Origin: Follow the Drinking Gourd

Subject: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: David Coffin
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 06:21 PM

Can anyone tell me who wrote this song? We're hoping to perform this in the Christmas Revels in Cambridge. I see that it's listed here as Copyright Paul Campbell but who is Paul Campbell and did he actually write it? Any help is greatly appreciated. David Coffin (true identity)

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 06:26 PM

Paul Campbell is a pseudonym which the Weavers (Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert & Fred Hellerman) used to copyright their arrangements of traditional material.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: Barry T
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 07:21 PM

Lesley Nelson's got the origin of the tune over here

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: David Coffin
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 09:21 PM

So is at safe to say that the song is trad.?

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: Barry T
Date: 08 Nov 00 - 12:51 AM

That's affirmative!

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 09:47 AM

i love that song it makes me feel like somebody

Subject: RE: Author Drinking Gourd??
From: Duke
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 10:07 AM

According to "Rise Up Singing", it is a traditional song that Seeger and Hays did the arrangement for.