Southern Recording Trip- John and Ruby Lomax 1939- Part 1 Sections 1-9

[Complete Field Notes SECTION 1-9 plus some recordings of the important Lomax "Southern Recording Trip" made in 1939. I'm adding commentary in brackets [  ] to the songs. The field notes containing important song texts are edited for mistakes and better organized- showing verses/choruses. The same text and recordings may be found in the Library of Congress- unedited.

Richard Matteson 2011]

SOUTHERN RECORDING TRIP (March 31 - June 14, 1939)
PART 1- SECTIONS 1-9
For the Folk Song Archive of the Library of Congress by John A. Lomax and Ruby T. Lomax

PART 1:
Section 1: Itinerary and Acknowledgments
Section 2: Port Aransas, Austin and Houston, Texas; March 31-April 14
Section 3: Houston and Sugar Land, Texas; April 9 and 23
Section 4: West Columbia and Clemens State Farm, Brazoria County, Texas; April 15-17
Section 5: Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas; April 23
Section 6: Brownsville, Texas and vicinity; April 24-28
Section 7: Falfurrias and Sarita, Texas; April 28-30
Section 8: Kingsville, Texas; May 1-2
Section 9: Pipe Creek, Bandera and Medina, Texas; May 3-7

Section 1: Itinerary and Acknowledgments

Travel by automobile, 1939 Plymouth, owned by John A. Lomax; quipment- Presto recording machine and playback for AC current. Two sets batteries and converter. Total mileage: 6502 miles

States-  Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina--recordings made.
   Galax, Virginia--stop on Archive business, no recordings.

Acknowledgment is made to the following for valuable assistance in locating musicians and arranging appointments:

   Sister Joan of Arc,    Our Lady of the Lake College, San Antonio, Tex.
   Sister Mary Dolores,    2410 Anne. St., Houston, Texas
   John B. Jones,    1912 Kipling St, Houston
   J. L. Goree,    2908 Jackson St, Houston
   Miss Manuela Longorio   (teacher), Brownsville, Texas
   J. K. Wells,    Brownsville, Texas
   Judge Harbert Davenport,    Brownsville, Texas
   Mrs. Edward Lasater,    Falflurrias, Texas
   Frank Goodwyn.    Falfurrias and Kingsville, Texas
   Prof. J. A. Rickard,    A & I College, Kingsville, Tex.
   Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A. Moye,    N. 7th st., Kingsville, Texas
   J. Marvin Hunter,    Bandera, Tex.
   Mrs. Fletcher Layton,    Medina, Texas
   Supt. Ellingson,    State Prison, Huntsville, Texas
   Prof. and Mrs. William Longino,    Teachers College, Huntsville, Tex.
   Captains at Ramsey and Clemens State Farms, and the Goree Farm
   Gonzalo Lopez,    Sugar land, Texas
   H. R. Weaver,    Merryville, La.
   Supt. Reed,    Cummins State Farm, Varner, Ark.
   and Capts. Allen, Acklin and Martin
   Capt. Burt Clayton,    Camp 9, State Farm, Arkansas City, Ark.
   Supt. Thames,    State Farms, Parchman, Miss.
   Mrs. Ruby Pickens Tartt,    Livingston, Alabama
   Supt. L. F. Chapman,    Raiford, Florida (State Penitentiary)
   Mrs. Genevieve W. Chandler,    Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
   Ben Robertson,    Clemson, S.C.
   C. F. Adams,    Seneca, S.C.

ITINERARY
March 31, 1939    left Port Aransas, Texas
April 1--4    Austin, Texas and environs
April 4--14    Houston, Texas and environs
April 15--17    West Columbia, Clemens Farm and environs
April 18--23    Houston, Sugarland, Centra 1 Farm, Darrington Farm
April 24--29    Brownsville, Texas and environs
April 29--30    Falfurrias, Texas
April 30--May 2    Kingsville, Texas
May 3--May 7    Bandera and Medina, Texas
May 8, 9    Comanche, Texas
May 10    Taylor, Tex.
May 11--14    Huntsville, Tex.
May 15--19    Merryville, Louisiana and vicinity
May 20--21    Cummins State Farm, Varner, Ark.
May 22    Camp 9, State Farm, near Arkansas City, Ark.
May 23--25    Parchman, Miss...State Penitentiary (farms)
May 26--30    Livingston, Alabama
May 31    En route
June 1    Newberry, Florida.
June 2--5    Raiford, Florida-State Penitentiary
June 6    En route
June 6--8    Murrells Inlet, S. C.
June 9--12    Clemson, S. C. and Taccoa Falls, Ga.
June 12    Enroute
June 13    Galax, Va.
June 14    Galax to Washington, D. C.

Section 2: Port Aransas, Austin and Houston, Texas; March 31-April 14

We left Port Aransas, where we had spent the winter months, on March 31. At Aransas Pass, on the mainland, we unboxed and loaded into our Plymouth the fine almost-new recording machine, microphone, stand and converter, leaving the two heavy batteries to be shipped directly to Houston by express. Then we headed for Austin wheere we knew a mechanic who could check the machine to be sure all parts were there and working.

On April 4 we arrived at Houston, which we made headquarters for the next two weeks. The engagement that set the date for this trip was a performance of a Sacred Drama, The Good Thief, about which Sister Joan of Arc of the Our Lady of the Lake College had written us. It was to be presented on Easter Sunday, April 9, at Guadalupe Church, Houston, by a group of Mexican Texans led by the Gozalo Lopez Family of Sugarland. With the help of Sister Mary Dolores an appointment to record the choral parts of this drama was arranged for the afternoon of April 9. Unfortunately after two of the choruses had been recorded something went wrong with the machine; there being no electrician at call on Sunday afternoon, the recording had to be postponed and a date was set for a meeting at the Sugarland home of the Lopez family.

John B. Jones of 1912 Kipling St., Houston, and of Hollywood, California was a student of John A. Lomax at the Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College. He became interested in folk songs and was very helpful in bringing in folk materials. This interest he has kept. At his home in Houston on April 10 Mr. Lomax recorded old tunes with words, some texts incomplete, of songs that Mr. Jones had learned from various sources. His mother, Mrs. Kate W. Jones, who had come to Texas from Mississippi in 1868, also knew and recorded several fragments, mostly children's songs. See texts on following pages.

RECORD- TEMPORARY DISC #1.

A 1. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBO
   Sung by John B. Jones, Houston, Texas and Hollywood, Calif.
   April 10, 1939 in his Houston home, 1912 Kipling St.

   Comment: "Have known it all my life. Hundreds of verses. Much of it lewd. Will send words". [Bawdy lyrics- one verse]

A 2. THE BRITISH KING
   Sung by John B. Jones (see above)
   Comment: "Learned tune in army. Words supposed to be Kipling's. Have heard that this song cost him the laureateship. Lewd. Song said to be popular at the University of Va."

A 3. HOME BOYS HOME
   Sung by John B. Jones (see A 1)
   Comment: "Learned this ong in the army before 1910."

A 4. BESSIE MOORE--fragment
   Sung by John B. Jones (see above).

   "They'll take me to Texas Where I'll be tried
   For the murder of poor Bessie Moore.
   I'll sail the wild seas no more;
   For they'll take me to Texas Where, etc."

B 1. THE ARCHER'S SONG
   Sung by John B. Jones (see note A1)
   Comment: "English archers sang it in 14th century; sang it during discharge of seven arrows, the seventh of which was in the air before the first touched the ground."

   "Oh, we'll all pull together round the grey goose feather,
   For the land where the grey goose grows."

[taken from Arthur Conan Doyle- "Song of the Bow" 1898

What of the shaft?  
The shaft was cut in England:
A long shaft, a strong shaft,  
Barbed and trim and true;     
So we'll drink all together     
To the grey goose-feather
And the land where the grey goose flew.]

B 2. The U.S. MARINE MARCH
   Played by Mrs. Kate W. Jones on piano
   Comment: "Learned it from my mother, who learned it about 1830."
   Date and place of recording as in A 1. Mrs. Jones is mother of John B. Jones; came with her family from Mississippi in 1868. She was Kate Giallard.

B 3. HUNTING HORN CALLS

   John B. Jones (see A 1) blows hunting calls for dogs on old heifer's horn, scraped down by a Negro. Horn covered with squirrel skin where horn scraped too thin. Sound will carry two or three miles. Two calls blown: (1) Calling dogs together for hunt; (2) Calling dogs off after prey treed, etc.

2590 RECORD-TEMPORARY NO. 2

A 1. DILLY, DILLY (See revised text next page)   Sung by Mrs. Kate W. Jones, Houston, Texas, 1912 Kipling St. April 10, 1939
Comment: Mrs. Jones learned this song from her mother, who herself must have known it by 1830. Mrs. Jones came to Texas from Miss. in 1868. [Jones sings first and last verse on recording] Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2590a1.mp3

   Oh what have you got for dinner, Mrs. Bond?
   I've beef in the larder and ducks in the pond
   Call, dilly, dilly, dilly, dilly, come and be killed
   For you must be stuffed and my customers filled.

   John Ostler, go fetch me a duckling or two,
   John Ostler, go fetch me a duckling or two-
   Call, dilly, dilly, dilly, dilly, come and be killed,
   For you must be stuffed and the customers filled

   I have been to the ducks that are swimming in the pond
   And they won't come and be killed, Mrs. Bond,
   I cried, Dilly, dilly, dilly, dilly, come and be killed,
   For you must be stuffed and the customers filled.

   Mrs. Bond she went down to the pond in a rage,
   With plenty of onions and plenty of sage;
   She cried, Dilly, dilly, dilly, dilly, come and be killed,
   For you shall be stuffed and my customers filled.

  A 2. THERE WAS A LADY LOVED A SWINE-  Sung by Mrs. Kate W. Jones (see above, A 1); Comment: Learned from he mother. Three or four stanzas were was all Mrs. Jones could recall. Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2590a2.mp3

   There was a lady loved a swine.
   "Honey," said she,
   "Pig, Hog, wilt thou be mine?"
   "Hunh!", said he.

   "I'll build thee a silver sty, Honey," said she;
   "And in it thou shalt lie." "Hunh!" said he.

   "I'll pin it with a silver pin, Honey," said she,
   "That thou may'st go out and in." "Hunh!" said he.

   "Wilt thou have me now, Honey?" said she.
   "Speak or my heart will break." "Hunh!" said he.

A 3. MISS LUCY LONG (Revised text,  Sung by Mrs. Kate W. Jones;  Comment: This song used as lullaby by Mrs. Jones's Mammy in Miss. [minstrel song; fiddle tune] Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2590a3.mp3

   Miss Lucy she is handsome, Miss Lucy she is tall.
   The way she danced Paducah, She beat them niggers all.

   CHORUS:  Oh, rock that cradle, Lucy; Oh, rock that cradle long;
   Oh, rock that cradle, Lucy, and keep that baby warm.

   Miss Lucy went a-fishing, she caught a little trout;
   Says she, You little rascal, does your mammy know you're out?

   Her head is like a cabbage, Her ears like sauer-kraut;
   Her mouth is like a fire-place, With the ashes taken out.

   CHORUS: Oh, rock that cradle, Lucy; Oh, rock that cradle long;
   Oh, rock that cradle, Lucy, And keep that baby warm.
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2590 A4 (Disc-Temporary No.2  cont'd)

A 4. COACH AND SIX;   Sung by Mrs. Kate W. Jones (see note on A1)   Comment: Used as lullaby by Mrs. Jones's Mammy in Mississippi, who came from Va.

   First line: Hush an' bye, don't you cry.
   Same song as "All the pretty little horses", as sung by Lomax children and printed in American Ballads an Folk Songs, Vol. I:

   Hush an' bye, don't you cry,/Don't you cry, little baby;
   You shall have, you shall have,/You shall have, little baby,
   A coach and six, coach and six,/Coach and six little horses;
   All for the pretty little baby.

A 5. Dance tune - NOW SALUTE YOUR RIGHT ;   Sung by John B. Jones, 1912 Kipling St., Houston, Texas; April 10, 1939
Comment; Mr Jones is son of Mrs. Kate W. Jones. He learned this tune from the Dayton community. This tune as played by Jeff Carey, a dance fiddler of Cedar Bayou, Texas. Now deceased. Listen http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2590a5.mp3

   Now salute your right, now salute your left;
   Swing that right hand lady round, and all promenade.

B 1. THERE WAS A COUNTRY BLADE   (The man who had a dumb wife) Sung by John B. Jones (see note A 5)  Comment: Sung around Dayton community, with a dance step. Dayton community "barbarians". Barber's Hill people near mouth of Cedar Bayou. [Fiddle Tune] Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2590a2.mp3

   Oh,-there was a country blade, And he wooed a pretty maid,
   And he safely conducted her to home, home, home.
   She was neat in every art, And she stole away his heart,
   But the pretty little creature, she was dumb, dumb, dumb.

   REFRAIN:  Tra-la-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-, etc.
   But the pretty little creature, she was dumb, dumb, dumb.

   To the doctor then he went, To make his heart content,
   For curing a dearie of her dumb, dumb, dumb.
   So he cut the chattering string and her tongue began to ring,
   And He'd given all he had if she was dumb, dumb, dumb.

   Refrain: Tra-la-la-la, etc
   And He'd given all he had if she was dumb, dumb, dumb.

   To the doctor then he goes with his bosom full of woes,
   For curing his dearie of her dumb, dumb, dumb.
   Said the doctor he went to see, "I'm sorry you can't agree,
   For indeed you're both very young, young, young."

   Refrain:

   Said the doctor he went to see, "I'm sorry you can't agree,
   For indeed you're both very young, young, young;
   If her body all around you will make the hickory sound,
   You'll never more be bothered with her tongue, tongue, tongue.

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B. (2) ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES- Sung by Mrs. Shirley Lomax Mansell of Lubbock, Texas; May 7, 1939 in home of Oscar Callaway, Comanche Co. Comment: Mrs. Mansell learned this song from her mother, who learned it From her mother, a Virginian.

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2591-2592-2593- Temporary No. 3   (J.A.L.) Songs on this record by John Lowry Goree, made in his home, 2908 Jackson St., Houston, Tex. on April 12, 1939

Mr Goree came from Marian, Alabama in 1903; educated at Judson College; his great-grandfather, --King, trustee of that college and plantation owner; gave his children the plantation. Mr. Goree's mother died when he was born; as a small child he had scrofula and was sent to the plantation to be nursed by an old mammy, Aunt Harriet; he lived in a log cabin with her for two years. From her he learned the lull abies which he sings on these records, and by which he was often sung to sleep. Furthermore he sang his own children to sleep by them. On this plantation, also, he became familiar with the other tunes here recorded.

(2593) A 1. WHO CURLED YO' HAIR?  by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see above) Comment: Sung by Negro women hoeing cotton on plantation in Black Belt near Marian, Alabama Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2592b1.mp3

   Who curled yo' hair an' combed yo' bangs?
   Little boy from L-u-zianner.
   An' he come from L-u-zianna, L-o-r-d, Lord.
   He curled my hair an' he combed my bangs,
   An' he come from L-u-zeanna.

A 2. COACH AN' FIFTEEN LITTLE PONIES  by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see above) Comment: Lullaby learned from Aunt Harriett

   Go to sleepy, little baby, go to sleepy little baby,
   When you wake, you shall have a coach an' fifteen pretty little ponies.
   One is red, an' one is green, pne is pink an' one is tan,
   One is yallow an' one is blue, an' one is purty jes like you.
   Go to sleepy, little baby, go to sleepy, little, baby,
   Go to sleepy, little baby, and let dem ponies in.

(For other versions see: Am. Ballads and Folk Songs, Vol. I-Pretty Little Horses as sung by Bess Brown Lomax; also Temporary Record No. 2-A 4: Coach and Six Little Horses, sung by Mrs. Kate". Jones.)

B 1. JONAH - (Spiritual)    sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see note on A, above)   Comment: Spiritual, but also sometimes sung by Negroes as they brought up cotton sacks from the field. Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2593b1.mp3

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2593; Temporary No. 3

B 2. OF ALL DE BEAS'ES IN DE WORL'--sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see note to A 1)    Comment: "Reel"
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2593b2.mp3

   Of all de beas'es in de worl'
   I'd ruther be a Pant'er,    (panther)
   I'd crawl up on some lonesome hill
   And cry fer Susianner.

B 3. SUGAR BABE sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see note on A1);  Comment: "Blues", learned when Mr. Goree was 7 or 8 years old. Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2593b3.mp3

   Stannin' on de corner wid a dollar in my han',--Sugar Babe,
   Stannin' on de corner wid a dollar in my han',--Lawd, lawd.
   Stannin' on de corner wid a dollar in my han',
   Waitin' fer de woman didn' had no man, Sugar Babe.

   Lord knows I didn' mean no harm, Sugar Babe,
   Lord knows I didn' mean no harm, Lord, Lord;
   Lord knows I didn' mean no harm,
   Police grabbed me by my arm, Lord.

   He took me down to de Calaboose, Sugar Babe,
   He took me down to de Calaboose, Lord, Lord;
   He took me down to de Calaboose,
   An' I axed Jedge Mo' fer to turn me loose, Lord.

   Jedge Mo' didn' pay me no mind, Sugar Babe,
   Jedge Mo' didn' pay me no min', Lord, Lord;
   Jedge Mo' didn' pay me no min',
   Gun me 30 days an' a ten dollar fine, Sugar Babe.

B 4. HEAR DAT WHISTLE WHEN SHE BLOW--(Train Song)--by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas;  (see note on A 1.)
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2593b4.mp3

   Hear dat whistle when she blow, Lord, Lord,
   Hear dat whistle when she blow,
   Uh, she blow like she never blow befo'
   Blow like she never blow before: T-o-o--too-oo-e-ee
   Blow like she never blow before.

   Blow like she ain' goin' blow no mo',
   Uh, she blow like she ain' goin' blow no mo',
   Cause she's blowin' like my Honey's on Boa'd.
   Uh, de train got my Honey an' gone.

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2591; TEMPORARY NO. 2;   Report of a side-walk conversation, mostly one-sided, between two Negro men in Alabama-- Bre'r Zeke's Power in Prayer

   Reported by J. L. Goree at his home in Houston, Texas
   April 12, 1939. Mr. Goree is a U.S. "T"-man

Yon comes Bre'r Zeke; he ain' much on preachin', but he's 'bout de out-prayin'est Parson dat ever went to town on Satday. He can ast for mo' things in less time than air' nigger dat ever flung buck-shot mud off'n his boots. When he steps out to de aidge o' de pulpit, an' stretches his arms out'n frontta him, an' rolls his eyes up to de skies, an' starts prayin', hit look jes' like he 'spactin' de Good Lord to start drappin' de blessin's in his arms, den an' dere. He kin beg so hard, an' plead so pleadin' fied dat de corngregation, stidda prayin', be's peepin' thou deys fingers to see what sortta blessin's de Good Lord gwine drap down..

Lak de time back in 1932, Bre'r Zeke walked out to de aidge o' de pulpit 'n' rolled his eyes up to de sky, 'n' stretched his arms straight out in frontta him, 'n' start prayin': "Oh-o-o-, Marster, Thou hath knowed me fum de day o' my birth, even unto dis day 'n' time. Thou knowest me, Oh-o, Marster, Thou knowest me in de days o' prosperity when de manna wuz in plentiful 'bundence hereabouts; an' tseaeth me in these Thou seeth me in dem days, Oh-o, Marster; Thou seeth me in dem days goin' roun' sowin' de seeds o' righteousness 'mongsst de thornser 'nickerty, an' Thou hast sayeth, 'Let hit be so; an' Oh-o, Marster, hit wuz so.

"Now, Oh-o Marster, Thou seeth me in dese days o' 'versity; Oh-o Marster, Thou seeth me gwine upn' down de cotton fiel', tryin', Oh-o Marster, tryin' by de sweater my brow ter feed six chilluns wid some fo' cent cotton. Thou seeth me on a Sunday mornin', gwine down de Big Road, wid my elbows out, an' de botooms o' my foots reachin' de groun' thu de soles o' my shoes; Thou hath heared de Boss-man say dat de cotton us done riz won' 'pensate him fer de meat us done et. Now, Oh-o Marster, even as Thou knoweth all things dat be's possible, Thou knoweth also dat feedin' six chilluns wid some fo' cent cotton ain't one uv 'em,an' I beseeks Dee, Oh-o Marster, I beseeks Dee to look down deep in de bottom o' my heart, an' make search roundabout. An' ef you finds air' hoe, air' Gee-whizz, air' Go-devil, air' mule or air' cotton-planter, pluck 'em, Oh-o Marster, pluck 'em, an' cast 'em into de sea o' everlastin' fergetfulness; fer as long as cotton don' wuf but fo' cents, I ain' gwine need 'em no mor. Amen."

Folks, you know dat prayer hit got answered, yessir, hit sho' be's answered, fer 'twarnt long 'fo' de Good Lord tuck an' drapped dis here Mister Roosevelt right down in Bre'r Zeke's arms, an' said: "Gi' dat nigger ten cents fer his cotton!"

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LULLABIES

My last speck of consciousness has been thrilled time and again by three lullabies, a child's paradise. I could see the back yard full of a all kinds of animals, prancing around, made to seem a reality by the only ones who have mastered the art of picturing childish dreams in song, the Bla Black Mammy of the South. ---J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas, who sent in material

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2592 J. L. Goree; Walked all the way from Chicago.

2592  Temporary No. 4   (J.A.L.)

Songs on this record by John Lowry Goree, made in his home, 2908 Jackson St., Houston, Texas on April 12, 1939
Mr. Goree came from Marian, Alabama: educated at Judson College of which his great-grandfather had been a trustee (named King); he was a plantation-owner. Mr. Goree's mother died at his birth; as a small child he had scrofula and was sent to the plantation to be nursed by old mamy Aunt Harriet, with whom he lived inna log cabin for two years. From the Negroes on the plantation he learned the songs recorded on this record.

A 1. [Walked all the Way from Missouri]--sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see note above)
April, 1939 Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2592a1.mp3

   Walked all de way from Missouri (Hee!)
   And I come through Arkansas;
   Got so weak an' hungry (eeh!)
   Couldn' move my underjaw.

   Fed me on cornbread and 'lasses (eeh!)
   An' meatskins I could not chaw.
   Biscuits so raggedy an' taggedy (eeh!)
   Till I sprung my underjaw.

   Mamma, bring me a pillow (eeh!)
   An' lay right under my haid;
   Whiskey surround my body (eeh!)
   An' sport life gonna kill-a me daid.

A 2. [When you hear that peafowl holler] (Wood-chopping Song or Chant)   Sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Texas (see note above) [Same as railroad work-songs: Swannanoa Tunnel; Take This Hammer etc.] 

   When you hear dat, Humh!, peafowl holler, Humh!
   Sign o' rain, Baby Humh!, sign o' rain, Humh!
   When you hear my, Humh!, bulldog barkin', Humh!,
   Somebody roun', Baby, Humh!, somebody noun', Humh!
   When you hear my, Humh!, forty-fo' lumber, Humh!,
   'Nother nigger daid, Baby, Humh!, 'nother nigger daid, Humh!

A 3. [I Got a Purty Gal Down de Road]--sung by J. L. Goree, Houston, Tex. (see note on A 1)   Comment; First line. I went home to my supper las' night. Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2592a3.mp3

I GOT A PURTY GAL DOWN DE ROAD

I went, home to my supper last night,
I looked in de winder; didn' see no light.

I went to de do' an' de do' was shut;
I looked in de yard an' I looked in de lot.

Under de house an' all aroun',
But my gal, Hannah, jes' couldn't be foun'.

I axed de neighbors to see if dey knowed,
Dey said de las' time dey seen her she was down de road.

I got a purty gal down de road, down de road,
Purty girl down de road.
She sees to my washin' an' paid my boa'd,
I got a purty gal down de road,
Purty gal down de road, down de road.
Can't get a letter from, down de road.

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2594; 2595; TEMPORARY NO'S. 6 & 7 Sixteen so-called American Mother Goose jingles sung by Ray Wood of Raywood, Tex. Several of these are printed in his Mother Goose of the Ozarks, illustrated by Ed Hargis. See also his American Mother Goose, 1940.

Mr. Wood is a T-man, who has seen service in many parts of the U.S. possessions. He was brought up in Arkansas and retains an affection for the homely rhymes and jingles of the backwoods. He had previously, 1937, record other jingles for Mr. Lomax, in New Orleans. Mr. Wood is a T-Man who has seen service in many parts of U.S. possessions

Titles are designated as follows:

   1) Wooden-legged soldier (THE OLD SOLDIER) [Red-haired Boy]
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594b1.mp3

There was an old soldier and he had a wooden leg,
He had no tobacco so tobacco he would beg.
Said the first old soldier to soldier number two,
My tobacco box is empty won't you give me a chew.

2. Said the second old soldier, "I'll be danged if I do,
If you've no tobacco buy, you've no tobacco chew.
So save up your pennies, your nickles and your rocks,
And you'll always have tobacco in your tobacco box."

   2) Leather Britches: Ray Wood; Texas [fiddle tune]
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594b2.mp3

Leather britches, full of stitches
Mammy sewed the buttons on
And daddy kicked me out of bed
Because I had my britches on

Come along boys, along boys
We're gonna milk a cow.
We're gonna make a living
And we don't care how

   3) Johnny Get Your Gun: Ray Wood [1886 F. Belasco  AKA Monroe Rosenfield]
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594a5.mp3

Johnny, get your gun
Get your sword and pistol
Nigger on the barn
And he wont get off.

   4) Marching Round the Levee- Ray Wood 1939
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594b4.mp3

We're marching round the levee, (3X)
And I hope we'll gain the day.

Go in and out the window (3X)
And I hope we'll gain the day.

Go forth and choose you lover, (3X)
And I hope we'll gain the day.

I kneel becaue I love you, (3X)
And I hope we'll gain the day.

I measure my love to show you, (3X)
And I hope we'll gain the day.

Boo, hoo I hate to leave you,
And I hope we'll gain the day.


   5) Sugar Babe
http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594a1.mp3

Whatcha gonna go when the brach goes dry, sugar babe,
Whatcha gonna go when the brach goes dry, sugar babe.
Whatcha gonna go when the brach goes dry,
Sit on the banks and watch the crawfish die , Sugar babe.

   6) Roll on the ground http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594a2.mp3

CHORUS: Roll on the ground boys
Roll on the ground boys.
Roll on the ground boys
Roll on the ground

The raccoon has a bushy tail
 The possum's tail am bare.
The rabbit has no tail at all,
But a littel buch of hair.

The junebug has a golden wing

 

   7) Chew my terbaccer: [floating verse Shake Sugaree; Sail Away Ladies]

http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594a3.mp3

 Chew my terbaccer
 And I spit my juice
 Want to go to heaven
 But it aint no use.

Oh babe,
Honey  take you leg off mine

   8) Sallie lost her petticoat: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2594a4.mp3

Left foot, right foot
 Any foot at all
 Sallie lost her petticoat
 A-goin' to the ball

   9) Bully of the town

   10) I'm a husker

   11) I stuck my finger in a crawdad's hole:   I stuck my finger in a crawdad's hole
                                                             Crawdad says "dad gum your soul
                                                             "Take it out! Take it out!
                                                             Take it out! Take it out!"

   12) I'll eat when I'm hungry:  I'll eat when I'm hungry
                                           I'll drink when I'm dry
                                           If a tree dont fall on me
                                           I'll live till I die

   13) Uncle John is sick in bed http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2595a5.mp3 [tune yankee doodle]

Uncle John is sick in bed
What shall we send him?
A piece of pie of a piece of cake,
or a piece of apple dumpling.

   14) Hush, my baby, don't you cry

   15) Make me, shake me

   16) I wish I was a little rock

   17) Little birdie in the tree

   18) Pop caught a crawdad http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2595b3.mp3

Pop caught a crawdad,
Pap caught a minner-o.
Pap caught a catfish,
Big enough for dinner-o.

   19) Speak to me, darling

   20) There is a boarding house

   21) When I die http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2595b5.mp3 [Bill Grogan's Goat]

Oh, when I die,
Don't bury me at all.
Just pickle my bones,
In alcohol.

Put a bottle of booze,
At my head and feet,
And then I'll know,
I sure will keep.

Section 3: Houston and Sugar Land, Texas; April 9 and 23

THE GONZALO LOPEZ FAMILY

We first met Gonzalo Lopez and his family on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, at Providence Home, 2410 Anne St., Houston, Texas, where we had set up our recording machine to catch the singing parts of THE GOOD THIEF. (See Introduction by Sister M. Dolores). The family had inte rupted their rehearsing for the evening performance of the drama to record for us. The Lopezes were introduced to us by Sister Mary Dolores. She herself we had met by correspondence through Sister Joan of Arc of Our Lady of the Lake College, San Antonio Texas. Sister Joan of Arc had previously assisted Mr. Lomax (John A.) in his search for folk songs around San Antonio. Early in the spring she had written that an interesting religious drama, THE GOOD THIEF, would be presented in Spanish by the Lopez family on Easter Sunday at the Guadalupe Church; Sister Mary Dolores of Providence Home would assist us. Mr. Lomax arranged to meet the singers of the choral parts of the drama at Providence Home at three o'clock on Easter Sunday. Sister Dolores furnished him with an introductory sketch, a full text of the choral parts in Spanish and an English translation of them.

The presenting of this play, MORIR EN LA CRUZ CON CRISTO, oDIMAS EL BUEN LADRON, is traditional with the Lopez family beginning with their elders in Mexico. It occurred to some one of the family, Lorenza Lopez, some fifty years ago that the drama would be more effective if the lyrical parts were sung. As Sister M. Dolores has set down in her introduction, Lorenza Lopez approached an old school teacher in Coahuila, Lorenzo Flores, then a recluse, who, after praying over the matter for several days, set the verses to tunes which he taught the Lopez family. These tunes have been handed down from generation to generation of the Lopez family without written music. The discs which John A. Lomax has deposited in the Archive of American Folk Song in the Library of Congress are their first permanent form.

On Easter Sunday, in Providence Home, after two of the seven songs had been recorded, the machine broke down. As no mechanic could be found on Easter Sunday further recording had to be postponed. The Lopez family is a busy, thr ifty farming family who live at Sugarland a few miles west of Sugarland. Two weeks later, on April 23, we set up the recording machine on batteries in the living-room of the Gonzalo Lopez farm home. There Mr. Lomax recorded not only the seven songs of the drama, THE GOOD THIEF, but also the following secular folk songs of the Mexican border:

   Moldita la ilusion
   La vida de los arrieros
   Yo ya me voy--(which Mr. Lopez had used as his courting song)

Mr. and Mrs. Lopez have twelve children, eleven of whom arranged themselves about the room where the machine was set, the singers and the microphone being in the kitchen. Mr. Lopez' brother, Cleofe, from Sugarland assisted, Mrs. Lopez and the daughters singing the women's parts. The daughter who was not present is a Sister in a convent, a teacher. One daughter is employed in nearby Sugarland; the other children who are large enough or who are not in school assist with the farmwork.

When we drove from Houston, our headquarters, out to the Lopez farm to make the appointment for the recording, we found Mr. Lopez busy in the field, while Mrs. Lopez, having just finished a large family laundry, was preparing to go to the field. She apologized further for her late start, explaining that she had to do something extra for one of the small children who was sick. Much of this conversation was carried on in pantomime, as Mrs. Lopez knows little English and the Lomax pair knew less Spanish. Mr. Lopez and the children of school age, of course, speak English. The members of the family are all devout members of the Catholic Church, highly respected in the community for their thrift and dependability.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPORARY NO. LOPEZ

A 1. Maldita la ilusion;  Gonzalo Lopez and Cleofe Lopez, in the home of Gonzalo Lopez, near Sugarland, Texas, April 23, 1939

A 2. La vida d los arrieros..Donkey song..sung by Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalo Lopez

A 3. Yo ya me voy...I'm going your way...Mexican courting song..Gonzalo Lopez and Cleofe Lopez
   Mr. G. Lopez courted his wife with this song.

The Lopez family sang these songs after they had finished the songs of The Good Thief. The records were made in the Lopez living roomof their modest Mexican farm home near Sugarland, Texas. There are twelve living children, eleven of whom were present either as singers or as spectators. Cleofe is brother to Gonzalo, father of t e family.

B.1. Ride on, King Jesus...Spiritual...by Negro quartette of convicts in "The Walls" at Huntsville, Texas, May 13, 1939
Wm. Bowen, Eugene Blocker, Terrell Corlay, Alvin Brown

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Good Thief- JAL '39 Recording Trip; Houston and Sugarland, Texas; April 9 and 23, 1939

The Lopez Family--Choral parts of a religious drama in Spanish,  THE GOOD THIEF, or On the Cross with Christ

Introduction by Sister Mary Dolores, Providence Home, Convent of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2410 Anne St., Houston Texas

In my effort to gather some information concerning the music used in the drama, "To Die on the Cross with Christ", or "The Good Thief", I was told that the music was arranged about fifty years ago by an old school teacher of General Zepeda, Coahuila, Mexico. Lorenzo Flores is the name of this teacher. He lived a retired life without mixing with the world. When this drama was studied by the seniors of the Lopez family, not having any music for the songs used, they went to this Lorenzo Flores and he, reading the words, meditated for a while in his secluded abode and presemtly brought the melody to the director of the drama. He was asked, then, to teach it to the group of actors, for there were not written notes, and the Lopez family learned iy. From that time on it has been handed down to the actual date through memory and tradition by the Lopez family, since the music has never been printed.

When this drama was presented in Guadalupe Church, 2405 Navigation Ave., Houston, Texas, on Easter Sunday evening, April 9, 1939, the following singers rendered the seven songs which occur at intervals throughout the spoken text of the drama:
   Cleofe Lopez, Jose Lopez, Gonzalo Lopez, Rafaela Lopez, Paula Lopez, and Eulalia Martinez. The singers live at Sugarland, Texas, about twenty-five miles from Houston.

Title of drama: Morir en la Cruz con Cristo, o Dimas el Buen Ladron;   (Juan C. Aguilav (sp/?))   Imprenta Cosmopolita-Mexico

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 TEXT OF SONGS IN THE SACRED DRAMA: THE GOOD THIEF or TO DIE ON THE CROSS WITH CHRIST
   (Morir en la cruz con Cristo,o Dimas el Buen Ladron)
   Juan C. Aguilav (or Aguliar)
   (Imprents Cosmopolita-Mexico)

CORO DE BANDOLEROS

   La vida del bandido
   es vida deliciosa
   alegre y builiciosa
   de todos es temido.
   Su oficio es el robar
   vivir en la montanas
   y con astucia y mana
   mucho oro atesorar
   mucho oro atesorar.

LELIO

      Si asi quereis vivir
   preciso es ser va liento,
   matar a mucha gento
   que al fin hay que morir.
      Jurar siempre obediencia
   al jefe de vosotros
   que el siempre por nosotros
   expone su existencia.

CORO

   Pues viva el capitan
   y Lelio su seguando
   11: y viva todo el mundo
   gritemos con afan. :11
   gritemos con afan.

ESCENA QUINTA

Sara, Rebeca, Susana y coro de pastoras
(Salen cantando)

      Canto

   La noche ya se aleja
   y nos alumbra el dia,
   y en nuestros campos deja
   la paz y la alegria.

   El Dios de las alturas,
   nos de su bendicion,
   y a todas sus criaturas
   bendign esta ocasion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCANA UNDECIMA  CORO

   Al compas de las copas brindemos
   y bebamos con gusto y placer.
   Que mas dicha podrase tener
   que la que ahora nosotros tenemos?
   Viva, viva! Dimas!
   Viva, viva gestas!
   Viva Libia hermosa!
   Todos juntos, vivan!

ACTO SEGUNDO

ESCENA SEGUNDA

MUSICA RINON

   Plantaron celos y amores
   Un rosal con mil desvelos:
   El amor hizo las flores
   Y las espinas los celos.
   Pero dosda que embas cocas
   LLegaron a ser vecinas
   Ninguno coge las rosas
   sin punzarse en las espinas.

CORO

   Tu tienes tus flores
   tu tienes tus galas,
   tienes el alhago
   de la paz del alma.
   Esta vida infortunada
   que ama el hombre con empeno,
   es un ay: dentro de un eueno,
   es un algo de la nada.
   Es aire que en a carrera
   teje un velo de crespones:
   es un nido de ilusiones,
   dentro de una calavora.

Cantro Dentro
   Gloria a Dios en las alturas
   que desciende desde el cielo
   para darle a sus criaturas
   eterna paz en el suelo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCENA TERCERA

CANTRO DENTRO
   Hoy los cielos se han rasgado
   Y llueve el rocio fecundo,
   Que admirando a todo el mundo
   Salva al hombre del pecado

CORO GENERAL
      Pastores dichosos
   marchad a Belem,
   a adorar al Verbe
   y a Maria tambien.

CORO DE HOMBRES
   En carne humanado
   ya bajo del cielo
   a dejar al hombre
   libre del pecado.

CORO DE MUJERES
   Una madre virgen
   con un carpintero
   es toda la corte
   de este rey del cielo.

CORO GENERAL
   Pastores dichosos
   Marchad a Belem
   a adorra al Verbo
   y a Maria tambien.

ESCENA QUINTA

Los pastores, pastoras, el angel y core.
   Salen cantando y con ofrecimientos.

CORO
   Guidas de la luz
   vamos a Belem,
   a ver a la Virgen
   y al Nino tambien.
   Vamos pastorcillos
   con gusto crecido,
   a adorar humildes
   al recien nacido.

CANTO
   Dichosos Pastores
   de Dios preferidos
   dad vuestros amores
   al rey de nacidos.

CORO
   Dichosos pastores, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCENA OCTAVA

CANTA

   Se alibian las penas
   con comunicarlas  
   Oid mis desdichas,
   cristalinas aguas...Ecos
   Yo soy la que ausente
   de su amada patria,
   por amor de un joven
   me veo desterrada...Ecos
   El, por consiguiente
   desterrada se halla,
   y entre bandoleros
   para mas desgracia...Ecos
   Capitan le jura
   la caterva brava
   y le hacen caudilloo
   viendo su arrogancia...Ecos
   Ay: amado Dimas
   que me sobresalta
   esparar el golpe
   de la nuda Parca Ecos
   Volvedme a mi Dimas,
   flores, fuentes, aguas,
   por que sin el, Libia
   ningun consuelo halla..Ecos

ESCENA NOVENA

CANTO DENTRO

   Vela por tuamante, vela,
   no te apartes de su lado;
   porque aunque el es buen soldado
   un venganza le espera.

CANTO DENTRO
   Vela por tu amante, vela

CANTO DENTRO
   No te apartes de su lado

CANTO DENTRO
   Por que aunque el es buen soldado

CANTO DENTRO
   Una venfanza le espera.

EPILOGO
   33 ANOS DESPUES

   ESCENA QUINTA
   CANTO DENTRO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EPILOGO

33 ANOS DESPUES

ESCENA QUINTA

CANTO DENTRO

   Preludios y luego el siguiente:
   Excucha, Dim s, detente
   que ya el momento ha llegado
   de morir como valiente
   en una cruz enclavado

CANTO DENTRO

   Preludios y luegoel siguiente:
   Dimas, tu afrenta es dichosa,
   pues el cielo determina
   tu (yu?) muerte en una cruz afrentosa
   por disposicion divina.

CUADRO SEGUNDO

ESCENA PRIMERA

MUSICA DENTRO

   Llego el venturoso dia
   Dimas, el tiempo es llegado;
   de (Se?) cumplio la profesia
   de todo lo que has sonado.


Section 4: West Columbia and Clemens State Farm, Brazoria County, Texas; April 15-17

2596, 2597, 2598, 2599, 2604, 3551, 3552; Clemens State Farm, Brazoria Co., Texas-- April 16, 1939

We were spending a few days at the Varner Plantation, owned by Mike Hogg and other members of the distinguished Hogg family, the plantation having been bought by the former Governor Jim Hogg and developed by his sons, Will and Mike. It lies near West Columbia--Texas

On Saturday, April 15, we drove over to Clemens State Farm, a few miles away to arrange for a meeting with "the boys", Negro convicts stationed on the farm. On Saturday the boys who were working near headquarters were hauling dirt, grading, clearing ditches and otherwise improving the grounds around a new brick and steel dormitory. A group of ditch-diggers was working in time to the musical calls of the leader. We arranged to return to make records on the next day, Sunday, and returned to West Columbia to rent batteries for power, the dormitory being wired for DC current.

When we arrived at the farm the next day, the boys were ready for us. Mechanics from the white convicts who had quarters on the second floor helped adjust the machinery. The barber and the dentist furnished counter attractions, but our 'show' gave the boys greater diversion. Gradually, after suggest ions from Mr. Lomax as to what kind of music he wished to record, musicians and singers volunteered or were pushed forward by their companions. Some of the boys, Ace Johnson and Smith Cason for examples, already had had experience before the microphone,sine they were sometimes used on the programs called "Behind the Walls", broadcast from the Huntsville, Texas Penitentiary on Wednesday nights. After two hours we stopped for lunch, we being served with the white guards, and after lunch we worked an hour or so until the time came for base-ballpractice and preaching services.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2598 TEMPORARY NO. 11

A 1. (New) SHORTY GEORGE  sung by Smith Cason, Clemens State Farm - (Negro) Brazoria Co., Texas, April 16, 1939  (Words incomplete) Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/259/2598a1.mp3
 

Oh, what's the matter now.
Lord, what's the matter now?
Never thought  while I can.

Yes, he died on de road,
Yes, he died on de road,
I know  

He was a friend o' mine,
Yes, he was a friend of mine;
Everytime I think now I jes' can't keep from cryin'

I stole away an' cryin';
Yes, I stole away an' cryin';
Never had no money, I wasn't satisfied.

I wonder what de matter now?
Lord, I wonder what de matter now?
Can't get no letter Lord, don't need no letter nohow.

I 'bout to lose my mind;
Yes, I 'bout to lose my mind;
Seem to me sometime ... this great long time.

A 2. (Talkin' 'bout) West Texas ... sung by Roger Gill..Smith Cason (guitar) -negroes; Clemens State Farm, Texas, Apr. 16, 1939  (Words incomplete and confused)

Talkin' 'bout West Texas, boy, that's sho' you don't know.
An' I lived in West Texas  out in a prairie dog hole.

It was out in West Texas, is a good old place to roam (repeat)
That's where my bad luck overtook me and I lost my happy home.

I unsaddle my grey horse,..hitch up my pink an' roan;
Unsaddle dat grey horse (?)..hitch up dat pink an' roan;
Hear dat black gal done quit me, got to be some ridin' done.

B 1. SANTA FE BLUES  sung by Smith Cason Clemens State Farm, Apr. 16, 1939 [Version of All Night Long/Richmond Blues]
 http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?lomaxbib:1:./temp/~ammem_Hffv::

   Oakdale on the mountain, Craven on the Santa Fe;  
   I know good an' well this aint no place for me.
   I know my baby, she's goin' jump an' shout,
   When she receive this letter I done roll this long time out.

   I thought I heared the two-eighteen blow,
   She wasn't there but some here on the road.
   I run to de depot an' look up on de board;
   That train wasn't due, but somewhere on de road.

   I run to de railroad an' kneel down on de tie,
   Tryin' to wait right here till that long olo train roll by.
   I stan' here Mamma, wringin' my hands an' cryin' (repeat)
   Well, I aint highway blue, but I'm bothered all de time.
   I sure be glad when die trouble off my min';
   It keep me worried an' bothered all de time. (repeat last couplet)
   I know my baby now, Lord, goin' jump an' shout (repeat)
   To git that letter I done rolled dis long time out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3551 TEMPORARY NO. A 1. JACK O' DIAMONDS  by Smith Cason (Negro), Clemens Prison Farm, Brazoria Co., Tex. April 16, 1939    Comment: "Learned my songs on de streets in Jackson and San Jacinto Counties". Guitar accompaniment.
Listen: http://memory.loc.gov/afc/afcss39/355/3551a1.mp3

JACK O' DIAMONDS

Jack o' Diamonds, Jack o' Diamonds is a hard card to play;
You can play it in the summer, play it in the fall;
But Jack o' Diamonds was the poor man's friend.
I plays the deuce 'gainst the tres,
'Cause the deuce has been winnin' all the day.
My pardner, Low, plays the Jack 'gainst the fo',
He'll win that bet in the dough.


I begged my pardner, Low, don't gamble no mo',
'Cause he would win that bet right in the dough.
Yes, Mother, I know you told me so;
Don't play dice an' cards any mo'.
I received a letter which you reckon it said,
That my pardner, was Low, was dead.
I though I heared the big bell tone;
I knowed by that my pardner, Low, was dead an' gone.

A 2. OLE RATTLER  by group of Negro convicts on Clemans State Farm, Brazoria Co., Tex.; Tommy Woods, leader--April 16, 1939

   An' it's here, Rattler,--Here, Rattler, here.
   An' it's here, Rattler,--Here, Rattler, here.

   Ole Rattler, here some nigger gone,--(Here, Rattler, here)
   You can ketch him or you can leave him alone,--(Here, Rattler, here)
   (Lawd), go call that sergeant,--(Here, Rattler, here)
   Tell him gwine lose a trusty,--(Here, Rattler, here).

   Lawd, dat sergeant come a-leapin',--(Here, Rattler, here)
   Lawd, dat sergeant come a-leapin',--(Here, Rattler, here)
   Went to callin' Ole Rattler,--(Here, Rattler, here)--Repeat.
   And it's here, Rattler, here; here, Rattler, here)
   Ole Rattler come a leapin'--etc.
   Ole Rattler hear dat nigger gone,--etc.
   You can ketch him, Rattler,--etc- (ketch him, Rattler, Bite him, Ole Dog)

   Lawd, dey talk about Ole Rattler,--(Here, Rattler, here)-- repeat.
   Lawd, dey oughta see dat Logan dog,--etc.
   Dat dog he could trail a hog,--etc.
   Dey talkin' 'bout dat Logan dog,--etc.
   Dey ouh ta seen dat Queen dog,--etc.
   Dat dog she could trail a cop, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3551  TEMPORARY No. 9
 
B 1. MOURNFUL TROUBLE BLUES (by Smith Cason Negro convict)* Clemens State Farm;  April 16, 1939  With guitar pickin'.

   (Words very difficult to understand.)
   Trouble, trouble, I know you told me so

   Wish sometimes I never been born
   Your know now my trouble

B 2. OLD HANNAH by group of Negro convicts, Clemens State Farm, april 16, 1939; "Ole Hannah is de sun; when de sun goes down we quits work, an' in dis song we'se tryin' to git it down."  Tommy Woods, leader

   Ole Hannah! Ole Hannah!
   Oh go down Ole Hannah. Well, well, well. An' don't you rise no more.
   You can go down, Ole Hannah, (Well, well, well, O and don't you rise no more.
   Oh, I tired o' livin', but I got so long. (repeat)
   Oh, ny mamma called me an' I answered ma' am; (repeat)
   Oh, Son, aint you tired o'rollin' for Mister Cunnin' ham? (repeat)
   Mamma, I'm tired o' rollin', but I got so long. (repeat)
   Oh ma papa called me and I answered Sir. (repeat)
   Son, if you tired o' rollin', what you stay dere for?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2599  TEMPORARY NO. 8

A 1. Spoiled

A 2. HAMMER RING by group of Negro convicts on Clemens State Farm, Brazoria Co., Tex.;  April 16, 1939; Work Song for rock-breaking or ax-cutting. Note: Could not get all the words.

Well, my hammer,--(hammer ring), got a ten pound hammer, (hammer ring)

Cap'n went to Houston, (hammer ring), to git me a hammer, (hammer ring)

Way down in de bottom, (hammer ring), Hew out de live oak, (hammer ring)

Son you got fever? (hammer ring), son, you got fever, etc.

Said come here, nigger, (hammer ring)...Don't you see you got fever? etc.
Oh sergeant,...    Ain't got no fever...
Better got to rollin',   gonna hang you
Oh cap'n,    hammer am a ringin'
Ringin' for de captin, ringin' for de sergeant.
What de matter wid my pardner?
Oh my hammer, hammer ring, way down in the timber...
I'm goin' to Austin (hammer ring), have a talk wid de Gov'ner
I heard dat Sergeant   talkin' to Marble Eye.

Notes: Marble Eye is the captain; John Henry is the dinner wagon;  shakin'-jake means Praying for rain

B1. Levee
A 3. Field Hollers--by group of Negro convicts at Clemens State Farm in Brazoria Co., Tex
   Each man hollers by turn ... April 16, 1939
   in couplet
(1) Oh, I b'lieve I git religion an' jine de church;
I'll be a black-jack preacher, an' know how to work.
(2) Louisiana is a murderer's home; It may be a graveyard, but It's my home (?)
(3) Goin' to Oklahoma, git behind de sun; I don' mind rollin', got to roll so long
(4) I been down so jumpin' long; Well,-I don' mind, Cap'n, I roll so long.
(5) There ain't but one thing on my mind; I hate to go leave my Willie behind.
(6) If ever I git back in de country, Gwine te ll de Boss don't come for me.
(7) Only one thing I done wrong, Stayed in Texas one day too long.
(8) Oh what can it be? Heart full o' sorrow an' misery.
(9) I been down to Georgiy an' Tennessee, Lookin' for de woman what's crazy 'bout me.

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B 2. Imitation of Train--Harmonica   by Ace Johnson (Negro);  Clemens State Arm. Brazoria Co., Tex.,April 16, 1939

TEMPORARY NO. 10; 2596

A 1. THE RABBIT-  Harmonica by Ace Johnson (Negro), Clemens State Farm; April 16, 1939; Interspersed with calls to rabbit and to dog:

   Rabbit, git up in de mornin', go in my garden,   eatin' up my cabbage.
   Rabbit,...git up in de holler...got a bad habit...go in my garden..eatin'up my cabbage.
   Dog after rabbit
   Rabbit, got a mighty habit, Go into my garden, Eat up my cabbage.

A 2. MAMMA DON'T 'LOW NO SWINGIN' OUT- Harmonica and singing by Ace Johnson, Clemens Farm;   Guitar accompaniment by L. W. Gooden

   Mamma don't 'low no swinging out in here,
   Mamma don't 'low no swinging out in here;
   We don't care what Mamma don't 'low,
   We goin' swing out anyhow,
   Mamma don't 'low no swinging out in here.

   Oh, Mamma don't 'low no booger-roogin' in here,
   Mamma don't 'low no booger-roogin' in here, etc.

   Oh, Mamma don't 'low no truckin' round in here, etc.

   French harp playin' etc.

   Guitar playin' etc.

B 1. Slow drag work song.. CAP'N I SHO' WANT TO SEE MY MAMMA  by Tommy Woods and group of Negro convicts;  Clemens Farm, Brezoria. Co., Tex. Apr. 16, 1939;    Words very incomplete.

   Cap'n I she' wanta see my ...
   Little boy,...
   Little boy, what you want me to tell her?
   You tell her you lef' me  
   When I'm dead an' gone.

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2596  TEMPORARY NO. 10

B 2. (Work Song) First line: Cap'n, I got a home in Oklahoma ; Group of Negro convicts on Clemens Farm, Brazoria Co., Apr. 16, 1939

   Cap'n, I got a home in Oklahoma, Cap'n I got a home in Oklahoma.-Well, well, well
   Cap'n, I sho' wanta see my Mamma, Cap'n, jes' one more time.
   Cap'n, I sho' wanta see Black Alma, (Well, well), Cap 'n, I can't go home.
   Cap'n, I sho' wanta see Black Alma, (Oh, Lawdy), Cap'n, I can't go home.
   Cap'n, I 'blieve I'll write my Mamma one more letter, (Well, well, well)
   Tell her to pray for me (Lawd, have mercy)
   Cap'n, I 'blieve I'll write my Mamma one more letter (well, well, well)
   Will you please pray for me?
   Cap'n, it's all black an' cloudy, (   ), but it ain't goin' rain.

B 3. WORRY BLUES sung by Jesse Lockett (Negro convict)..Clemens State Farm, Brazoria Co., Tex.;  April 16, 1939

   Some people say that the worry blues ain't bad,
   Well, Some people say that the worry blues ain't bad;
   But it's the worst old feelin that I most ever had.

   Eveything that I do seem like I do it wrong (repeat)
   Sometimes I regret that I was ever born.

   Blues and trouble seem to be my best friend (repeat)
   Evey when my blues leave me then my troubles begin.

   If any one aska you who composed this song (repeat)
   Tell him you don't know who wrote it, but he's done come an' gone.

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TEMPORARY NO.# 12

A 1. I WOULDN'T MIND DYIN' IF DYIN' WAS ALL...by Clemens State Farm, April 16, 1939; I wouldn't mind dyin' if dyin' was all, but bye-an'-bye, Lord I'm goin' see the King. (TEXT VERY INCOMPLETE)

I wouldn't mind dyin', got to go by myself; I wouldn't mind dyin' if dyin' was all.
Well, Lord, let me be your child, Lord, I wouldn't mind dyin' if dyin' was all.
         dead an' gone
Ezekial said he saw a wheel in de middle O de wheel
Wouldn't mind dyin', got to stand de test,
Bye an' bye I'm goin' see the King,

Wouldn't mind dyin' if dyin' was all, Got to go by myself;
 Wouldn't mind dyin',  but got to lie dead so long.
 Wouldn't mind dyin', got to go by myself.
   ETC

A2. WHEN I GIT HOME  (spiritual)   Clemens State Farm;    April 16, 1939

I'll/be so glad when I git home (3 times)
No more trouble, no more trouble, no more trouble when I git home.

There'll be no more trouble when I git home (3 Times)
No more dyin' when I git home   etc.

I'm gonna set right down when I git home (3 Times)
No more trouble, No more trouble, no more trouble when I git home.

I'm going shake glad hands, etc
I'm goin' to shout hallelujah, etc
I'm goin' to meet my mother, etc.
There'll/be no more dyin', etc.

B 1. LONG HOT SUMMERS DAY  (work song)...Group Negro Convicts..Clemens State Farm; Clyde Hill, leader; April 16, 1939;    (Text incomplete)

Little boy, what you want me to tell your mamma--AAH!
Little boy, what you want me to tell your mamma--AAH!
Oh, it's been a long hot summer day.
You say you lef' me a rollin'--

There'll be June, July an' August, Oh, in them long hot summer days
Cap'n I hear you been sendin' over  

Cap'n, I'm goin' walk an' talk with Alberta, Oh, in them long hot summer days

Black Gal, if I never more see you, Black gal, I say, if I never more see you,
In them long hot summer days,

Black gal, I'm on my way back to Arizonie, Oh, in them long hot summer days.
Cap'N, I'm goin' write my mother, Oh, in them long hot summer days

B 2. GREY HORSE BLUES  by Smith Cason (negro)   Clemens State Farm, Apr. 16, 1939;  TEXT INCOMPLETE

   Oh, mamma, tell me what in the world is on your mind,
   Babe, what's on your mind?
   Evey time I think, I jest can't keep from cryin'

   Hitch up my old grey mare, hitch up my old grey mare,
   I'm goin' find Corinna, she's in the world somewhere.

   Saddle up my old grey mare, and hitch up my old grey bu gy, too.
   She told me now, she told me too, She told my sister, she told me too.
   Now, my boy, where my luck goin' take you.

   Needn't look for me on Sunday, cause I'm goin' take Corinna to Sunday school.

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3552 TEMPORAY NO. 13

A 1. FUNERAL SONG  sung by Smith Cason (Negro)   Clemns State Farm [usually titled, New Buryin' Ground]   guitar accompaniment.  April 16, 1939

[Two white horses standin' in line,] Goin' take me to my buryin' ground;
Did you ever hear that coffin sound You know now that poor boy is in the ground.
Your heart stop beatin' an' your feet get cold, You can let me down with a golden chain.

It's one kind favour I ask of you, Be sure my grave be kept clean;
Did you ever hear the church bell tone, You know now the poor boy's dead an' gone.
Now two white horses standin' in line, Oh, take me to my buryin' ground.

Did you ever hear that coffin sound etc.

A 2. [East Texas Rag.]   guitar solo... by Smith Cason (Negro)... Clemns State Farm
   April 16, 1939

B 1. [I Got a Home in New Orleans]    by Clyde Hill (Negro)..Clemens State Farm
   April 16, 1939

But I got a home in New Orleans, I mean I want to see Black Alma;
I mean Mrs. Helen Green, But I mean Mrs. Helen Green
She's a sweet brown-skin woman, Jes as sweet as the cold ice-cream.
I say she's in New Orleans, She's a brown-skinned woman, sweetest woman I ever seen.
Evey time she give me a new shirt, she buy the black crepe machine (de chine)
She put my initial on de pocket, Better than Mrs. Ella Green
I want to see Black Alma, She's sweeter than cold ice-cream.

B 2. [Clemens Rag]   guitars   Ace Johnson and L. Goodgen... Clemens State Farm
   April 16, 1939

B 3. [Influenza]    Ace Johnson..(Negro)...Clemens State Farm-Apr. 16, 1939;  "Learned it off a holiness boy in Amarillo"

In nineteenhunderd-an'-twenty-nine, men an' women sure was dyin'
   From de disease what de doctors called de flu;
People was dyin' eve'ywhere, death was creepin' through de air,
   For de groans of de sick sure was sad.

Chorus: It was God's almighty hand, he was judgin' dis old land,
   North an' south, east an' west could be seen,
   Yes, he killed de rich an' pore, an' he's goin' to kill more
   If you don't turn away from your sins.

In Mamphis, Tennessee, doctors said it soon would be
In a few days influenza will control,
But God showed He was the head, an' he put the doctor to bed,
And the nurse they broke down with the same.

(Chorus)

Influenza is a disease makes you weak all in your knees;
'Tis a fever ev'ybody sure does dread;
Puts a pain in ev'y bone, a few days an' you are gone
To a place in the ground called the grave.

(Chorus)

In nineteen hunderd and twenty-nine, men an' women sure wuz dy in',
   From de disease what de doctors called de flu.
People wuz dyin' eveywhere, death wuz creepin' thu de air,
   For de groans of de sick sure wuz sad.

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TEMPORARY NO. 14; 2604

A 1. Hesitating Blues   by Smith Cason (Negro), Clemens State Farm;  with guitar   April 16, 1939

Tell me how long will I have to ring; Can you ring, now friend, or got to hesitate?

Early this morning, don't be so slow, Business in a jamb an' I got to go.
Tell me how long will I have to ring, Can you ring now or got to hesitate?

Rahg this mornin' at half past four, Told me not to ring no more;
Tell me how long, etc.

Silver is silver an' gold is gold, You don't mind, you lose your soul
Tell me how long, etc.

Never seen the like since I been born; All my friends now are out an' gone.
Tell her this mornin' not to be so slow; Got me in trouble an' I got to go.
I aint no millionaire but an millionaire's son, Goin' spend my money till my baby (?) come.
My friend goin' make me wait, I jest now seen my mistake
Wake up this mornin' haf pas four, Didn't have nowhere to go
Now wake up friend, don't be slow  
Walked out this mornin' at half past nine, But the blues I had made me lose my mind.
Meet me mamma, don't be so slow; I'm in a jamb an' I got to go.
Me for Texas an' me for Tennessee; See all my friends gone back on me
Rang this mornin' at half past four; Business in a jamb an'I got to go.
Tell me how long will I have do wait; Can you ring now, or got to hesitate?
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Section 5: Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas; April 23

2604; 2605; 2606; Ramsey State Farm, Camp 4, Otey, Texas; April 23, 1939

After we had recorded the choral parts of the religious drama, The Good Thief, at the home of the Lopez family on a arm near Sugarland, Texas, we drove to the Central State Farm near Sugarland. The Captain had a good dinner served us and assisted Mr. Lomax in trying to locate singers. In previous years Central Farm had "entertained" such singers as Clear Rock and Iron Head, who had made recordings. But this trip was fruitless. The old crowd had scattered, the new boys sang less fewer of the old songs and in performance imitated radio artists. We did not set up the machine. We found about the same situation at the Darrington Farm some thirty miles away,- few singers and these not interested in old songs or the old manner of singing.

Our next stop was at Camp Four of the Ramsey State Farm, where most of the habituals and incorrigibles stay.. With the help of the Captain and some of his guards we located some singers, who were admitted one by one or by small groups into a small office where the recording machine was set up. InOne of these groups included Columbus Christopher, Alexander Hamilton and George Washington,--who sang for us under guard, behind three sets of locks. Just outside this office we could look down on the dormitory room, where Negro convicts were playing cards, reading, talking, singing blues, listening to an exhorter, sleeping. One boy was standing on a barrel as punishment for some minor violation of rules. We saw the boys go in to supper, in a line, both hands on the shoulders of the man in front of him.

Among the boys whom we found there was Iron Head (James Baker) now back "in the line", old and broken, assigned to the garden squad. He had been paroled from Central Farm by Governor Allred, but after a few months he was sent back for burglary,- "po'ch-climbin'". At first he was  shy and stayed in the background, as if ashamed for Mr. Lomax, who had petitioned for his parole, to find him in worse case, no longer even a trusty. But finally he came forward, either drawn by love of music or by "pride of profession",- for he had made many beautiful recordings for the Lomaxes and after his parole was granted he had traveled with Mr. John Lomax through the South on a recording trip. Impatiently Iron Head broke into a group's singing of some popular music-hall ditty, "No he don't want that kind o' stuff. This is kindly what he's after", and he started off on an old-time spiritual. Later he recorded it: "This heart o' mine, God's goin' save this heart o' mine, "with this remarkable stanza:

   Mary had one virgin son,
   She rocked Him in the cradle of number one.

Another of his spirituals, "Elder, will you march down to Jordan?" includes this couplet:

   Religion is somethin' like a bloomin' rose:
   None can tell that doesn't know.

Iron Head claims his nickname from this story: One day when he was cutting timber, a big tree caught him and one of its largest limbs struck him down across the head. The limb broke in two, but Iron Head shook it off and went on back to work. 

Two boys claimed the nickname of the famous "Stavin' Chain"; they compromised by accepting the amended names, "Big Stavin' Chain" and "Little Stavin' Chain". Another boy was called claimed "Jaybird", from his physical appearance. It was customary to set down nicknames of singers along with their names, which caused some embarrassment at Ramsey. In routine manner, "What is your name?" asked Mrs. Lomax of one of the singers. He gave it readily. "Your nickname?" No reply, just a shuffling of feet. "Haven't you a nickname?" Again a shuffling of feet, and then hesitatingly: "Dey calls me Monkey." A swift glance at the boy's features stopped the usual "How did you get that nickname?" Mrs. Lomax changed to an embarrassed and especially cordial "Thank you." Supper with the white guards closed our day at Ramsey.

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TEMPORARY NO. 14; 2604

B 1. JESUS WALK 'ROUND YOUR BEDSIDE...(Spiritual)...Alexander Hamilton (Negro); Ramsey State Farm, Camp 4, Otey, Texas;  April 23, 1939

Don't you want Jesus to walk around your, walk around your sick bedside?
I do want Jesus to walk around me, walk around me till I die.

Life is like a mountain railroad with an angel near my side
Jes' keep your hand upon the throttle and your eyes upon the rail.

Well don't you let old Satan lead you, he will lead let you off astray;
An' when he catch you for your meanness, he will go and leave you lay.

Don't you want Jesus to walk, Jesus to walk, Jesus to walk around your,
Walk around your sick bedside?
I do want Jesus to walk around me, walk around me till I die

My mother's dead and gone to heaven, an' she left me here alone;
I have no freind or no relation, None to teach me right from wrong.

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B 2. THIS HEART O' MINE  by Iron Head (James Baker-Negro)...Ramsey State Farm  April 23, 1939

Oh, this heart o' mine, oh, this heart o' mine, this heart etc.
God's goin' save this heart o' mine.

When I was a sinner just like you, (God's goin' save this heart o' mine)
I prayed in the valley an' I come through (God's gon' sav this heart o' mine)

Oh, this heart o' mine, etc.

Mary had one virgin son (God's goin' save this heart o' mine)
Well, she rocked him the cradle of number one. - God's goin' save this heart o' mine)

Oh, this heart o' mine...oh, this heart o' mine, God's goin' save this heart o' mine.

B 3. ElDER, WILL YOU MARCH DOWN- Ramsey State Farm, Apr. 23, 1939

Elder, will you march down to Jordon? Hallelu:
Give me the horn that you told me to blow;
Blow them sinners from Hell's dark door.
Religion is something like a bloomin' rose;
None can tell that doesn't know.
Well, thank God Am ighty done fixed it so,
That the rich an' the pore both must go.
Religion is something that money can't buy,
Thank God Amighty done 

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TEMPORARY NO. 18 2606

A 1. SMOKEY MOUNTAIN BLUES   by Wallace Chains and Sylvester Jones (Negroes)  "Big Stavin' Chain" and "Little Stavin' Chain"  Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas-April 23, 1939;   In the guard's office, behind three sets of locks.

These Smoky Mountains way our in de West
I say these Smoky Mountains, they are way out in de West,
I was standin' here wonderin' who my good girl loves best.

I say dedo Smoky Mountins is a dangerous place to go (repeat)
But I'm goin' up on de mountin an' knock on my baby's do'

Oh, I've got a woman, an' she lives way up on dat hill (repeat),
She may drive me 'way, but I don't 'blieve she will

I'm goin' up on dat mountin an' knock upon my baby's do'; (repeat)
An' if she drive me 'way, I know she don't want me no mo'.

I'm goin' upon dut mountin, an' I may not come back down; (repeat)
You may tell my friends I'm in my last go-round.

Baby, you may never see my smilin' face no mo', (repeat)
But if you see my baby, tell her I hate to go.

But my baby got a diamon', shine like de risin' sun; (repeat)
She says you come back from Tulsie, says 'may be I buy you one'.

I'm goin' to Newport to Aunt Ca'line dis; (repeat)
She's a fortune-teller an' aint never telled a lie.

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ELLA SPEED Ramsey State Farm April 23, 1939 (Text sent in later by Wallace Chains) Note: Text may not correspond exactly to text of record, as it was written out and sent in later.

   Come, all you girls, and take heed
   Do you remember the poor girl Ella Speed
   Some day you might be out only having fun
   Some man will do the deed Marton done.

I was in Savannah and will tell you what it was about
Marton killed Ella cause she wanted to be a rousterbout

I was standing in the sloon and seen it when it first begun
He shot Ella with a 41 smoking gun.

Then right down State Street the dirty coward he did run
In his right hand he held this smoking 41

He hollered You better hurry Miss Ester if you want to see your girl
She is lying on the barroom floor, struggling in her blood

Now if Miss Ester had rased Ella like her farther said
She'd be living, but now the poor girl is dead

Poor Ella's people they live way out west
They didn't come to Savanna till they heard of Ella's death

The traisn come running under the union shed
They started the bells to toneing when they heard poor Ella was dead

Now Marton is in the jailhouse drinking out of a silver cup
Ella's in the graveyard, poor girl she will never wake up

Some of the boys give nickles and some give dimes
I never give one red cent because she wasn't no friend of mine

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TEMPORARY NO. 18; 2606

B 1. WORRY BLUES (I wake up worried)   Group of Negroes on Ramsey State Farm near Otey, Texas, April 23, 1939;   W. S. Harrison, Leader (Jay Bird);    (Text very imperfect)

Well, I wake, I wake up worried; Gonna tell you what I'm worried 'bout.
Cap'n, what's de matter    Cap'n you won't   But you know that worried me.
Cap'n, what time o' day? Gettin' late in de e'en, been runnin' all day.
Cap'n, you won't   What de matter? I wonder what de matter
   ever crawlin'

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B 2. COME ON AN' BOW DOWN- (Spiritual)--group of Negro convicts led by Iron Head (James Baker)
   Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas. April 23, 1939

   Come on an' bow down, He's a callin' you, he's a-callin' you this very hour.
Come on an' bow down; He's callin' you, he's callin' you.

Don't you want to be saved? Don't you want to be saved this very hour?
Come on an' bow down.

You better pray, You better pray, you better pray this very hour.
Come on an' bow down, come on an' bow down, He's callin' you.

My Saviour said, my Savior said, my Savior said this very hour.
Come on an' bow down, come on an' bow down; he's callin' you, he's callin' you.

(These same phrases continue and the record concludes:)
   He's callin' you, he's callin' you, yes, yes, Won't you shake my hand?

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TEMPORARY NO. 19; 2605

A 1. SINNER WILL BE RUNNIN' IN DAT GREAT DAY  (spiritual)   by group of Negro convicts (Who shall be able to stand?)    Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas-April 23, 1939    (Text incomplete)

Sinner will be runnin' in dat great day (repeated);
Who will be able to stand?

My mother will be runnin' in dat great day, etc.
My father, etc.
My mother, etc.
My sister, etc.
De grave will be open in dat great day (repeated). Who shall be able to stand?

A 2. MY PORE MOTHER KEEPS PRAYIN' FO ME- (Blues)...Wallace Chains and Sylvester Jones; ("The Two Stavin' Chains")    Negroes on Ramsey State Farm, April 23, 1939

   My pore mother keeps a-prayin' for me (Whooo-ooh-ooh, Well, Well) (repeat)
   Say bless my son wherever he may be

   Work all summer long, did'n' save no railroad fare (well, well)
   Now my money's gone, an' my friends don't even care.

   I work in de summer when de days was warm long;
   Now I ain'T got no money, an' all my friends is gone.

   Well I would go beggin', but I don't like playin' blind;
   An' that woman she's gone an' tooken all those clothes o' nine.

   Well, you see my condition, won't 1et me love my fun;
   An' my money's will gone an' my friends won't give me none.

  ( These words are interspersed with ejaculations and and groans, such as "Whoo-ooh--ooh and Well, well.)

B 1. Till I die    (Spiritual) by group of Negro convicts; Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Tex.
   April 23, 1939    Words not caught.

B 2. Gambler, where was you?    (Spiritual)   group of Negro convicts..Ramsey State Farm;  led by Wade Bolden.."Monkey"    April 23, 1939

Gambler, where was you when they called your name, called your name, called your name? (repeat)
Gambler where was you when they called your name?
You waited one day too late, one day too late.

Liar, where was you, etc.

Drunkard, where was you, etc.

Backslider, where was you, etc.

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(2604; 2605; 2606) Ramsey State Farm, Otey, Texas April 23, 1939

Copy of letter from Columbus Christopher, one of the singers of (2604-2606) Otey, Texas; April 27, 1939

Mr. John A. Low. Mack
Dear Sur. At this time sur I hope I am not taking to much advanthae of my opportunity with you. But kind sur however I am sure you undstand and will consider my true reply. Mr. Mack I hope you wont think I am going to far with you. But I am sure that you will undstand. Sur if you will get me out I will work for you are any of your peoples tell I gets you paid altho I am married. But I did like much to be going around with you if you and Miss can do anything for me I am sure Gord will help me do the rest. Maintime I have a good frend here. he was sleep Sunday when you war here. But he and eye have ben sing a lots since Sunday. he now blues and love songs good. So we are practtice on Religious Songs. Mr Mack he nows River Songs to. I have ben sing with the boys and trying to have a greath number of songs for you and Miss. So please ance soon and I will let you no about what time to come. So this time I will ramain with the lord and help of others
   Columbus Christopher
   R 1. Otey, Texas

Section 6: Brownsville, Texas and vicinity; April 24-28

Brownsville, Texas April 25--29

Manuela Longoria
Jose Suarez ("Blind Jose")
Children of Blalack School
Mrs. Henry Krausse, Dolores Royes, Tito Crixell, Henry Delgado

Judge Hobart Davenport introduced us to Miss Manuela Longoria, teac her of a suburban grade school where the pupils are all of Mexican families. Miss Long oria herself is well-educated She is always helpful with the annual "Charro Festival" in training the school children for their parts. Miss Longoria's own songs we recorded in her home in Brownsville, where she lives with an older sister who does not yet speak English. Miss Longoria's songs are traditional, most of them from her mother and her father. The Blalack School children sang us the songs that they use at play in their own homes. It is interesting that when Mrs. Lomax asked them how to spell certain titles they shook their heads, saying that they could not spell Spanish words. Their written and spoken school work is all done in the English language.

Atanacio Hernandez, a Mexican farmer came to the school house to sing old songs which he is thought to know, but due to timidity, perhaps, before his own children or the microphone, he sang only Nicero Leon, a tragic narrative of the "head-hunting of a man who was afraid of nothing but God", according to Miss Longoria's interpretation.

The recording at Blalack School was made in a large classroom, the children sitting around the machine on the floor, watching every move of singers and recorders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manuela Longoria

On the same disc with La Rancherita (o?) Miss Longoria recorded a Confederate Song, La Chinaca two stanzas. She says that there are perhaps six other stanzas which she cannot recall. The song was composed by a group of about fifty Confederate soldiers, among them her father, to greet give warning of the Federals who they heard were coming their way.

A3 is a narrative song about the Storm (La Culebra) 1800 in Leon, learned from her father; there are perhaps one or two more stanzas.

A4 is a play song, "Run, Run"

Another of her songs is (English title)-Little Drunk Man

Others: El Sentimento ..a love song, learned from her father.
   La Pajara Pinta, a game song, learned from her father
   Las Aguilas de San Miguel, a game song, played like London Bridge.

Fathers name: Crisostomo Longoria, died 1935

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Brownsville, Texas April 24--29, 1939; Blalack School and Manuela Longoria

Three records were filled at Blalack School, a school for children of Mexican parentage, three miles from Brownsville, Texas. Miss Manuela Longoria is principal. The children speak only English in school, but Miss Longoria invited the children to sing game songs, lullabies and other children's songs in Spanish. She herself added to her list of songs recorded at her home. The father of two of her pupils came from his farm work to sing a "bad man" ballad.

   Songs recorded at the Blalack School are as follows:
   Los Patos (Ducks)--ring game played at night.
   Counting to ten
   El Floron--ring game played sitting
   Maria Blanca-- by girls of the school (Maria in prison is freed by the prince)
   La Pajara Pinta
   La Aguilas
   Lullabies

Ramona Ramirez sang an Indian song, and Maria Robriquez a love s ong.

Atanacio Hernandez, a farmer of the community, sang the tragic history of Nicero Leon and assisted in singing a boy-and-girl sentimental song

The concluding song was in English, a patriotic song,Children of America

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2607 TEMPORARY NO. The songs on this record were sung by Miss Manuela Longoria at her home in Brownsville Texas on April 24, 1939. Miss Longoria was educated in the public schools of Brownsville, the College of Arts and Industries at Kingsville, Texas, and the University of Texas. She is principal of Blalack School, public school for Mexican children, three miles from the city.. Most of her songs she learned from her father, a Confederate soldier who served along the border. Her grandfather joined the Union army

A 1. La Rancherito...by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas.-April 24, 1939
   Comment: "I was youngest of nine children in the family and my father's favorite. When he would come home onhis big handsome horse from one of his five ranches, he would begin to sing this song way down the road as a signal to me to meet him. Then we would dance together to he snappy music. My mother thought it was silly."

   Tomando copas de tinto y cerveza,
   paso la horas de mi vida aqui;
   Mejor quisiera aquel sabrozo apdllo,
   Como en el r ncho dando yo naci.

   Aqui toditos usan tacon alto
   Cosas que siempr me chocado a mi
   Mejor quisiera aquella hermosa bota
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

   A ui toditos usan sombrero chiquito
   De tan chiquito parece capi (e?)
   Major quisiera grande y con barboquejo
   Como en el rancho de yo naci.

   Aqui se pasean en las banquetas
   Dandose vueltas por aqui y alli
   Mejor quisiera handar lazando vacas
   Como en el rancho de yo naci.

   Aqui so baila con bonitas musicas
   Cosas que nunca me han gustado a mi
   Mejor quisiera violin y tanbora
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

   Aqui meriendan con ricas somitas
   En pan que siempre me a chocado a mi
   Mejor quisiera aquellas azaderas
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

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A 2. La Chinaca...a Civil War song...by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas. Apr. 24, 1939
   See general comment on A 1 sheet. Learned from her father who served along the border in the Confederate army. Crisos omo Longoria

   Por hay viene la chinaca
   Toda vestida de griz
   Preguntandole a los mochos
   Donde esta su Emperatriz.

   Si vien puebla se perdio
   No fue falta de valor
   Fue por falta de elementos
   Para la Confederacion.

Miss Longoria says that she has never been able to find the six other stanzas of this long narrative. Fifty men contributed to the composition of this song, which they sang as a sort of signal th t the Northern forces were near. Her father's name was Crisostomo Longoria. He died about four years ago.

A 3 La Culebra.. (The 1800 Storm in Leon)..by Manuela Longoria
Latter part spoiled..Recorded agin as B 1

A 4 Play-party song, learned from her grandmother. ..by Manuela Longoria
Al corre y corre -- a ring game

   Al corre y corre, Ven junto a mi
   Dame el abrazo   Que te pedi.

   Ven, ven joven querida, ven, ven aqui a las flores,
   Ven, ven a mis amores, Ven, ven hacerme feliz

   Al corre y corre, Ven junto a mi
   Dame el vesito   Que te pedi.

   Ven, ven, etc.

B 1. La Culebra    by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas. April 24, 1939
   Comment: Story of great storm in Leon about 1800. Perhaps two or three stanzas missing. Learned from her father.

   Un dia por la manana ...Una culebra cayo
   Ano de mil ochocientos ...Dies y ocho de julio
   Se ha hundido El Leon ...Ano de mil ocho cientos
   Dies y ocho de julio ...Se ha hundido El Leon

   Otro dia por la manana...Toda la orilla del rio
   Toda la gente desnuda...Los ninos chiquitos
   Temblando de frio   Toda la gente desnuda
   Los ninos chiquitos   Temblando de frio.

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B 2. El Sentimi nto    Love song ...by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas. Apr. 24, 1939
   Learned from her father.

   Si tienes algun sentimiento,
   Ve me diciendo, yo sobre cual es
   Yo te quisiera ver contenta
   Como te miraba la primeva ves
   Si crees que yo ya no vuelvo
   Por que ya me voy
   Quedate con Dios-
   Mi vid no llores,
   No llores mi vida
   Que haces pedazos mi corazon.

   Has un recuerdo mi bien
   De tu amante si
   Por que no puedo olvidarte
   Jamas a ti
   Por que soy fiel y constante
   Mi vida no llores
   No llores por mi.

B 3. La Pajara Pinta    Game song..by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas, April 3, 1939
   Learned from her father.

   Estaba la pajara pinta   Para en su verde limon
   Con sus alas vuia las ojas...Con su pico, picaba la flor.
   Ay, Dios. Ay, Dios cuando vere mi amor.

B 4. Las Aguilas de San Miguel -  Game Song ...by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas April 24, 1939

   (Played like London Bridge)

   Hay! vienen las Aguilas de San Miguel
   Cargados de pan y miel
   A lo maduro
      Que se voltee Jose de burro
      Ay! Ay! Ay!

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A 2. La Chinaca ...a Civil War song...by Manuola Longoria, Brownsville, Texas. Apr. 24, 1939; See general comment on A 1 sheet. Learned from her father who served along the border in the Confederate army, Crisostomo Longoria

   Por hay viene la chinaca
   Toda vestida de gri
   Preguntandole a los mochos
   Donde esta su Emperatriz.

   Si vien puebla se perdio
   No fue falta de valor
   Fue por falta de elementos
   Para la Confederacion.

Miss Longoria says that she has never been able to find the six other stanzas of this long narrative. Fifty men contributed to the composition of this song, which they sang as a sort of signal th t the Northern forces were near. Her father's name was Crisostomo Longoria. He died about four years ago.

A 3. La Culebra ...(The 1800 Storm in Leon.)...by Manuela Longoria
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B 2. El Sentininto ...Love song...by Manuela Longoria, Brownsville, Texas. Apr. 24, 1939  Learned from her father.

   Si tienos algun sentimiento,
   Ve me diciendo,yo cobro curl es
   Yo te quisiera ver contenti
   Como te miraba la primova ves
   Si croes que yo ya no vuelvo
   Por que ya me voy
   Quedate con Dios-
   Mi vid no llores,
   No llores mi vida
   Que haces podazos mi corazon.

   Has un rocuerdo mi bien
   De tu amante si
   Por que no puedo olvidarte
   Jamas a ti
   Por que soy fiel y constante
   Mi vida no llores
   No llores por mi.

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A1 Apr. 24, 1939 Learned from father, Cristomo Longoria   soldier in cofederate army    died about 1934.

   La Rancherita

   Tomando copas de tintó y cerveza
   Paso la horas de mi vida aqui;
   Mejor quisiera aquel sabrozo apollo,
   Como en el rancho dando yo naci.

   Aqui toditos usan tacon alto
   Cosas que siempr me chocado a mi
   Mejor quisiera aquella hermosa bota
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

   Aqui toditos usan sombrero chiquito
   De tan chiquito parece capí
   Mejor quisiera grande y con barboquejo
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

   Aqui se pasean en las banquetas
   Dandose vueltas por aqui y alli
   Mejor quisiera handar lazando vacas
   Como en el rancho de yo naci.

   Aqui se baila con bonitas musicas
   Cosas que nunca me han gustado a mi
   Mejor quisiera violin y tanbora
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

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    Aqui meriendan con ricas semitas
   En pan que siempre me a chocado a mi
   Mejor quisiera aquellas azaderas
   Como en el rancho donde yo naci.

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 A2    La Chinaca. -- "Civil War"

   Por hay viene la chinaca
   Toda vestida de griz
   Preguntandole a los mochos
   Donde esta su Emperatriz.

   Si bien puebla se perdio
   No fué falta de valor
   Fué por falta de elementos
   Para la Confederacion.

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 A3 & B1 Storm (bad incomplete)

   La Culebra

   Un dia por la mañana
   Una culebra cayó
   Año de mil ochocientos
   Dies y ocho de julio
   Se ha hundido El Leon
   Año de mil ocho cientos
   Dies y ocho de julio
   Se ha hundido El Leon

   Otro dia por la mañana
   Toda la orilla del rió
   Toda la gente desnuda
   Los niños chiquitos
   Temblando de frio
   Toda la gente desnuda
   Los ninos chiquitos
   Temblando de frio.

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B. A 4- Al corre y corre

   Al corre y corre
   Ven junto a mi
   Dame el abrazo
   Que te pedi

   Ven, ven jóven querida
   aqui a las flores
   a mis amores
   hacerme feliz

   Al corre y corre
   Ven junto a mi
   Dame el vesito
   Que te pidi--

   Ven ven etc.

   Naranja dulce

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Children in ring
Child in center
Sing -- first one embraces center.
2nd kisses one in center
Sung by all children

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2613 lullaby B1  Sra. Santa Ana.

   Señora Santa Ana,
   Por que llora el niño,
   Por una manzana;
   Que se le a perdido.

   Vamos a la huerta
   Cortaremos dos
   Una para el niño
   Y otra para Dios.

   Arriba del cielo
   Hay una ventana
   Por donde se asoma
   Señora Santa Ana.

   Arriba del cielo
   Hay un abujerito
   Por donde se asoma
   El nino chiquito

   Ramoña R.
   Sofia H.
   Ramona
   Maria R.
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B 2.   El Sentimiento,

   Si tienes algun sentimiénto,
   Ve me diciendo,yo sobré cual es
   Yo te quisiera ver contenta
   Como te miraba la primeva ves
   Si crees que yo ya no vuelvo
   Por que ya me voy
   Quedate con Dios-
   Mi vida no llores,
   No llores mi vida
   Que haces pedazos mi corazón.

   Has un recuerdo mi bien
   De tu amante si
   Por que no puedo olvidarte
   Jamas a ti
   Por que soy fiel y constante
   Mi vida no llores
   No llores por mi.

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TEMPORARY NO. 21,22,23- 2613; These three records were made in Blalack School, a school for Mexican children, three miles from Brownsville, Texas. Miss Manuela Longoria is principal. The children speak only English in school, but Miss Longoria invited the children to sing game songs, lullabies and other children's songs in Spanish. She herself added songs to the list recorded an her home. The father of two of her chi pupils came from his farm work to sing a "bad man" ballad.

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Brownsville, Texas  April 25--29,1939

Jose Suarez ("Blind Jose")

Jose Suarez was introduced to John A. Lomax by J.K.Wells. J. K. Wells is the son of Jim Wells,who for many years was very influential politically and socially in "the Valley". There is a Jim Wells County in Texas, and Jim Wells was for many years "boss" of the Spanish-speaking people along the border. His son, J.K.Wells, is a successful lawyer and businessman in Brownsville, himself a friends to Mexicans in need. Blind Jose recorded his songs iin the Wells home.

Jose became blind at the age of ten months and makes his living singing and playing his guitar on the streets, at da ces and in drinking halls. He goes everywhere about the city with the aid of a cane. He has a wide repertoire of Mexican and Spanish songs and tunes; in fac t he says he does not know how many he can sing, since new ons pop into his head every day that he has not thought of for years. He keeps up with the popular songs, but he likes best the old local and occasional ballads,- about exciting events that have happened in the border country. Mr. Wells comments at this point:

"Whenever, in the old days, anything exciting happened, a poet made verses about it and distributed the composition as a broadside. Musicians made up the air or tune for the verses. Prisoners leaving on boats would make u make up verse accounts of their experiences,- accounts of their crimes, etc., and sell them on the streets or from the boat."

See also comments on songs as listed, for special circumstances
from which each song arose.

Mr. Wells could not be so rude as to ask Jose his age.
Instead, he asked in Spanish: "Jose, when did you cut your eye-teeth?"
To this Jose replied, "Forty-three years ago."

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JAL '39 Recording Trip --Brownsville, Texas--Jose Suarez--April 26, 1939

Below is an example of a ballad in broadside form, as described by J. K. Wells of Brownsville, Texas as being the usual form for distribution of Mexican border ballads. See note on Texts of border songs sung by Jose Suarez

LA VIDA.

Esta vida es un misterio,
Una ilusión vaporosa,
Una vereda escabrosa
Que conduce al Cementerio.

¿Qué significa vivir
En este mundo engañoso,
Que de nada sirve el gozo
Cuando es preciso morir?
En la nada va a concluir
Tomándolo bien de serio,
Que aunque sea un gran imperio
Viene a quedar en la nada...
Hablando en verdad sagrada,
Esta vida es un misterio.

Si acaso hay un "más allá,"
No lo veremos, por cierto,
Porque ya después de muerto
De nada nos servirá.
Es posible que lo habrá,
Según mi creencia dudosa,
Y si de algo allá se/goza,
Ir allá a gozar conviene,
Porque aquí, solo se tiene
Una ilusión vaporosa.

Y si el destino es morir,
¿Qué vale el haber nacido?
Desde luego está perdido
Todo nuestro porvenir.
Se ve que todo es sufrir,
Que esta vida es muy penosa
Aunque a la vista es preciosa
Nos encanta el batallar
Y por fin, va uno a encontrar
Una vereda escabrosa.

Todo está asi decretado
Por la mano del Creador:
Hay que sufrir con rigor
Lo que ya está sentenciado.
Cada quien ve por su lado
Y resiste al intemperio;
Es duro, penoso y serio,
Hay que verlo con despecho:
Es un camino derecho
Que conduce al Cementerio.
Por Prudencio Hinojosa.

Brownsville,  Texas Diciembre de 1929.

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TEMPORARY NO. Suarez #1

A1. Train Robbery  sung and played by Jose Suarezin the home, of J.K. Wells, Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939   J.K. Wells is the son of Jim Wells who for many years was very influential politically and socially in "the Valley" of Texas.

Jose Suarez became blind at the age of ten months and makes his living playing and singing on the streets and drinking halls. He goes everywhere about the city with the aid of his cane.. As he listened to the play-back of his records he went through the motions of playing the song and rocked back and forth with the rhythm. He has no idea how many songs and ballads he can sing.

Train Robbery ...14 stanzas (a few threads of the disc are spoiled) Annoncement by J.K.Wells

The story of a robbery between Brownsville and Point Isabel, Texas, of the Rio Grande RailRoad. Modqueda was the hero. This song also called The Nineteenth of January,as the hold-up occurred on Jan.19, 1892 1892.

B Bandit Trouble on the Rio Grande Border 1915 ...sung and played by Jose Suarez, blind Mexican street singer,    at the home of J.K.Wells, Brownsville,Texas April 26, 1939

Mr. Wells comments: The raid was incited by the Germans. Many Mexicans were killed. "In the old days, whenever anything exciting happened, a poet made verses about it and distributed the composition as a broadside. Musicians made up the ir own tunes for the verses. Prisoners leaving on boats would make up a verse account of their experiences, accounts of crimes, etc., and sell them on the strests or from the boat."

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TEMPORARY NO. Suarez #2

A 1. Cotton Picking. (Song of vagr nt Mexicen cotton pickers) by Jose Suarez
Spanish    with guitar ...Sung in the home of J.K.WellsBr ownsville, Tex. April 26, 1939

Mr. Wells comments: "Prior to 1904, the date of the first railroad in this part of the country, there was a general exodus of Mexicans picking cotton from Brownsville to Mississippi and beyond. They moved north as cotton matured, then walked back. Due to the boll weevil cotton prices were low and therefore so were cotton-picking wages. After the railroad came in, the contract system was intoduced,-that is, contrac tors loaded their groups onto the trains,-and trooping by foot ceased."

This song of, five stanzas of which are here recorded, was pr obably made or started in Gonzales, so Jose thinks. It opens with the father's advice to his young son.. Later: "When money was good, I bought chickens, cows, horses, etc., but at forty cents a hundred, Iam very poor, and I walk the streets of Laredo like a deaf mule."

Jose Suarez is a blind street singer, who makes his way about Brownsville unaided except for his cane. He is a skillful guitar picker and has a wide repertoire of all kinds of Mexican and Spanish songs.

A 2. and A. 3. Announcements by J.K.Wells, son of the late Jim Wells,who was the famous political, financial and social baron of "The Valley" for many years.

B. Battle of Manamoras..(in Spanish)...by Jose Suarez, blind street singer. Sung at the home of J.K.Wells in Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939  Comment: 16 stanzas about Panc o Villa's troubles arund Matamoras,a Mexican village across the river from Brownsville, 118 men were wounded. "Ballad written by Vidal Cantu Gercia, who moved from B. to Houston."  See remarks about Suarez and Mr. Wells A 1. and record immadiately prior to this one.

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TEMPORARY NO. 2647; Suarez #3

A 1.(I was) Born Blind sung and played (guitar) by Jose Suarez in the home of J.K.Wells, Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939    For information about this blind street singer and Mr. Wells, see comments on the two records immediately preceding. Suares became blind "at the age of ten months,while still in the cradle". Mr. Wells could not be so rude as to ask the Mexican his age;inresponse to his question, "When were your eye-teeth born?", Jose replied, "Fort-three years ago".

A 2. Born Blind--infull. Notice: A few bad threads before song begins.

A. 3. Brownsville Raid ...concluding stanzas of song by Jose Suarez which is recorded as A2 A on the next succeeding disc,which see for comments.

B. The Rangers    sung and played by Jose Suarez in the home of J.K.Wells,Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939

   For informations abotu Suarez and Mr. Wells see comments on two records immediately preceding. Suarez is a blind street singer.

 This ballad, according to Suarez, was composed by Benino Sandoval. A noted bandit, Carlo Guillen, had been lynched. At the request of the bandit's mother, Gov. Gov. Culberson sent rangers to investigate the lynching.

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2647 TEMPORARY NO. Suarez #4

A. 1. La Risa..(The Laugh)..sung and played by Jose Suarez, blind street singer, in the some of J. K. Wells, Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939

   For information about Suarez and Mr. Wells see the three records immediately preceding this one.
   This song tells narrates the adventures of THE LAUGH.

A 2. Brownsville Raid by Negro troops    sugn and played by Jose Suarez, blind street singer, in the home of J. K. Wells, Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939

   For information about Suarez and Mr. Wells see preceding records.
   This ballad tells the story of the raid of Brownsville by Negro troops stationed at Ft. Brown nearby. Incidents took place in 1906.

   N.B.: Concluding stanzas are recorded as A 3 on the immediately preceding record.

B 1. The Drunkard celebrates Holy Week ...sung and played by Jose Suarez, blind street singer, at the home of J. K. Wells, Brownsville, Texas, Apr. 26, 1939

   For information about Suarez and Mr. Wells, see preceding records.

   This ballad relates the experiences of a drunkard on each day of Holy Week
   For instance: on Monday he started to confession, met a friend, got drunk.
   Considered sacrilegious by devout churchmen.

B 2. Drinking Song--(Mescal)...sung and played by Jose Suarez, blind street singer, in the home of J.K.Wells, Brownsville, Texas, April 26, 1939.

   For information about Suarez and Mr. Wells, see prededing records.

   Suarez says that the words we e written by a rancher near San Benito, Texas.
   "I feel a flame inside me, and I know I need a drink of mescal".
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 Brownsville, Texas pg. 2 April 25--29, 1939 Mrs. Henry Krausse

Mrs. Henry Krausse, introduced to Mr. Lomax by Judge Hobart Debenport, prominent Texas lawyer with a keen interest in the Texas State Historical Society. Mrs. Krausse is wife of the vice-consul of the United States in Matamoras. She belongs to the prominent Brownsville family Crixell, being daughter of Officer Crixell who was shot down in the 1912 feud between Texas Rangers and Brownsville officials. She sang into the microphone four lines of a ballad about this feud that was written by a Brownsville citizen.

Mrs. Krausse's maid, a Mexican girl, sang in Spanish El Remolino (the whirlwind), which she says she learned in Matamoras. She sang another, also Spanish, whose title she did not know. We set it down as The Disappointed Lover, since she says it was composed by a lover, sung to a girl who jilted him. The singer of these two songs is Dolores Royes (Reyes)

Tito Crixell, cousin of Mrs. Krausse, and Henry Delga do with guitar sang two popular Mexican serenade (morning) songs.

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TEMPORARY NO.

This record was made in the home of Henry Krausse, Brownsville, Texas April 28, 1939; Mr. Krauase is vice-consul for the U.S. in Matamoras, Mexico

A 1. Feud between Texas Rangers and Brownsville officials in 1912

Four lines sung by Mrs. Henry Krausse, who says it is a long ballad composed by a Brownsville citizen. Mrs. Krausse is the daughter of Officer Crixell ho was shot down in the feud on Wash ington St.

A 2 El Remolino ..(The whirlwind) ...sung by Dolores Reyes, Mexican maid in the home of Mrs. Henry Krausse, Brownsville, Texas; Learned in Matamoras, Mexico April 28, 1939

   Text was given in her writing. Mrs. Krausse says many words misspelled.

A 3. The Disappointed Lover ... sung by Dolores Reyes in home of Mrs. Henry Krausse, Brownsville, Texas, April 28, 1939

   No Text supplied -Composed by lover to girl who jilted him.

B 1. Las Mananitas ...(The Dawn)...sung by Tito Crixell, cousin of Mrs. Henry Krausse, in her home in Brownsville, Texas,April 28,1939

   With guitars.
   Very old greeting song or morning serenade in Old Mexico
"T is is the song of dawn that Old King David used to sing. And now we come to sing it to you."...Guitar accompaniment.

B 2.A1 Pie de tu vental ...A serenade by Henry Delgado, in the home of Mrs. Henry Krausse Brownsville, Texas, April 28, 1939

Section 7: Falfurrias and Sarita, Texas; April 28-30

2619; 2620;  Falfurrias, Texas; Lake N. Porter; April 29, 30, 1939

Mrs Edward Lasater of Falfurrias told us about the fiddler, Mr. Lake N. Porter, a champion in his earlier days. He was born in Mississippi, and is (in 1939) 85 years old. He is a charter member of the Texas Old Trail Drivers Association. He went up the trail three or four times, often sawing his fiddle as he rode along. For a long time he discontinued playing the fiddle and singing, but he has taken it up again recently, and now "he doesn't do anything else all day long", so his wife reports. The couple celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary last December (1938). They live in a comfortable cottage with their own garden and chickens. Their daughter lives across the street and a son, who holds a responsible position with a power company in the East, flies down to see them occasionally. This son has recently written to thank Mr. Lomax, for giving his parents so much pleasure by recording the fiddle tunes and to enquire whether he might get copies of the records. Mr. and Mrs. Porter were very much pleased to be "invited out" to a public restaurant for dinner. Mr. Porter was for fifteen years sheriff in Goliad County, Texas and in the county where he now lives, during some exciting days of that country. He lived in McMullen County when he was a cowboy and trail-driver. Black Jack Grove is his favorite fiddle tune.

During their days of work around Falfurrias Mr. and Mrs. Lomax were guests at the ranch of Mrs. Ed Lasater, of which her son Tom Lasater is manager. Her son Edward, county attorney, was at that time living on the ranch. Mrs. Lasater and Mr. Lomax had been friends on the campus of the University of Texas when Mrs, Lasater (Mary Miller) was student.

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2619; TEMPORARY NO. Porter #1

A 1. Drunkard's Lament...Fiddle tune with verses ..played and sung by Lake N. Porter in his home in Falfurrias, Texas. April 29, 1939; Tune: Rye Whiskey

Mr. Porter, 85 years old, born in Miss., is a charter member of the Texas Old Trail Drivers Association.. He went up the trail three or four times, often sawing his fiddle as he rode along. For a long time he discontinued playing the fiddle and singing but has taken it up again recently and now "he doesn't do anything else all day long", so his wife reports The couple celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary last December. Mr. Porter was fifteen years sheriff, in Goliad Co., and in the county where he now lives. He lived in Mc Mullen Co. when he was a cowboy and trail-driver.

   (Text not complete)

   nevermore roam,
I wish I was married and livin' at home.

As a boy I was reared in a beautiful home,
But the taste of red liquor caused me to roam;
But now I'm an outcast and destined to roam
Because of red liquor I've ruined my home.

I've traveled the country from Texas to Maine;
I've drunk old red liquor and sometimes champagne.
And now I'm an outcast and destined to roam,
But  I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
If a tree don't fall on me, I'll live till I die.

I'll play my old fiddle and rosin my bow,
And I'll make myself welcome whenever I go.

My parents they begged me from whiskey to abstain,
But the taste of red liquor with me did remain.
And now I'm an outcast and destined to roam,
Because of red liquor I've ruined my home.

Coe all ye young men, take warning from me,
Be a modest user of whiskey.
For overindulgence will cause you to roam,
Too much of red liquor will ruin your home.

A 2. Announcement

B 1. Lady in the center and three hands round..Fiddle tune with dance calls; Played and called by Lake N. Porter, Falfurrias, Texas, Apr. 29, 1939; See note above on A 1.

B 2. Black Jack Grove   fiddled by Lake N. Porter, in his home at Falfurrias, Texas, Apr. 26, 1939; Mr. Porter's favorite fiddle tune.    For information about Mr. Porter, see note above on A 1.
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2620; TEMPORARY NO. Porter #2

A 1. Old Cacklin' Hen..fiddle tune..played by Lake N. Porter, in his home, Falfurrias, Texas April 29, 1939;  For information about this 85 years old charter member of the Old Texas Trail Drivers Association, see note to A 1 of preceding record.

A 2. The Lost Girl ...breakdown, fiddled by Lake N. Porter, in his home Falfurrias, Texas April 29, 1939
   See note above.

B 1. Billy in the Low Ground--fiddle breakdown...played by Lake N. Porter, in his home, Falfurrias, Texas April 29, 1939 With hollers.   See note on preceding record A 1.

B 2. Sally Goodun ...fiddle tune..played by Lake N. Porter, in his home, Falfurrias, Texas April 29, 1939
   85 years old. Charter member Trail Drivers Assn. Fiddled up the trail three or four times.

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2614 2616; 2621, 2622 Falfurrias, and-Kingsville, Texas; April 28--30, 1939; Frank Goodwyn

Miss Frances Alexander, professor of English at the College of Arts and Industries at Kingsville, Texas, first told us about Frank Goodwyn. He was at that time a student of the college interested in the study of English literature, in music and how to write English compositions. We were told that Mr. Goodwyn was surprised to learn that music had a notation by which it could be written down. He lost no time in setting down on paper some of the tales that he had heard all his life; for he was brought up on the King Ranch, where his father was once a foreman and where Frank himself had learned the arts of the cowboy. there he had learned the many tales current among the Vaqueros and the English-speaking cowhands, and he had also picked up their traditional and local ballads and dance tunes. He learned to play the fiddle and the guitar with enough skill to give himself, his family and friends some pleasure and amusement. He is a distant cousin of J. Frank Dobie and through his friends of the College faculty and through Mr. Dobie Frank's written versions of Mexican Border tales came to the attention of the Texas Folk Lore Society, in whose publications Mr. Goodwyn's tales and song texts appear. In 1940 Mr. Goodwyn is instructor in English and graduate student at the C and I College.

At the time the Lomaxes met him, Mr. Goodwyn was married and was teaching in the La Gloria School, a rural school in a Mexican community, near Falfurrias, Texas. There we found him and arranged a meeting.

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Many of his songs Mr. Goodwyn learned from his mother and from Blind Eddie, fiddler, who used to hang around Mr. Goodwyn's uncle's country store. Many tunes he learned from cowboys, but often he had to get full texts later from books, such as the Lomax:Cowboy Songs. One night he played for two hours in our tourist camp room, mostly American cowboy songs and "funny" songs that he had learned from his m mother. We found that he knew a great many "concert hall" and other popular songs that had been printed for sheet music sale. The next day, being Saturday, he took us to Sarita, Texas on the edge of the great Kennedy Ranch. We were searching especially for a certain Mexican feud ballad which a blind store-keeper in Sarita knew. Mr. Goodwyn had formerly taught school there and knew all the boys. Mr. Lopez, proprietor was not in; but other musicians were around, and so we set up the machine on a store-counter. Manuel Salinas consented to second Mr. Goodwyn with the guitar, and they played Chinese Breakdown.

This was the usual bare, dusty, poorly equipped general merchandise Mexican store. One glance around took in a few cotton dresses, bandanas, belts, dried oranges, boxes of salt, sheet-iron stove, a dozen Irish potatoes, a few cans of milk, tobacco, an old phonograph, bottles of patent medicine with faded labels, a pair of rlk horns, a dusty violin.

After a while Mr. Lopez, blind poet and musician, came in. He acknowledged that he knew the ballad, "Don Benefacio e Don Coy", but he refused to sing it into the microphone on the grounds that it was unworthy literature, and he would not degrade himself by going on record with it. He was perfectly willing to declame or sing his own compositions.

He refused even to repeat or to write out the words of such a lowly ballad, but finally Mr. Goodwyn, taking him aside, persuaded Mr. Lopez to whisper the words to him, and in trying to recall the words in spots he hummed the tune two or three times. This was sufficient for Mr. Goodwyn's quick ear and retentive memory; from this humming he caught the tune, practiced the song with his guitar over night, and sang the ballad into the microphone the next day.

The ballad gives the story of a feud between two bad gunmen, one of whom lived in a camp a few miles below Falfurrias. In the fight in 1900 both men were killed.

Another interesting vaquerim ballad, The Purple Bull, Mr. Goodwyn learned from Manuel Hervandez of La Changa cow camp. It is the story, perhaps embroidered, of Manuel's own adventure with a real bull, composed by Nigel La Luna The words and melody are published in a volume of Southwestern Lore: Folk Lore on the King Ranch.

The Wet Back, another Mexican Ballad of the Border, was sung and played at Sarita by Omero Lopez and Manuel Salinas. The text is not complete, as the boys could not remember all of it. The wet-back is a Mexican who has come across the Rio Grande River into the United States without required credentials. This ballad tells of some of his trials. Allegedly he is called Wet-back because he leaves the wet Rio Grande behind him as he faces the dry streams of Texas.

Comment from Lomax note-book on Sarita trip: "75 miles travel, 2 hours talk, 1 folk song with a possible lead to another." Since the Spring of 1940 the Frank Goodwyns have added a young vaquero to their household, nicknamed "Poncho".

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TEMPORARY NO. Goodwyn #1

A 1. The Purple Bull (in Spanish)... played and sung by Frank Goodwyn in tourist camp, Falfurrias, Texas, April 28, 1939

Frank Goodwyn: son of former foreman on the King Ranch, was himself a cowboy. Now teaching La Gloria School near Falfurrias, and is student (senior) of College of Arts and Industries, Kingsville, Texas.
Learned many songs from mother and from Blind Eddie, fiddler, who used to hang around Mr. Goodwyn' uncle's country store.

1940: Instructor in A & I College, Kingsville, Texas.
The Purple Bull Mr. Goodwyn learned from Manuel Hervandez of La Changa cow camp. It is the story, perhaps embroidered, of Manuel Pasos's adventure with a real bull. Composed by Nigel La Luna.

Story and Text in Southwestern Lore: Folk Lore on the King Ranch Also music of tune (melody)
   A 1. includes some conversation by Mr. Goodwyn

B The Purple Bull -repeated..See above. concluding stanzas on next succeeding record A 1.
   Learned at Norias

2614; TEMPORARY NO. Goodwyn #2

A 1. The Purple Bull ..(in Spanish) ..by Frank Goodwyn, Tourist Camp, Falfurrias, Texas April 28, 1939
Concluding stanzas--to B side of preceding record.

For information about Frank Goodwyn, see note to A 1 of preceding record.
   For Text see Southwestern Lore: Folklore on the King Ranch

A 2. The Kicking Mule ... sung and played (guitar) by Frank Goodwyn, Falfurrias, Texas April 28, 1939
   Learned from Blind Eddie in Goliad Co.    Text on separate sheet, enclosed with record

A 3. The Dying Cowboy ... sung and played by Frank Goodwyn, Falfurrias, Texas, Apr. 28, 1939
   Learned from cowboys at Norias on King Ranch. Text as in Lomex: Cowboy Songs

B 1. Jolly Irishman ...played and sung by Frank Goodwyn, Falfurrias, Texas, Apr. 28, 1939
   Learned from mother, who had it from Blind Eddie;   Text on separate sheet, enclosed with record

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TEMPORARY NO. GOODWYN #3

A 1. Don Bonefacio e Don Coy ...Me ican fe ud ballad..sung and played by Frank Goodwyn, Tourist Camp, Falfurrias, April 30, 1939; For information about Mr. Goodwyn, see two preceding records and their notes. Mr. Goodwyn had been familiar with this ballad for many years but could not recall the tune and full text. On April 29 he guided Mr. Lomax to Sarita, Texas on the Kenedy Ranch. Theyset up the recoeding machine in a little grocery store whose proprietor, M. Lopex, was known to know the ballad. Sonn Mr. Lopex, blind "poet" and musician, came in, acknowledged that he knew the ballad, but refused to sing it into the microphone on the ground that it was unworthy literature, and he would not degrade himself to make go on record with it. He was perfectly willing to declame or sing his own compositions. He refused to repeat or write the words, but finally whispered the words to Mr. Goodwyn, hand in trying to recall the words in spots, hummed over the tune two or three times. From this humming, Mr. Goodwyn caught the tunes, practiced the song over night and sang the ballad into the microphone the next day.

The ballad gives the story of a feud between two bad gunmen, one of whom lived in a camp a few miles below Falfurrias, Texas. In the fight both men were killed 1900

   [Text]  Ano 1900 la pecha la que les doy
SEE MY. GOODWYN'S MS. ENCLOSED. with record

A 2. La Grand Partida ...sung and played by Frank Goodwyn, Falfurrias, Texas, April 30, 1939
For information about Mr. Goodwyn, see previous records and notes.
Thissong tells about the experiences of a bunch of men taking cattle from the border to Kansas.
Text in ms. enclosed with record

bB The Dying Cowboy ...sung and played by Frank Goodwyn, Falfurrias, Texas April 30, 1939; Learned from King Ranch cowboys at Norias, Texas; Text similar to Lomex: Cowboy Songs

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2616 TEMPORARY NO. Goodwyn #4

A 1. Zebra Dun..Cowboy Song ...played and sung by Frank Goodwyn, at Tourist Camp; Falfurrias, Texas, April 28, 1939 For information about Mr. Goodwyn, see notes on preceding records

Learned from cowboys at Norias, on King Ranch, of which Mr. Goodwyn's father was one of the foremen.
Text in Loamx: Cowboy Songs

B 1. That Gol Darned Wheel ...played and sung by Frank Goodwyn, place and date as above. Learned from father and mother. Text in Lomax: Cowboy Songs

2622 TEMPORARY NO. Goodwyn #5

A 1. Trail to Mexico ...cowboy song ...sung and played by Frank Goodwyn, Tourist Camp Falfurrias, Texas, April 30, 1939 For information about Mr. Goodwyn, soe preceding records.  This song learned from cowboys at Norias on King Ranch; Text similar to Lomax: Cowbo Songs

B 1. Old Dan Tucker..fiddle tune and verses..sung and played by Frank Goodwyn same place and date as A1. See note.

Text incomplete

Old Dan Tucker was a nice old man ...Washed his face in the fryin' pan
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel...
Old Dan Tucker clumb a tree ...Thought his master he would see,
Limb did break and he did fall ...Never saw his Lord at all.
(Girls in a ring inside a ring of boys) All moves around singing and at
"Fly, Tucker, fly", boys seize partner opposite and dance)
Old Dan Tucker he got drunk ...Fell in the fire...
Fly, Tucker, fly

B 2. Old Chisholm Trail ...cowboy song...sung and played by Frank Goodwyn; See notes on preceding records.
Text-some stanzas different from usual version.

B 3. Rye Whiskey ...fiddle tune with verses...Sung and played by Frank Goodwyn; See above.

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TEMPORARY NO. Goodwyn #6

A 1. Chinese Breakdown ...played by Frank Goodwyn, fiddle and Manuel Salinas, guitar; Lopez's Cash Store, Sarita, Texas, Kenedy Ranch; Kenedy Co.

Recorded in bare, dusty, poorly equipped general merchandise Mexican Store. One glance around detected a few cotton dresses, bandanas, belts, dried oranges, boxes of salt, sheet iron stove, a dozen Irish potatoes, canned milk, tobacco, old phonograph, bottles of medicine with faded labels, elk horns, dusty violin.

A 2. The Wet-Back ... Mexican border ballad--Sung and played by Omero Lopex and Manuel Salinas. Sarita, Texas, Kenedy Co. Lopez Store April 29, 1939  Ballad not complete.

The Wet-Back is a Mexican who has come across the Rio Grande into the U.S. without required credentials. This ballad tells of some of his trials. Allegedly called Wet-Back because he leaves the wet Rio Grande behind him as he faces the dry streams of Texas.

B 1. Maria ... Mexican love song...sung and played by Omero Lopex and Manuel Salinas; same place and date as A 1 & 2. Comment from Lomax note-book: 75 miles travel, 2 hours talk, 1 folk song-maybe.

Trip to Sarita conducted by Frank Goodwyn, resulted in getting words and tune for feud song (see previous record, Don Bonefacio e Don Coy), which poet-musician-storekeeper M. Lopex refused to sing or speak into the microphone.

Section 8: Kingsville, Texas; May 1-2

Kingsville,Texas; Acevedo, Wilson, Moye, Salazar; May 1, 2, 1939

Miss Olga Acevedo and Mr. Ruby Wilson were introduced by Professor J.A. Rickard, Professor of History in the College of Arts and Industries,and founder of the TennesseeFolk Lore Society. The singers are students of the college and their recordings were made under the grandstand of the college stadium. Miss Acevedo learned most of her songs from her mother.

Mr. Wilson comes from the Piney woods of East Texas near his home in Douglas, Texas. He has sung and played these songs and games all his life. For comments on individual songs see notes under each song.

The family of Mr.William Moye also was introduced by Professor Rickard. Mr. Moye invited us to set up our machine in his home, where his wife and children recorded some Mexican Border play party and other children's songs. Mr. Moye is a missionary to Mexicans,in cha rge of the Baptist Mexican Mission at Kingsville. He also teaches at night in the U.S. Citizenship Training Corps. Mrs.Moye was born in Torreon, Mexico, daughter of a well-known physician, Dr. S.N. Taffinder. Her mother was Carolina Gonzolasp-Farino, from whom Mrs. Moye learned most of her songs. The Moye children are Jimmie,Margaret and Willie.

Later comment: In the Fall of 1940 we found that Mr.Moye was recovering from "a stroke", able to meet his night classes in Citizenship.

Senora Isabella Salazar was introduced by Mr.Octavio Perez, teacher in the Stephen F. Austin Grammar School, Kingsville. Mr. Perez himself is making a collection of Mexican play-party and children's songs, and Mrs. Salazar is his "find".

Mrs.Salazar knows a wide variety of songs,most of the old ones learned from her mother, now nearly ninety years old. Mrs. Salazar has a boarding house for Mexican girls attending the A and I College. She does not speak English. Some of the game songs she learned at school.

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May 1, 1939   Kingsville, Texas; These songs on this record were sung by Miss Olga Acevedo, a Junior in the Texas College of Arts and Industries Side A. Song 2.; Lairon, Lairon, Lairito; Learned it from her mother, she from her mother, etc.

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Side A; Song 1; May 1, 1939; Olga Acevedo, Student   Kingsville, Texas
Sang Two Babes in the Woods; Learned song from

   My dears, do you know how a long time ago
   Were stolen away on a
   Two poor little babes whose names I don't know
   And left in the woods as I heard people say.

   And when it was night
   how sad was their plight
   The sun it went down
   and the moon gave no light.
   They sobbed and they criedsighed
   and they bitterly cried
   And the poor little things
   they lay down & died.

   And when they were dead, the robins so red
   Brought strawberry leaves & over them spread,
   Poor babes in the woods --
   And don' you remember the babes

2. Spanish lullaby
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TEMPORARY NO. 36 Kingsville #1; #2623

A 1. Two Babes in the Woods --in English...by Olga Acevedo, Kingsville, Texas May 1, 1939, under stadium of A & I College
Miss Acevedo is a junior student in College of Arts and Industries, Kingsville. She was introduced to Mr. Lomax by Prof. J.A. Rickard, Prof. of History, who is responsible for the founding of the Tenn. Folk Lore Society. Song learned from singer's mother who learened it from her mother, etc.

   My dears, do you know how a long time ago
   Two poor little babes whose names I don't know
   Were stolen away on a bright summer day
   And left in the woods, so I've heard people say. (repeat*)

   And when it was night, how sad was their plight,
   The sun it went down and the moon gave no light.
   They sobbed and they sighed and they bitterly cried,
   And the poor little things, they lay down and died. (repeat)

   And when they were dead, the robins so red
   Brought strawberry leaves and over them spread,
   And all the day long, they sang them this song:
   Poor babes in the woods, poor babes in the woods!
   And don' you remember the babes in the woods.?

A 2. Lairon, lairon, lairito ...lullaby in Spanish..by Olga Acevedo, Kingsville, Texas

   See note above;  Sung to her by her mother

B 1. Naranja dulce limon partido ...ring game song ...by Olga Acevedo, Kingsville May 1, 1939

   See note on A 1.    Learned it at home and at school, but no longer played at school.
   Game much like Ring arounda Rosey

B 2. Senora Santa Anna ...Mexican lullaby...by Olga Acevedo place and time as above

   Lullaby widely sung by Mexicans in South Texas

B 3. Hebritas,Hebritas de oro--Game song..by Olga Acevedo see above

   The last part of the song may be sung to different words provided the last words of the last two lines rhyme.
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2626 TEMPORARY NO.; Kingsville #2

A 1. Macalilililion ...game song in Spanish..by Olga Acevedo,Kingsville, Texas,May 1, 1939 under stadium of A & I Colle
   Mi s Acevedo is a junior in the college, learned most of her songs from her mother.
   This song is sung in a game played like "Red Rover".

A 2. Bandelero..sung and played on guitars by Valdemar Acuna, Leonaldo Hernandes from near Riviera,Texas. Live in the country. 16 yrs. old Introduced by W.A. Moye.
   Recorded under stadium of A & I College Kingsville,Texas, May 1,1939
   Learned from a farmer boy.

B. These East Texas play-party tunes and verses were sung by Ruby Wilson,a tall, red-headed student,junior in the Colle of Arts and Industries.;    Learned in Piney Woods of East Texas near home, Douglas, Texas.    Recorded... Under Stadium of College, Kingsville, Texas, May 1, 1939;  Singer introduced by Prof. J.A. Rickard, History Dept.  Text of words in ms. enclosed 2626

B 1. Ceily

B 2. Arouser

B 3. Sugar Lump

B 4. Old Dan Tucker

2625; 2626 TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #3   2625,

The Play-party and game songs on this record were sung by Mr. Ruby Wilson who learned them in the Piney Woods of East Texas near his home,Douglas,Texas. He w as introduced by Prof. J.A.Rickard of the College of Arts and Industries, Kingsville, of which Mr. Wilson is a junior student.   Songs recorded under stadium of college, Kingsville, Texas, May 1, 1939; Texts of songs in ms. enclosed.

A 1. The Miller

A 2. and A3-Four in the middle (Green coffee grows on white oak trees)

A 4. Turn to my Lou.Loola-la-loo (Lead 'em up and down)

B 1. Form a figure eight..(Chase the goose)

B 2. Gents go center ..("Or ladies either one")

B 3. Irish Trot..(All hands up in the Irish Trot)

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TEMPORARY NO. KINGSVILLE #1

A 2. Lai on, Lairon, Lairito ...sung by Olga Acevedo,s udent College of Arts and Industries,  Kingsville, Texas, May 1, 1939; See note on A 1.

   Un dia una pastora
   Lairon,lairon,lairito
   Una dia una pastora
   Mato a su michito

   El micke la miraba
   Lairon,lai on,lairito
   El miche la miraba
   Con ajas muy bonitas

   Me voya confesar
   Lairon,lairon,lairito
   Me voy a confesar
   Con ol padre Francisco

   Yo le confieso padre
   Lairon,lairon,lairita
   Yo le confiezo padre
   Que yo mate al machito

   De penitencia sufro
   Lairon,llairon,lairito
   De penitencia sufro
   Que yo mate al michito

   (a lullaby)

B 3. B 1. Naranja dulce,limon partido

Miss Acevedo comments:"Although this ballad has the words of a serenader's song, it is used extensively as a children's play song. Groups of children sing and act it. Each one claps his hands while singing the first stanza,puts his arm around the person to his right while singing the second stanza,turns his back to his partner while singing the third,faces front for the fourth and fifth,and bows for the sixth. During this time the clapping of h nds may be kept up."

Recorderss note: This same play song was recorded from Miss Manuelo Longoria of B owneville,Texas, and by Mrs. Wm. A. Moye of Kingsville,and by Mr.and Mrs. G. Lopez of Sugarland

   Naranja dulce, limon partido;
   Dame un abrazo que yo to partido.
   Si fueran falaas mis juramentes
   En algun yitmpo te olvidere
   Toca lu marcha mi pecho llora
   Adios senora, yoya ya me voy

   An orange sweet and a lemon I bring thee
   One fond embrace now I beg you give me
   If all my wooing were not so true,love
   I would by now have forgotten you,love
   I play this tune from a heart that's sighing
   Farewell,my lady,I now am going--

   Olga Acevedo

B 2. Senora Santa Anna

   Senora Santa Anna
   Parque llora el nino
   Par una manzana
   Que se le ha perdido

   Duermose mi nino
   Duermose prontito
   Porque niene el niejo (?)
   Y le da un sustito

B 3. Hebritas,Habritas de Oro   ..game song

   Hebritas,hebritas de oro
   Que se me nienen quebrando
   Que dice el rey y la reina
   Que cuantos hijas tendreis
   Que tenga las que tuviere
   Que nada la imparta al rey
   Vuelva, vuelva caballero

   No sea tan descortes
   Que de la hijas que yo tengo
   Nacaja la mos mujer
   (spoken): Esta me gusta por linds y hermosa Parcce una rosa acabada de nacer
   (sung): No me la siente en el suelo Sientemela en un cojin/Que as hija le un gachupin

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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #2

A 1. Macalilililion..Spanish game song..by Olga Acevedo, Kingsville,Texas,May 1,1939

Miss Acevedo is a junior in the state College of Arts and Industries of Texas; She learned most of her songs from her mother.
This song is sung in a game played like Red Rover.

   Buenas dias su senoria..Macalilililion
   Que queria su senoria    "
   Yo queria su-senerieuna se sus"hijas ...Macalilililion
   A cual de ellas quiere Ud (?)   "
   Yo queria a Fanchito   "
   Pues quo oficio le pandremos   "
   Le pandremos la tortillera   "
   Pues haremos la fiesta todas
   Todas, todas en general
   Pues haremoa la fiesta todas
   Todas, todas en general


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2625   1.   Miller Boy

   There was an old miller who
   by the mill
   Every time the mill turned it
   turned to its will.
   Hand upon the hopper & the
   on the sack
   Everytime the mill turns
   Graf boys graf (Back)
   Turn right back.


   Four In the middle

   Green coffee grows on white oak trees
   The river flows with brandy ose
   Go choose the one to roam with you
   As sweet as striped candy ose

1.   Four in the middle and you
   cant get about
   Four in the middle and you
   Can't get about, Four in middle.
   Swing your partner around you

2.   Six in the middle and time half out
3.   Eight in the middle and swing,
4.   Ten in the middle and two goes out.

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2625   2. Turn-to-my-lou la

1.   Lead em up and down lou la lou la
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   Lou-la -Lula- my darling
2.   Break and swing lou la lou la
   Lou la lula my darling
3.   Cat's in the Butter mil lou la lou la
4.   Chicken in the bread tray lou la lou la
5.   Aint she painted lou la lou la
6.   Aint he got a big foot lou la lou la
7.   Bet they marry lou la lou la.

   Form figure 8.

1.   Form figure 8 run a couple on the right. Run a couple on the right run a couple on the right - form a figure 8 run a couple on the right and chase the goose around.
2.   Round and round, and round and round - round and round, and round and round. Chase the goose around.

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   3.   Dan Tucker

   Old Dan Tucker was down in town
   swinging those ladies round and round
   First to the right and then to the left
   Then to the one that he loved best.

   Get out of the way for old Dan Tucker
   Come too late to get his supper
   Supper is over, and Breakfast cooking
   Left old Daniel standing and looking,
   Get out of the way for Old Dan Tucker
   Come too late to get his supper.

   Ceily
1.   Ring up 4 Ceily I thought I heard them say.
   Ring up 4 Cely I though I heard them say
2.   Right hand across Cely I though I heard them say
   Right hand across Cely I thought I heard them say
3.   Left hand back Cely--
4.   Break and swing Cely--
5.   All night long Cely--
6.   Never get tired Cely--
7.   Never get drunk Cely--
8.   Moon shine bright Cely--
9.   Your time is out Cely.

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   4.  Sugar Lump

1.   All around this ring we go, all around my sugar lump,
Some body's rocking my sugar lump, somebody's rocking my sugar lump
   O turn cinamon turn.

2.   That blue eyed girl is my sugar lump--  
That blue eyed girl is my sugar lump--
   O turn cinamon turn.

3.   I wouldn't take a dollar for my sugar lump--
4.   Its worth five cents to my sugar lump--
5.   I wouldn't give a nickle for my sugar lump.

   Arouser

   2&4 arouser, arouser, arouser,
   2&4 arouser, to get some lagger beer.
   Never mind the old folks, the old folks, the old folk
   Never mind the old folks The young ones they don't mind.

   Rail Road steam boat, River and canal
   along came a Jilly and he stoll my
   gall. Oh she's gone; gone, gone, oh
   she's gone, gone, gone and I
   bid by my last farewell.

   4&6 arouser--
   6&8 arouser--
   8&10 arouser--

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2625   5. Irish Trot

1.   All hands up in the Irish Trot
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   A way down below.
2.   Turn right back in the Irish Trot.
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   A way down below.
3.   Right & Left in the Irish Trot.
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "
   A way down below.
4.   Double LL swing in --
5.   All run away in the Irish Trot.
   "   "   "   "   "   "   "

  Gents Go Center
   
   Oh gents go center & form a ring.
   Go once around before u swing
   Oh pass your partner and then u may call.
   Swing on corner and prominade all.

   Promenade all and on you go.
   "   "   "   "   "   "
   Back to center as a formal ring.


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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #4

The songs on this record were sung in the home of Rev,. and Mrs. Wm.A. Moye, 305 N. 7, Kingsville, Texas; Mr. Moye is a missionary to Mexicans, in charge of Baptist Mexican Mission. he teaches at night in the U.S. Citizenship Training Corps. Mrs. Moye was born in Torreon, Mexico, daughter of a well-known physician, Dr. Taffinder. Dr. Sn Taffinder & Carolina Gonzales-Farino The Moyes have three childeren, Jimmie, Margaret and Willie; Mrs. Moye says that she learned her songs from her mother. Text of ms. enclosed.

A 1. Senora Santa Anna ...Mexican lullaby ...by Mrs Carmen Taffinder Moye (Mrs.W.A.Moye) sung in her home, Kingsville, Texas, May 1, 1939 This lullaby is popular with Mexicans of South Texas.

A 2. (The Ducks)..Los Patitos ...Children's song ...by Mrs. Moye,assisted by her children, Jimmie and Margaret Moye.

B 1. El Venadito (The Deer)    by Mrs. Moye
   A love song

B 2. Naranj Dulce.. (Sweet Orange)..game song palyed and sung by Mrs Moye and her children and two neighbor childremn.
   A ring game.

B 3. A la Viborn de la Mar..(Snake of the sea)..game song..by Mrs. Moye and children

A game played like London Bridge with a tug-o'-war.

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TEMPORARY NO. 40; Kingsville #5; 2627

Songs A 1, 2, 3 and B 1. were sung by Mrs. Carmen Taffinder Moye (Mrs. W.A.) in the Moye home, Kingsville, Texas on May 2, 1939.    See note on preceding record. Mrs. Moye learned these songs before the age of six from her mother and grandmother.

A 1. To amo in secreto..(I love you in secret)..

A 2. En el fondo del mar (In the bottom of the sea) or P or Pearl,Violet and a drop of dew. (Sung twice)

B 1. Maria,Maria..Mexican Vaquero song ...(repeated)

2. Hush little baby (Lullaby). Bernice Haynes-Womens Camp, Cummins State Farm, Ark.
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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #6

This record was made in the home of Rev. Wm.A.Moye in charge of the Baptist Mexican Mission, and on the staff of the U.S. Citizenship Training Corps.  Kingsville, Texas, May 2, 1939; For further information about the Moye family, see note on preceding record.

A 1. Folk Imitations: "Springtime in the Rockies" sung by Olivia Ortegon as if by child of three years; also crying as if by month old baby. Miss Ortegon is fifteen years old, a grammar school pupil.

Senora Isabe la Salazar sang the following songs of this record. She knows a wide variety and a large number of songs, most of the old ones learned from her mother,now nearly ninety years of age. Mrs. Salazar has a rooming-house foor Mexican girls attending the college in Kingsville. She was introduced to Mr. Lomax by Mr. Octavio Perez, teacher in the Stephen F. Austin Grammar Achool (for Mexican children) Mr. Perez is himself making a collection of Mexican play-party s and child en songs, and Mrs. Salazar is his "find". These songs were sung in the home of W.A. Moye, Kingsville, Tex. Mrs. S.does not speak English,.    May 2, 1939

A 2. The Little Cripple ...a ballad used to sing children to sleep

A 3. Your squash is burning.. "A negro song" for children.

A 4. My little Cat..(Mi gatito)..child's song

B 1. Ten little puppies..Child en's song similar to "Tenlittle Injuns"

B 2. Same as B 1,-sung louder.

B 3. Little Brown.Duck...Child's song.
   Mrs. Salazar s ys hat she learned some of her songs in Monterey.

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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #7

Songs on this record sung in Spanish by Mrs. Isabel Salazar, Kingsville, Texas in the home of W.A.Moye,May 2,1939;    For interesting information about Mrs. Salazar, see notes on preceding record.

A 1. My little doll dressed in blue

A 2. Two and two are four (counting song)

A 3. Little sheep, have you any wool

A 4. The Dancing Negro..play party song, danced and sung.

B 1. The Dancing Negro--s me as A 4.

B 2. The Baby Game..game song

B 3. Senora Santa Anna--lullaby--(Go to sleep)

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TEMPORARY NO. 3941; Kingsville #6  #2630

This record was made in the home of Rev. Wm. A. Moye in charge of the Baptist Mexican Mission, and on the staff of the U.S. Citizenship Training Corps.  Kingsville,Texas,May 2, 1939; For further information about the Moye family, see note on preceding record.

A 1. Folk Imitations: "Springtime in the Rockies" sung by Olivia Ortegon as if by child of three years; also crying as if by month old baby. Miss Ortegon is fifteen years old, a grammar school pupil.

Senora Isabella Salazar sang the following songs of this record. She knows a wide variety and a large number of songs, most of the old ones learned from her mother, now nearly ninety years of age. Mrs. Salazar has a rooming-house foor Mexic n girls attending the college in Kingsville. She was introduced to Mr. Lomax by Mr. Octavio Perez, teacher in the Stephen F. Austin Grammar Achool (for Mexican children) Mr. Perez is himself making a collection of Mexican play-party s and child en songs, and Mrs. Salazar is his "find". These songs were sung in the home of W.A.Moye, Kingsville, Tex. Mrs. S. does not speak English,.    May 2, 1939

A 2. The Little Cripple ...a ballad used to sing children to sleep

A 3. Your squash is burning.. "A negro song" for children.

A 4. My little Cat..(Mi gatito)..child's song

B 1. Ten little puppies..Children's song similar to "Tenlittle Injuns"

B 2. Same as B 1,-sung louder.

B 3. Little Brown.Duck    Child's song.

   Mrs. Salazar says that she learned some of her songs in Monterey.

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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #8

The songs on the A side of this record and also B 1 and B 2 were sung by Mrs. Isabel Salazar, Kingsville, Texas, in the home of W.A. Moye, May 2, 1939; For information about Mrs. Salazar, see note on two preceding records; Mr. Moye calls these children's songs "coritos".

A 1. Tapami..(Cover me up) ...a Sandman's song

A 2. I'm a little Indian Mexican...(a little girl selling her w res in the market-place)

A 3. While waiting for Daddy.."Here comes a little out with five little rats and one little tick".

A 4. Little Star ...This is a well-known concert song, but was recorded at the urgent request of Mrs. Salazar.

B 1. The Parrot...

B 2. Little Dwarf ...(The little dwarfs are mad because somebody punched their mother)

B 3. Children's songs in English sung by Mrs. Shirley Lomax Mansell of Lubbock, Texas

   Recorded in the home of Oscar Callaway,Comanche Co.,Texas,May 7, 1939

   Songs were learned from her mother, who had them from her mother, who brought them from Virginia.

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TEMPORARY NO. Kingsville #9

A 1. Mother Love..popular song among border Mexicans..sung and played by Francisco Leal and Agapito Salinas, Kingsville, Texas; May 2, 1939;  In the home of W.A. Moye, introduced by Mr. Moye

Section 9: Pipe Creek, Bandera and Medina, Texas; May 3-7

TEMPORARY NO. Bandera-Medina; May 3--5

On arriving at Bandera Mr. Lomax conferred with J. Marvin Hunter, editor of Fro ntier Times and rproprietor and director of the Frontier Times Museum. At his suggestion the following were visited and interviewed:
   Elmo Newcomer, fiddler and dance caller
   C. W. Saathoff, fiddler
   J. O. Evans, guitarist
   Chas. Eckhart, horn-blower and hog-caller
   Mrs. Fletcher Layton, Medina, in charge of Am. Music Week for Bandera Co.

On the evening of May 3 Elmo Newcomer recorded fiddle tunes and words in his home on the San Antonio-Bandera road, near Pipe Creek. He has he reputation of being the best dance caller in the county; the next night, while his wife attended a Pipe Creek school trustees meeting he and the children came to the Lomax tourist cabin, where C. W. Saathoff, fiddler, and J. O. Evans, guitarist, played for his calls, using the tune WAGNER. For fuller account of Mr. Newcomer and family, see notes to his recordings. His Rye Whiskey, known in some parts as Drunken Hiccups, is famous in the "Hill Country" of Texas. His son, Bill Newcomer, later sent additional dance calls used by his father.

On the afternoon of May 4 Mr. Saathoff and Mr. Evans recorded their rendition of the Fox and Hounds, with Charles Eckhardt blowing the horn and calling the dogs; using an old-fashioned cow-horn which he had polished himself and had used on his ranch for many years. He recorded other ranch calls made with this horn. These men are all Hill Country" ranchmen (sheep). Mr. Eckhardt is a skilful tanner, leather-tooler, hunter, fisherman. When he visited the Lomaxes' cabin he was wearing his "new" buckskin shirt, which he had shot, dressed, treated and sewed himself, and which he had been wearing five years. He has a complete Indian outfit which he made by the same process. At Bandera County celebrations he assists the director, Mr. Hunter, by exhibiting his treasures and shooting arrows and otherwise "playin' Injun".

On May 5 Mr Lomax called on Mrs. Fletcher Layton at her home near Medina in Bandera. Mrs. Layton is chairman of the National Music Week celebration in Bandera Co. She assisted Mr. Lomax in interviewing singers. At the home of Beal D. Taylor recordings were made by mr. Taylor, E. A. Briggs and Mr. and Mrs. Braley See notes on records, and texts.

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TEMPORARY #01 Bandera #1, Pipe Creek, Tex.

The fiddle tunes and breakdowns on this record were played and sung by Elmo Newcomor, in his banch hom o on the San Antonio-Bandera Road, near Pipe Creek, Texas, Bandera Co.    May 3, 1939; Mr. Newcomer was introduced to Mr. Lomax by J. Marvin Hunter, editor of Frontier Times and Director of the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera, Texas. Mr. Newcomer and his family of wife and four children live in a very old two-room house, where Mr. Newcomer lived from the age of two, and where his mother died when he was four. He has "always" played these tunes and is a favorite caller at dances. His Rys Whiskey with antics is a general favorite at fiddle contests. Mrs. Newcomer is a member of the school trustees of Pipe Creek.

His greeting to Mr. Lomax was "Shake, boy. I've heared about you all my life. Me an' a neighbor boy was both left to live alone with our fathers. We read in a paper when we was about fourteen years old, that you was selli' a book of cowboy songs. So we scraped our savings together an' sent' em to you an' sure 'nough here come the book. Here, Clyde, Bring me that cowboy song book. Can you reach it? (It's put away up high where the baby can't reach get to it). We read it and sung from it so much and loaned it out so much that it's might nigh tore up." There was the book of cowboy songs, no two pages hanging together, but apparently all there between the covers, one of the 1910 edition.

Attached: Elmo Newcomer's letters (dated Nov. &Dec, 1911) ordering book, found in Lomax file.

A 1. COTTEN EYE JOE    Elmo Newcomer, Pipe Creek, Texas   fiddled and sung file.

   Hold my fiddle and hold my bow,
   And knock the devil outa Cotton Eye Joe
   Ooh--ooh-oo-oo-oo etc.

   I'd a got married twenty years ago
   Had it not been for Cotton Eye Joe

   I'd a got married six or seven years ago,
   Had it not been for that little word "No." 

   Some folks say that a nigger won't steal,
   But I found three in my cornfield.

   One had a bushel and one had a peck,
   And one had a roas'n ear around his neck,

   Rawhide fiddle and cornstalk bow,
   Look out over there for Cotton Eye Joe.

   How in the world do he old folks know
   That I like sugar in my coffee, oh.

   Long-tailed buck an' a short-tailed doe,
   But I take sugar in my coffee, oh.

A 2. MABEL ...Schottische fiddle tune with words ...Elmo Newcomer

   Love it is an awful thing, beauty is a blossom;
   And if you want your finger bit, just stick it et a possum.

   Glory to the meetin' house, and glory to the steeple (stable?)
   Glory to the little that they call Mabel.

B Turkey in the Straw fiddle by Elmo Newcomer, banjo-Bill Newcomer.

   Went out to milk an' didn't know how, I milked a goat instead of a cow.
   Saw a turkey settin' in a pile o' straw, winkin' at his mother-in-law
   I went out to milk an' didn't know how, I milked a goat instid of a cow.
   Picked up a rock an' whaked him on the jaw, And he kicked up a tune called
   Turkey in the Straw.

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JAL '39 Recording Trip; Bandera and Medina; Elmo Newcomer; Copy of letters of J. E. (Elmo) Newcomer to JohnA. Lomax, ordering Cowboy Songs, referred to in notes on Elmo Newcomer's recordings.  Pipe Creek, Texas  Nov. 11, 1911.

Mr. John A. Lomax, Extension Department of the University of Tex.

Dear Sir:-

I am writing to find out if you still have the book called the Cowboy songs--an Appreciation; and if pleas write me and till me what the price is and how to send for it.

Awaiting your reply I am Very truely yours
   J. E. Newcomer
   Pipe Creek;   Bandera Co. Texas

Pipe Creek Tex; Dec 1911

My Dear Sir:-

Please find inclose a Post Office money order for $1.64 one dollar and sixty four cents. For your book cowboy Songs and Appreciation. Please send it by return mail

   Very truely yours,

   J. E. Newcomer
   Pipe Creek    Bandera Co. Tex.

   John A. Lomax (Written across bottom in JAL's writing: Mail Dec. 19, 1911)

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TEMPORARY NO; Bandera #2, Pipe Creek.

The songs and fiddle tunes on this record were made by Elmo Newcomer in his ranch home near Pipe Creek, Bandera, Co., Texas, May 3, 1939;  For information about Mr. Newcomer see notes on preceding record.

A 1. Blue-eyed Suzy    fiddle tune with words.

   Sometimes drunk, som times woozy, sometimes dance with my blue-eyed Suzy
   Love my wife, love my baby, and I love them flapjacks floatin' in gravy.
   All I want to make me happy is two little boys to call me Pappy.
   One named Dick, the other named Davy, Come to your Daddy, you pore little baby.

A 2. Unfortunate Puppy ...fiddle tune with couplets.

   Why can't a white man dance like a nigger,
    Oh, just because he can't cut a figger.
   Doggone a ryestraw, doggone a riddle, oh,
   Doggone a little boy playin' on a fiddle, oh.

B 1 Rye Whiskey  with "capers"   with creasand hicooughs. Most of Mr. Newcomer's words are the usual ones. The following couplets are less frequently seen:

   Rye Whiskey, you villian, you've been my downfall
   You've kicked me an' cuffed me, but I love you for all.

   Rye Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, I wish you no harm,
   Wish I had a bottle as long as my arm.

   Oh they say I drink whiskey, but I spend my money well,
   And them that don't like it can go--you know where.

   Beafsteak when I'm hungry, liquor when I'm dry,
   A purty girl ken I'm lonesome, an' heaven when I die.

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Additional words; DANCE CALLS OF ELMO NEWCOMER *Pipe Creek, Bandera Co., Texas; contributed by his son, Bill Newcomer--May 8, 1939

(First figure)

Pardners to their places
Like mules to their traces
Put your hands in your pockets
Turn your backs to the wall
Take a chew of tobacco
And balance all
Swing your pardners
Corners all
Now your pardners
And promenade the hall

First couple out to the couple
on the right, and round up four.
Elbow hug and Chinese swin.
Sandhill twist and a double swing
On to the next and the next
couple follow

(Note: repeat clear around till the last couple has   couple has finished)

Balance all
Swing your corner and swing it with a with a smile
Granb your honey and go hog wild

(Second Figure)

Everybody dance as pretty as you can
Swing your corner with your right hand
Pardner with your wrong
Grant right and wrong all night long

Watch your pardner, watch her close
When you meet her double the dose
Hang your dogs and kill your cats
And double the dose with ruff on rats

Lawd, Lawd, aint we got fun
Dance up boys and dont be slow
All these girls are rarin' to go
All you gals who dont wear socks
Shake your hips and rattle your hocks
Meet your hon'y and promenade home

(Third Figure)
Balance all
Swing on the corner like swingin' on a gate.
Now your honey and pull your freight
First couple out the couple on the right
Lady around the Lady and gents so low
Lady around the gent and the gent dont go
Swing with your right and and now your wrong
Docy ladied all night long
Onto the next,-chase the possum, chase the squirrel
Chase that pretty girl around the world
Ladies docy Gents cut a shine
Swing your sweetheart and I'll swing mine
On to the next and the next couple follow
Chase the possum, chase the skunk
Chase that pretty girl around the chunk
   Ladies docey and gents go gee
Swing that pretty girl and then swing me
(And so on until the last couple has gone around)

Everybody dance
Swing your pardner and promenade
the hall for the last time.

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Temporary No. Bandera

No. 48- Elmo Newcomer: Eph caught a rabbit-fiddle with words
   Saathoff and Evans: Fox and Hounds fiddle and guitar

No. 49- Wagner: played by Saathoff and Evans
A & B    Dance calls by Elmo Newcomer

No. 50 A-Sam Bass-- sung by A. E. A. Briggs, Medina, Texas ...May 5, 1939
   Cowboy's Lament,"   "   "

B- Frail Wildwood Flower.. sentimental song by Beal D. Taylor, Medina, Texas
   Billy Boy-- sung by Loretta Taylor daughter, aged 10 and Mrs. Mr. Braley, aged 74

51. Mr. Braley: Roving Gambler
   Mr and Mrs. Braley: Evening Grace--white hymn-tune-long meter

(B. side has children's songs sung by Mrs. Shirley Lomax Mansell)

58- A Farm Calls--(some with cow horn)--by Charles eckhardt, Bandera, Texas, May 4, 1939
   Fox and Hounds--fiddle by Saathoff and Evans, Bandera "   "   "

B side--recordings from Goree State Farm

59 A 1. Texas Ranger--by E.A. Briggs Beal D. Taylor, Medina, Texas

(A 2 Cummins Farm recording)

B 1. Texas Ranger--by Beal D. Taylor,Medina, Texas..May 5, 1939

2..Announcement (Cummins Farm sons)

60 A 1. The Old Woman    A 2. Jesse James--both sung by E. A. Briggs, Medina, Texas. 5-5-39

B 1. When the work's all done (cowboy song)--B. D. Taylor, ""

(Cummins Farm recordings--B 2)

Above Medina recordings were made in the home of Beal D. Taylor near Medina. Singers were inroduced by J. Marvin Hunter of Bandera and Mrs. Fletcher Layton of Medina. E. A. Briggs and Beal D. Taylor know many western and sentimental songs. Mr. Taylor has an interesting scrap-book of words of old songs and other poems that have appealed to him. mr. and Mrs. Braley sing hymns in long meter style. Mr. Braley is a carpenter by trade. He is Mrs. Braley's second husband. Mrs. Braley was left a widow with six daughters. She took in laundry, raised chickens,drove carried mail horseback, farmed and gardened to make a living for her family, all with the handicap of having only one leg. Mr. Briggs was a cowboy, now a rancher and farmer.