Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam
From: Wally Macnow
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 10:59 AM

I just uploaded Bob Coltman's recording of Banjo Sam .

Subject: Lyr Add: BANJO SAM (trad. North Carolina)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 02:36 PM

From The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore, Newman Ivey White, General Editor (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1952), page 220.

[The editor classifies this with a group of related songs he calls THE CATFISH. He cites as his source Mountain Songs of North Carolina by Susannah Wetmore and Marshall Bartholomew (New York: G. Schirmer, n.d.*), page 25-7.]

BANJO SAM.
"Obtained from Obadiah Johnson of Crossnore, Avery County, probably in 1940."*

1. Catfish, catfish, goin' up stream,
Catfish, catfish, where you been?
I grabbed that cattish by the snout,
I pulled that cattish wrong side out.
Yo-ho! Banjo Sam.

2. As I was goin' thro' the field
A blacksnake bit me on the heel.
I grabbed me a stick and I done my best,
And I ran my head in a hornet's nest.
Yo-ho! Banjo Sam.

3. As I was goin' down the road,
I met a terrapin and a toad.
The terrapin he began to sing.
The toad he cut the pigeon wing.
Yo-ho! Banjo Sam.


[* However, both WorldCat and Google Books give a publication date of 1926 for Mountain Songs of North Carolina, so White's assertion that it was collected "probably in 1940" must be mistaken.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: olddude
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 01:53 PM

I love this song and Grandpa Jones
incredible I think

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: Amos
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 01:48 PM

Well, I liked it--the post, I mean. But if you are disappointed, just toss back a little of that single malt and all will be well. Until morning.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: kendall
Date: 02 Feb 10 - 01:19 PM

I hate it when I bother to post a long post and it just falls off the edge.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: kendall
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 11:04 PM

I like the old pianah I like the fiddle too
The old guitar makes music awful sweet
But when I pick the banja my heart is light and free
The banja is the instrument for me.

Let me hear the banjo
run
I like that good old 5 string melody
It makes me feel so happy my heart is light and free
The banja am the instrument for me.

When I used to court the ladies and flog the old banjo
They'd gather round me happy as could be
That's why the cute one liked me, that's when she told me so
The banja am the instrument for me.

Let me hear the banjo....

And now I'm old and feeble grandchildren by the score
Every night they set upon my knee,and I have to scoot 'em over
To make a little room 'cause the banja am the instrument for me.

Let me hear the banjo...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: GUEST,Leonhardtk
Date: 01 Feb 10 - 10:14 PM

Grandpa Jones sang a "Dale's" version of Banjo Sam on Hee Haw! But not sure which one (I remember watching it shortly after RFDTV started broadcasting the series! Thanks RFDTV!!!)

KSL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:31 PM

Since I posted those lyrics in 2006, I have listened to Grandpa's studio recording. It has some minor variations from the live version I transcribed.

Incidentally, this weekend is Grandpa Jones weekend at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, AR. Ramona Jones and the Jones Family Band will be playing both Friday and Saturday nights. Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys will be performing on Friday and Kathy Mattea on Saturday. And a good time will be had by all . . . guaranteed.

Dale

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 12:19 PM

There is a compilation album called "In the Pines: Tar Heel Folks Songs & Fiddle Tunes 1926-1936" (Old Hat CD 1006, 2008) which contains BANJO SAM performed by Wilmer Watts & The Lonely Eagles. I listened to a sound sample and it seems to match the lyrics harpgirl posted on 03-Oct-2002.

Grandpa Jones' recording of BANJO SAM is on the Bear Family box set "Everybody's Grandpa" and on the album "Good Ole Mountain Dew" (Sony Special Products CD 21128, 1995). It corresponds to the lyrics Dale posted on 04-Oct-2006.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: kendall
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 06:56 AM

There are so many great banjo players out there but for some reason, old Granpa is my favorite. I also like Frank Shaw and Bernie Houlahan.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: Gene
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 06:07 PM

a purty good span of history there,

initial post 1997

a later response in 2002

then 2006 and

now 2009

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Banjo Sam (Grandpa Jones)
From: GUEST,Logan
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 02:20 PM

Thanks Dale, just what I was looking for.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: Gern
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 04:42 PM

I think Mathias' lyrics were for a closely related Grandpa Jones tune called "The Banjo Am the Instrument for Me."

Subject: Lyr Add: BANJO SAM (Grandpa Jones)
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 10:42 AM

From a live version at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas where Grandpa and Ramona maintained a home for several years and made frequent appearances at the Center both before and after that period of time. I failed to document which version of the song I transcribed, but it was probably from the early 80s.

BANJO SAM

Grandpa's spoken intro:
We want to do a little song that originally it was another tune and I put some words to it. Stoled it, in other words.

I'm a rovin' little banjo picker up from Alabam
Where I used to hoe the cotton and the cane
Well, the old folks they will miss me when they shout for little Sam
And I am not a-(gonna) live with them again

Well, I left them in the night when the moon was shinin' bright
Struck out with a banjer in my hand
Oh I left my only brother and my dear old aged mother
And I run away to join this little band

Well, I pick and sing both night and day, I'm workin' mighty hard
Makin' all the money that I can
When I go back home, I sho (shall?) go back in style
The old folks will be proud of Banjo Sam

Well, I'm a-savin' every cent, cept'n what I go and spend
I'm a-goin' back to see them all again
Oh to see my only brother and my dear old aged mother
They'll say, "Welcome home, little Banjo Sam!"

Now the cabin which I lived in was sittin' on a hill
And the mockingbird a-singin' on the tree
There I'll build myself a mansion in that spot that I love well
Let Mother and my brother live with me

Well, when the work is o'er, we will gather 'round the door
Of that mansion, all the kinfolks in a jam
Oh, we'll keep the banjo ringin' and we'll listen to the singin'
They'll say, "Welcome home, little Banjo Sam!"

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST,Matthias
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 07:46 AM

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: kendall
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 08:03 AM

I used to know another version..

I'm a rovin' little banjo picker up from Alabam
Where I used to how the cotten and the cane...

Let me hear the banjo..(banjo run)
I like that good old 5 string melody..etc.
Can't remember all of it.

anybody has the entire lyric off this version?

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: Richie
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 10:37 AM

Grandpa Jones version of "Banjo Sam" has the melody of the "Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane" and is different that the "Banjo Sam" versions of the "Hook and Line" family.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 09:53 AM

You can listen to Grandpa Jones' version at the Record Lady site: http://clik.to/recordlady It's on "Requests Page One."

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 09:14 AM

That's the one, Kendall. I have most of a live version from Grandpa Jones deciphered. One of these days . . .

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: kendall
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 08:03 AM

I used to know another version..

I'm a rovin' little banjo picker up from Alabam
Where I used to how the cotten and the cane...

Let me hear the banjo..(banjo run)
I like that good old 5 string melody..etc.
Can't remember all of it.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: Richie
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 07:35 AM

Dale,

Banjo Sam is a member of the "Hook and Line" songs which included in a recent thread:

I went a fishin' and I fished for shad,
First I caught was my old dad.
Jerked him up and he fell back,
Next one was a great big cat.

Another lyric appears in "Walk Jawbone" or "Jawbone:"

Banjo walk, banjo talk,
banjo eat with a knife and a fork,
Hello banjo Sam.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST, Dale
Date: 29 Dec 02 - 01:48 AM

Harpgirl, a few weeks ago, I finally listened to one of the recordings we have at the OFC, and it seems to bear no resemblance to the lyrics you posted, other than the BANJO SAM reference. I know I semi-promised earlier, but I am sure I can get to it in the next week or so. That is ALMOST a promise.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:24 PM

I have that album, just haven't listened to it in SUCH a long time. I do remember Wilmer Watts and the Lonely Eagles (how COULD you forget a name like THAT?) but the song certainly escaped me somehow.   I'll see if I can locate it before I call on your offer of help. Thanks again, and yes that album is a gem of rare price, and if the rest are of equal value, you certainly did get a rich treasure.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:15 PM

...actually Dale, I think I may have Grandpa Jones' version on an old album. I'll look.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:14 PM

Brag, brag, brag.

*G*

~Susan

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:13 PM

Hi Dale

I was hoping to get you to post!!!!! It worked!

These lyrics come from "Paramount Old Time Tunes" An Album of Recordings originally made in the 1920's.

This composition is a remnant of the minstral stage of the mid 19th century--more likely an amalgamation of several such songs than a single piece. Two closely related pieces, collected in North Carolina in the first half of this century are "Banjo Sam" and "Lulu."

This version, which I took liberties with, is by Wilmer Watts and The Lonely Eagles. If you want a cassette, Dale send me an address. The whole recording is a gem. I recently got about 100 old records from a friend's sister. Most of them are new to me and what a neat bunch of old albums. I now have about 5-600 old albums......hg

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 11:00 PM

Yeah, what wizzy said.

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:59 PM

Goodness, harpgirl, and here it is not even five years yet! THANKS. I had forgotten completely about this request.   When I saw it up at the top, I said to myself, well, maybe I can figure this out for whoever was asking about it.

In the last year or so, I have been fortunate to hear Grandpa Jones do this several times (live recordings) as a part of our recording project. But since the purpose in listening was not to learn the lyrics or really even to enjoy the performance, I had paid no attention to what he was singing, though I DID make a mental note to SOMEDAY go back and get them. Now you've saved me the trouble!

I have been pretty busy lately, what with coaching volleyball AND the recording project at the OFC, so I can't say when I will get at it, but I semi-promise to dig out Grandpa's versions and see how they compare with what you have.

Incidentally, where DID you get them from?   Again, THANKS.   Dale

Subject: RE: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:45 PM

Harp-- source?

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add: BANJO SAM (Wilmer Watts & Lonely Eagles)
From: harpgirl
Date: 03 Oct 02 - 10:26 PM

BANJO SAM

Oh, banjo Sam, my name is banjo Sam.

Banjo ring, banjo sing,
Banjo tell me everything,
Hello, banjo Sam.
Hello, banjo Sam.

Banjo walk, banjo talk,
banjo eat with a knife and a fork,
Hello banjo Sam.

Yonder comes Ezell, just in town,
Riding up a billy goat, leadin' up a hound;
Hound it barked, billy goat jumped,
throwd old Ezell straddle of a stump.
My name is banjo Sam.

I went a fishin' and I fished for shad,
First I caught was my old dad.
Jerked him up and he fell back,
Next one was a great big cat.

Throwed my hook in the middle of a hole,
catfish got my hook and pole,
Hello, banjo Sam.

Subject: Banjo Sam from Alabam
From: Dale Rose
Date: 04 Nov 97 - 03:51 PM

I am looking for words, music, history, etc. for this song. It is possible that it has been recorded by Grandpa Jones.