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20 Jan 07 - 01:37 PM (#1942601) Subject: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander Wondering about the origins of Henry Clay Beattie sung by Kelly Harrell. Here's the Ballad Index entry . . . . Henry Clay Beattie DESCRIPTION: Beattie is convicted of murdering a girl, but denies his guilt. His family tries to get him to confess, lest he "go to [his] doom with a lie." At last he confesses. On a Friday morning he is executed in the electric chair AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (recording, Kelly Harrell) KEYWORDS: death murder prison punishment execution Hell FOUND IN: Roud #13147 RECORDINGS: Kelly Harrell, "Henry Clay Beattie" (Victor 20797, 1927; on KHarrell02) Notes: The use of the electric chair as a means of execution obviously dates this song to the few decades before Harrell's recording. This would seem to imply that it is based on actual events. But I can find no references to Beattie. - RBW |
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20 Jan 07 - 02:41 PM (#1942660) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander I can't find much else on this one. D.K. Wilgus in a review said only that Harrell's version was a ". . . rare ballad dealing with a 1911 murder case in Richmond." Journal of American Folklore Vol. 78, No. 309 (July 1965) Norm Cohen wrote about it, "Henry Clay Beattie . . . Once a Folksong," JEMF Quarterly (Autumn 1973), but I haven't been able to locate a copy of his article. I'm aware of no recordings other than Harrell's. |
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20 Jan 07 - 02:53 PM (#1942668) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander Looks like Norm's article was reprinted in Exploring Roots Music published by Scarecrow Press, I'll have to pick up a copy. |
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20 Jan 07 - 03:11 PM (#1942677) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander This looks to be a contemporary account of the Beattie case which I assume provided the inspiration for the ballad. |
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20 Jan 07 - 04:08 PM (#1942719) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: GUEST,Pete Peterson Great research work! and good song! Virginia's electric chair must have been busy; not too long after that they exectued Claude Allen and his father, subject of another couple good songs. (I have Hobart Smith singing one, and Fields and Wade Ward doing a different one) |
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21 Jan 07 - 02:15 PM (#1943434) Subject: Lyr Add: HENRY CLAY BEATTIE (from Kelly Harrell) From: Goose Gander Here's my attempt at a transcription. I'm a little confused by the chronology - from Friday evening to Thursday evening to Friday morning? HENRY CLAY BEATTIE (As sung by Kelly Harrell) Friday as the sun was setting After the sun shown clear Down in a cell sat a prisoner Trembling with mercy and fear In came his gray-headed father Said, "Henry, this day you must die If don't confess that you killed her You'll go to your grave with a lie" In came his brother and sister To bid him their last farewell "If you don't confess that you killed her You'll go to your grave with a lie" "If I confess that I killed her By taking her sweet life away But oh, how greedy and broody (?) I was for taking her sweet life" Was late on Thursday evening After the sun went down Henry Clay Beattie was bidding Farewell to his friend's native town (?) Then Friday as the sun was rising Just before the sun shone clear Henry Clay Beattie was dying Down in electric chair. |
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21 Jan 07 - 02:24 PM (#1943442) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander I'm guessing the first line originally read "Thursday as the sun was setting . . ." |
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02 May 07 - 05:45 PM (#2041686) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander Also recorded (though never released) by Bob Cranford and A.P. Thompson of the Red Fox Chasers for Starr Piano Company in January of 1931, according to Norm Cohen in "'Henry Clay Beattie': Once A Folksong." Charlie Poole used the same melody in 'Wreck of the Virginian No. 3" |
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03 May 07 - 10:12 AM (#2042248) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: GUEST,Russ Maggie Hammons Parker sang it as "Henry Clay Beal" Maggie was the queen of mondegreens. PLUG ===== It will be on Volume 3 of a set of 7 CDs of Maggie's singing. The set will be part of the Hammons Legacy Project. Russ (Permanent GUEST) |
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03 May 07 - 11:52 AM (#2042351) Subject: RE: Origins: Henry Clay Beattie From: Goose Gander Thanks, Russ, I'll keep an eye out for that. |