Help: Good Old Rebel - Want History, Etc.

Subject: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: HARD LUCK SKONK
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 08:16 PM

HAVE MUSIC AND WORDS. HAVE BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BY A UNION OFFICER AS A SATIRE. I USE THE TUNE TO SINK THE BISMARK, AND GET REAL RAUCOUS ABOUT IT. WOULD LIKE MORE HISTORY.

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 09:34 PM

History of the song, or history of the times?

I know it was published as a poem in--seems to me I read in 1911, by a Major------don't remember the name. Whether he was Union or Rebel i don't know. I may be able to find it.

Have you searched it in the DT? It should be there. Seems like that's where I got it, and if so, it has the author's name and the date of publication in some named magazine.

I'll see what I can find here, and try to get back to you later.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 09:44 PM

My sheet music says "ascribed to Major Innes Randolph, CSA" Everyone I have ever known that does it uses Joe Bowers for the melody.

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: ddw
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 12:17 AM

I've got this in an Alan Lomax collection at home and can't get to it right now, but my recollection is that it was written as a music-hall satire by Innes Randolph, who served under JEB Stewart. He apparently got tired of listening to former Confederate soldiers whining about the loss and sorta put all their complaints into the song. It was apparently received with much mirth in both the north and the south. The tune Lomax sets out is pretty strange — some weird minor chords — and I, like the others, use a different tune. I just made mine up.

david

david

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 01:29 AM

It's anonymous and undated in the Levy sheet music collection, where the tune is noted to be "Joe Bowers". (Mudcat's Links)

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: mousethief
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 01:37 AM

Just for future reference, Skonk, and please don't be offended, but it's usually not considered polite to write in all-caps. Better to use all lower-case if shifting drives you nuts. Some people consider all caps to be "shouting" in online conversations. Just trying to spare you some grief down the line.

Alex

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 01 Dec 00 - 09:45 AM

I have a tape of "2nd. south Carolina string band called Southern Soldier put out by Palmetto Ptoductions 1977 with the following " The melody of this song was borrowed from a pre war minstrel tune Joe Bowers Words are of a somewhat obscure origin Published in 1866. Credit for the lyrics are given to Major Innes Randolph A cultivated southerner of Letters" " The 1866 edition das dedicated to the radical reconstructionist the Honorable Thaddeus Stevens"

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: GUEST,blind desert pete
Date: 02 Dec 00 - 02:21 PM

I have heard that the words were writen by a member of N. B. Forrest's staff. the tune is lakes of ponchitrain sp? AKA lily of the west.

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 03 Dec 00 - 06:25 PM

Frank Proffitt sang it for five or six of us in a third floor out of the way alcove of Ida Noyes Hall at the first University Of Chicago Folk Festival in 1961. It was his first trip to the North -- came with Frank Warner. Frank had mentioned the song to a student a couple of days earlier but wouldn't sing it in a concert as he took the song seriously, we thought, and also did not want to offend his Northern hosts and audience. We prodded him into singing the song but he only did it in this secluded and location. It was an emotional moment for Mr. Proffitt----and it became one for those of us lucky enough to be there for that amazing moment. I'll never forget it.

I was truly surprised to hear folks say here that "THE UNRECONSTRUCTED REBEL" (as we called it) was a parody of anything and less than a totally serious musical commentary by a Confederate rebel soldier who believed everything he said in his song which was really an emotional outburst.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Help: GOOD OLD REBEL - WANT HISTORY,ETC.
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 04 Dec 00 - 09:13 AM

Food for thought. I have heard both explainations and I tend to the latter. There is a Union response to the song but I couldn't begin to tell you who wrote it. I have heard the tune referred to by both "I'm a Good Old Rebel" And I'm a Unreconstructed Rebel". I, as I mentioned, Art, i lean toward the latter. Skonk, hopefully you'll join our little band here (And the rest of you) Hope what little info I've provided helps and that you all have a great day. Kindest reguards, Neil AKA Irish Sergeant