The Goodman- Harmon (TN) c.1879 Henry B
[From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands collected & edited by Mellinger Edward Henry, 1938. His notes follow. This title was supplied by Henry and the local title should be: "The Old Man Came Home." The Harmons, from the Hick/Harmon family originally from Watuaga County, NC are well-known for folk-tales and ballads.
Council Harmon's son Goulder (b. 1844- ) married Little Sammy's daughter Nancy Jane Hicks (b 1844-- ). Their son Samuel was born in 1869. Goulder and his family left Beech Mountain, NC shortly after 1880 settling briefly in Linville before going to Cades Cove [Smith].
R. Matteson 2013]
OUR GOODMAN
(Child, No. 274)
The A text came as a result of our visit to the haunts of "Big Tom" Wilson, famed hunter of the Black Mountains, on the Cane River at the western base of Mount Mitchell, still a wild region little frequented by travelers. Here lives Adolph, his son, who has a mountain inn. "Big Tom's" grandson, Ewart, has in recent years constructed a road on this side of Mount Mitchell and has a camp near the top where those daring enough to drive their cars may find refreshments and lodging. Travelers may also find first-rate entertainment at his home at the foot of the mountain. Mrs. Ewart Wilson knows a number of traditional ballads and other songs. B came from the Harmons, of Cade's Cove, Tennessee, from whom many of the texts in this book have come. The fragment C came from North Carolina.
For American texts, see Barry, No. 17; Barry-Eckstorm-Smyth, p. 315; Brown, p. 9; Campbell and Sharp, No. 32; Frank Shay, More Pious Friends and Drunken Companions, p. 31; Cox, No. 28; Davis, No. 43; Finger, p. 161; Hudson, No. 26; Jones, p. 301; Mackenzie, Ballads, No. 14; C. A. Smith, p. 17; Reed Smith, Ballads, No. 14; Journal, XVIII, 294 (Barry); XXX, 199 (Parsons). Cf. also Journal, XXIX, 166; XXX, 328; XXXV, 348; Jones, p. 13.
B. "The Goodman." Recorded by Mrs. Henry from the singing of Samuel Harmon, Cade's Cove, Tennessee, August, 1930. Mr. Harmon [b. 1869] knew the song as a child.
1. The old man he come home,
His wife for to see.
"What horse in the stable
Where mine ought to be?"
2. "You old fool, you blind fool,
Can't you half see?
Nothing but a milk cow
My mama sent to me."
3. "Ten thousand miles to travel,
Ten thousand miles or more;
I never seen a milk cow
With a saddle on before."
4. The old man he come home,
His wife for to see.
"Whose boots in a corner
Where mine ought to be?"
5. "You old fool, you blind fool,
Can't you half see?
Nothing but a milk churn
My mama sent to me."
6. "Ten thousand miles to travel,
Ten thousand miles or more;
I never seen a churn
With heel irons before."
7. The old man he come home,
His wife for to see;
"Whose hat on the bed post,
Where mine ought to be?"
8. "You old fool, you blind fool,
Can't you half see?
Nothing but a strainer
My mama sent to me."
9. "Ten thousand miles to travel,
Ten thousand miles or more;
I never seen a strainer
With a hat band on before."
10. The old man he come home,
His wife for to see;
"Whose coat on the chair back
Where mine ought to be?"
11. "You old fool, you blind fool,
Can't you half see?
It's nothing but a cover-lid
My mama sent to me."
12. "Ten thousand miles to travel,
Ten thousand miles or more;
I never saw a cover-lid
With a collar to it before."
13. The old man he come home,
His wife for to see;
"Who is that in the bed
Where I ought to be?"
14. "You old fool, you blind fool,
Can't you half see
It's nothing but a baby
My mama sent to me."
15. "Ten thousand miles to travel,
Ten thousand miles or more;
I never saw a baby
With a mustache on before."