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07 Jan 03 - 04:45 PM (#860964) Subject: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: wilco (D) I washed my hands in muddy(A) water. (A7) I washed my hands, but they didn't come (D) clean. Tries to do just like my daddy (G) told me, but I musta (d) washed in a (A7) muddy (D) stream. I was born in macon georgia, kept my daddy out of the macon jail. he said son, if ya keep your hands clean, you won't hear no bloodhounds on your trail. and three more verses...... I've found many versions of this song, and it is always cited as traditional, but I can't find where it was done prior to about 1962. So, my guess is that it's really not hat old. Anyone know? |
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07 Jan 03 - 08:00 PM (#861158) Subject: Lyr Add: I WASHED MY HANDS IN MUDDY WATER (Babcock From: Barry Finn Hi wilco48. I WASHED MY HANDS IN MUDDY WATER (words & music by Joe Babcock) I was born in Macon Georgia They kept my daddy over in Macon jail He told me if you keep your hands clean You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail Well I fell in with bad companions Robbed a man, oh up in Tennessee They caught me way up in Nashville They locked me up and threw away the key I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream Well I asked the judge now when's my time up He said son, oh you know we won't forget If you try just to keep your hands clean We might just make a good man of you yet Oh I couldn't wait to get my time up I broke out, broke out of Nashville jail I just crossed the state-line of Georgia Well I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream |
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07 Jan 03 - 10:26 PM (#861279) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: mack/misophist They let me out of high school in '63. That song was on the radio at least 3 or 4 years before that. Sorry I can't say for certain. |
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07 Jan 03 - 10:46 PM (#861288) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Q Recorded by Ernest Tubb in 1965. By Jack Greene? Also recorded by Marty Robbins. By Marty Robbins? |
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07 Jan 03 - 11:00 PM (#861300) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Q Barry Finn is correct; it is Joe Babcock. Also recorded by Stonewall Jackson in 1965. Chords have been posted in Cowpie. Max Hunter has it in audio, sung by Ollie Gilbert, who also sings Washed my face in the Morning Dew. Even found a website that calls it traditional. |
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08 Jan 03 - 10:59 AM (#861524) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: wilco Thanks. I've found several versions, all cited above, and I copied the Max Hunter - Ollie Gilbert version. I asked a bunch of old-folkies last night, and they cited the definitive country version as Stonewall Jackson's. They guessed that it was a much oldre song. Still looking. |
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12 Dec 03 - 08:39 PM (#1071297) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: The Shambles I think that the Spencer Davis Group (with Stevie Winwood) recorded a UK version in or around 1965. Not sure who they attributed it to. |
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13 Dec 03 - 01:34 PM (#1071615) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Tunesmith The great Charlie Rich did a fabulous version of this song. |
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08 May 07 - 01:48 PM (#2046273) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,kirishian There definitely is a traditional origin for this song. With some very minor melodic changes, you have an old spiritual first published in the early nineteenth century called variously "Lonesome Valley," or "That Lonesome Valley." Search hard enough and you'll find that most folk, country, blues, and, by redaction, even pop and classical music, has some original folk tradition behind it. Clever writers and publishers are aware, of course, that copyright law does not cover what is called public domain material, and often delve into the past to find inspiration, even wealth and fame, by taking some old song, and copyrighting their own version. For example, Huddie Ledbetter, a.k.a. "Leadbelly," after his release from prison, had a wealth of material he'd learned working the chain gangs, and many of the songs that bare his name as the song writer are actually public domain in origin. The classic example is "Midnight Special." When Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded this song, they credited Leadbelly as the original writer, which they were required to do under law because they recorded his version. There are many more verses of this song that Leadbelly's handlers did not copyright, and John Fogerty and company could have saved themselves a few bucks copyrighting a different version, had they even been aware of this possibility. The number of old folk melodies that Bob Dylan wrote new lyrics to is, of course, legion, and legendary. 'Nuff said. If you need a good source for origins, look up the works of Alan Lomax and son, in the music section of a good library, and check out Woody Guthrie, too, who covered most of the bases in the field of traditional American music. |
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08 May 07 - 02:54 PM (#2046328) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: Goose Gander Wash My Hands in Muddy Water as sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969, from the Max Hunter collection. Washed my hands in muddy water Well, I washed my hands but they didn't come clean I tried to do like Daddy told me But I must'a washed my hands in a muddy stream I was borned in Macon, Georgie Kept my Daddy in th Macon jail He said, Son, if ya keep your hands clean You won't hear no bloodhounds on your trail So I washed my hands in muddy water Well, I washed my hands but they didn't come clean I tried to do like Daddy told me But I must'a washed my hands in a muddy stream I fell in bad companions Killed a man in Tennessee Th sherrif he caught me, way down in Nashville Locked me up an' threw away th key So I washed my hands in muddy water Well, I washed my hands but they didn't come clean I tried to do like Daddy told me But I must'a washed my hands in a muddy stream |
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08 May 07 - 04:53 PM (#2046424) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: Q (Frank Staplin) There are several "Lonesome Valley" songs- I presume that Guest kirishian means the "You gotta walk (... cross)..." song in the DT, sung by the Jenkins Family in 1925, The Carters and many others. In no way do the lyrics correspond to Babcock's, although there is some similarity to the tune, and the gospel song differs from the old song in Ditson and in Allen. "Down in de Lonesome Valley," shout song of the Freedmen of Port Royal, pub 1864 by Ditson and 1867 by Allen et al. (shortened version), thread 68814, is a different song. Down in de Lonesome Valley "Way Down in de Lonesome Valley," thread 76736, also is different. |
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04 Jun 07 - 12:18 PM (#2068243) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,NIZER Wash My Hands in Muddy Water - great tune. I play it all the time at gigs. It's a song that works both as acoustic and electric. I can't shed any light on its provenance, but it shows virtually no resemblance to Lonesome Valley (You've got to walk that lonesome valley, you got to walk it by yourself...) Aside from completely different theme and lyrics, it is also totally different musically. LV's structure is simply IV-I-V-I repeated. WMHIMW is I-V-I-I7-IV-I-V-I. Wash My Hands in Muddy Water may well have a traditional origin, but Lonesome Valley isn't it. |
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25 Jul 07 - 03:24 PM (#2111148) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Todd I am looking for the name and artist that sang a song that I thought was called Muddy Water, or maybe Muddy River. I thought this may have been the song but the version I'm thinking of is about a guy and his girlfriend and she dies (I think) in the muddy water (river). Anyone know what song I'm thinking of? Its quite old. Thanks |
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25 Jul 07 - 03:47 PM (#2111169) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: oldhippie Moody River - Pat Boone |
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25 Jul 07 - 04:38 PM (#2111218) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Todd Thats it. Thank you so much. |
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26 Jul 07 - 08:25 AM (#2111665) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Lanfranc the Cookieless Best version I remember was by Jim McCann! Someone, somewhere probably thinks it's Irish Alan |
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22 Jun 08 - 01:12 PM (#2371952) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,David Neale Bur did the writer Joe Babcock actually record "i Washed My Hands In Muddy Water"? |
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27 Jun 08 - 12:39 AM (#2375310) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Uncle.brisel I learned it from Johnny Rivers "Best of" I bought as a teen in the '60s to get "Secret Agent Man". I think it was all live cuts - he's a great live act. Arrangements are spare - drums, bass, and Johnny's hollow-body electric - They translated well for a kid learning to play the guitar. I do it now in a bluegrass style at Jams - works very well - enough verses for everyone to get in a break and no hard chord changes. |
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27 Jun 08 - 12:48 AM (#2375312) Subject: Lyr Add: MOODY RIVER (Gary D. Bruce) From: Barry Finn Moddy River (Written by: Gary D. Bruce 1957) (Performed by: Pat Boone 1957) Moody River more deadly than the vainest knife. Moody River your muddy water took my baby's life. Last Saturday evening, Came to the old oak tree, That stands beside the river, Where you were to meet me. On the ground your glove I found, With a note addressed to me. It read, "Dear Love, I've done you wrong, Now I must set you free. No longer can I live, With this hurt and this sin. I just couldn't tell you, That guy was just a friend." Moody River more deadly than the vainest knife. Moody River your muddy water took my baby's life. I looked into the muddy waters, And what could I see? I saw a lonely, lonely face, Just looking back at me. Tears in his eyes, And a prayer on his lips. And the glove of his lost love, At his fingertips. Moody River more deadly than the vainest knife. Moody River your muddy water took my baby's life. Barry |
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27 Jun 08 - 12:56 AM (#2375314) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,uncle.brisel Did Joe Babcock ever record ...Muddy Water? Yes, but long after it charted for others... 1981-Independent Artists Record Co. Joe Babcock-"Montage" 1. Your Love Means Everything To Me 2. Ballad of Lee Ann. 3. I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water. 4. My Kinda Gal. 5. This Rolling Stone is Rolling Home. 6. My Love For You. 7. Ballad of The Broken Arrow. 8. I Want To Love You. 9. How Can You Sing So Good (and Live So Bad) 10. God Does Not Change. All you old Hee-Haw fans saw Joe as a member of the Gospel and Cowboy quartets. |
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27 Jun 08 - 05:57 PM (#2375839) Subject: RE: Origins: Wash My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,David Neale Thank you, GUEST,uncle.brisel. Do you know who made the first commercial recording? |
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17 Sep 10 - 09:13 AM (#2988632) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,David Neale Still trying to find the artist responsible for the original commercial recording of "I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water," here's an email received from Joe Babcock himself: "I don't know exactly when Okie Jones and I cut our demo on "Muddy Water" but it would have been 1965. However you know that this was not a commercial recording, just a little demo that we cut in Marty's studio to give to Vic McAlpine to plug the song. He took it over to one of the record companies but later found out Stonewall was cutting that week so went back, got it and took it over to Columbia. They wanted it and Stonewall cut it right away. Stonewall told me lately that he ends every show with it now. Joe" So it looks as if Stonewall Jackson was the culprit. |
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17 Sep 10 - 01:38 PM (#2988798) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: Q (Frank Staplin) Lyrics at cowboylyrics .com have the heading: "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water" Recorded by Stonewall Jackson 1965 Recorded by Johnny Rivers 1966 Lyrics and music by Joseph T. Babcock. Chords given. http://www.cowboylyrics.com/abs/jackson-stonewall/washed-my-hands-in-muddy-5251.html Elvis Pressley- one of his covers credits Joe Babcock. Hear Pressley on youtube. A hard-driving version. Pressley site- http://wn.com/Elvis_Pressley__Wash_My_Hands_In_Muddy_Water The Toronto-based band Scotty Campbell and his Wardenaires credit Joseph T. Babcock. All country tabs also credits Babcock. |
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11 Jul 19 - 06:20 PM (#4000393) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: gillymor Anyone know who played lead guitar on the Stonewall Jackson recording. |
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11 Jul 19 - 07:57 PM (#4000397) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Starship @ gillymor: Spider Wilson maybe? |
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12 Jul 19 - 05:01 AM (#4000414) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: gillymor Thanks for the suggestion, Starship. I've always loved the swampbilly groove the player got on that one. |
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13 Jul 19 - 07:28 PM (#4000628) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: leeneia That must be a typo up there. If Stonewall Jackson recorded it, it would have been 1865, not 1965. :) |
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13 Jul 19 - 07:31 PM (#4000629) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Max Incredible, since he had died in 1864! |
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13 Jul 19 - 08:32 PM (#4000633) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Starship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_Jackson_(musician) Try the other one. |
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13 Jul 19 - 10:34 PM (#4000640) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: Stilly River Sage What an unfortunate choice of names. He appears to still be alive. |
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13 Jul 19 - 10:35 PM (#4000641) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: gillymor Could it have been Jeb Stuart playing those hot licks? (Actually Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson died on May 10, 1863) |
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15 Jul 19 - 11:24 AM (#4000826) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Starship gillymor, he's doing a duet with Danika Holmes last I heard. Too young for the 1960s recording ;-) |
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15 Jul 19 - 11:47 AM (#4000828) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: gillymor He will regret not having played on the record but once and that will be continually. |
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15 Jul 19 - 11:58 AM (#4000831) Subject: RE: Origins: I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water From: GUEST,Starship LOL |