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A Day's Happiness (Version of Turkey in the Straw) Turkey in the Straw/Old Zip Coon/Natchez Under the Hill/Old Bog Hole
Bluegrass and old-time song and breakdown. Very widely known
ARTIST: Collected by Thomas Talley.
SOURCE: African-American collector Thomas Talley, in his work Negro Folk Rhymes (1922, reprinted in 1991 edited by Charles Wolfe), printed an unusual version called "A Day's Happiness." Wolfe notes that while there were dozens of recordings of the tune by early country musicians there were very few by blacks.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: Early 1900's 1834 (Five publications) as "Old Zip Coon;" Fuld reports the title "Turkey in de Straw" appeared in 1861; Earliest recording c. 1901 Silas Leachman;
RECORDING INFO "Old Zip Coon": Arkansas Charlie [pseud. for Charlie Craver], "Old Zip Coon (Vocalion 5384, c. 1930); Hindermyer & Tuckerman [Goldy & Dusty], "Zip Coon" (Edison 51830, 1926)
RECORDING INFO "Turkey in the Straw": Blue Ridge Duo, "Turkey in the Straw" (Edison 51502, 1925);
Dock Boggs, "Turkey in the Straw" [instrumental version] (on Boggs3, BoggsCD1); Boone County Entertainers [Red Fox Chasers], "Turkey in the Straw" (Champion 15522/Supertone 9163, 1928); Fiddlin' John Carson, "Turkey in the Straw" (OKeh 40230, 1924); "Turkey in the Hay"(OKeh 45167, 1927); Arthur Collins, "Turkey in the Straw" (Zonophone 637, c. 1907) (CYL: Edison 4011, n.d.); Billy Golden, "Turkey in de Straw" (Columbia A-1291, 1913) (Victor [Monarch] 65, 1902; Victor 4515, 1905; Victor 17256, 1913; Imperial Berliner [Can] 587, n. d.);[Billy] Golden & [?] Hughes "Turkey in the Straw" (CYL: Edison [BA] 1769, n.d.); Hobbs Brothers, "Turkey in the Straw" (Jewel 5458, 1928);Kessinger Brothers, "Turkey in the Straw" (Brunswick 235, 1928);Silas Leachman, "Turkey in de Straw" (Victor A-804, c. 1901); Neil Morris & Charlie Everidge, "Turkey in the Straw" [dance calls] (on LomaxCD1701);George Reneau, "Turkey in the Straw" (Vocalion 14812, 1924); Doc Roberts, "Turkey in the Straw" (Conqueror 7741, 1931;Perfect 12929/Melotone 12746, 1933); Eck Robertson, "Turkey in the Straw" (Victor 19149, 1923); Stove Pipe No. 1 [pseud. for Sam Jones], "Turkey in the Straw" (Columbia 201-D, 1924); Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, "Turkey in the Straw" (Columbia 15084-D, 1926);Anderson, Bob; and the Country Ramblers. Indiana Hoedown, Puritan 5003,LP (1973/1969), trk# B.04; Ayers, Thomas A. "Cap". Old Originals, Vol. 1, Rounder 0057, LP (1978), trk# 14; Boarman, Andrew F. Mountain State Music, June Appal JA 0025, LP (1978), trk# 8;Bryant, Don. American Banjo - Tunes and Songs in Scruggs Style, Folkways FA 2314,LP (1966), trk# A.19; Bunkhouse Orchestra. Old-Time Cowboy Songs, Gibbs Smith, Cas, trk# 2; Burke, John. Burke, John / Book of Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo, Amsco,sof (1968), p70; Byrd, Robert (Senator). Mountain Fiddler, County 769, LP (1978), trk# 2;Cadwell, Paul. Paul Cadwell, Shirley Keller, Charlie Wright, Twilight PSC 165,LP (1983), trk# A.08f; Carson, Fiddlin' John. Fiddlin' John Carson. Vol 4, Document DOCD 8017, CD (1997), trk# 20 [1927/10/11] (Turkey in the Hay); Collins, Mitzie. Sampler of Folk Music, Sampler aafm 7601, LP (1976), trk# A.01b; Cooney, Michael. Michael Cooney or: "The Cheese Stands Alone", Folk Legacy FSI-035, LP (1968), trk# 1;Cooney, Michael. Pure Unsweetened. Live Family Concert, Alliance WRC1-2310, LP (1982),trk# 7;Cutler, Marty. Brody, David (ed.) / Banjo Picker's Fakebook, Oak, Fol (1985), p174;Davis, Elwyn. Cazden, Norman, et.al. / Folk Songs of the Catskills, SUNY Press, sof (1982), p615/#169B [1950s];De Dannan. Song for Ireland, Sugar Hill SH 1130, LP (1983), trk# A.04;Ennis, Gwen. More Learning as We Play, Folkways FC 7658, LP (1962), trk# A.07;Everidge, Charlie. Folk Songs from the Ozarks, Prestige International INT 25006, LP (196?), trk# 10 [1959/10/06];Everidge, Charlie. Southern Journey. Vol. 1: Voices from the American South, Rounder 1701, CD (1997), trk# 9 [1959/10/06]; Fennigs All-Star String Band. Fennigmania, Front Hall FHR-024, LP (1981), trk# 8a; Fitzhugh, Mr. & Mrs. Percy. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South and ..., University of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p353/#274A [1920/07/07]; Fluharty, Russell. West Virginia Heritage, Page SLP 601, LP (197?), trk# A.07; Garvin, Bert. Kentucky Old-Time Banjo, Rounder 0394, CD (1999), trk# 34 [1997/05/05]; George, Franklin/Frank. Swope's Knobs, Anachronistic 001, LP (1977), trk# 1.05 ;
(Old Zip Coon)George, Franklin/Frank. Traditional Music for Banjo, Fiddle & Bagpipes, County C-2703, Cas (1992), trk# B.04; George, Franklin/Frank. Traditional Music for Banjo, Fiddle and Bagpipes,Kanawha 307, LP (1967), trk# B.03; Goodman, Don. In an Arizona Town, AFF AFF 33-3, LP (197?), trk# 23 [1960s?]; Greenhill, Mitch. Shepherd of the Highway, Prestige PR 7438, LP (1966), trk# 12; Griffin, Neil. Griffin, Neil / Banjo Fiddle Tunes, Mel Bay, Sof (1976), p30; Hammons, Burl. Hammons Family. A Study of a West Virginia Family's Traditions, Library of Congress AFS L65-L66, LP (1973), trk# 6 [1972/04/25]; Hammons, Edden. Edden Hammons Collection. Vol Two, West Virginia Univ SA-2, CD (2000), trk# 2.07 [1947/07]; Hanks, Larry. Fox Hollow 1972 - Vol VII, Fox Hollow RI-3856, LP (1972), trk# A.07; Hardesty, Cliff. Seems Like Romance to Me. Traditional Fiddle Tunes from Ohio, Gambier GFS 901, LP (1985), trk# B.03 [1983-84]; Hellman, Neal. Hellman, Neal; and Sally Holden / Life Is Like a Mountain Dulcimer, TRO, sof (1974), p50; Henderson, Wayne; and Robin Kessinger. Contest Favorites, Flying Cloud FC-010, LP (1989), trk# B.03; Herdman, Curly. Ohio State Champion (Ohio States Best), Kanawha 310, LP (1967), trk# 1; Herren, Ruth Burton. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, Bk (1991), p 95 [1975ca]; Howell, Peg Leg; and Eddie Anthony. Raw Fiddle, Rounder 1160-2, CD (2004), trk# 1.04 [1928/10/30] (Turkey Buzzard Blues); Hudson, Mrs. J. C.. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, Bk (1991), p 93 [1975ca]; Ives, Burl. Ives, Burl / Burl Ives Song Book, Ballantine Books, sof (1963/1953), p196; Jackson, Mike and Michelle. Patchwork, Larrikin LRF 052, LP (198?), trk# 16b; Johnson, Harry. Johnson, Harry / North Dakota Old Time Fiddling, WOTFA, CD (2006),trk# 1.06 [1980s]; Johnston, Kathleen. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, bk (1991), p 93 [1975ca]; Jones, Casey. Rocky Road to Jordan, MSOTFA 102, Cas (1992), trk# 12; Jordan, Vic. Trischka, Tony / Melodic Banjo, Oak, Sof (1976), p 92;Kessinger, Clark. Live at Union Grove, Folkways FA 2337, Cas (1976), trk# 11; King, Wayne. Old Time Fiddle Hits, Vol. 2, Banff CM4-735 Tape 2, Cas (198?), trk# 15;Kirkhuff, Jehile B.. Jehile Stands Alone, Kirkhuff CP 2002, CD (2002/1970s?), trk# 9; Knuth, Ron. Hoedown, Wisconsin Style, Stoneway STY-119, LP (197?), trk# B.04; (Arkansas Traveller); Lamb, Grant. Tunes from Home, Voyager VRLP 312-S, LP (1974), trk# 19; Lamberson, Jewell. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South and ..., University of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p355/#274C [1935/11/21]; Luxon, Benjamin;, Bill Crofut & Friends. Two Gentlemen Folk, Telarc CD 84401, CD (1987), trk# 11b; MacArthur Family. MacArthur Road, Front Hall 040C, Cas (1989), trk# 3c; Macon, Uncle Dave. From Heaven To Earth. Vol 3, Vetco LP 108, LP (197?), trk# 2[1928/07/26] ; Macon, Uncle Dave. Tennessee Strings, Rounder 1033, LP (197?), trk# B.02a [1929/06/20]; (Tennessee Jubilee) Macon, Uncle Dave. Uncle Dave Macon, RBF RF 51, LP (1963), trk# A.04b [1929/06/20] McFadden (McFadden, John). Capt. Francis O'Neill / O'Neill's Music of Ireland, Collins, Fol (1903), #1520 (Turkie s in the Straw); Moffatt, Sam. Dulcimer Player News, Dulcimer Player News, Ser, 6/4, P 8(1980); Morrison, Kathy. Rackensack. Volume 1, Driftwood LP 278, LP (1972), trk# A.08; Morris, Neil. I'm On My Journey Home; Vocal Styles & Resources in Folk Music, New World NW 223, LP (1978), trk# A.03a [1959]; Mueller, Mabel E.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South,University of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p354/#274B [1935/04/21]; Murphy, Leo. National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Folk Music Festival. 1973,Century, LP (1973), trk# B.06; Northcutt, Bill. Front Porch Fiddling, Stoneway STY 135, LP (1973), trk# B.02; Osborn, Roy. More Fiddle Jam Sessions, Voyager VRLP 304, LP (1971), trk# 6; Page, Ralph;'s Boston Boys. Old Time Herald, Old Time Herald, Ser, 7/7, p36b(2001) [1940ca] (Honest John); Parker, Chet. Hammered Dulcimer, Folkways FA 2381, LP (1966), trk# 12a; Pegram, George; and Parham, Red (Walter). Pickin' and Blowin', Riverside RLP 12-650, LP (1959), trk# 17 [1957]; Perlman, Ken. Perlman, Ken (ed.) / Fingerstyle Guitar, Spectrum Books, Sof (1980), p140; Poole, Charlie; and the Highlanders. Charlie Poole and the Highlanders, 1927-29, Puritan 3002,LP (1971), trk# 9b [1927-29] (Trip to New York. The Audition); Poole, Charlie; and the North Carolina Ramblers. Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, Vol .4, County 540, LP (1976), trk# B.01d [1930/01](Southern Medley); Poole, Charlie; and the North Carolina Ramblers. Charlie Poole, 1926-30, Historical HLP-8005, LP (1975), trk# 6d [1930/01] (Southern Medley); Possum Hunters. Death on Lee Highway, Takoma A-1010, LP (196?), trk# 11; Richardson, Larry;, Sonny Miller & Johnny Jackson. Galax Virginia; Old Fiddler's Convention, Folkways FA 2435, LP (1964), trk# A.01 [1961-63]; Robertson, Eck. Master Fiddler, Sonyatone STR 201, LP (1976), trk# 2 [1922/06/30]; Roberts, Fiddlin' Doc. Fiddlin' Doc Roberts. Complete Recorded Wor..., Vol 3. 1930-1934, Document DOCD 8044, CD (1999), trk# 8 [1932/03/25]; Robison, Carson; and his Pleasant Valley Boys. Square Dances, RCA (Victor) LPM-1238, LP (1956), trk# A.08; Robison, Carson; and his Pleasant Valley Boys. Square Dance Calls, Metro MS 504, LP (196?/1948), trk# A.02 (Pokeberry Promenade) Rosenbaum, Art (Arthur). Five String Banjo, Kicking Mule KM 108, LP (1974), trk# 11; Rosenbaum, Art (Arthur). Rosenbaum, Art / Art of the Mountain Banjo, Centerstream, Fol (1981), p58 Roylance, Dave. National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest & Folk Music Festival. 1965, Century, LP (1965), trk# 24c; Sandburg, Carl. Flat Rock Ballads, Columbia ML 5339, LP (1972), trk# 9; Sauers, Ralph. Guntharp, Matthew G. / Learning the Fiddler's Ways, Penn State, Sof (1980),p 55a [1974ca]; Sauers, Ralph. Guntharp, Matthew G. / Learning the Fiddler's Ways, Penn State, Sof (1980), p 70a [1974ca]; Schwimmer, Peter. Guntharp, Matthew G. / Learning the Fiddler's Ways, Penn State, Sof (1980), p 55b [1974ca]; Simmons Family. Stone County Dulcimer, Dancing Doll DLP 112, LP (197?), trk# 2.03; Simmons Family. Simmons, Tommy & Jean / Simmons Family Songbook,Simmons, Sof (1974), p13b; Simmons, Jean. Potpourri, Dancing Doll DLP 612, LP (1985), trk# A.03; Sisco, Carthy. Carthy Sisco, Sisco, Cas (199?), trk# A.01; Slater, Alex. Slater, Alex / Clawhammer Banjo Solos, Mel Bay, Sof (1979), p30; Smith, Fiddlin' Arthur; & his Dixieliners. Fiddlin' Arthur Smith and His Dixieliners, Vol. 1, County 546, LP (1978), trk# A.07 [1937/02/17] (Straw Breakdown); Smoke Creek. Smoke Creek, Smoke Creek SCC 9714, Cas (1996), trk# 14; Sprouse, Blaine. Brody, David (ed.) / Fiddler's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1983), p280; Sprung, Roger; & his Progressive Bluegrassers. Progressive Bluegrass, Vol. 3, Folkways FA 2372, LP (1964), trk# A.06; Stinnett, Cyril. Salty River Reel, MSOTFA 104, Cas (1992), trk# 21; Stinnett, Cyril. Plain Old Time Fiddling, Stinnett SLP 1013, LP (197?), trk# A.07; Sumner, Marion. Fiddle Fantastic, Old Homestead OHCS-90174, LP (1986), trk# A.04 (Straw Breakdown);Traum, Happy. Traum, Happy / Flat-Picker Country Guitar, Oak, Sof (1973), p 90; Ungar, Jay; and Mason, Molly. Folk Songs of the Catskills. A Celebration of Camp Woodland, Cob's Coble 1005, CD (2001), trk# 16b; Van Eps, Fred. Minstrels and Tunesmiths, JEMF 109, LP (1981), trk# B.04e [1920/09/22]; Waldman, Ken. Week in Eek, Nomadic, CD (2000), 11; Wanzer, Loyd. Folk Fiddling Left Handed Style, American Heritage AH-LP 19B,LP (196?), trk# B.07; Webster, Cece (Cecelia). Dulcimer Wizardry, Michigan Seasons, LP (1988/1974), trk# B.05b; Wettlin-Larsen, Georgia. Wood That Sings, Smithsonian/Folkways SF 40472, CD (1997), trk# 21; Whent, Eely (Fred). Sing, Say and Play, Topic 12TS 375, LP (1978), trk# A.06; Wills, Bob; and the Texas Playboys. 31st Street Blues, Longhorn KK-011, LP (1981/1940s),trk# B.08; Wiseman, Mac. 20 Old-Time Country Favorites, Rural Rhythm RHY-258, CD (1997/1966),trk# 14
RELATED TO: "The Old Tobacco Box (There Was an Old Soldier)" (tune, floating lyrics) "Old Zip Coon" (tune, floating lyrics); "The Catfish (Banjo Sam)" (floating lyrics); "Bunkhouse Orchestra" (tune) "Charleston Gals (Clear the Kitchen)" (floating lyrics); "Mary Mack (I)" (floating lyrics); "There Was an Old Lady" (tune); "The Delhi Jail" (tune); "Whoa! Ha! Buck and Jerry Boy" (portions of tune); Minorized Turkey; Natchez Under the Hill; There Was an Old Soldier; I Wish We Had Our Time Again; Three Prominent Bastards; Hoedown in the Straw; Sugar in the Gourd; Natchez on the Hill; Old Bog Hole; Rosetree I; Black Eagle
OTHER NAMES: "The Old Tobacco Box (There Was an Old Soldier)" (tune, floating lyrics); "The Ould Bog Hole" (tune); Old Zip Coon (File: RJ19258); Old Farmer Brown (Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 145) There Was a Little Rooster (Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 196); Do Your Ears Hang Low (Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 210-211) Fiddlin' John Carson, "Turkey in the Hay" (OKeh 45167, 1927); Carson Robison, "1942 Turkey in the Straw" (Bluebird B-11460, 1942); Whoa! Ha! Buck and Jerry Boy; We'll All Pull Through; On the Dummy Line; Tough Luck; I Had a Little Duck; Miller Boy; Delhi Jail; Grandma's Advice; Corky the Chewhound;
SOURCES "Old Zip Coon": Ceolas; Digital Tradition; Folk Index; Traditional Ballad Index; Willie Woodward (Bristol, N.H.) [Linscott]; W. Franklin George (W.Va.) [Phillips]. Burchenal, 1918; pg. 20. Linscott (Folk Songs of Old New England), 1939; pg. 102-103. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, Vol. 1), 1994; pg. 176. In the repertoire of Uncle Jimmy Thompson (1848-1931). Edison 50653 (78 RPM), Joseph Samuels, 1919 (appears as last tune of "Devil's Dream Medley"). Gennett 6495 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (Ky.). Recorded Anthology of American Music, 1978 - "Traditional Southern Instrumental Styles." RJackson-19CPop, pp. 258-260, "Zip Coon" (1 text, 1 tune); Linscott, pp. 101-103, "Old Zip Coon" (1 tune plus dance instructions); BrownIII 418, "Old Zip Coon" (1 text plus mention of 1 more); Belden, pp. 505-506, "Zip Coon" (1 text, minus the chorus but with the other characteristics of the piece); Lomax-FSNA 49, "Turkey in the Straw" (2 text, 1 tune, the second being "Zip Coon"); Spaeth-ReadWeep, pp. 17-19, "Zip Coon" (1 text, 1 tune); Fuld-WFM, pp. 591-592, "Turkey in the Straw (Zip Coon)"; ST RJ19258 (Full); Roud #4358; Woodward, Willie. Linscott, Eloise Hubbard / Folk Songs of Old New England, Dover, Bk (1993/1939), p101 [1920-30s] (Old Zip Coon); Ford, Ira W. / Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1965/1940), p413 (Old Zip Coon); ; de Ville, Paul / Concertina and How To Play It, Carl Fischer, sof (1905), #145 (Old Zip Coon); Best, Dick & Beth (eds.) / New Song Fest Deluxe, Charles Hansen, Sof (1971/1948), p140; Burchenal, Elizabeth (ed.) / American Country Dances, Vol. I, Schirmer, Bk (1945/1918), p20 (Old Zip Coon) Kimball, James / Sackett's Harbor, Sampler, Fol (1994), p30 [1880s?] (Zip Coon)
SOURCES "Turkey in the Straw": Ceolas; Digital Tradition; Folk Index; Traditional Ballad Index; Randolph 274, "Turkey in the Straw" (2 texts plus a fragment, 1 tune); Randolph/Cohen, pp. 234-237, "Turkey in the Straw" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 274A); BrownIII 94, "Turkey in the Straw" (1 fragment); also 511, "The Preacher Song" (1 text, a complex mix of verses from "Turkey in the Stray" and "Some Folks Say that a Preacher Won't Steal" with the "Uncle Eph" chorus); Sandburg, pp. 94-97, "Turkey in the Straw" (2 texts plus a fragment, 1 tune; the "B" and "C" texts appear to be rewritten or mixed); Lomax-FSNA 49, "Turkey in the Straw" (1 text, 1 tune, plus a "Zip Coon" text); Linscott, pp. 83-85, "Haymaker's Jig" (1 tune with dance instructions); Silber-FSWB, p. 37, "Turkey in the Straw" (1 text); Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 23, "I Went to Cincinnati"; p. 54, "Oh, I Had a Little Chicken" (2 texts, tune referenced); Fuld-WFM, pp. 591-592, "Turkey in the Straw (Zip Coon)"; DT, TURKSTRW (TURKST2); Roud #4247; Spaeth, Sigmund / Read 'Em and Weep, Arco, Sof (1959/1926), p 17 (Ole Zip Coon) Sandburg, Carl / American Songbag, Harcourt Brace Jovan..., Sof (1955/1928), p 94; Ford, Ira W. / Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1965/1940), p 59b; Ford, Ira W. / Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1965/1940), p435; Old Time Herald, Old Time Herald, Ser, 4/7, p38b(1995) [1855] Snyder, Jerry (arr.) / Golden Guitar Folk Sing Book, Charles Hansen, Fol (1972), p116; Kennedy, Peter (ed.) / Second Fiddler's Tune-Book, Hargail, sof (1954), p 9b [1950ca]; Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Book of Nonsense Songs, Crown, Sof (1961), p 59 (Little Red Hen); Polla, W. C. (ed.) / Pioneer Collection: Old Time Dances, Paull-Pioneer, fol (1932), p13c (Old Zip Coon); Polla, W. C. (ed.) / Pioneer Collection: Old Time Dances, Paull-Pioneer, fol (1932), p15O'Neill, Francis and James / Dance Music of Ireland. 1001 Gems, Walton's, Fol (1907), # 739 (Turkeys in the Straw); Krassen, Miles / O'Neill's Music of Ireland, New and Revised, Oak, Fol (1976), p155; Albert E Brumley's Songs of the Pioneers, Brumley, Fol (1973), 12; Fields, Arthur; & Fred Hall (eds.) / 50 Favorite "Get Together" Songs, Piedmont Music, sof (1933), #49; Isaac, Burton / Folk Fiddle by Burton Isaac, Mel Bay, fol (1964), p16; Lomax, Alan / Folksongs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p 95/# 49 Home Spun Songs, Treasure Chest, Sof (1935), p26; Brody, David (ed.) / Guitar Pickers Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1984), p144; Knorr, Frederick (arr.) / Cowboy Dance Tunes, Caxton, Sof (1941/1939), p19; Boni, Margaret Bradford (ed.) / Fireside Book of Folk Songs, Simon & Shuster, Bk (1947), p 66; Alton, Billy. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, Bk (1991), p 93 [1975ca]; Anastasio, Paul. Old Time Herald, Old Time Herald, Ser, 9/5, p29(2004);
From Ceolas: Mention of the tune in playlists, periodicals and literature abound. "Turkey" was cited as having commonly been played for Orange County, New York, country dances in the 1930's (Lettie Osborn, New York Folklore Quarterly); Bronner (1987) agrees that it was commonly played in New York state for dances in the early 20th century. It was in the repertory of Buffalo Valley, Pa., region dance fiddlers Harry Daddario and Ralph Sauers. It was one of the tunes listed by the Clarke County Democrat of May 9, 1929, that was predicted would "be rendered in the most approved fashion" at an upcoming contest in Grove Hill, Alabama (Cathen, 1990). "Turkey" was played at a fiddlers' contest in Verbena in 1921 according to the Union Banner of October 27, 1921, and was one of the melodies listed as an example of an "acceptable old-time number for a fiddlers' convention in Fayette, Alabama (Northwest Alabamian, September 4, 1930) {Cauthen, 1990}. Cauthen (1990) further cites a 1925 University of Alabama master's thesis by S.M. Taylor entitled "A Preliminary Survey of Folk-Lore in Alabama" in which the tune is listed, and found it mentioned by Lamar County, Alabama, fiddler D. Dix Hollis in the Opelika Daily News of April 17, 1926, as one of "the good old tunes of long ago." The title appears in a list of the repertoire of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham (the elderly Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the late 1920's). Catskill Mountain region fiddler Harry Robinson (Lackawack, New York) was recorded in the field in 1944 by Benjamin A. Botkin (AFS 7759) playing an unaccompanied version of "Turkey in the Straw." The tune was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, from the playing of Ozark Mountain fiddlers in the early 1940's, while Texas fiddler Eck Robertson's (with Henry Gilliland) recording of the piece (backed with "Arkansas Traveller") was the third best-selling country music record of 1923. It was in the repertoire of Virginia's Fiddlin' Cowan Powers and Family in the 1920's. Paul Gifford remarks that, around the Sault Ste. Marie area of northern Michigan and Ontario, "Turkey in the Straw" is played in the tradition in the key of B Flat Major.
NOTES "Old Zip Coon": Typical lyrics are: "Ole Zip Coon he is a larned scholar (x3), Sings possum up a gum tree an coony in a holler." Chorus: "O Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day (x4)." The remaining verses are quatrains about the people and animals of the south.
"At least three people have claimed authorship of the song: George Washington Dixon (mentioned but not credited on the earliest sheet music), George Nichols, and Bob Farrell. All three were early blackface performers of the piece (Farrell was actually called "Zip Coon," and is reported to have sung the song in 1834). The dispute over authorship probably cannot be settled at this time." Ballad Index
From Ceolas: "The title of this popular tune comes from lyrics of a widely known minstrel song of the 1800's. In the early history of blackface minstrels, Colonel T. Allston Brown stated, "the tune of 'Zip Coon' was taken from a rough jig dance called 'Natchez Under the Hill,' where the boatmen, river pirates, gamblers and courtesans congregated for the enjoyment of a regular hoe-down, in the old time." Mark Wilson says that "Old Zip Coon" was mentioned in chronicles before 1830, and indeed, it appeared in five publications accredited to different composers before 1834 (Bronner, 1987) {The titles "Natchez Under the Hill" and "Old Zip Coon" for the melody appear to have appeared almost simultaneous, for the former appears in George P. Knauff's 1839 Virginia Reels, volume I, while the latter appeared in 1834}. The melody is described as variously derived from the ballad tune "My Grandmother Lived On Yonder Little Green," according to Linscott (1939), while Bayard (1981) sees the tune as a composite of two Scots tunes, "The Rose Tree (or "Maureen ni Cullenaun") and "The (Bonny) Black Eagle"--the 'A' and 'B' parts respectively of "Old Zip Coon." Jabbour concurs, at least with "The Rose Tree" being the origin of this family of American tunes. There is a contra dance of the same name from New England which Linscott and Burchenal both print. The tune was in the repertoire of Maine fiddler Mellie Dunham. The elderly Dunham was Henry Ford's champion fiddler in the late 1920's.
NOTES "Turkey in the Straw": Lyrics commonly are: "As I was going down the road With a tired team and a heavy load... Turkey in the straw, Haw haw haw, Turkey in the hay, Hey hey hey... Whistle up a tune called turkey in the straw." Lyrics usually involve the strange things encountered by a teamster.
From Ceolas: An overwhelmingly popular tune in American fiddle tradition. Bayard (1981) suggests that a Scottish tune called "The (Bonny) Black Eagle" (also called "The Way to Edinburgh" by Oswald) resembles "Turkey in the Straw" in in both parts. Besides Samuel Bayard, Alan Jabbour, Winston Wilkinson, George Pullen Jackson and others think that a tune with an even stronger resemblance in the first part to the first part of Turkey is "The Rose Tree" (Maureen ni Cullenaun). Their apparent conclusion is that the Turkey tune is a composite of two older Scottish tunes, the 'A' part of "The Rose Tree" and the 'B' part of "The (Bonny) Black Eagle." There are other speculations: Nathan ("Dan Emmett," pg. 168) gives an Irish reel which seems to bear close resemblance to the 'A' part of Turkey, while Dreamer (in the Oxford Book of Carols, pg. 252) gives a "little known Scottish melody" with a second section equivlent to that of Turkey (Bayard wonders if this particular strain has long been a floater). According to Linscott (1939) the tune is based on the old song "My Grandmother Loved on Yonder Little Green." Michael Cooney lists a number of fiddle tunes to which "Turkey in the Straw" is supposed to have been related, including "Glasgow Hornpipe" (Irish), "Haymaker's Dance" (English), "The Post Office" (Irish), "Lady Shaftsbury's Reel" (Scottish), "Rose Tree in Full Bearing" (Irish), "Old Mother Oxford" (a morris dance tune known in England and Scotland), and "Kinnegad Slashers" (Irish). Captain Francis O'Neill, in Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody suggested the latter was the original source of "Turkey," although most reviewers dismiss this as an incidental resemblance only based on some similarities in the first part.
Whatever its origins, it was "undoubtedly in American folk tradition before the 19th century," says Bronner (1987), and that popular theater and minstrel groups during the 19th century helped consolidate and spread its popularity (it was often called "Old Zip Coon" in minstrel tradition). Fuld reports the title "Turkey in de Straw" appeared in 1861 attached to the tune through new song lyrics, copyrighted by one Dan Bryant, the melody labled only an "old melody."
NOTES "Natchez Under the Hill": From Ceolas: "Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia. A Major. AEAE. AABB. The tune is related to, and perhaps pregenitor of, the American fiddling standards "Turkey in the Straw" and "Old Zip Coon" (it is distinct from the latter, a Northern relative, by virtue of the two different beginning measures). It appears to be American in origin, though Alan Jabbour sees the roots of the tune in the English country dance melody "The Rose Tree," while others note the similarities of the English Morris dance tune "Old Mother Oxford." Jabbour (1971) states: "The only conspicuous difference in the melodic contours is that 'The Rose Tree' drops to tonic in the third phrase of the second strain, while the American tunes thrust up to the octave for rendering much of the same melodic materical." Though it seems clear its roots were in the British Isles, "Natchez Under the Hill" appears to have been one of the earliest American tunes that can be characterized as "old-timey" (i.e. having entered American traditional fiddling repertoire via the folk process) and a popular one. It was first published in this country in George P. Knauff's Virginia Reels, volume I (1839), and the title was mentioned in a humorous dialect story called "The Knob Dance," published in 1845, and set in Eastern Tennessee. Brown maintains the tune served as a "rhytmically enlivened" transitional melody between "The Rose Tree" and the song "Old Zip Coon" (curiously published in 1834, five years before the Knauff's printing of 'Natchez'--the two tunes were probably older than their publications), which closely follows "Natchez" harmonically and melodically (save the opening arpeggios of "Natchez" are replaced by a more singable phrase). By at least 1899 it was enough of a "chestnut" that it had become a category tune for fiddlers' contests, like the one held that year in Gallatin, Tennessee. Each fiddler would play his version, and the rendition judged the best won a prize (C. Wolfe, The Devil's Box, Vol. 14, No. 4, 12/1/80)."
"Natchez" was recorded in 1941 for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph from Ozark Mountain fiddler Lon Jordan, of Farmington, Arkansas (AFS 5317 A3), and was reissued on the Library of Congress LP AFS L62, "American Fiddle Tunes from the Library of Congress," edited by Alan Jabbour. Other Libarary of Congress recordings of the tune were made in 1937 of Theophilus G. Hoskins of Hyden, Kentucky (AFS 1520 A1), and in 1941 of Emmett Lundy of Galax, Virginia (AFS 4941 A3).
Here are the lyrics to "A Days Happiness/Turkey in the Straw:"
"A Days Happiness" TURKEY IN THE STRAW (Talley)
I went out to milk an' I didn' know how,
I milked dat goat instid o' dat cow;
While de *ole man a-settin' wid a gapin' jaw,
Kept winkin' his eye at a tucky in de straw.
I went out de gate an' I went down de road,
An' I met Miss 'Possum an' I met Mistah Toad;
An' ev'y time Miss 'Possum 'ould sing,
Mistah Toad 'ould cut dat Pigeon's Wing.
I went in a whoop, as I went down de road;
I had a bawky team an' a heavy load.
I cracked my whip, an' ole Beck sprung,
An' she busted out my wagin tongue.
Dat night dere 'us a-gittin' up, shores you're born,
De louse go to supper, an' de flea blow de horn.
Dat raccoon paced, an' dat 'possum trot;
Dat old goose laid, an' de gander not.
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