Lyr ADD: Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Aug 23 - 11:44 PM

There's not much in the Traditional Ballad Index, but there's a little:

Crepe On the Little Cabin Door

DESCRIPTION: The singer left his home, breaking his mother's heart. He wastes time "on women, wine and song." He gets a letter from his mother asking that he come home to see her. When he finally returns home he finds crepe on the door. His mother is dead.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1951 (MUNFLA-Leach)
KEYWORDS: age sex warning home parting return separation death music wine mother rake
FOUND IN: Canada(Newf)
Roud #30115
RECORDINGS:
Cyril O'Brien, "Take Warning" (on MUNFLA-Leach)
Doc & Chickie Williams, "Crepe On the Little Cabin Door" (Doxx DWLP-2001, 1974 (see Notes))
NOTES [31 words]: The description follows the Doc & Chickie Williams recording.
For a list of Doc & Chickie Williams records see DocWilliams.com at http://www.hankwilliamslistings.com/ind-dcw1-07.htm - BS
Last updated in version 4.4
File: ML3COLCD

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door
From: GUEST,plb315
Date: 05 Aug 23 - 10:36 AM

Does anyone have a chord sheet for Crepe Upon the Little Cabin Door? I play ukulele.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jan 08 - 11:42 PM

"Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door" (Crepe on the old cabin door) was a favorite in Canada, published twice in the Family Herald, 23-8-44 and 2-2-49, submitted by readers.
Column by Edith Fowke, Canadian Journal for Traditional Music, 1979.

Carson Robison also recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Crepe upon the Little Cabin Door
From: Peace
Date: 11 Jan 08 - 10:54 PM

You don't do things by halves, do you!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE CREPE UPON THE LITTLE CABIN DOOR
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jan 08 - 10:46 PM

These songs are posted in other threads:
PEACE RIVER WALTZ
LITTLE ROSEWOOD CASKET

Lyrics below copied from Lyrics Playground, where they are said to be transcribed from the singing of Vernon Dalhart:

THE CREPE UPON THE LITTLE CABIN DOOR
(A.k.a. CREPE ON THE LITTLE CABIN DOOR,
CREPE ON THE OLD CABIN DOOR,
CREPE ON THE CABIN DOOR, etc.)

Oh, young fellows, do take warnin' while you this tale I tell.
I tell it from a heart that's sad and sore.
Come and learn from me a lesson as I have learned it well
From the crepe upon the little cabin door.
Oh, I left my home and kindred and those who loved me well.
It broke my mother's heart, the life I led.
Then, from her, there came a letter to say she wished me well.
Now I tell to you the pleading words I read:

"I am gettin' old and feeble, my hair is silv'ry gray,
And every day I'm waitin' at the door.
Oh, my boy, come home to see me before I go away.
Oh, I fear I'll never see you anymore."
But I did not heed the warnin'; I tarried day by day,
Just wastin' time on women, wine, and song;
But this kind of sinful pleasure lasts only for a day,
And the sorrows of repentance last so long.

Then at last I journeyed homeward and as I climbed the hill,
I thought to see my mother's face once more;
But as I passed through the gateway, my aching heart stood still.
There was crepe upon the little cabin door.
Oh, young fellows, do take warnin'; you've heard this tale I tell.
You've heard it from a heart that's sad and sore.
Come and learn from me a lesson as I have learned it well
From the crepe upon the little cabin door.

[Recorded by Vernon Dalhart, 1926; W. C. Childers, 1929; Enos Wanner, 1929; Marc Williams, 1929; James Roberts, 1931 (Click for a playable file at Honking Duck); Bill Cox & Cliff Hobbs, 1937.]

Subject: Peace River Waltz and more
From: GUEST,Deb
Date: 19 Jul 00 - 06:21 PM

I am looking for some old songs for my Dad, he's getting very nostalgic and I would like to find these songs and lyrics over the computer, preferably in mp3 format.

Peace River Waltz
Little Rosewood Casket
Crepe upon the Cabin Door

please email me at [e-mail] if you found a site or can help me with this. Much appreciated.

Deb