Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)

Subject: TO MORROW -- Bob Gibson
From: Frank Nemec
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 03:40 PM

There is a Bob Gibson song in the database called TO MORROW, which has a corrupted second verse. Is there any way to correct the verse?

Subject: RE: TO MORROW -- Bob Gibson
From: Susan of DT
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 07:09 PM

Post the correction here for inclusion in the next edition (April)

Subject: RE: TO MORROW -- Bob Gibson
From: northfolk
Date: 28 Jan 98 - 08:08 PM

Provide the source of a lyric by BG that includes, I picked her up hitching on the road to Caspar, I had a personal question to ask her, I said.... would you be my wife, she said "Bob", Let me tell you my philosophy of life... It's just a thing I do. What album tape disc is this on?

Subject: RE: TO MORROW -- Bob Gibson
From: Steve in Wisconsin
Date: 29 Jan 98 - 08:04 PM

I haven't looked at the DT verses for To Morrow, but did you know that Bob Gibson re-recorded To Morrow and others in a live studio album in 1991 (invited guests only) with Michael Smith (of The Dutchman, and Vampire fame) on bass.

Regarding "it's just a thing I do...." I'm not sure, but that may be part of a lyric from his best album (I think), Funky in the Country. I'll listen to the tape and see what I can dig up.

Acoustically,

Steve

(Listening to Bob G. from his 1991 album-Stops Along the Way-right now. "Abilene.... Abilene..the prettiest town I've ever seen....")

Subject: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From:
Date: 14 Aug 98 - 11:27 PM

I am searching for a recording of Bob Gibsons To Morrow. Every place I have searched contains various CD's none which contain that song. Please give me advice on the best place to find it. I have found a recording but it is not his and was changed by bthe artist who sung it.

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: BSeed
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 03:49 AM

I haven't heard Gibson's version. The Kingston Trio did it, I know. --seed

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 04:46 AM

Hi - Anybody know who wrote the song? Something makes me think I read somewhere it was written by one of those Broadway guys.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: S.P. Buck Mulligan
Date: 15 Aug 98 - 09:55 PM

I'm pretty sure Gibson wrote it. It's on his last release, a CD of a live performance he gave not long before he died - maybe a couple of years. I've heard the CD, and it's great fun, but forget the name of it. Big help, I know, sorry. But there IS a version of the song on a relatively recent CD. So your search shouldn't be fruitless.

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: big J
Date: 16 Aug 98 - 11:42 AM

According to the sleeve notes of Gibson's LP "I Come For To Sing" - Riverside RLP 12-806 (1957) To Morrow: This delightful piece of tongue twisting dialogue in song is probably the creation of some anonymous undergraduate at one of America's great college campuses, a perennial hotbed for folksongs and pseudo-folksongs, and the source of a new and vital oral tradition. Gibson learned it form Bob Black of the University of Indiana. Sleeve notes by Kennieth Goldstein.

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Aug 98 - 01:14 PM

The Kingston Trio "String Along" album notes attribute the song to Bob Gibson, but I'd put more credence in the previous message from bigJ above and attribute it to the Anonymous Undergraduate. BMI lists five songs with the name "To Morrow," including one attributed to Bob Gibson. Of course, the BMI database has seven pages of songs attributed to Gibson, including such classics as "Betsy from Pike."
Capitol released eight early Kingston Trio LP's on CD, two LP's per disc. Unfortunately, these double CD's are no longer available, and the song didn't make it onto the 4-CD collection Capitol now has available. I think Bear Family Records of Germany has a Kingston Trio box set that includes the "String Along" album, but the Bear Family collections are quite expensive.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Bojangles
Date: 29 Aug 98 - 01:27 AM

The words to the song were posted here some time back. How does one get at them?

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Barbara
Date: 29 Aug 98 - 01:33 AM

See that blue box in the upper right hand corner? Type in [to morrow].

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Aug 98 - 01:35 AM

Well, Bojangles, you can do a search of the Digital Tradition folk song database from the search box in the upprer-right corner of this page. Enter phrases like [to morrow] in square brackets, and you'll get only those songs that contain that exact phrase.
You can find previous discussions of a song by using the 'forum search' from the main forum page. You can cheat if you want, though - In the third message from the top on this page, I posted links to both the lyrics and the previous discussion.
It's a good idea to check both the Digital Tradition database and to do a forum search before starting a new thread. It doesn't hurt to bring up a thread that's a year old and add to it - that makes things easier to find than if you start a whole new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: BSeed
Date: 29 Aug 98 - 02:59 AM

Joe, after all the time you spent on Pedantry, you still use an apostrophe in the plural of CD? Naughty, naughty. --seed

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: GUEST,Chuck
Date: 17 Sep 00 - 09:30 AM

I have been looking for the words to this song for years. I first heard it performed by a travelling female folk artist in a grade school gymnasium in downstate Illinois in 1983. I met with her afterwords and wrote down the lyrics and the chords. I taught it to my kids but have since lost the words along with my memory. Thank you so much for having this web site. God bless you.

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: GUEST,Keith McKenry, Australia
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 10:46 PM

People

Some 15 years ago now, (in the best Bob Gibson tradition) I reworked what I thought were Bob's lyrics and converted them into a bush ballad set in Queensland. I wrote to Bob about them at the time, but never received a response. I and other have been performing the reworked piece around Australia ever since. I have recorded it, too, always giving Bob the primary credit for it. It's now available on the CD "Traveling Through the Storm" Alan Scott & Keith McKenry, Fanged Wombat Productions. Email [e-mail]

Here is the reworked text.

                To Morrow

(Adapted by Keith McKenry from a song by Bob Gibson)

I started on a journey, last year it was sometime,
To a little town called Morrow, on a Queensland country line.
Now I've never been much of a traveller, and I really didn't know
That Morrow is the hardest place a bloke can try to go.

I went down to the station, to get my ticket there
For the next train to Morrow - I didn't have a care.
Said I, "My friend, I'd like to go to Morrow and return
Not later than tomorrow, for I haven't time to burn".

Said he to me, "Now let me see if I have heard you right
- You'd like to go to Morrow and return tomorrow night.
You should have gone to Morrow yesterday, and back today,
For the train that goes to Morrow is a mile upon its way.

"If you had gone to Morrow yesterday - now don't you see -
You could have gone to Morrow and got back today at Three,
For the train today to Morrow (if the schedule is right)
Today it goes to Morrow and returns tomorrow night."

Said I, "Now, hang on - hold it there - can we wind that back?
There is a town called Morrow on the line, now tell me that."
"There is", said he, "But take from me a quiet little tip,
To go from here to Morrow is a fourteen hour trip.

"The train today to Morrow leaves today at Eight Thirty-five,
And half past Ten tomorrow is the time it should arrive.
Now travellers yesterday to Morrow - who get to Morrow today
They come back again tomorrow (that is, if they don't stay)".

"OK, mate", I said, "You know it all. But kindly tell me, pray,
How can I get to Morrow if I leave this town today'?."
Said he, "You cannot go to Morrow any more today
For the train that goes to Morrow is a mile upon its way!"

I was getting rather aggro. I commenced to curse and swear.
The train had gone to Morrow and had left me standing there.
I decided then that - bugger it! - I loathed the Queensland scrub,
And I would not go to Morrow. I went back to the pub.

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Mar 03 - 11:05 PM

Hi Keith ... very well done. Whenever I sing, or think of this song, I well remember Bob's cute dimple grin and his sparkling eyes! Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Bob Gibson 'To Morrow'
From: Art Thieme
Date: 13 Mar 03 - 05:32 PM

I'm sure Bob would've loved it and been thoroughly honored.

Art Thieme

Subject: Lyr Add: I WANT TO GO TO MORROW (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 11:49 PM

This is an older song than anybody seemed to realize. From the sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. For those who want to make a detailed comparison, I have boldfaced the differences in wording between the sheet music and the version in the Digital Tradition database.

I WANT TO GO TO MORROW
Words and music, Lew Sully
New York: Geo. W. Meyer Music Co., 1367 Broadway, 1898.

1. I started on a journey just about a week ago,
For the little town of Morrow in the state of Ohio.
I never was much of a traveler, and really didn't know
That Morrow had been ridiculed a century or so.
I went down to the depot for my ticket, and applied
For tips regarding Morrow, not expecting to be guyed.
Said I, "My friend, I want to go to Morrow and return
Not later than tomorrow, for I haven't time to burn."

2. Said he to me, "Now let me see if I have heard you right:
You want to go to Morrow and come back tomorrow night?
To go from here to Morrow and return is quite a way.
You should have gone to Morrow yesterday and back today.
For if you started yesterday to Morrow—don't you see?—
You could have got to Morrow and returned today at three.
The train that started yesterday—now understand me right—
Today it gets to Morrow and returns tomorrow night."

3. Said I, "My boy, it seems to me you're talking through your hat.
Is there a town named Morrow on your line? Now tell me that!"
"There is," said he, "and take from me a quiet little tip:
To go from here to Morrow is a fourteen-hour trip.
The train that goes to Morrow leaves today, 8:35.
Half after ten tomorrow is the time it should arrive.
Now if from here to Morrow is a fourteen-hour jump,
Can you go today to Morrow and come back today, you chump?"

4. Said I, "I want to go to Morrow. Can I go today
And get to Morrow by tonight, if there is no delay?"
"Well, well," said he, "explain to me—and I've no more to say—
Can you go anywhere tomorrow and come back again today?
For if today you'd get to Morrow—surely you'll agree—
You should have started not today but yesterday, you see.
So if you start to Morrow, leaving here today your flat,
You won't get into Morrow till the day that follows that.

5. "Now if you start today to Morrow, it's a cinch you'll land
Tomorrow into Morrow, not today, you'll understand.
For the train today to Morrow, if the schedule is right,
Will get you into Morrow by about tomorrow night."
Said I, "I guess you know it all, but kindly let me say:
How can I go tomorrow if I leave the town today?"
Said he, "You cannot go to Morrow any more today,
For the train that goes to Morrow is a mile upon its way!"

FINALE. I was so disappointed, I was mad enough to swear.
The train had gone to Morrow and it left me standing there.
The man was right in telling me I was a howling jay.
I didn't go to Morrow, so I guess I'll go today.

[p.s. For those who want to know whether the story has any basis in fact: The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names lists inhabited places (i.e. cities, towns, or villages) called Morrow each of the following states: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Ohio, and Tennessee—but, alas, none in Australia.]

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 03:40 PM

I was all excited about finding out that this song dates all the way back to 1898 - and now I see that Jim Dixon beat me to it. Nice work, Jim! Be sure to take a look at the sheet music (click). Some of the other songs he wrote appear to have been horribly racist.
-Joe Offer-

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song:

I Want to Go to Morrow

DESCRIPTION: Singer sets out for the town of Morrow. He tries to buy a ticket to Morrow "and return tomorrow night." The agent says he should have gone to Morrow yesterday and back today, for "the train that goes to Morrow is a mile upon its way."
AUTHOR: Lew Sully
EARLIEST DATE: 1898 (sheet music published)
KEYWORDS: questions train travel railroading humorous nonsense paradox
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
DT, MORROW1
Roud #9554
RECORDINGS:
Dan W. Quinn, "I Want to Go to Morrow" (Improved Berliner 438, c. 1900)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Yuba Dam" (subject, such as it is, and general atmosphere)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
To Morrow
Notes: Morrow, Ohio, said to be the subject of this song, is a small town just northeast of Cincinnati. - RBW
That may be, but according to the WPA guide for Kansas, the town of Morrowville "was named for its founder, Cal Morrow, State Senator (...). Until 1896 the town was called Morrow, but its name was changed to Morrowville after the railroad company had complained that its ticket agents were confused when travelers asked for 'a ticket to Morrow (tomorrow).'" Perfect timing for Lew Sully's song, published two years later. - PJS
You have me there. The only counterargument is, Why would enough people want to go to Morrow, Kansas for it to be a problem? - RBW
File: DTmorrow

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Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2006 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

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The Roud Index has only one entry - the song can be found in a songbook by Michael Cassius Dean, titled Flying Cloud: and One Hundred and Fifty Other Old Time Songs and Ballads..., Publisher (Virginia, Minn.: Quickprint, 1922).

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,Wayne Monroe
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 05:07 PM

northfolk, the song you are looking for is "Cathy O'Grady" from the album "Perfect High". I think it is available at Amazon.com on cd, new or used.

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,dwbspan
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 09:52 PM

A lot of internet sites presenting the words to "To Morrow" include the phrase "not expecting to be guyed". This doesn't make any sense at all.   A sensible phrase, and one which perfectly fits the context of the song, would be "not expecting to be guiled".

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 11:46 AM

I always believed this to be an old Irish song. It certainly outdates Bob Gibson. I posted the lyrics that I use here:
To Morrow

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,guestJFB
Date: 11 May 11 - 11:59 AM

And you can listen to an old 78 recording from the Library of Congress archives collection dated 190? by going to the LOC website and looking at National Jukebox LOC.gov

Subject: RE: Origin: To Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: CapriUni
Date: 11 May 11 - 12:18 PM

This is one of my favorite renditions (on YouTube): Jim Henson, Jerry Juhl and Frank Oz, on The Muppet Show

Subject: RE: Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,HowardS
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 04:38 PM

On 02 Apr 11 Date: 02 Apr 11 - 09:52 PM GUEST,dwbspan wrote:
>
> A lot of internet sites presenting the words to "To Morrow" include
> the phrase "not expecting to be guyed". This doesn't make any sense
> at all.   A sensible phrase, and one which perfectly fits the
> context of the song, would be "not expecting to be guiled".

Sorry, but "guyed" is correct. See original published sheet music at .

The word that's giving you trouble, "guyed", meaning "ridiculed" seems to have passed out of popular usage, but see For a particularly apt usage, there was a book called "Opera Guyed", by Newman Levy, published in 1923 , consisting of famous operas done as humorous poems or song lyrics.

Subject: RE: Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,HowardS
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 04:43 PM

Sorry about that. Message editor apparently stripped out the url's. I'll try again:

Sorry, but "guyed" is correct. See original published sheet music at https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/11728/058.002.003.webimage.JPEG?sequence=3.

The word that's giving you trouble, "guyed", meaning "ridiculed" seems to have passed out of popular usage, but see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/guy For a particularly apt usage, there was a book called "Opera Guyed", by Newman Levy, published in 1923 http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/Opera_Guyed/index.htm, consisting of famous operas done as humorous poems or song lyrics.

Subject: RE: Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GUEST,Bluegrassman
Date: 30 Dec 11 - 08:13 PM

Have a listen to this recording by Dan W Quinn, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rwcj7BnV15s

It was recorded on Edison Records in 1902

Subject: RE: Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: Monologue John
Date: 25 Mar 24 - 06:13 PM

This is my version Called Trip To Morrow
https://youtu.be/dBEEq3GbiTA?si=16ahBmIPLK39URNK

Subject: RE: Origin: I Want to Go to Morrow (Lew Sully, 1898)
From: GerryM
Date: 25 Mar 24 - 08:59 PM

I thought the song was Australian. Turns out, that's because I first heard it in Australia, from Keith McKenry (see earlier message at Date: 12 Mar 03 - 10:46 PM). Now, I know better. Thanks, Mudcat!