Three Nights- Franklin (NC) 1930 Henry C
From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands collected & edited by Mellinger Edward Henry, 1938. His notes follow.
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.
C. "Three Nights." Recorded by Mrs. Henry from the singing of Mr. Cleophas L. Franklin, Crossnore, Avery County, North Carolina, August, 1930.
1. The first night when I came home
As drunk as I could be,
1 found a coat hanging on the rack
Where my coat ought to be.
2. "You come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me:
How come a coat hanging on the rack
Where my coat ought to be?"
3. "You blind fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a bed quilt
Your granny sent to me."
4. "I've traveled this world over
A thousand miles or more;
But pockets upon a bed quilt
I never did see before."
5. The second night when I came home
As drunk as I could be,
I found a horse in the stable
Where my horse ought to be.
6. "You come here, my little wifle,
And explain this thing to me:
How come a horse in the stable
Where my horse ought to be?"
7. "You blind fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a milk cow
Your granny sent to me."
8. "I've traveled this world over
A thousand miles or more;
But a saddle on a milk cow
I never did see before."
9. The third night when I came home
As drunk as I could be,
I found a head lying on the pillow
Where my head ought to be.
10. "You come here, my little wifie,
And explain this thing to me:
How come a head lying on the pillow
Where my head ought to be?"
11. "You blind fool, you crazy fool,
Can't you never see?
It's nothing but a cabbage head
Your granny sent to me."
12. "I've traveled this world over
A thousand miles or more;
But a mustache on a cabbage head
I never did see before."