Lyr/Tab Req: Eph Got a Coon (from Dan Gellert)

Subject: Lyr Req: Eph Got a Coon - Lyrics & Clawhammer Tab
From: GUEST,Wickend
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 09:33 AM

Anyone know the lyrics and/or have a clawhammer banjo tab for Eph got a coon? Dan Gellert does a nice version on his new album - Waitin' on the Break of Day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eph Got a Coon - Lyrics & Clawhammer Tab
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 10:08 AM

Raccoon?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eph Got a Coon - Lyrics & Clawhammer Tab
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 10:12 AM

"Uncle Eph's Got the Coon" ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eph Got a Coon - Lyrics & Clawhammer Tab
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 05 - 11:13 AM

You can hear the whole song HERE by clicking the Audio link at the top of the page.

It sounds like a number of verses reflecting country life, referencing looking up at a raccoon up a tree.

Wickend, perhaps you would transcribe it here to share with us if no one has a text file of the lyric handy to paste-post.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr Add: EPH GOT A COON (from Dan Gellert)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 03:02 PM

I believe these are the lyrics that Dan Gellert sings. Although the title, according to the web site, is EPH GOT A COON, it sounds more like "Eph caught a coon" to me.

EPH GOT A COON

1. Ugliest man that ever I saw
Come down the road from Arkansas.
His eyes were red. His lips were blue.
His collar went a-flippin' an' his coat-tail flew.

CHORUS: Brother Eph caught a coon an' gone.
Gone, Lord, he's gone.
Brother Eph caught a coon an' gone on,
And left me lookin' up a tree.

2. Yonder he come with a whistle and a whack.
Gonna knock that engine off the track.
His knee got caught in the drivin' wheel.
Cross-tie ruined that ol' man's heel.

3. When I come to die, just tie my hands and sew my feet,
Stop my mouth with mutton meat,
'Cause Eph caught a coon an' gone,
And left me lookin' up a tree.

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE EPH/THE GREAT RACOON HUNT (A Thieme
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 05:49 PM

Art Thieme also recorded a version, interlaced with wonderful tall tale called 'The Great Racoon Hunt'. As far as I recall, Art's lyrics came from a recording by Grandpa Jones:


UNCLE EPH [AND] THE GREAT RACOON HUNT
As recorded by Art Thieme on "That's the Ticket" (1983)

1. Well, I hitched my horse up to my hack,
Buckled my banjo to my back.
The buckle broke and the banjo flew.
Devil got the buckle and the banjo too.

CHORUS: Uncle Eph's got the coon and gone on, gone on, gone on.
Uncle Eph's got the coon and gone on
And he's left us lookin' up a tree.

2. Well, what kind of slippers does the angels wear,
Slippin' and a-slidin' on the golden stair?
Golden slippers, silver socks.
Drop your nickels in the missionary box. CHORUS

3. Oh, wake up, sister; don't you sleep too late.
Keep your eyes on the golden gate.
Get out there and dance by the light of the moon.
Here comes Eph just a-fetchin' of the coon. CHORUS

[Narration of tale]

4. Oh, when Ephram told this world goodbye,
Went to his heavenly home on high,
Told St Peter for to make him room.
Here comes Eph just a-fetchin' of the coon. CHORUS


--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tab Req: Eph Got a Coon (from Dan Gellert)
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 06:00 PM

Thanks, Stewie, ya beat me to it. Art's is the first version I'd ever heard of this.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tab Req: Eph Got a Coon (from Dan Gellert)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:10 PM

Stewie,
Thanks for puttin' that there. These days my hands are getting too numb to type out long posts and songs. ---- It sure is good to hear your cyber-voice coming all the way from Darwin.

And I did learn it from Grandpa Jones. The tall tale I put with it on my own. It changed over the years---naturally. But I can't remember where I first found it!?? Maybe I ought to go back and read my old notes from that Folk Legacy recording!

It's now on a Folk Legacy CD called 'A.T.--That's The Ticket'

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tab Req: Eph Got a Coon (from Dan Gellert)
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 07:58 PM

A pleasure, Art. Good to 'hear' you too. I've been meaning to put some stuff together for you, but things have been a bit hectic. Hopefully, I'll get something to you before Xmas.

Kindest regards, Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: BROTHER EPHUS (Hedy West)
From: BanjoRay
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 08:37 PM

Hedy West recorded a similar song back in the late sixties


BROTHER EPHUS
As recorded by Hedy West on "Old Times And Hard Times" (1965)

1. Brethren and sisters, one and all,
Ain't you gonna hearken to the Giver's call?
The Giver's call on the judgment day,
Poor little Moses gone away.

CHORUS: Where you goin', Moses? - None of your business!
Come here, Moses! - I ain't gonna do it!
Brother Ephus got a coon and gone on, gone on, gone on.
Brother Ephus got a coon and gone on,
And left me barkin' up a tree.

2. Boil my coffee good and strong.
Bake my hoe cakes good and done.
Make up a feather bed and make it up right,
'Cause old brother Johnson's comin' here tonight. CHORUS

3. What kind of slippers do the angels wear?
Golden slippers to skeet on air.
They wear fine slippers and wear fine socks,
And drop ev'ry nickel in the missionary's box. CHORUS

4. Some folks say a preacher won't steal,
But I caught two in my watermelon field,
A-preachin' and prayin' and singin' all the time,
Slippin' the watermelons off the vine. CHORUS


All the best
Ray

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE EPHRAIM GOT THE COON+BRUDDUH EPHUM
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 09:47 AM

Some early versions, 1909-1951:

UNCLE EPHRAIM GOT THE COON

From Mississippi blacks, reported by E.C. Perrow, "Songs and Rhymes From the South," from Journal of Am Folklore 1912-15.

As I was coming through my field,
A black snake bit me on de heel,
Dey carried me home, and laid me on de bed,
De ole folks say, Dat nigger is dead,

CHO
Uncle Eph'm got de coon and gone on,
Gone on, gone on,
Uncle Eph'm got de coon and gone on,
And left me watching up de tree.

What kind of shoes did de angels wear,
Slipping and sliding through the air?
A great big shoe and a gov'mint sox,
Just drap all de money in de missionary box.

BRUDDUH EPHUM

Sung to me by Ben C. Moomaw, Roanoke, Va 1954. From Virginia Folklore Society collecting, probably c. 1930s.

Cho:
Brudduh Ephum got a coon an' a-gone on (3)
An' lef' me lookin' up a tree.

Massa bought a yaller gal,
He fetched her from the south,
She wo' her hair tied back so tight
That the sun shined in her mouth.

Took dat gal to de blacksmith snop,
For to have her mouth made small,
She fell in love wid de blacksmith fence,
She swallowed the shop and all.

The song became a high-powered country-pop tune in the 1930s when the Prairie Ramblers (Patsy Montana's backup band and one of the best "eastern swing" groups) performed it as "Uncle Eph's Got the Coon." It's similar to Art Thieme's version, but adds a last verse:

Ol' Uncle Eph was a good ol' soul,
Washed his face in the butterbowl,
Bumped his head on the mantelpiece,
An' set right back in the bucket o'grease.

The song was introduced to the northern folksong community via recording and concerts c. 1951 by Philadelphia folksinger Tom Glazer (in his more serious days, pre-On Top of Spaghetti) as:

UNCLE REUBEN

Cho:
Uncle Reuben got a coon gone gone, chk-a-chk,
Done gone, chk-a-chk, done gone, chk-a-chk,
Uncle Reuben got a coon done gone, chk-a-chk,
And left me here behind.

Possum up a 'simmon tree,
Raccoon on the ground,
Raccoon say, Mister Possum,
Won't you shake one 'simmon down?

If you love me, Liza Jane,
Place your hand in mine,
You won't lack for no cornbread
As long as the sun do shine.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tab Req: Eph Got a Coon (from Dan Gellert)
From: GUEST,Rita
Date: 18 Feb 19 - 09:25 AM

My grandpa had his own version. I can only remember bits and pieces. Uncle Dieter got the coon and gone on, gone on, gone on. Uncle Dieter got the coon and gone on and left me looking up a tree. What kind of slippers do the angels wear, slipping and sliding thru the air? Golden slippers and shining socks, drep all your nickles in th' missionary box. Uncle Dieter got the coon and gone on and left me looking up a tree.