Home Came the Goodman- Wilson (NC) 1930 Henry A
[From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands collected & edited by Mellinger Edward Henry, 1938. His notes follow. This title was supplied by Henry and the local title should be: "I Came Home The Other Night."
R. Matteson 2013]
OUR GOODMAN
(Child, No. 274)
The A text came as a result of our visit to the haunts of "Big Tom" Wilson, famed hunter of the Black Mountains, on the Cane River at the western base of Mount Mitchell, still a wild region little frequented by travelers. Here lives Adolph, his son, who has a mountain inn. "Big Tom's" grandson, Ewart, has in recent years constructed a road on this side of Mount Mitchell and has a camp near the top where those daring enough to drive their cars may find refreshments and lodging. Travelers may also find first-rate entertainment at his home at the foot of the mountain. Mrs. Ewart Wilson knows a number of traditional ballads and other songs. B came from the Harmons, of Cade's Cove, Tennessee, from whom many of the texts in this book have come. The fragment C came from North Carolina.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 17; Barry-Eckstorm-Smyth, p. 315; Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 32; Frank Shay, More Pious Friends and Drunken Companions, p. 31; Cox, No. 28; Davis, No. 43; Finger, p. 161; Hudson, No. 26; Jones, p. 301; Mackenzie, Ballads, No. 14; C. A. Smith, p. 17; Reed Smith, Ballads, No. 14; Journal, XVIII, 294 (Barry); XXX, 199 (Parsons). Cf. also Journal, XXIX, 166; XXX, 328; XXXV, 348; Jones, p. 13.
A. "Home Came the Goodman." Recorded by Mrs. Henry from the singing of Mrs. Ewart Wilson, Pensacola, North Carolina, August, 1930. Mrs. Wilson learned the song from her brother, Edgar Ray.
1. I came home the other night
Just as drunk as I could be;
I found a hat hanging on the rack
Where my hat ought to be.
2. "Come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me;
How comes a hat upon the rack
Where my hat ought to be?"
3. "You blind old fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you plainly see
That that is only a frying pan
That my ma sent to me?"
4. "I've traveled this world over
For forty years and more
And I never saw a frying pan
With a hat band on it before."
5. I came home the other night
Just as drunk as I could be;
I found a coat hanging on the rack
Where my coat ought to be.
6. "Come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me;
How comes a coat upon the rack
Where my coat ought to be?"
7. "You blind old fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you plainly see
That that is only a bed quilt
That my ma sent to me?"
8. "I've traveled this world over
For forty years and more
And I never saw a bed quilt
With pockets on it before."
9. I came home the other night
Just as drunk as I could be;
I found a mule in the stable
Where my mule ought to be.
10. "Come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me:
How comes a mule in the stable
Where my mule ought to be?"
11. "You blind old fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you plainly see
That that is only a milk cow
That my ma sent to me?"
12. "I've traveled this world over
For forty years and more
And I never saw a milk cow
With a saddle on before."
13. I came home the other night
Just as drunk as I could be;
I found a head lying on the pillow
Where my head ought to be.
14. "Come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me:
How comes a head lying on the pillow
Where my head ought to be ?"
15. "You blind old fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you plainly see
That that is only a cabbage head
That my ma sent to me?"
16. "I've traveled this world over
For forty years and more
And I never saw a cabbage head
With a mustache on it before."