Lyr Req: Goodbye to my Stepstone

Subject: Lyr Req: Goodbye to my Stepstone
From: bubblyrat
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:05 PM

I am a great fan of Walt Michael, and I first heard him sing this song on a LP record (now lost !!) and, subsequently,with his "and friends" at the Sidmouth Folk Festival in England. I believe the song was written by a woman, but otherwise I know very little. Is it American or Canadian ???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Goodbye to my Stepstone
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:26 PM

Well, I'm a great fan too! You can find the lyrics here
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Stepstone.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Goodbye to my Stepstone
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:30 PM

Using the big search box at the upper left hand corner of the page brings up several results on STEPSTONE, from which you can not only get the lyrics but join the discussions people have had about various versions, history, etc.

~Susan

Subject: Lyr Add: STEP STONE
From: skipy
Date: 09 Feb 07 - 12:40 PM

I stood on the stepstone when school days was over
And longed for the time to go by,
Now that it's gone I stand here tonight
To bid this old stepstone goodbye.

Goodbye to my stepstone, goodbye to my home,
God bless the ones that I leave with a sigh;
Fields will be whitening
And I will be gone to ramble this wide world alone.

I stand on my stepstone at eventide now,
The wind whistles by with a moan;
How did it start and I stand here tonight,
Good bye to my stepstone and home.

Goodbye to my stepstone, goodbye to my home,
God bless the ones that I leave with a sigh;
Fields will be whitening
And I will be gone to ramble this wide world alone.

It's hard to be parted from those that we love,
When reverses in fortune have come;
The world's strongest heart strings have broken in twain,
By the absence of loved ones and home.

Goodbye to my stepstone, goodbye to my home,
God bless the ones that I leave with a sigh;
Fields will be whitening
And I will be gone to ramble this wide world alone.
^^^
Skipy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Goodbye to my Stepstone
From: Stewie
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 01:58 AM

Norman and Nancy Blake have a beaut rendition of this song under the title 'Old Stepstone' on their 'While Passing Along This Way' album [Shanachie 6012]. The lyrics are almost identical to the Bascom Lamar Lunsford version in the DT. Lunsford may be heard singing it on 'Ballads, Banjo Tunes and Sacred Songs of Western North Carolina' Smithsonian/Folkways SF CD 40082. The notes to the Lunsford album by Loyal Jones et alia indicate that Lunsford learned it in 1904 from Miss Lela Ammons of Robinsville, NC.

Meade et alia 'Country Music Sources' indicate that words and music were by J.O. Webster in 1880 - strangely they make no mention of Crider and Chase referenced as authors, via Levy Collection, by Dale Rose in a previous thread. What's the story here?

--Stewie