prohibit direct links. If you go to http://www.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/, you can access the "Ozark Folksongs" collection and get it and more.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 12:34 PM

I notice that downloads at this site are quite slow. Even with a cable modem, it took several minutes to play a song. I am not sure why, but do be patient with them. (It could happen that posting on a site like Mudcat 'could' strain their resources and bandwidth).

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Aug 04 - 04:06 PM

The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names lists 2 places called Sourwood Mountain. One is a peak in Jefferson County, Tennessee; the other is a ridge in Russell County, Virginia.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:02 AM

The link appears overload for the week.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 04 - 12:02 AM

Cheap people recieve cheap service.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST,Hello
Date: 10 Jul 13 - 05:38 PM

There is also a Sourwood Mtn in Summers County WV, because I live there :)

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 11 Jul 13 - 05:24 PM

There are mountains near Springfield, Massachusetts, in the Holyoke Range: Mt. Holyoke, Mt. Tom and others, but none specifically named Springfield Mountain.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST,Cornwall England
Date: 23 Jan 20 - 09:38 AM

I learnt to sing the Sourwood Mountain song at school in 1957 in Cornwall, SW England. Cornwall has a long history of mining and so I assumed that the song was learnt somewhere with mining and then brought back to England by the Cornish miners. We also have a great tradition of singing and Methodism.   I went to the Sourwood Mountain festival in Black Mountain NC a few years ago but it wasn't really played. Some guys on the tourist train Great Smoky mountains ride knew it and played it for me. they played it very fast like a jig. I used to drive my mother mad by singing the song all the time and this is why I decided to try and find out more about it. It sounds like I haven't yet tracked down the real mountain but I think there must be a link to mining. It also doesn't sound like a Cornish folksong to me so I believe it did originate in America somewhere. Thanks

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Lighter
Date: 13 Mar 23 - 08:04 PM

Chillicothe [O.] Gazette (Feb. 23, 1894):

"...at Middlesborough, Ky., in a barn on top of Sour Wood Mountain."

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Mar 23 - 08:23 PM

Google Earth will take you to the Sourwood Mountains in Virginia and Tennessee.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 14 Mar 23 - 02:49 AM

Just bumped the origins thread. There are several 'Sourwoods' in Kentucky but the oldest 'lyrics' I'm aware of are from a couple of nickel weekly serials set in Kentucky.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Mar 23 - 04:19 PM

Evansville [Ind.] Journal (May 5, 1892):

"[In 'Big Sandy' country] 'The Sour Wood Mountain' is sung by the rosy-cheeked maid over her churn and accompanies the stroke of the ax in the forest. The precocious baby is taught to say 'Mam and Dad' and sing 'Sour Wood Mountain.' The words go something like this:

'Big dog bark and little one bit you,
Hey come a diddle, come a day.
Gals all gone to Sour Wood Mountain,
Hey come a diddle, come a day.'"

Like "Cripple Creek," it could have developed at any time.

Aside from inclusion in Irish, Scottish, and New England music collections, mentions of American folk tunes and songs are uncommon during the 19th C.

Subject: RE: Is there a real Sourwood Mtn & where?
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 14 Mar 23 - 06:51 PM

Fwiw where: "Big Sandy country" is a ways up river from Evansville around & below Louisa, KY –– where the Levisa & Tug forks join. The east bank is West Virginia.