Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotten song

Subject: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: GUEST,tcbushnell
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:16 AM

About 22 years ago I attended an Elizabeth Cotton concert. Afterward she was given a party at a local folk singers house. She played some ongs and then put down her guitar. Those that had assembled went to get drinks. I stayed sitting at her feet. She looked down at me and said. "Son, here is a song that I know that I think you should learn." She picked back up her guitar and sang a bit of a song that I think was called "It Aint a Lie Babe".

The chorus went:

  	It aint a lie babe
  	It aint a lie babe
  	It aint a lie babe
  	When I say that I love you.

She put down and said, "That's a good song...you should learn it".
She died soon after that night.

I looked for the song for a bit but then graduated from college and went to make money. I have come back to my roots some 20 years later and feel a real need to locate this song. Can anyone help?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libba Cotten song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:43 AM

I don't know if we'll find the song, but that's sure a heck of a great story. I hope we can find the song for you. The closest I know is Oh, Babe, It Ain't No Lie
-Joe Offer-

---

More Libba Cotten Stories here (click)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 12:58 AM

I might be wrong, but isn't her "Oh, Babe It Ain't No Lie" posted in the forum the one? This is now in her Smithsonian Folkways album (CD), and is transcribed in the New Lost City Rambler Song Book (p. 137) with music and chord.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: GUEST,tcbushnell
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 06:07 PM

Thanks to Joe and Masato!

I feel sure that it was a version of this song that she sang.Thank you for your efforts and your links!

tom

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: Dani
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 06:26 PM

Welcome to the Mudcat, from another huge Elizabeth Cotten fan!

Dani

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 06:54 PM

Elizabeth played a style now referred to as Cotton Picking i.e. she played lefthanded with a righthanded guitar. Thats the way I've been playing for many years and would like to hear from anyone else out there as upside down as myself. Thanks, Steve.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 09:14 PM

Bill Staines plays upside down, too.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Help w/ Libby Cotton song
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 09:14 PM

Libby's bio is here. This song has been discussed in another thread.
~Masato