 sj |
||
|
||
Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning
DigiTrad:
BACKWOODSMAN
I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY IN 1865
|
|
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST Date: 01 Jun 21 - 09:33 AM Harry Tuft sings the song. It will linger sweetly for years...as he is the best friend a song ever had. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Charlie Baum Date: 05 Jul 20 - 04:43 PM Another version to contribute: from Folk Songs of Central West Virginia, Vol. 5 by Michael E “Jim” Bush Logging on Bear Fork At the turn of the century, the Bear Fork county in Calhoun County was covered with virgin forest of white oak and poplar. Cutting and hauling these huge trees brought a short-lived economic boom to the area. This song, reportedly made in the lumber camp, captures the feeling of the period. from Noah Cottrill, Sand Ridge, Calhoun Co., May, 1977 In eighteen hundred and forty five, I thought myself lucky To find myself alive. I harnessed up my team; I bid the girls adieu; I went to skidding logs As I used for to do. The whiskey being plentiful; The julep being free, As fast as one glass emptied, Another’d fill for me. I hadn’t rolled but one log Instead of hauling four Until I got so drunk I couldn’t haul no more. I took my saddle on my back; I started for the barn. I started for the barn Not meaning any harm. I saddled up old Bill; I rode away so still I hardly drew a sober breath ’Til I arrived at Flynter’s Hill. There I met an acquaintance;1 His name I dare not tell. He told me that in that place of heck There was going to be some hell. Not being hard persuaded, We quickly did agree. I agreed to meet him When the banjo ought to be. Jon Cottrill being willing And his a being strong He played the rounds in old Bear Fork For full four hours long The morning stars was rising Said, “Boys, we’ve danced enough.” It took them a full half hour Making collections up. The path must have been willing For we wouldn’t have knowed the way. I pulled old Bill into the barn About the break of day. We slept in every corner Where e’er we saw a light2 Till the old gray logs was covered With the dew of the night. Come all you gallant people That tattle tales around, Don’t tell no tales on me and Miss Heckert For we’re bad enough without. _____ 1. Mr Cottrill actually sang “There I met a quaint.” 2. The word “light” is used here to mean “resting place.” This usage is fairly common in the area, as in “Light down and set a spell.” |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Joe Offer Date: 29 Jun 20 - 04:28 PM Needs some cleanup work. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Stevebury Date: 09 Sep 17 - 07:38 PM Eloise Hubbard Linscott published her book 'Folk Songs of Old New England' in 1939. She also prepared a second manuscript, 'Songs and Tunes from a Yankee Peddler's Pack', which was never published. Her manuscript is in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. I was doing some research on Linscott, and found a version of 'The Backwoodsman' from Nathan French. (When I get back to her manuscript, I will track down where he was from – presumably in New England.) Instead of hauling wood, lumber, logs, cordwood, coal, etc, this version is unique (among the versions I have seen) in that the singer was hauling bark. Harvesting and shipping bark was a major industry in Pennsylvania (to supply the leather tanning industry) and was apparently also a trade in New England. Linscott's version from Nathanial French (from her typescript) is as follows. She also transcribed the tune. This version is unusual in that it doesn't assume that it's the women who gossip and spread stories! Hauling Bark I waked up one morning The year of '65. I thought myself lucky To find myself alive So I harnessed my hosses My labor to pursue And I went to hauling bark As my daddy used to do. And when I got to Milford The liquor flowing free When one glass was emptied Another filled for me Instead of hauling eight loads I didn't haul but four I got so drunk at John Jack's I couldn't haul no more I'll tell you all about it And how the row commenced Oh four of us stout fellows Went on the floor to dance. The fiddler being willing, His arms being strong, He played the rounds of Ireland Oh full four hours long. My daddy rode after He rode both night and day Without a fine helper [ penciled: '(pilot?)' ] He must have lost his way; He came to ever window He'd look then for a light He found me in my bed And the clock said twelve that night. Come now all ye fellows Who peddle news about Don't tell all my secret And carry it about; Oh pray don't tell of that evening T will just make a great fuss Perhaps you do the same Very likely a great deal wuss! --Stevebury PS-- Cross-reference: There's also a version of the 'Green Mountain Boys' strain of the 'The Backwoodsman' (from J. S. Kennison in Vermont) posted on Mudcat thread http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=22174&messages=22 |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Lucky lcd Date: 08 Sep 17 - 08:05 AM via Edith Fowke : Lumbering Songs from the Northern Woods It's as well as I remember 'twas the year of 'forty-five I thought myself so thankful for to find myself alive I harnessed up my horses, and I joined the Super crew, And I went a-hauling cordwood as I often used to do. I might have hauled one load, I might have hauled four I went down to Omemee, and I could not haul no more The baroom it was open, the liquor flying free, And I drank one glass, another filled for me. Oh, I met an old acquaintance, I dare not tell his name He was going to a ball at night; I thought I'd do the same. He was going to a ball at night, the music sweetly played And the boys and girls all danced till the breaking of the day. Oh, I put the saddle on my arm, I struck out to the barn I saddled up the old grey nag, not thinking any harm. I saddled up the old grey nag and I rode away quite still, And I never halted till I came to Downeyville. Oh, when I got to Downeyville the night was far advanced I got up on the floor thought I'd have a little dance The fiddler he was rested, and his arms were stout and strong Played "The Bluebells of Ireland" for four hours long. Oh, my father followed after me, I heard the people say He must have had a spyglass, or he'd never have found the way He looked in every keyhole that he could see a light Till his old grey locks were wet with the dew of the night. Oh, cme all you old married men, I think you've danced enough. Let us spend a half an hour, and we'll get a cash account. We'll go home to our plows and whistle and we'll sing, And you'll never catch us out on a spree like this again. Oh, come all you old women who tell your tales about, I pray you tell no tales on me, I'm bad enough without. I pray you tell no tales on me – I'm sure it's not the first. If the truth was only known, I'm sure I'm not the worst. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Jason Rurak, Date: 26 Nov 13 - 01:50 AM Hey guys I ran across this tonight cause i did a google search for something that has plagued me for years. As far back as I can remember any time my father and I did work on the farm he always told me that i needed to learn this story.. He said it had been taught to him by his father and by his father and so on back though our family.. I sure wish i had paid more attention to it than I did, for my father passed away and about then is when I realized i should have listened to him more, I never really cared to learn it, or paid much attention until he passed and it just hit me one day and I could not remember it. Over the years More and more of it has came back to me but SO SO different than anything I have seen here yet so so identical. Everything in my version is the same, just with different twits.. Here is the Version i was tuaght... what i can remember.. I woke up one morning in 1805 i felt so very happy to find my self alive i harnested up my team as business to persue and went on hauling wood as i use for to do.. I only hauled two loads instead of hauling four as i stayed in jolly town so long i coudlnt haual any more the saloons being open and the whiskey being free as soon as once glass was emptied another one was filled for me. i meet an old aquaintance whos name was johny hall who told me that night where there was to be a ball i drove me team on home and put them in the barn I saddled up my horse not thinking any harm. ( i remember somthing about moonlight here but Cant remember i have found no verses mathing what my father taught me) I rode away so still that i scarcley drew a breath until i entered bunkers hill my father followed after me as he often said he might and with his proxy so white he peared into every crack he could spy light with his beard so white from the frost of the night now four of us good jolly men out on the dance floor with 4 of the prettiest girls that ever sialed from fance the fiddler being willing and his arm beng stong will play the grounds of ireland only 4 hours long. now come on all ye ladies quit riasing such a fuss for its bad enough with out theres no need to cuss now come on all you gentleman who raises such a purse, you have been guilty of the same perhaps a little worse Thats the best i can recall from what my daddy taught me, And i will probably go to my grave guilty of not listening to him. If anyone has heard a version closer to mine please contact me so i can have some peace of mind.. My Name is Jason Ruark my email is robedmage @ hotmail.com |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Desert Dancer Date: 19 Oct 12 - 06:12 PM The Cordwood Cutter (2 versions) in Folk Songs of the Catskills, edited by Cazden, Haufrecht & Studer (at Google Books) One Monday Morning in Lore of an Adirondack County by Edith E. Cutting (at Google Books) The Spring of '65, sung by Eddie Rollins in Moscow, Maine, in 1991, in the collections of the Main Folklife Center at the University of Maine (audio and text at the link) In the following two (very similar) versions, the narrator hauls coal, rather than wood: 1845, lyrics from Jeff Warner's cd, Jolly Tinker. No notes on the source here. It's not in the Anne & Frank Warner Collection, and I don't have the cd handy at the moment. I was set googling this after hearing it (and vaguely recognizing it from Jeff Warner's rendition) on Rayna Gellert's new cd, Old Light, which is available here. Her text and tune is very similar to Jeff Warner's. The place names are Shippensport (same) and Louisville (similar to Jeff's Laurel Hill), with the addition of a "friends and neighbors"-"don't go telling stories" verse. There are no notes online as to where she got it. I don't have the cd, but heard it via Folk Alley (available free as a "First Listen" until October 25). "Shippensport" or "Shippingport" is a former settlement near Louisville, Kentucky, near the falls of the Ohio, a place where it makes sense to be hauling coal rather than wood. The name comes up in relation to fiddle tunes, too. (There were other places by the "Shippensport" name in the 19th cent., such as on the Morris Canal in New Jersey, and there is a "Shippingport" northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it seems to come up as an archaic form for "Shippingport".) ~ Becky in Tucson |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Guest, James Cummings Date: 08 Nov 11 - 08:25 PM Back in the 80's on the Jersey Shore a Jug Band called the Method Trainer sang this version. I woke up one morning in the spring of 65 Considering myself lucky to be found alive I hitched up my horses my business to pursue Instead of hauling four loads I only hauled two I had my fill of plowing before the sun was high the sunshine made my head feel strange it was an orange stripe so I unhitched my mule and saddled up my mare and I rode down to the grocery to see whats doing there Now farming folk from miles around were gathered in the store each saying that they never left their plow so soon before while talking of the mystery of Gods unfolding will old man Hawkins brought a load of whiskey from his still Now most of us had never drunk so early in the day we sensed today was special we got drunk anyway got so drunk and crazy that we all did agree to meet that very night where the fiddle was to be The night was clear as crystal the moon was full and bright and nothing looked familiar in that pale unearthly light there was no wind no calling birds in fact is was so still I scarcely drew a breath before I reached the Laurel Hill I'll tell you of our party and how it did commence when four of us the Johnny Boys got on the floor to dance the fiddler being willing his arm a being strong he played the crippled king fisher about four hours long I see the morning stars boys I guess we danced enough We'll spend another hour in paying cash for cup We'll go back to our plows We'll whistle and We'll sing We never will be guilty of another such a thing So all you newsy women who gather news about don't tell no tales upon us or kick up any fuss You've been guilty of the same thing thing perhaps a whole lot worse |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Tim Jaques Date: 22 Jan 11 - 09:12 AM A version of this was sung by the Canadian band Stringband years ago. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Bob the Postman Date: 16 Apr 09 - 09:10 AM Further to Billy Murray, he's the guy who made "Casey Jones" universally known and he made more records than anyone else before Bing Crosby so he could have recorded Backwoodsman. I had a boo in this Billy Murray discography but it's too huge for me to get to grips with. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Mornin From: GUEST,Will Fitzgerald Date: 16 Apr 09 - 08:16 AM This is my transcription of J.D. Cornett's version on Smithsonial Folkways, "Mountain Music of Kentucky," where it is labeled "Spring of '65." SPRING OF '65 I woke up one morning the spring of '65; I thought I was quite lucky to be found alive. I gird up my mules my business to pursue; Instead of hauling four loads I only hauled two. I got so drunk at Harper I couldn't haul no more-- The men a-telling jokes, I laughed till I was sore. The grocery being open, the money spending free, Soon as one glass was empty, boys, another filled for me. I picked up my saddle and I stroll out to the barn And catching out old Gray, not meaning any harm I crawled up on her back and rode so very still. I scarcely drew a breath, boys, till I reached the Laurel Hill. There I met an old acquaintance, his name I won't tell at all. He told that night where there's going to be a ball. We tittled and we tattled at last we did agree To meet that night, boys, where the fiddle was to be. I'll tell you now, boys, how our party did commence. There's four of us jolly boys got on the floor to dance. The fiddler being willing, his arm a being strong, He played "The Crippled Kingfisher" about four hours long. I see the morning stars, boys, I guess we've danced enough. We'll spend another hour in paying cash for cuff. We'll go back to our plows, we'll whistle and we'll sing; We never will be guilty of another such a thing. Come all you newsy women, who scatter news about-- Don't tell no tales upon us, we're bad enough without. Don't tell no tales upon us to keep up any fuss, You've been guilty of the same things, perhaps a whole lot worse. (spoken): They've been playing around there, and owed so much drink so see They had to pay what they'd tore up. J.D. Cornett, "Spring of '65" Smithsonial Folkways, "Mountain Music of Kentucky." |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Dave Ruch Date: 26 Sep 08 - 12:12 PM Bob, Once I discovered who Ada Jones and Billy Murray were a few years ago, I assumed Barhight (the singer) was kidding, but now you've got me wondering.... |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 26 Sep 08 - 11:43 AM Dave Ruch -- Ada (not Etta) Jones and Billy Murray were two extremely popular singers in the 1910-20 era. They featured heavily on cylinder and disk recordings and sang many vaudeville classics. I wonder if the singer who sang this to Ellen Stekert was kidding! (That's the kind of salutation that commonly appeared at the beginning, and sometimes the end, of the earliest recordings, particularly cylinders, which had room only for very small print for labeling.) As far as I know the Backwoodsman/Cordwood Cutter song is older. But I checked in Norman Cazden's Folk Songs of the Catskills to see. He has versions form George Edwards and Marvin Yale. Interestingly he gives no real traditional background for the song, just notes it's found all over the lumbercamp repertory. So, could the origin of this song be a recording by Jones and Murray? I know of none, but it may be. That would make it originally a Tin Pan Alley song and not a folksong. Not an unheard-of source. Some of the songs recorded 1900-1920 by vaudevillians like Billy Golden, Len Spencer, Murray, Jones and other early vaudevillians did get picked up by traditional singers in both New England and the South. Can anyone trace a Jones-Murray recording of this? Bob |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Mornin From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca Date: 25 Sep 08 - 11:31 PM Hi Dave, You'll hear a version I got from the Flanders collection on my "As Time Draws Near" CD. It's from Asa Davis in VT. He called it The Backwoodsman, and it's damn close to Fuzzy's version... with large dollops of the Green Mt Boys version. Given Paul Lorette's story, I wonder if Asa Davis was one of those guys making up the story. A couple of differences - Asa sang "Twas early Monday morning, about the hour of five..." no mention of any particular year. He gets drunk in a "drug store" rather than a tavern (which I've always thought was rather peculiar" I'm interested in see the line (about the father) "He must of had a pile of tail, he never found the way." Asa sang "He must of had a pile of grit, he never found the way" which I'm guessing got morphed into "He must of had a pilot, or he'd never find the way." I've had people question me about the "pile of grit" but I'm sure that's what Asa sang... and I've heard it as a folk idiom in those parts for a certain level of frustration. Now, can I remember the date of the recording with Asa Davis? I'll have to go back to my records and see. Thanks for posting the text, Dave. I do like that last verse. Quite different, indeed. best, Pamela |
|
Subject: ADD Version: The Green Mountain Boys From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Sep 08 - 05:38 PM GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS It was on one Monday morning In eighteen hundred and seventy-five, I thought myself quite happy To find myself alive. I harnessed up my horses, My business to pursue, And I went to hauling cordwood As I always used to do. The taverns being opened And the whisky running free, As soon as one glass was empty Another was filled for me. Instead of hauling eight loads I didn't haul but four, For I got so very drunk That I couldn't haul no more. It was there I met my old companion— Her name I will not tell. She told me that night Where the dance was to be held. 'Twas hard to be persuaded, But with her I did agree For to meet her there that night Where the fiddler was to be. I took my saddle on my arm And I traveled to the barn. I saddled up old Gray, Not thinking of any harm. I saddled up old Gray And I rode away so quick That I hadn't scarcely thought Before I reached Greenland ville. My father followed after me As I heard the people say. He must have had a pile of tail, He never found the way. He peeked through every keyhole Where he could spy a light 'Til his old grey locks were wet By the dew of the night. Fourteen of the Green Mountain boys Were up on the floor to dance, As many of the prettiest girls That ever sailed from France. The fiddler, being Irish And his elbow being strong, He played the grounds of Ireland For five hours long. "It's past five o'clock, boys, We've all danced enough. Our pockets are empty Making change those old cuffs. We'll go home to our plows, boys, We'll whistle, dance and sing And we never shall be caught In such a drunken scrape again. "Come all ye good old women Who tattle-tale about, Don't add anything to this For it's bad enough without. Don't add anything to this Or try to raise a fuss, For you're guilty of the same And perhaps a great deal worse." Source: Vermont Folk-Songs & Ballads, edited by Helen Hartness Flanders & George Brown (1931), pages 43-45 Notes:
|
|
Subject: ADD Version: The Backwoodsman From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Sep 08 - 04:03 PM Tim Jaques posted a version of this, way back in the early days of Mudcat: Thread #2839 Message #12890 Posted By: Tim Jaques tjaques@netcom.ca 22-Sep-97 - 07:21 PM Thread Name: straight & sober song circle Subject: Lyr Add: THE BACKWOODSMAN
THE BACKWOODSMAN |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: regiberry Date: 17 Nov 07 - 10:15 PM This might be the song I'm looking for: I woke one morning in 1845 Thought myself quite lucky just to be alive harnessed us my old team my business to pursue and I went to hauling hay like I used for to do! Got any more lyrics? I been seaching |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Apr 05 - 12:52 PM I found records of a birth in Stonedam, Allegheny Co. The town (hamlet) may no longer exist or perhaps was absorbed into Willing or other nearby town. Thanks for posting. Different ending from other versions I have found. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Dave Ruch Date: 12 Apr 05 - 12:01 PM OK, here is the version I've been listening to, as sung by ex-lumberman Ezra "Fuzzy" Barhight to folklorist Ellen Stekert in 1956: I got up last Monday morning just half past five I thought it was quite lucky for I found myself alive I harnessed up my horses my labor to pursue So I went to hauling wood as I used for to do The alehouse being open and the liquor it being free As fast I emptied one glass another was filled for me I didnt haul but one load when I used for to haul four For I stayed so long in Stonedam* I couldnt haul no more Well I met with my companion his name I will not tell He told me that night where there was to be a ball I was hard to persuade but at length I did agree That I'd meet him that night where the fiddler was to be Well my father followed after me the neighbors so they say He must have had a pirate (pilot?) r he never'd have found his way He peeked in every crack and corner where he could spy a light Till his locks were all wet with the dews of the night We had got on the floor, four of us to take a dance ......................... (no second line) And the fiddler being willing and his arm it being strong Played the Ground of Old Ireland(?) for four hours long Now daylight is a dawning and we have danced enough We'll spend one half an hour just a getting cash for Cuff We'll go home to our plough boy we'll whistle and we'll sing And we never will be catched in such a scrape again One more thing I'll have to say before I go away I hope you all will hear me and listen to what I say Just when you'll hear of another ball I'll pray you'll let me know For I'm just as good a fiddler as ever drawed the bow ---- Barhight concludes by saying "sung by Etta Jones and Billy Murray!" (perhaps two folks in the lumbercamps? popular singers of the day?). * Ellen Stekert asks him about the location - Stonedam - after the song, and he claims that it lies near Wellsville NY in Allegany County, NY near where he used to lumber |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: GUEST,WYS Date: 10 Apr 05 - 11:15 PM lumbercamps along the NY/PA border I live in that area, but I dunno if I know any old lumbermen to ask if they ever heard it. Have to check around ~S~ |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Dave Ruch Date: 10 Apr 05 - 01:45 PM I will post it as soon as I have a chance to transcribe it, Q. I've been listening to it my car for the past week. Thanks to you and Joe for the additional info! The singer I have it from learned his songs in the lumbercamps along the NY/PA border in the 1880's - 1910's, and the melody is indeed striking. The story sounds a bit mystical in his version, which is only maybe 5-6 verses long. He omits just enough of the story (through attrition as opposed to intentially, I would think) to be very intriguing. Text coming soon..... |
|
Subject: ADD: Version: When I Was One-and-Twenty From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Apr 05 - 09:39 PM The earliest mentioned in the Traditional Ballad Index is the one collected by Cox. WHEN I WAS ONE-AND-TWENTY When I was one-and-twenty my daddy set me free, He gave me money plenty to go out upon a spree; O money being plenty, and whiskey being free, When one glass was empty another was filled for me. I gathered up the saddles and started for the barn, I saddled up old Grayie, thinking of no harm; I mounted on her back, and rode away so still, Then I never drew a sober breath until I came to Sistersville. There was some acquaintances I did recall; They told me of a place where there was going to be a ball; I was hard to persuade, but I did give way, And they took me to the place where the fiddler was to play. Now for some fun, boys, I will tell you in advance! Four of us got on the floor, to take a civil dance; The fiddler being ready, his arms being strong, Then we played "The Drowned Irish Boy" for four hours long. "Daylight now, boys! you have danced long enough! Let us spend a single moment getting cash for snuff." You will run around and talk, you will make a dreadful flourish, When you are guilty of the same crime, perhaps a great deal worse. Now come on, good honest people, who carry news about, And tell no lies on me, for I am mad without; For I am down and out .... All caused by the use of whiskey and snuff. From "Mr. C. L. Underwood, Moundsville, Marshall Co., West Virginia, obtained from his father, who learned it when a boy in Tyler Co." No. 132, p. 404, J. H. Cox, 1925, "Folk-Songs of the South" (Dover reprint 1967). (Sistersville, W. Va., on the Ohio River) |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Mornin From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Apr 05 - 09:01 PM Hmmm. Interesting song, and we haven't had much discussion of it. I couldn't find any threads on this song at all. There's quite an entry on this song at the Traditional Ballad Index: Backwoodsman, The (The Green Mountain Boys) [Laws C19]DESCRIPTION: The singer, a wood-hauler, having gotten drunk, is convinced to go a ball. He spends a riotous night. He hopes that others will not exaggerate what happened.AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1920 (Cox) KEYWORDS: drink hardtimes FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,NE,SE) Canada(Ont,West) REFERENCES (10 citations): Laws C19, "The Backwoodsman (The Green Mountain Boys)" Rickaby 35, "The Backwoodsman" (1 text) Gardner/Chickering 168, "The Backwoodsman" (1 text) JHCox 132, "When I Was One-and-Twenty" (1 text) BrownIII 340, "The Wood Hauler" (2 texts) FSCatskills 119, "The Cordwood Cutter" (2 texts, 2 tunes) Fowke-Lumbering #49, "The Backwoodsman" (1 text, 1 tune) Fowke/MacMillan 30, "The Backwoodsman" (1 text, 1 tune) Flanders/Brown, pp. 43-45, "The Green Mountain Boys" (1 text) DT 604, BACKWOOD* CAMCNTRY* Roud #641 RECORDINGS: Maynard Britton, "I Came to this Country" (AFS, c. 1937; on KMM; there is probably some mixture in this version) James B. Cornett, "Spring of '65" (on MMOK, MMOKCD) Robert C. Paul, "The Backwoodsman" (on Saskatch01) Vern Smelser, "The Morning of 1845" (on FineTimes) Emerson Woodcock, "The Backwoodsman" (on Lumber01) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "In Eighteen-Forty-Nine" (floating lyrics) cf. "In Seventeen Ninety-Five" (lyrics) ALTERNATE TITLES: The Cordwood Cutter Notes: Laws made rather a botch of this piece, omitting the Cox and Brown texts and causing me to split the song in two for a time. It doesn't help that it's an extremely diverse item; there is hardly a single feature common to all versions. Many versions start with the lines, "I woke up on morning in (1805/1845/1865), (Thought/Found) myself quite (happy/lucky) to find myself alive." This is not, however, diagnosic. Cox's text, for instance, begins with the line, "When I was one-and-twenty," but is obviously not to be confused with the A. E. Housman poem of the same title. Many texts say that the young man was able to go on a spree because of a gift from his father. But in Brown's "B" text, he's treated to an election spree (a common technique in nineteenth century elections: Give the voters enough free liquor and they would be expected to vote for you. Though it's rather odd to see an election held in *1845*). The singer is often a hauler, and may ring in his mule -- but may not. We often find a description of a wild dance, but this seems to vary also. And so it goes. Fowke's text has a curious reference to a fiddle tune "The Bluebells of Ireland." Wonder how the Scots felt about that title. - RBW File: LC19 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:42 PM Dave, I forgot to ask- would you please post your version? |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:40 PM The version in thread 2839 is a cut-off piece of "The Backwoodsman," No. 30 in Edith Fowke, "The Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs," p. 78-79, with music. This song is in the DT. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Dave Ruch Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:32 PM Wow, thanks Q! I too am amazed at how similar this version I have (southern tier NY/northern PA) is to others I've heard. |
|
Subject: RE: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:28 PM Edith Fowke had this to say in "The Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs," p. 201: "...one of the most widespread North American songs, having been sung in at least eight states and three provinces. It seems to have started in Vermont early in the 19th c. and spread out from there. The titles vary: "The Green Mountain Boys," "The Cordwood Cutter," "I Came to This Country," "The Wood Hauler," "One 'Lection Morning," and the place names are always localized, but the incidents and phrasing have remained remarkably constant in widely separated regions over more than a century. Mr. Woodcock's version [the one in her book, coll. 1957] is a little shorter than most: for a longer Ontario version and references see Fowke LSNW 173" ["Lumbering Songs From the Northern Woods," Austin, Texas, 1970]. A version was posted in thread 2839: Lumberman For the song "When I First Came to this Country," see thread 40795: When I First came |
|
Subject: Origins: The Backwoodsman/I Woke up One Morning From: Dave Ruch Date: 08 Apr 05 - 09:38 PM I'm wondering about the origins of this song, which appears here as both "The Backwoodsman" and "I First Came To This Country in 1865". I have a great NY/PA lumbercamp version from Ezra "Fuzzy" Barhight. I see that Lomax collected a version also. Anyone know where it first appeared? |
| Share Thread: |