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Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River
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Subject: Boats up the river lyrics From: GUEST,GDL in Lynchburg Date: 25 Mar 02 - 08:22 PM I would like some help in deciphering lyrics from a song: Boat's Up the River by Mike Seeger with Olabelle and David Reed from Mike's Third Annual Farewell Reunion CD. In the verse that starts "there's just one thing troubles my mind, it's my old-------she won't keep time" can anyone who has heard the song tell me what is being sung in between "old" and "time"? Thanks in advance for any assistance. |
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: MarkS Date: 25 Mar 02 - 09:19 PM Got me fooled, but the visitors to this forum will be able to help if anybody can Mark |
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: Sorcha Date: 26 Mar 02 - 12:24 PM No luck. Anybody else? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BOAT'S UP THE RIVER (Roscoe Holcomb) From: masato sakurai Date: 26 Mar 02 - 01:35 PM BOAT'S UP THE RIVER (Roscoe Holcomb)
The boat's up the river and it won't come down,
If the river was whiskey and I was a duck,
Going down to the river, take my rocking chair,
The boat's up the river and it won't come down,
I'll go down to the river, and I'll set right down,
Repeat first verse.
(From: Fly Bredenberg and Stephen Cicchetti, Old-Time Country Guitar, Oak, 1976, p. 35; with Tab)
Here's a list of recordings from Folk Music Index.
Boat's Up the River
Rt - Freight Train ~Masato
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: raredance Date: 26 Mar 02 - 08:03 PM i'm in agreement with MarkS and Sorcha rich r |
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: GUEST,NICK Date: 27 Mar 02 - 12:11 PM Vaguely recall - although it's a long time since I listened to the great Ola Belle - it might be "... that old water ferry and she..." Regrettably Rounder have no plans to reissue her work. On a similar theme a recent Bluegrass song book credited her 'High On A Mountain' to someone else. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BOAT'S UP THE RIVER (Ola Belle Reed) From: masato sakurai Date: 07 May 02 - 04:24 AM Boat's Up The River ~Ola Belle Reed
Boat's up the river won't come down
Well there' just one thing that bothers my mind
(From: HERE) ~Masato
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: GUEST,NICK Date: 07 May 02 - 04:45 AM Ah ha! Starts to make sense - see: http://www.oldwatch.com/waterbury.html |
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: greg stephens Date: 07 May 02 - 05:31 AM There's something pretty weirdly unnatural about this Masato guy. |
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Subject: RE: Boats up the river lyrics From: Charley Noble Date: 07 May 02 - 01:23 PM Great catch, Masato! |
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Subject: ADD: Big Boat (PP&M) From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Oct 04 - 09:58 PM I suppose Peter, Paul and Mary got their song from this one. Here's theri version. It's on their (Moving) album. I got the lyrics from peterpaulandmary.com Are there other versions that are as far from the Seeger-Reed-Holcomb versions? -Joe Offer- BIG BOAT Stookey/Lane/Okun/Mezzetti- Pepamar Music Inc. ASCAP I went up the levee to pack some sacks And I thought I'd bring me some money back. Big boat up the river and she can't come down. My woman on the levee wearing a frown. Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast If she don't get to deep water she'll never land And my woman on the levee shaking her hand, She thinks she's gonna quit me for another man Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river blowing loud and fast And my woman on the levee feeling mighty sad She thinks I got the money that I once had had But when I get her home it's gonna be too bad. Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Big boat up the river and she can't come down Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman Somebody tell that woman There's a big boat up the river and she can't come down |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BIG BOAT UP THE RIVER From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Oct 04 - 11:25 PM The one I remember is by Harry Belafonte. Lyr. Add: BIG BOAT UP THE RIVER Words-Music, Dixon Big boat up the river hauling seven ton Coming up from Natchez on the Memphis run Paddle wheel a-slipping and the keel done cracked Mean old Mississippi trying to hold me back. CHORUS: Won't somebody tell my woman (3x) Big boat up the river and it won't come down (3x) Captain told the stokers well pack her tight Got to get to Memphis by tomorrow night Coming up the Delta well the fog done sat Captain, Lord, Captain, tell me where we at. Big boat a-comin' in the pitch black night That Mississippi fog done hid the pilot's light Gauging, Mr Gauger what's that rumbling sound Sandbar dead ahead and we done run aground. My woman says she loves me and I know it's true But I've done done something that you just don't do Stayed from home too long and now I see Some Natchez man is tryin' to take my gal from me. He's messing around with my woman Messing around with my woman He's messing around with my woman When I go off this I'm gonna stay on land Gonna take my little woman well a by the hand Build me a cabin on a high old hill Get me a rocking-chair and sit right still But on some quiet night when the wind done rift The sounds from the river will begin to drift Some lonely rambler with a tearful eye Will touch my heart with his mournful cry. Big Boat Up the River |
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Subject: Lyr Add: ALABAMA BOUND From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 04 Oct 04 - 12:23 AM Antecedents to this song have been posted before, especially in the thread on Steamboat Coonjine Songs, 54404: Coonjine Songs Two verses from Newman I. White, "American Negro Folk Songs," collected in 1915, sung on Tennessee River boats, repeated from that thread (only fragments collected): The boat's up the river and she won't come down, I believe to my soul she must be water bound. The boat's up the river and she won't come down, One long-lonesome-blow and she won't come down. Possibly related is this River song: Lyr. Add: ALABAMA BOUND (steamboat song) Oh, de boat's up de ribber, An' de tide's gone down; Believe to mah soul dat She's Alabama boun'. "Where was you, sweet Mama, When de boat went down?" "On de deck, baby, yellin', 'Alabama boun'!'" Got a train in Cairo Forty coaches long All I want dat train to do Is fetch mah gal along. Doctuh Cook's in town, Doctuh Cook's in town He foun' de No'th Pole so doggone cold He's Alabama boun'. Sung by Tom Gregory of Georgia. From Satis N. Coleman and Adolph Bregman, 1942, "Songs of American Folks," pp. 62-63. Reproduced in Botkin, B. A., 1955 (1978 Bonanza), "A Treasury of Mississippi Folklore," p. 598 with music. Many variants. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BOAT'S UP THE RIVER (Ola Belle Reed) From: GUEST,Henry Date: 04 Oct 04 - 08:25 AM Here's another interpretation; Boat's Up The River ~ Ola Belle Reed Boat's up the river won't come down tell by the way she's comin', Alabamy bound. Alabamy bound, boys, Alabamy bound Tell by the way she's comin', Alabamy bound. Well there' just one thing that bothers my mind it's my old Waterbury, she can't keep time She won't keep time boys, can't keep time it's my old Waterbury, she can't keep time http://www.dubba.com/hookah/lyrics/boatsuptheriver.htm |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: harpgirl Date: 17 Oct 04 - 01:43 PM I'm nuts about this song but I can't figure out how Roscoe Holcomb has his guitar tuned since I am not a slick guitar player. Anyone know? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST,Larry Date: 16 Feb 05 - 01:10 PM I believe that Holcomb has his guitar tuned in what I call a "Open G Banjo tuning" From the 6th string on down, here it is as follows. String 6: G String 5: G String 4: D String 3: G String 2: B String 1: D On most of the songs that Holcomb did on guitar, this is the most common tuning. If this helps, let me know. Larry |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST,Keith Date: 14 Apr 16 - 11:46 AM the word is "Waterbury" which is a make of watch. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST Date: 14 Aug 18 - 02:57 PM |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST,Joseph Scott Date: 15 May 20 - 08:09 AM Fred McDowell's "Levee Camp Blues," which he recalled he put together in 1920 (he was 13 in the 1920 census), is based on a work song where the Captain has a Waterbury that won't keep time, as in when the heck is the guy going to notice that we should be done for the day already. Fred's March and August 1969 recordings of "Levee Camp Blues" are both worth a listen because the August one happens to get closer to "Ain't No More Cane In The Brazos" with Shine worked 'til he went stone blind. Arvel Gray born 1906 also knew the Captain has a "Waterbury" stuff. "Levee Camp Blues" McDowell March 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDRPD6GpYBo "Levee Camp Blues" McDowell August 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyN2LTj6oS8 |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST Date: 15 May 20 - 11:06 AM Digital Tradition Mirror Rolling to Cairo Town (Roustabout Song) (Dillon Bustin) I'm rolling, flowing, around these hills I must take a rest, but this river never will Rolling, flowing, to Cairo Town Just give me time to lay me down Boat's up the river, she won't come down I believe it in my soul, she is water-bound Back her, slack her, bring her round Give me time to lay me down Come, Rosianna, the boat is lying low On a sandy bar, out in the Ohio Roustabouts are pulling, pulling mighty slow To give me time to lay me down I work these steamboats. a dollar bill a day I buy a dress for Rosianne, drink the rest away Captain, he just told me to call lead line today Lord, I got no time to lay me down All of the rich folks out on the promenade Twirl their parasols, drink their lemonade I got hot steam to drink, I got smokestack for my shade And I got no time to lay me down I load all of this freight by bale and by sack I slow coonjine the plank, I fast coonjine it back A hundred eighty pounds a bale, a hundred ninety pounds a sack Two hundred pounds'd break your back copyright Moonbow Music SOF |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boat's Up the River From: GUEST,henryp Date: 15 May 20 - 11:18 AM "NEW HARMONY" Sandy and Caro1ine Paton 1987 ROUSTABOUT SONG (c) Dillon Bustin, BMI Published by Folk-Legacy Records, Inc. Side 2, Band 4. Sandy - guitar & lead vocal, Caroline - vocal,Cathy - banjo & vocal, Dave - vocal, Ed - vocal, David - mountain dulcimer, Gordon - plucked cellamba When Dillon Bustin was living in southern Indiana, he collected and studied the music of the region -- fiddle tunes, old-timey songs, hymns, ballads, etc. -- with a special focus on the songs of the river workers, the freight handlers who were called "rousters" or "roustabouts." But when he wanted the generic roustabout song, so to speak, he had to write it himself. This is it, and I dearly love it. In the note to "Rowdy Soul," I promised an explanation of the term "coonjine," which is used in the final verse of this song. I can do no better than to quote from Steamboatin' Days. "It is possible that the Negro songs known as 'Coonjines' originally referred to the old African dance, the Coonjai. But to the (roustabout) the Coonjine is the combination song and dance that is associated with handling freight. The 'plank walk' springs under a heavy weight, or even under the lighter step of the rouster when he trota back again empty handed for more freight. To avoid jarring, the feet are dragged along the stage plank, accompanied by a song that takes its rhythm from the shuffling feet and swaying shoulders. "Possibly this levee dance step and the name 'Coonjine' that describes it were inspired by the way a coon makes his way along the ljmb of a tree, steadying himself by keeping one foot safely on the limb, while he 'coons along' with the other three." Perhaps I should add that "calling lead-line" refers to the practice of dropping a lead-weighted line off the bow of the vessel to determine the depth of the channel, an important aid to the captain or pilot, especially when navigating rivers with shifting sandbars. (SP) |
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