Help: Springfield Mountain

Subject: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From:
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 05:26 PM

Ok... I heard the song 30 years ago or so. In Northern Minnesota at my uncles farm. He piped music into the barn all the time and this song played A LOT. So much so that I still remember all the words & the tune. But I have NO CLUE as to What the title is or the Artist. It's similar to 'Rattlesnake Mountain' & 'Springfield Mountain' because of the 'intent' of the song. But it's not the same words or tune. Here are the words:

Well Tommy went wah-boo-boo,wah-boo-boo-walkin'
down to the field-boo-boo-eild, boo-boo-eild.
To mow his wheat-boo-boo-eat,
When a snake bit his heel-boo-boo-eel.
Too-ma-ray, too-ma-ray Tom-a-ray.

Well Tommy said Dad-boo-boo-ad boo-boo-ad,
Please get my gal Sal-boo-boo-al boo-boo-al,
I'm gonna die-boo-boo-aye, and I know I shall-boo-boo-al.
Too-ma-ray, too-ma-ray Tom-a-ray.

Well Sally said Tom-boo-boo-om boo-boo-om,
why did you go-boo-boo-oh boo-boo-oh,
down to the field-boo-boo-eild,just to watch your wheat grow-boo-boo-oh.
Too-ma-ray, too-ma-ray Tom-a-ray

Well Tommy did die-boo-boo-aye boo-boo-aye,
And to heaven did go-boo-boo-oh boo-boo-oh.
Didn't mow his wheat-boo-boo-eat,
'cause they layed him low-boo-oh,
Too-ma-ray, too-ma-ray Tom-a-ray.


If any one has any idea what the title is or the artist....Please...oh please email me! [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Helen
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 05:46 PM

Here is a Mudcat thread discussing some similar songs


Lyr Req: Rattlesnake Mountain/Springfield Mountain

And here is an online CD store which has a sample track you can listen to - see track 10 of Disc 1.

Americana CD by Johnny Driftwood


Helen

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 06:36 PM

I have Jack Elliott on a CD "a-singing this song" somewhere. I'll dig it out and get back to you.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 06:55 PM

Thinking about that, I don't think it was Jack Elliott. I think it was Woodie Guthrie. Got it here somewhere. I'll look.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:21 PM

Woody Guthrie sings essentially the song you're asking about, although not exactly. It's on Woody Guthrie Sings Folk Songs, Smithsonian Folkways records, SF CD 40007.

Other songs on the CD are Hard Traveilin', What Did the Deep Sea Say?, The Rising Sun Blues, Nine Hundred Miles (instrumental), John Henry, Oregon Trail, We Shall Be Free, Dirty Overhalls, Jackhammer Blues, then this one, Springfield Mountain, and going on with Brown Eyes, The Boll Weevil, Guitar Blues (instrumental), and Will You Miss Me?

I bought this from Borders Bookstore. It's available, of course, direct from Smithsonian Folkways. But I would recommend, if you're interested in getting the CD (or any other folk type CD) that you contact Camsco Recordings, which is run by Mudcat "family", and which gives very good prices. Easy to contact; I think there is a link to their site here on Mudcat. Save a lot of looking in brick-and-mortar book or records stores, or save some bother contacting Smithsonian Folkways.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:27 PM

And Frank Warner recorded a version titled "I Went Down to the Mowing Field/Fod).

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: kendall
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:40 PM

Lonzo and Oscar did it too

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 12:56 AM

Dave, I was going to ask you what's the name of the Woody Guthrie track, but I got smart and looked it up on Amazon and see he called it "Springfield Mountain."
It's not only Woody that sang this song in that unusual way, with nonsense syllables splitting words. Is there a story behind this practice, and is this done in other songs?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Helen
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 06:13 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 11:49 AM

Joe:

That's just what I said: "and this one, Springfied Mountain".

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Amos
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 12:12 PM

"Fod" is a totally different song, Charlie -- it only has the common element of mowing in a filed (and getting bit). But it ends with a 'chuck and a skunk getting in to a fight. It is really a children's song, unlike the dramatic tragedy of Molly and her rotten tooth. :>) It is also a very different feel, being fun and cheerful and up-tempo and conducive to a lot of yelling "FOD!!!!".

A

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 01:04 AM

Thanks,but it's not 'Springfield Mountain'....'Rattlesnake Mountain'...or 'The Rattlesnake Song'.... Unless it's sang by someone other than Woody Guthrie. I Have Springfield Mountain,& it's got a similar Theme & intent,but it's not the same song. Thanks for the suggestions.

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Helen
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 06:20 AM

Janna, the track sample I gave a link to above is sung by Johnny Driftwood. Did you listen to it?

Helen

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Helen
Date: 23 Sep 04 - 06:08 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 03:19 AM

Ya Helen I did. That Track is The Rattlesnake Song. It's a completely different song. It's the same idea,but the rhymes are different.

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Helen
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:34 PM

Janna,

Ok, so that one wasn't it. Was the song on the radio back then. Is it possible that the radio station would know how to track it down? Can you tell us more about the style of accompaniment, the instruments, etc.

Did you read the other Mudcat thread that I gave a link to? There may be some clues there as well?

Helen

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: greg stephens
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 07:04 PM

Jimmy Driftwood had a similar version, I think, though it's a long time ago that I heard it.

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Lanfranc
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 07:40 PM

The version of Rattlesnake Mountain I know came from a Patrick Sky album. When he toured the UK many years ago, I was disappointed that he would not sing it live, even if it was requested. I wonder how many takes it took to get it right for the record?

Alan

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:39 PM

Doesn't look like you're gettin' enough info. (Yeah, right.) Jean Ritchie and/or Burl Ives each have versions of this song recorded, if memory serves.   Go ahead -- what else ya gotta do?   Tw

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 08:58 PM

Helen..... it was on a 45 record and I heard it...1971-?-73(early 70's maybe song came out Late 60's even.). 4/4 time,moderate tempo....almost(but not quite)polka-ish. Male vocal(very clear...easily understood lyrics.) with guitars(70's country band sound) sounded a lot like maybe Paper Lace, or Blue Swede Band.Looked up their discography....nothing there.

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can.....PLEASE
From: GUEST,Janna
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 08:59 PM

Sorry I didn't add my name to that last post there.

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can... (Springfield Mountain)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:11 PM

Here's a sample of how Woody Guthrie sings SPRINGFIELD MOUNTAIN (on "Woody Guthrie Sings Folk Songs"). I transcribed this from a couple of sound samples. It's probably not complete.

A nice young ma-wa-wa-wa-wan [man]
Lived on a hill-I-will-I-will,
And a nice young ma-wa-wa-wa-wan,
And I knowed him well-well-well-well-well.

Come a rue-dye rue, da-rue-dye rue-dye ray.

This young nice ma-wa-wa-wa-wan
Went out to mow-woe-woe-woe-woe
To see if he-wee-wee-wee-wee
Could make a show-woe-woe-woe-woe.

Come a rue-dye-rue, da-rue-dye rue-dye ray.

He had not me-wye-wee-wye-woad
But around the fee-wye-wee-wye-wield
Till a rattle-come-snattle-come-a-rattle-come-a-snake
And he got 'im by the he-wye-wee-wye-weel.

Come a rue-dye-rue, da-rue-dye rue-dye ray.

Said [?] my pappy-daddy-daddy
Go tell my gal-wal-wal-wal-wal
And I'm a-gonna dee-wye-dee-wye-die
And I know I shall-wal-wal-wal-wal.

Come a rue-dye-rue, da-rue-dye rue-dye ray.

[This sounds like the kind of song you would never sing quite the same way twice.]

Subject: RE: Origins: HELP if you can... (Springfield Mountain)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jan 05 - 10:23 PM

One of many not in "Woody Guthrie Folk Songs," Ludlow 1963.

Subject: RE: Origins: Springfield Mountain
From: GUEST,Greg
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 12:49 AM

I know this song well..and I'm searching for it too..

My parents were from Fruitvale ( trail BC Canada ) and they had it on 45...

as soon as I find it ill post...its such a really great old tune..

cheers
Greg

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: Springfield Mountain
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 13 - 11:44 PM

Billy Charne To Ma Ray Tom O Ray