Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELING MAN From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Feb 01 - 05:08 AM I think I first heard this song when Robin & Linda Williams sang it on Prairie Home Companion several years ago, and I loved it immediately. I think Doc Watson has also recorded a version (but I can't find it), and it's on the Black Texicans CD of the Alan Lomax "Deep River of Song" Collection. I found the lyrics here (click). Can anybody furnish more information about the song? I returned the Texicans CD to the library - does anybody have it, and can you tell us what the CD booklet says? -Joe Offer- TRAVELING MAN Tell this story bout a traveling man Born down in Tennessee Made a living by a-stealing chickens And he stole everything he see He stole 10,000 dollars And he tore off down the road Made no difference how fast a train run This fool would get on board He was a traveling man Tell you was a traveling man Travelingest fool ever come through the land He traveled east and he traveled west He's known for miles around He didn't give up, he wouldn't give up Til the police shot him down This fool stole 10,000 dollars Right in the broad day time The people all said he was desperate For doing such a brave old crime That desperate old fool said take comfort He told his people not to cry He crossed his legs and winked one eye And sailed up to the sky. Now he's taken a Springfield rifle Shot this fool through the head The fool come tumbling down from the sky Everybody thought he was dead They boxed him up, sent him down south To drive away his mother's care She went to open the coffin and look at her darling son He begin to disappear. This fool went to Liverpool England Just to swim the ocean blue He saw the Titanic coming 10 miles away And he ride it the whole day through The people all said he was crazy Everybody called him a fool But when the Titanic sunk in the deep blue sea He was shooting dice in Liverpool Now they sent this fool to the spring Just to get a couple buckets of water The distance from that house back to that spring Was only 10 miles and a quarter He got his water all right But he stubbed his foot and hit the ground He run on home and got two more buckets Caught that water fore it hit the ground |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Murray MacLeod Date: 15 Feb 01 - 06:41 AM I first heard David Bromberg sing this in 1975 , his lyrics are broadly similar but contain many differences. I have heard that it was composed by Pink Anderson, but I don't know if that could ever be verified. Murray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Mrrzy Date: 15 Feb 01 - 01:57 PM I have this by Doc Watson, on Southbound, I believe. Or Ballads from Deep Gap, actually, now that I think about it. Slight variation, detailed here: The chorus is different, and he lives through the song. Travelin' man, yes he musta been a travelin' man It has the verse about He ran to the house and he grabbed another bucket, caught the water fore it hit the ground. It has the verse about "sailing up through the air (now ain't that faith?)" but under different circumstances, he's being tried for his crimes and this is how he escapes. "Joe looked at the judge, at the jury, He said bow down your head in prayer, He crossed up his legs and then he winked one eye... He was sentenced to hang, but he never did anything worse than steal, at least not in this song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Stewie Date: 15 Feb 01 - 05:52 PM Hi Joe, the note in the CD booklet for 'Black Texicans' is quite brief. Performed by Phineas Rockmore (v,gtr) and recorded by John and Ruby Lomax in 1940 in Lufkin, Texas. The note:
This extremely funny song likely represents a development of the theme heard in 'He Rambled'; certainly, the melody and the spirit of the two songs are very similar. Rather than identify with a lusty ram though, the hero is now the near-indestructable travelling man, one of the classic inventions of black folklore. He flouts every law and thwarts every attempt to bring him down, defying gravity and physics in the process. Roy Bookbinder recorded a fine rendition of Pink Anderson's version on a record of that title. The record has been reissued on CD: Roy Bookbinder 'Travelin' Man' Adelphi/Genes GCD 1017. As Murray pointed out above, Anderson's version has many differences to the 'Black Texicans' text. The 'Black Texicans' text in the booklet has 'coon' in place of 'fool'. This suggests a late 19th or early 20th century origin for the song. --Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Stewie Date: 15 Feb 01 - 05:59 PM Joe, I should have remembered that Paul Oliver has an extensive discussion of this song in his 'Songsters & Saints'. He says Odum and Johnson collected 3 versions and Luke Jordan recorded an early version under the title 'Traveling Coon'. There's heaps of info, but I will have to get back to you with it because I am supposed to be somewhere else in few minutes time. --Stewie. |
Subject: Add: TRAVELING MAN (Pink Anderson) From: Joe Offer Date: 16 Feb 01 - 03:49 AM There is a version of the lyrics in the Rise Up Singing songbook, which also attributes the song to Pink Anderson. Can anybody come up with a transcription of the tune? -Joe Offer- TRAVELING MAN Folks, I want to tell you 'bout a man named Bloom CHORUS Well the police shot him with a rifle Now Bloom was on the Titantic Ship Now the police caught that Bloom at last Well Bloom went down to the spring one day © Pink Anderson Estate. All rights reserved. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Murray MacLeod Date: 16 Feb 01 - 07:04 AM That is pretty much how David Bromberg did it. Except on the "Titanic" verse he sings:
Bloom jumped on board the Titanic, I always suspected that this was Bromberg's own interpolation ! Murray |
Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELING COON and TRAVELING MAN From: Stewie Date: 16 Feb 01 - 07:04 PM Hi Joe, here is the information from Paul Oliver 'Songsters & Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records' Cambridge Uni Press 1984. The following material is from pages 93 to 95. I hope it is of use to you. I unreservedly commend Oliver's book to you - it is a wonderful read and a goldmine of information.
Odum and Johnson collected 3 versions - one from a quartet that came to Dayton, Tennessee; another by Kid Ellis of Spartenburg,, South Carolina, himself a professed 'travelling man'; and a third from a North Carolina Negro youth who had travelled through several states. [Howard W. Odum and Guy B. Johnson 'Negro Workaday Songs' Chapel Hill: Uni of Nth Carolina Press 1925, p59].
The note to 'Black Texicans' also suggests a connection with 'He Rambled'. Oliver goes on to point out that the song was not sung, nor indeed recorded, solely by black singers. Henry Whitter, Doc Walsh and other white country singers recorded it about the same time. There was a considerable overlap of repertoires of black and white singers - hardly surprising given the common availability of records, sheet music and radio, and similar audiences for medicine show. Oliver makes no mention of Pink Anderson. Except for a quartet of sides with Simmie Dooley in 1928, Anderson did not record until after 1943. Did he actually make a recording of 'Travelin' Man' or did Bookbinder etc learn his version from him orally? I have only a Riverside recording of Anderson and it is not on that.
--Stewie. 1927 Luke Jordan recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3TOF5OhmQ |
Subject: Lyr Add: PO SHINE (?) From: Stewie Date: 20 Feb 01 - 06:16 PM Yesterday, I was rereading Alan Lomax's excellent book, 'The Land Where the Blues Began', and I came across the following excerpt of a piece that Lomax says was popular in Coahoma County, Mississippi. Surely this Po Shine must have been a cousin to the Travelin Man. Whatever, as Lomax notes, Po Shine 'ain't sheddin' no salty tears' when 'the rich folks who could afford the luxurious passage pay for their past sins of greed and pride'. It was on the fifth of May Cheers, Stewie.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 20 Feb 01 - 10:10 PM This reminds me. Canadian Mudcatters, does anyone have the lyrics to the Travellin' Man song of Tommy Hunter's? This title just reminded me of that song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: RWilhelm Date: 21 Feb 01 - 12:52 AM Hi Stewie, Nice work. I've been thinking about learning this song and now I'm going to do it. I have a greater and greater appreciation for Pink Anderson because he played and recorded these old songs long after most. While I would love to hear the song as it was originally performed I think Pink Anderson kept the spirit of the song but distilled the lyrics down to something we can sing today.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Joe Offer Date: 21 Feb 01 - 02:04 AM Stewie Always does nice work. Damn good music scholar, he is. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: BlueJay Date: 21 Feb 01 - 02:13 PM Thanks,Joe, for this thread. I love this song so much, I've started a new thread under the Charlie Byrd moniker. I'd almost forgotten it. BTW, my dictionary says it's OK to use either one or two L's in "travelling". I used two in the other thread, because that's what is on my Charlie Byrd album. On the few occasions I have played this song, I've pretty much stuck with the Bromberg Variation, as it suits my taste best. Thanks again, BlueJay |
Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELIN' MAN (from Will Stark) From: Stewie Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:04 PM In his 'Land Where the Blues Began', Lomax also gave a version from the singing of Will Stark of Mississippi. It is differs sufficiently from the above versions to warrant posting. I meant to do this when the thread was on foot, but I must have lost my 'round tuit'.
TRAVELIN' MAN
--Stewie.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: GUEST,murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:59 AM There is a video of Doc Watson doing that song. You can make out Watson's words pretty well from that. I am not at home and don't have access to my video collection at the moment, but I think it is a Yazoo or Vestapol video. Murray |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Traveling Man From: Stewie Date: 28 Dec 07 - 09:23 AM Here's a link to Roy Bookbinder performing Pink Anderson's version: Click --Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: GUEST Date: 08 Oct 09 - 03:48 PM one of my relatives recorded this song it's on an album called grasshoppers in my pillow. In my view the best version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: billhudson Date: 09 Oct 09 - 11:52 AM Been doing this song for years and 1st. heard it from a David Bromberg LP years ago. The meter of the words is a lot of fun once you get use to it. But Roy Bookbinder has a ton of fun on this song. The songbook Rise Up Singing also has the words to this one. Its a good book to have around, kind of like a National Geographic magazines, you just want to keep it around. Hope this helps. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: open mike Date: 09 Oct 09 - 12:09 PM David Bromberg sings averse about this Travellin' man turning off the light switch and getting in bed before the room gets dark. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: GUEST,guest Date: 06 Jul 10 - 12:25 AM I certainly hope Billy Faier is not completely forgotten. It's hard for me to imagine a more definitive version of Travelin' Man than the one on his album of the same name from, I think, the late 50's. He said, I believe, that he'd gotten it from Uncle Dave and "corrected" the lyrics himself. He's still going strong, to judge by his website: http://www.billyfaier.com/ |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: Cool Beans Date: 06 Jul 10 - 02:33 PM Paul Geremia also recorded an excellent version of "Travelin' Man" on his first album, "Paul Geremia" (in 1968 or 1969), crediting it to Pink Anderson. It's very similar to "I Got Mine" and uses the same chords. If you can play one, you can play the other. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: GUEST,Hillary Date: 15 Mar 11 - 06:02 PM my mama always sang this to me when i was just a baby. she said its from Kokomo Indiana from round 1925-35. she lernt it from an old black man. and she sang it like this: Now just lemme tell ya bout a man name-a coon whose home was in Tennessee made his living a-stealin chickens and anything he could see but this cockeyed man he run so fast his feet wouldn't stay in the road and when a freight train passed no matter how fast he'd always get on board now ya know he was a travelin man lord he certainly was a travelin man he was the travelest man ever in the land he traveled everywhere was know for miles around but he didn't get caught he didn't get whopped till the police shot him down the police hired an autombile for the purpose-a chase ole coon they chased him from 6 o'clock in the mornin till 7 in the afternoon now this cockeyed man he run so fast fire come from his heels and he starched the corn, burn the cotton cut a road though the farmer's fields chorus the police shot him with a rifle and the bullet went through his head all the people had come from miles around to see the man who was dead telegramed home to his mother she was all taken away with grief an she came up and opened the coffin lid and the fool had disappeared chorus this boy went down to the spring one day to get himself a pail of water the distance that he had to go was about two miles and a quarter got there and got his water and then he started home but he stumbled and fell down so he went back home got himself another bucket caught the water for it hit the ground chorus now this boy was on the titanic ship and it was sinkin down he was sittin out on a tired with his head hung down when this boy jumped over board everybody thought he was a fool but 15 minutes after that you know he shootin craps in Liverpool and he said: I'm a travelin man...(chorus) |
Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELING MAN (from Coley Jones) From: Jim Dixon Date: 16 Mar 11 - 08:39 PM You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive. Here's my transcription: TRAVELING MAN As recorded by Coley Jones, Dec. 3, 1927, Columbia 14288D. 1. Tell ya a story 'bout a trav'lin' man that 'uz born down in Tennessee. He made his livin' by stealin' chickens. Stoled ever'thing that he'd see. Police got after that coon one day an' he tore off right down the road. No matter how fast a freight train was flyin', that coon 'ould get right on boa'd. CHORUS: He was a trav'lin' man, cert'nly was a trav'lin' man. Trav'lin'est coon that ever was in the land. Travel, he was known for miles around. He wouldn't give up, he never give up till the pólice shot 'im down. 2. That coon stole ten thousand dollars. It was in the broad open-day time. The folks said the man was desp'rate, for doin' such a dirty crime. The pólice squad had(?) arrested, an' he didn't have no fear. They tied the handcuffs around the darky's arms, an' the coon begin to disappear. 3. Sentenced this coon now to be hung. He knowed his time was near. Folks all ganged up from miles around, because he didn't have no fear. Tied the rope round this darky's neck. Ever'body began to sigh. He crossed his legs, winked one eye, sailed up th'ough them skies. 4. Now they sent this coon to Liverpool, England, now, to swim that ocean blue. He saw the iceberg ten thousand miles away. Right over both he flew. Now the people on the Titanic they all said, "Well, that coon is a mighty big fool." When the Titanic went down in that big blue sea, he was shootin' dice out in Liverpool. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: PHJim Date: 08 Jul 14 - 06:57 PM The Titanic verse makes me think of Lead Belly's Midnight On The Sea, in which he says that the Titanic was a Jim Crow ship and no black folks went down on the ship. I wonder how true that was. |
Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELIN' MAN (from Pink Anderson) From: Jim Dixon Date: 21 Jul 14 - 02:20 AM TRAVELIN' MAN As sung by Pink Anderson on "Blues Legend" and on "Medicine Show Man" 1. I just want tell you 'bout a man named Coon; his home was in Tennessee. He made his livin' stealin' chickens, and everything that he could see. That pop-eyed man he run so fast, his feet couldn't stay in the road. When a freight train passed, no matter how fast, he'd always get on boa'd. CHORUS: He was a travelin' man; he cert'nly was a travelin' man. He's one o' the trav'lin'est men was ever in the land. He traveled, and known for miles around. He didn't get caught, didn't give up till the police shot him down. 2. Well, the police hired him a automobile, o' purpose to chase ol' Coon. He run him from six o'clock in the mornin' till seven in the afternoon. That pop-eyed man he run so fast, till fire came from his heel. He burned up the cotton and he scorched the corn; he cut a road through the farmer's field. 3. Well, the police shot him with a rifle, and the bullet went th'ough his head. All the people they came from miles around to see the man was dead. They telegramed down south to his mother; she's all carried away in tears. She walked in the house, opened up the coffin lid, and that fool had disappeared. 4. This man was on the Titanic ship and it was sinkin' down, Sitting out on a ... with his head hung down. When this boy jumped overboa'd, ev'rybody said he was a fool, And about three minutes after that, he was shooting dice over in Liverpool. 5. This boy he went to the spring one day to get a pail o' water. The distance the rascal had to go was about two miles and a quarter. He got then, got his water; when he started back, he stumbled and fell down, But he went to the house and got him another bucket, caught the water 'fore it hit the ground. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: GUEST,Jerry Krantman Date: 11 May 16 - 12:52 PM Not only can it be verified that the song is from Pink Anderson, here's a recording of it on Youtube.com This was 1920's medicine show music. Gather the suckers with fun music, then bring up the snake oil salesman. I don't know whether Pink Anderson actually sold the tonics. Youtube.com recording of the song as sung by Pink Anderson |
Subject: RE: Origins: Travelin' Man (from Pink Anderson) From: PHJim Date: 11 Jan 19 - 09:35 AM I recall this verse, but I'm not sure where I heard it: Well the police shot him with a rifle And the bullet went through his head The folks was comin' from miles around Just to see if that fool was dead They sent down south where his mama lived She was all upset with tears But when she opened up that coffin lid That fool had disappeared |
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