Comment

Comment by turtlehead on July 28, 2015 at 6:52am

One of the all time classic folk songs. I know it from the Dead version referenced in the article.  I like the fact that we'll never really know the origins.  Kind of like St. James Infirmary, the Cukoo, and others.  Nicely done RTZ.

Comment by RTZGUITARS on July 28, 2015 at 6:06am

Well detective Oily that seems like a good start if it was written by a soldier he may have died or just never took credit. But he is talking about America he has a gun and fighting and is hungry. The fact no one has a clue on the internet is very interesting.

Comment by RTZGUITARS on July 28, 2015 at 5:57am

Thanks U.J.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 28, 2015 at 12:38am

Interesting thing about this song: it's in the AAB verse form of yer standard blues. And the references to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, parts of Arkansas, and having been up on a mountain with a rifle, suggest a Southern Civil War vet, or maybe even someone who took part in the pre-Civil War violence in bleeding Kansas.

Comment by Ron "Oily" Sprague on July 28, 2015 at 12:31am

That's the problem with "traditional" folk songs: someone memorializes a hangin', someone else hears the song, adds their little bit to it, then travels by mule, horse, oscars or train to another location, seeds it there, then pretty soon it goes viral in that slow, old-fashioned way of the folk.

Comment by Uncle John on July 27, 2015 at 11:50pm

I'll second what Clock said.  Nicely done.

Comment by RTZGUITARS on July 27, 2015 at 5:48pm

Thanks sir, I'm not good at the live video thing but I'm a little sick of finding vid to post. I'll have to get a youtube page start postin HD

Comment by Clock The Wolf on July 27, 2015 at 5:43pm

I really liked this one. Thought the visual part was neat also!

Comment by RTZGUITARS on July 27, 2015 at 12:55pm

thanks guys, Oily good link but no answer to who. I know Van Ronk didn't write it but I love what he does.

Comment by the anonymous pick on July 27, 2015 at 11:59am

yup  ,  nice !! 

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