song wanted: calif. gold rush

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: open mike
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 01:57 AM

this fellow Chris Bayer from Reno area (Carson City, Nevada)
has done a scholarly work, com;lete with c.d. and book specializing
in Gold Rush songs...http://members.aol.com/cdadbayer/minersfarewell.htm

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: GUEST,lakeman
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 10:42 PM

thanks folks.
L-man

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 08:13 PM

Words to the early version "Down by the River..." came in 1863, and the current tune and words appeared in the 1880s, so "Clementine" came well after the California Gold Rush. See thread 51349: Clementine

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Snuffy
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 06:59 PM

Clementine

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:18 PM

If you do a forum search for "Only The Hangman" it should take you to lyrics that I posted some time ago. Al Terry can be heard singing this on The Record Lady.
                      Sandy

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 12:25 AM

See if you can find some of Debby McClatchy's albums. She has recorded many songs about the gold rush; it's something of a hobby with her. I'm particularly fond of Lady Luck, which includes the song "The Gold Rush Is Over, so Honey, Bye Bye."

Her web page is www.members.cox.net/debbymcclatchy/

Good luck!


Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Goose Gander
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:02 PM

Sorry, jumped the gun.

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:59 PM

Sweet Betsy from Pike already here in the DT; with a couple (or more) threads, esp. 46672, with discussion: Betsy from Pike
No need to re-post.

"The Lousy Miner," 1855, also in the DT.

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:52 PM

A number written post- Gold Rush, like the "Days of '49," written in 1876.

"Hangtown Gals" published in 1858 by Stone in Put's Golden Songster; posted here; "Sacramento Gals," also 1858 and posted here.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET BETSY FROM PIKE
From: Goose Gander
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:51 PM

Sweet Betsy From Pike

Don't you remember sweet Betsy from Pike
Who crossed the wide plains with her true lover, Ike
With two yoke of cattle and and an old yaller dog
A shanghai rooster and an old spotted hog?

They camped the first night at the edge of big Platte
Down on the river bottom on a nice shady flat
Where Betsy, quite tired, lay down to repose
While in wonder Ike gazed on his Pike County rose

They soon reached the desert where Betsy gave out
And down in the sand she lay rolling about
While Ike in great tears looked on in surprise
Saying "Betsy get up you'll get sand in your eyes"

Sweet Betsy got up in a great deal of pain
And declared she'd go back to Pike County again
Ike heaved a sigh and they fondly embraced
And she travelled along with his arms around her waist

The shanghai ran off and the cattle all died
The last piece of bacon that morning was fried
Poor Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad
The dog wagged his tail and looked round fully sad

One morning they climbed up a very high hill
and with wonder looked down to old Placerville
Ike shouted and said as he cast his eyes down
Swee Betsy, my darling, we've got to hangtown

Long Ike and sweet Betsy attended a dance
Where Ike wore a pair of his Pike County pants
Sweet Betsy was covered with ribbons and rings
Quoth Ike, "You're an angel, but where are your wings?"

A miner said, "Betsy,will you dance with me?"
"I will, old feller, if you don't make too free
Nor dance me too hard. Do you want to know why?
For I'm chuck full of this old alkali"

Long Ike and sweet Betsy got married of course
But Ike getting jealous obtained a divorce
And Betsy, well satisfied, said with a shout,
"Good-by, you big lummox! I'm glad you backed out!"

From Ethel and Chauncey Moore's Ballads and Folk Songs of the Southwest

Here's the Ballad Index entry:

Sweet Betsy from Pike [Laws B9]
DESCRIPTION: "Sweet" Betsy and "her lover" Ike set out from Pike County, Missouri for California. On the way they lose much of their livestock and property, but also have some amazing adventures. (They marry, then divorce.)
AUTHOR: claimed by John A Stone (Old Put)
EARLIEST DATE: 1858 (Put's Golden Songster)
KEYWORDS: travel hardtimes settler
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,So,SW)
REFERENCES (20 citations):
Laws B9, "Sweet Betsy from Pike"
Belden, pp. 343-345, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
Randolph 192, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text plus a fragment, 1 (atypical) tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 193-196, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 192A)
Randolph-Legman I, pp. 300-301, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (4 fragments, 1 tune)
Leach, pp. 750-751, "Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
Friedman, p. 432, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
PBB 112, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
Sandburg, pp. 108-109, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 53, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 424-426, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSNA 173, "Sweet Betsy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fife-Cowboy/West 19, "Sweet Betsey from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 861-863, "Sweet Betsey from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Hodgart, p. 239, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
Darling-NAS, pp. 167-168, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text)
Arnett, p. 57, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 190, "Sweet Betsy From Pike" (1 text)
Fuld-WFM, pp. 603-604, "Vilikens and His Dinah -- (Sweet Betsey from Pike)"
DT 376, SWEETBET*
Roud #3234
RECORDINGS:
Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Crown 3121, 1931)
Bradley Kincaid, "Sweet Betsy From Pike" (Bluebird 5321, 1934)
Harry "Mac" McClintock, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Victor 23704, 1932; Montgomery Ward M-4324, 1933) [may have been released under the pseudonym 'Radio Mac']
Pete Seeger, "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (on PeteSeeger31)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Vilikens and his Dinah (William and Dinah) [Laws M31A/B]" (tune & meter) and references there
File: LB09

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:41 PM

Lots of them posted here.
"Ho for California!" 1851, J. Hutchinson. Tune- De Boatman Dance, Dan Emmett, (1840s or earlier).
You Who Don't Believe It," Stone, Put's Golden Songster, tune Blue Tail Fly.
Coming Around the Horn, Stone, Original California Songster, 1855
"Sweet Betsy from Pike," Put's Golden Songster, 1858.
An Honest Miner, Stone, air, Low-Backed Car, Original California Songster, 1855.

Put - golden songster - in the Lyrics and Knowledge Search blank, and several more come up in For um Results.

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: nutty
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:35 PM

There are a number of songs that may be appropriate on these sites


California Folk Music Project


California Sheet MUSIC project

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:31 PM

Hi, Lakeman - also take a look at our two threads of Gold Miners' songs

Subject: RE: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: Amos
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:23 PM

Sure -- "The Days of 49", the story of old Tom Moore.

There are others as well but that ios the most germane one I know of.

The lyrics are in the DT Click here.

The tune's in a MIDI -- Click to play.

A

Subject: song wanted: calif. gold rush
From: GUEST,lakeman
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:10 PM

I am looking for a song from the Californian Gold Rush to record, in homage to my g.g.father who was there in 1849. Any hints/leads?
L-man