Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 04:38 AM

Sorry about the spelling. This should read "Leatherwing Bat". Moral, don't type in the morning with a hangover!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 24 Mar 12 - 04:36 AM

As it says in the notes to "Doc Watson & Clarence Ashley" (Smithsonian Folkways double CD SF40029/30) thia is a "happy combination" of two songs, "The Bird Song" or "Leathwing Bat" and "The Jolly Miller". Cecil Sharp noted a version from Jane Gentry of Hot Springs. I have always liked the version sung by Clint Howard on this double CD (and, in this case, he certainly knew that he was being recorded!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 06:07 PM

There's a brilliant version of it on Jesse Colin Young's Soul Of A City Boy which I have an ancient vinyl LP of, somewhere. That whole album is great.

http://www.amazon.com/Soul-City-Jesse-Colin-Young/dp/B000002QZI

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: EBarnacle
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 06:01 PM

This song was/ is part of Brian Bowers' repertoire and I have heard him do it in concert. I would be very surprised if he has not recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 04:36 PM

Also recorded by the recently late Clint Howard of Trade, Tennessee one time partner of Doc Watson and Fiddling Fred Price. It was recorded without Clint's knowledge during he singing competition at Galax, Virginia in either 1961/2 or 3 and issued on Folkways FA 2435.
Probably still avalable to order from Smithsonian Folkways Records.

I seem to remember that this song is related to another called "Leatherwing Bat" ?

Hoot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old Man Living at the Mill
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 01:34 PM

Check out Pete Seeger's rendition of this on "American Folk, Games, and Activity Songs".

Subject: RE: Old Man Living at the Mil
From:
Date: 11 Feb 97 - 05:27 PM

I first heard "Old Man in the Mill" on an album by the old bluegrass group called the Dilliards -- Doug and Rodney and two others whose names escape me. Maybe Elektra or Vanguard. Sorry, I sold the album, now.

Les

Subject: RE: Old Man Living at the Mil
From: marla
Date: 11 Feb 97 - 11:42 AM

...if I remember this right... I think I got it from an Album call.."7 bridges row" ...perhaps Ian Mathews (?)

cho:
Same old man, workin' at the mill.
Mill turns around of it's own free will.
Hand in the hopper and the other in a sack.
Ladys walk farward and the men fall back.

verse1:
"My", said the raven, as she flew,
"If I was a young one I'd have two.
One for to fetch and the other for to sew,
I'd have a little string for my bow, bow, bow

"My," said the owl with her head all white,
"Lonesome day and a lonesome night,
Thought I heard a pretty girl say,
Work all night and sleep next day."

My old mans form Kalamazoo,
He don't wear no...."Yes I do"
First to the left and then to the right
This old mill grinds day and night.

At any rate, I hope that's got it...or at least close enough for 'folk music'

Strive for 'whirled peas' marla

Subject: RE: Old Man Living at the Mil
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Nov 96 - 09:45 PM

Hi- You got it. It's a play-party (dance without instruments) song. There's really no verse, but there may be another section to the same tune. It's often called Jolly is the Miller (though I've heard Charlie is the Miller), and the tune is a variant on the Over The Hills and Far Away that was used for Sharpe's Rifles on TV.

I'll see if I can find another part

Subject: Old Man Living at the Mil
From:
Date: 23 Nov 96 - 12:12 AM

Anyone have verses to this one? I've only heard the chorus which runs; Old man living at the mill The mill turns around of its own free will One hand in the hopper and the other in the sack The ladies go forward and the gents fall back