Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?

Subject: Anybody know this (Appalachian?) Tune?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 03:09 PM

I'm trying to find out the name of the tune with these lyrics. An older lady that grew up in Southwest VA, said her father used to sing it to her, but couldn't remember the name or any other lyrics.

I'll take my knapsack on my back and my rifle on my shoulder and march away to the mexican war and fight till the war's all over.

Coffe grows on white oak trees and rivers flow with brandy. The hills and the rocks all sparkle with gold. And the gals are sweeter than candy.

Thanks for the help, Matt

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 03:31 PM

Try the links below....Not exact, but maybe what you're looking for:

CLICK #1

CLICK #2

Spaw

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 03:48 PM

I'll take my knapsack on my back and my rifle on my shoulder and march away to the mexican war and fight till the war's all over.

John Hartford has a version of this on the Ken Burns Civil War anthology, using this modification:

I'll take my knapsack on my back and my rifle on my shoulder and I'm-a goin down to Shiloh and there I'll be a soldier

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 03:53 PM

Matt, if you type in the word "knapsack" in the search window for the DigiTrad database, the box up in the righthand corner of this page, you will see several variations come up with some of the phrases you provided, some of which are noted as Ozark Folksongs. Hope this helps, too.

kat

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 03:54 PM

I hadn't heard the Mexican War lyrics to that song. Are there additional verses to it and if so could you post them for me? Kindest Reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 04:11 PM

I've only heard the confererate version of that song "The Southern Soldier"

"I'll place my knapsack on my back, my rifle on my shoulder, I'll march away to the firing line, and kill that Yankee soldier..."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 11:20 AM

VERSE 1
My pretty little pink I once't did think
That you and I would marry
Now, I've lost all hope of that
I have no time to tarry

VERSE 2
I'll take my knapsack, on my back
My rifle on my shoulder
I'll march away t' the ole Rio Grande
There I'll be a soldier

VERSE 3
There, coffee grows on tall oak trees
An' th river's flowin' brandy
Th rocks an' hills are coverd with gold
Th girls are sweeter than candy

VERSE 4
Now, th war's all over an' we'll turn back
T' th place where we first started
So, open th ring an' choose another
To relieve th broken hearted

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:02 PM

Kind Guest, what's the source of these lyrics?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:19 PM

This reminds me mightily of The Next Big River, like this:

The Next Big River

Cho:
The next big river I'm bound to cross,
The next big river I'm bound to cross,
Next big river I'm bound to cross,
Oh, ladies, fare thee well!

How old are you, my pretty little miss?
How old are you, my honey?
She answered me, with a "Tee-haw-haw,
I'll be sixteen next Sunday."

Cho: The next big river etc

Sugar grows on a white oak tree
The branches flow in brandy
The world is full of five-dollar bills
The girls are sweeter than candy!

Cho: The next big river etc

I miss my gal, my pretty little gal,
The gal I left behind me!
If ever I hit that trail again,
I'll keep my gal behind me.

Cho:
Next big meetin' I'll jine the band
Next big meetin' I'll jine the band
Next big meetin' I'll jine the band
Oh, ladies, fare thee well!

Over the river to feed the sheep
We'll waltz 'em like a pigeon
We'll make 'em dance the weevily wheat
And scatter their religion

Cho:
Oh, rare back, chicken, and crow for day!
Rare back, chicken, and crow for day!
Rare back, chicken, and crow for day!
Oh, ladies, fare thee well!

The higher up the cherry tree,
The riper grow the cherries!
The more ya hug and kiss the girls,
The quicker they will marry!

Cho:
Oh, we're goin' to the party, don't you wanta come along?
Goin' to the party, don't you wanta come along?
Goin' to the party, don't you wanta come along?
We'll dance till the break of day!

The tune is at the Mudcat Midi Site, The Next Big River, under the M through S section. The tune given there is not EXACTLY what I learned and sing, but being folksong, it's close enough.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST,Fletch
Date: 13 Jan 13 - 12:26 AM

Yes, I know a version of your song. My version, which is from Halifax county (VA)or possibly the Lynchburg area is a cobbling together of "Where do you go my honey" aka. "Be 16 next Sunday" a play- party song "Coffee grows on white oak trees"(which you can find on You Tube) and "Put my knapsack on my back". The tune is somewhat like "The southern soldier"but the two tunes are not the same. Here are the words: (Repeat the last line of each verse)
Where do you live my pretty little miss
Oh where do you live my honey?
Answered me with the brightest smile
I live on the hill with mommy

Where do you go (etc)
I go to church on Sunday

How old are you (etc)
I'll be 16 next Sunday

Will you marry me( etc)
I would if it weren't for mommy

Coffee grows on white oak trees
the river flows with brandy
Rocks are lined with silver and gold
and the girls are sweet as candy

(The tune changes slightly now)
Put my knapsack on my back
My rifle on my shoulder
Go and fight in the Mexican war
And there I'll a soldier

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST,flketch
Date: 13 Jan 13 - 10:16 AM

oops I left out a verse between "Will you marry m"e and "coffee grows.." Saddle up the old grey mare
and ride from night till morning
Ride so slow we'll never get there
to see my true-love darling

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: Airymouse
Date: 17 Feb 13 - 03:53 PM

By accident I found a version of your song on the internet: Go to you tube and search" buna and bertha" Bertha sings second, about 7 1/2 minutes in to the video and her first song is pretty close to the words you remember and the tune is pretty close to the tune I know but not the same. Ss is always the case with old songs the similarities and differences between versions are interesting.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 01:40 PM

These lyrics
(I'll take my knapsack on my back and my rifle on my shoulder and march away to the mexican war and fight till the war's all over. ) sound a lot like Southern soldier

I'll place my knapsack on my back
My rifle on my shoulder
I'll march away to the firing line
And kill that Yankee soldier

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Jun 21 - 03:24 PM

The Southern Soldier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLMU90Aa2Oo

Lyrics are on that page. (They match GUEST.GUEST's first stanza.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: anybody know this Appalachian Tune?
From: GUEST,Person
Date: 10 Jul 21 - 04:15 PM

now that we are talking about southern soldier, does anybody have a midi for that song? been looking for it for a long long time