Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman (John Hartford)

Subject: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: kendall
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:33 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to this song? It was written by John Hartford, and recorded by Rick Fielding.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 07:37 PM

You can find the lyrics on a Barton and Para recording (Folk-Legacy). When Rick recorded it, he changed the lyrics slightly in one verse.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: open mike
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:19 PM

kendall...search the D.T. and you will find a few threads about it.
one message from SPAW contained this:

Old Time River Man

Where does an old time river man go
After he's passed away?
Does his soul still keep a watch on the deep
For the rest of the river days?
Does he then come back as a channel cat
Or the wasps that light on the wheel?
Or the birds that fly through a summer sky
Or the fish swimming under the keel?

Where does an old time pilot go
After he's stood his last watch?
Does he fall by the ear of the man who steers
Saying hold her on that notch
There's a gentle sneeze in the river breeze
Saying son I'm goin to bed.
And they light their pipes and go off in the night
Or was that fireflies instead?

Where does an old time engineer go after he's cooled her down?
Gone up the hill to never come back, on the quiet side of town.
Does his soul live on in the engine songs
While the striker checks the gears?
Is he still afloat on an old steam boat after he's gone from here?

JOhn Hartford's web site has great info on old time fiddle music,
steamboats and more! www.johnhartford.com
I love the picture of him surfing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: open mike
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:22 PM

see also this thread:
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30961#400311

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: kendall
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 07:47 AM

Thanks, I looked everywhere including Cowpie but turned up nothing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:04 AM

Anybody supply a link to musical notation for this?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: harpgirl
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:10 AM

I first posted it six years ago, Kendall. Before you got here...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:59 AM

I should have mentioned that Rick's recording is also handled by Folk-Legacy. Both Barton and Para's recording (which uses the words above) and Rick's recording (with slight changes in verse 2) are great listening.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: open mike
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:02 AM

music related steam boat info!!
while surfing or rather paddle wheeling aroujnd the web i found this page...music by caliope pipe organs on steam boats...run by steam or air..http://www.steamboats.org/ecaliope.htm--

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: kendall
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:03 PM

Obviously it was posted, I missed it, that's all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Old-Time Riverman
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 09:02 AM

Actually, OLD TIME RIVER MAN has been posted 3 times before this thread:
here
here
and here.
A link would have sufficed.