:{)- id'.:' I"t iai i:rI ur! 'ln On h': ]^ cr ht r ts< x> d{ i 6n \r nr= l! io \ I= lrr ::c)I ! '->- :{2 i)i <:: f,z- tr9 !i) \\x z:i r:*.1 x',- :-le:i:: 5\:FlLv =>-ri>q H: S;.: :3q sal{:::" I RSq r'Xir3ii Xii .:i:=Fl IJ!uroCJ!\l lsenl ,(q (lasu! seuoql ,fuuaH ldaJxe) soloqd FTi];;* \X.5rta r: -: a^ i:*= !r-3 ilsiell "lii bi::+ !r)= hS\l =!:s;=st*n2 !bh: if,:\!>{ r: u, !\rA l:' h>!: th?: :sU1" F= ?r-q! o hq!t ls. :r:2< :T :iU; S> 9r!\ (? S=Si "o |.\ia iTFQ lF'" IFT: l=r zqF! i:i l$; tf G, a5-\ +!: >!! oirl q!>< Ur6 S rrr- ,i Pru Qn Oh :: ?: bF -<- x> ,i€ g* q:i lx \ I m IF a:;s :-i (lasur r:!ax*ix {3ruioCoV\,|lf,eU! ^q seuoql Ituag 1r rr< i-i \.C!-sO -: :. +- -;tF :6:Xi:il yr63 I faFAi c xsiE m :,{gl h%\i m !:2i a riu4 t ectd @ ;cn- m =3op .tir z t z S&rra,:F! P - ,:3 t | F_i* a 'ir! >!-\ *>n T ! :" -.r t-{r -tsc F< x{x5 c x E! Sr \ r!F- ?F trOb c!, i: s3l '! <^I *2q +!3 f'l> bSJ xi *.*-) -u.-. E.i Y -zE; u 9: ii ! 6 E;;3 E ;?;; i,e+; i?;atE iee: ; ai Fi;i*. +:;i:" 3i9 =l ,<_i I : : :.. r __ E _ a 6 i. 9.r.1t iali :E@5n +rr.; =l3i*!;'::tiEe?1;i* a9i*E'i" 1i s aai A.:;1 ;?ii;itF:5'iriralr iiiii;i ii?f??ii:F{ oli i;:1r iE o: d 3 4 ! d*=:.Ar-:* 6a+-RE- -Ani9=t!!: ol.5-dg: 1?;i=?.r ;?: i^19=4 -a " : d; i;;;; "= x 5.rH*3.. :E*:=Tiiidi''3 :;3:ies ae:4: i.;i +rj i ;i i ; E * . ; ? ii E: D ."- 9 9 s i :;**q-i?ra4 -'i:;d;d o-=6 .. Ae nrtre ol thtBe old r&\trdinF caec to liRhl it beese rople named Thomas. I trac.d lo .n overcro*d.d hNsinS projcct a afparqlrl lhrr Henry lhomis *as a iingular and iniporrant ligutS, _- in East Oallas. I he man, Gsrqc Thomat. lurn€d out io be 5€cond Hc lcli bchind r total of 2J issucd r€l€ctions which rcD6enl one ol dsin: hir hrh€r and H€nry fhomas heving be€n liNt coutrnt *ho thr richcst conrributions to our musical cuhure. lfs gditime music nid uen torn in tlc same vear.l songs. Ceorge Thomas has a rister livinS in anolher prd of Dallas sho rcachinS out liom another cra: r€ls. rnthems. rtomps. SosP€l .' dancc call5. balhdr. btqcs and fragments compicssed in a blurring owns a family Bibl. and il *as thal lattcrd black b@k toScthcr with their combincd memorid (hlt providd thc biosraPhic Slinlpse of black muric as il existed in thc lsst century. lt's lhe son8s thrt canrc out of the shiliinB days when fredmeo end lheir children essen(ials: Hcnry Thomas was born in 1874. one of pcrhaPt ninc *erc renrnking rheir liv€s in a h6lil€ nation. children, on a farm in Upshur County. Tcras. Hc lcft as smn as he Hcnry Thom.s guilar is rudimentary but he plays with a was able b lravel on hh own. and thcrcNftcr turncd uP rs hc ch6€. thrusting drive thlt erokes a country dence. He uses onc of the most mostly earninS his way by som€ woman or by his guitar or both' Hc ancicnt of all inslrumenls. the panpipe (ot quills or syrinx as at is hrkd c,{lon hrminR and used to sinS a $rcastic tong rbout all th€ *otds of variously known) to punch out melodi6. His snSs continually nroncy ! sharecropp€t could €arn. Hc suld sP€ak a fc* underscorc thc lastin8 irony that much o[ our m6l cxpr€ssive and Cernrnn snd quiti s bil of Frcnch. satistacktry p*rry hrs becn compGed by an illite.at€ and In thc sonls he recordcd lhc p€rsisrcnl thcms arc lravcl. lrainr. (he uneducatcd p€oplc. And. along lhc w.y. Hen.y l-homas sheds ncw, lcrvrnc. Thru-urh lhc\e onc can rcadily c.tch siShl of man hall:light on a bn8 ling€ring myslcry: lhe oriSin of the blues He hinscii hunchca down in rhe blinds of a paisenSer train or imagine o|ers no ouick solutions. but rathet lcavcs us to our own devrc€s hinr drcp in lhc allcy of som€ pincy woods loPn Plrying 8uilar on alicr providing vrricd examples of ih€ blues idiom at several earlv rhc.d*$,{ a trlp 8amc. Or *c can sce him crossing th. fields at nrges of dc!€klpdent. He relurns mor€ lhan once to whal ls dusk r; nldy tlr r counrry suppci sh€r€ barcfmted dancers movc on pictur6 bv frhaps its m6t archaic lbrm: rhc D!(kcd rrrrh in fronl of 1plil lq cabins. Thc .vokcd sincc L.pk whu( th( tun dM( Eone thc ()ngs nccd not b€ conilrucrd €nlircly of imaginnry Pads L.ltk th(r( th( sun doil( Pon( hr\ dr\riilr c,'u\ins rnd a tew other p€oplc havc offcrd memories rma86 Lu'k nI$(.h., tn done gone, N. ehl Jnd rdndonr d(\criptmnt that conlirm and flesh oul thcsc over the L.x'k \h... th( !ill dor( eoil( tlL "ar r randarcr, thcy've said. who moved casuallv But rll ol rhis uas. and is. thc work of a largely anonymous coutrtry. nukinS great lmPing lrips oulward into othcr statcs. but ligurc. BcginninS ri long a8o rs 1958 my curiosity about him lmk in'r.i!hly rrturninS kt h's f!miliar homc Sroundi Tht railroads htd the torm ol a mild prdEcupation. whenevcr I travel.d over any Pan irr$(uhlv rltertd the oarlern of rural life rnd farn boy{ gt€w uP of *hat t inraSined had been his habitat, I asked tbout him l,rrrorne ,rn and olT tloq licishrs. if only to rid. a few mil€s up or & Queslbns *ere put h townsFople noi only in E.st Texas. but in a,,i",i" tin". Ar hc cre" ob;r. he rdcfanh.r' Th.rcwas the T Shr.vcFil and Hot Springs and san Antonio as vell as in lhe P.. rhc LO.N.. lhc C-otionbclt. ihc Katv. lhc Sanla Fe and half a smallci communnies scatcred in belw€en. As more of the rccords do/cn orhrr lincs to hclp him rcalize his pilsrimaScs P@pl€ cam€ alon8 I lblbsed up lh€ place-namcs mcntioncd in the songs rrnrcnrber hin! cominS back to br.8 lhat h€ d b€en to tec the Onc afle.nsn was spcnt in an old. broken down section of St. Louis Chi.aso Cotumbian Eiposilk'n of l89l and rh€ St. buis Wo.ld's and another alonS Davis Strel in Mobilc. Alabafra But lhe sea.ch Frir ol lqlr. as the inte.nal cvidence of the records urgd, conc€ntrated in Tcxas I hL slrrrrnq Ninr lbr mnny of th.sc travels may havc been lhe r,'{o ill 8rt S;dy, !n undistinquish€d spol near th. borlom_lands ( Sin& il sas u.likcly that th€ sing€r himself was still living (the Jl'ilru rhc S.hin{ River. He apparcnily gre* up rn th. vrcrnily ano roic. on rhere.eco.dr ,s at lerst middle_agd) I soughl p€ople "ho *rs \,,nr$ hciln ". ne". inis cornet of Upshur Countv thar miShr rcn'cmhcr hrnt. Some did but they could ncither point to his nrrn,hLr\ ot rhc lailily had In mind when they talkd aboul homc ho;e nor d€scribe more ihan i casual .ncounler. lt was an Up\hur County has a r.ther tyPicrl hislory: fis! ther€ were the overp.ductive pKress- Sc.aF of infomation pild up, most ot lMirn\ rhen thc wav€s of whi(. se(lcrs wlh th?ir slavcs. In an cra *esl a\ a them besct with contusion. Not one. bul two. !nd p6sibly ev€n lhrec .il srp(,n\ lnd borsy road\. Eatr Teras sas aboul as far musician( ,lt of ihem namd Henry Thomas w€rc d€scribed at S,'uth(rn r:rm.r ioulc *o and rtill find familiar thin8s like 8d 'put population dilTerent times. all of lhcm said lo be lhe man who oul land. rarer. and trees. In-t8S rhe county hld a slavc" - of thc U S C.nsus records. lt s only gradually and rec€ntly lhis tangle has b€gun to oJ.11c4 shrch develoFd in thc languaS. - The Ncgropopulat'on sorl iiself our. Eve;lually the more vilal scraPs led to the area ol 8ur(ilu Ink'4&7 frecslord by l870 and County l.ck\ rhe tecord of lvnching H€nry Thomrs honre dnd there fople furnishcd lhe names of sonre *J, n,r r n'.rority Upshut countics wh€re blacks rclarivei whod mold a*ay to rhe ciiy. ASStavating blanks and rnil rcnornni that rypify rome n.rghboring uncerrainri€s r€main but now it is at leasl pGsible to sel forth some outnunbcred *hiles. Almanac meant lo lu'e new basic inlbrmation about the man who made lhese recordings and An articlc in lhc IW Teras "Ragrime colors the sccne Upshur call.d himself Tetas.' l!.nlers inro the tegion. braS8inSly limkred and watcred counlEs That nickname is ilself a primary clu€. lt s a hobo moniker. lt Countv. rl trv\, rs dmons the be5t homc of ih. vanoui oakt hickories. isn'l so much a musical designation as it is an assum€d titl€ of th€ in rhc Sr!tL. rnd is the nr;ral "Chicago "T-8one doyd. cottonwd' ash *alnut, same o.d€r as Rcd" and Slim" and other such pinc. sweet gum. bl3ck-8um, blackhaw rcdhrw and hollv. The cclebrities. ICs a name to bc wrinen on watcr towets and box can' ;ulbcru. saisafras. ersimmon. itr a moniker rememb€td in of Oklahoma and '"'ii,fllill'ii""'illiiil""i;"" Moreold Psns shcdrigh, on ehat the Louisiana and Texts. bul known bst elong, lSO milc sirip of East someracts that of a black family miSh( bc Mo.e lands are bcinS Texa!. This il the area he cam€ from and il's here that fragmenls ol day.ddryiile put in cullilalion rhao cv€r b€fore." The soils arc dark his ilory have tu.n€d uP. clearcd rnd r,' reo ro hghr \andy. *ith rn ccasional stiff watv botom The loron ricld-i\ about onc half bal€ to the rcrc. Th€ countv ha\ mills, several iaw mills. cotton 8ins, Srist mills. shinSl€ mills. svrup Earr lerar rs roltrnS hills dark bo(omlinds. and Pincv rd\ and t*d cannins licto.iei. muggy ln shorl. ir;as divcnifid fatm land with timbcr .nd co(on It'r chiqrer and chinch country. fhc summ.6 arc hcavy and on its former slaves and their children. lt was a untit th'indcstorms crack op€n the sky. On lhe edge of the pine hcavily dependent rural ",'rli *nere llar bed wa8on. and bu8gi6 crewlcd along din forets rhere s a frin8e of PGt @ks. end b€yond thst lhe blackknd that wound th.ouSh magnificenl forests and Passed llelds orairig stretch oui "esvard to Dallas. The Texas & Pacilic roadr wo.kec sweat.d Piih balky mules. Timbd and church hailroad cuts €asland-west acr6s this tcrraln' seding the lumber whe.e 8atr8! (.,n{reqrtron\ crealed soarinS music Ch'ldrcn died of rickclt and mills. the rach orcha.ds. and the cotton 8in towns. -d,.."."r. read the weathcr siSns rnd lold storih "Radime T€xas" is b6t and m6t oftcn remembercd alonS the ,uoJ* Old men in conflid wilh devic of thc devil. The proudBt path of"the T. & P. P6ple are still to be found who recall a lime at,iut stronsmen 'help *as lh€ white board church€s that doticd the back lhen he camc lo out" at a country dance' or who smile u..6;1".1x1e rem€mberinS when they heard him on a riree( corner somewnere a For those no( chatmed bv. or th6c no! in €eipt of Upshur Some trool€-knew him only b] siSht or rcpulalion bul r few knew bounties, the two railroads thal crBscd.l 8i8 Sendy rcre bir of hi\-backsround and family. County s they provided €asy accds to lhe Rst of thc *orld They He was a ho-bo: a big. shambling black man who walkcd through rmoonant. a hor of rowns rhat w€r€ b€8innin8 to sho* .lcctric liEhrs and hundreds ofcilies and ao*ns. clothes and guitar slunS on his back ld ro jobr with a *eekly pay cnvclope Cities likc Drllas {l-g His musical ad cultur3l heritaSe was from the final Seneralion ol oll€red mile\r and Shrevepon {E8 milcs) had cntirc distridt s€l alrd€ lor rlates. Hir parents. born in slavery' 8re* up as free people ensnared whotehout€s and musicians. And to the nonh lhere was in a bankrupr cotlon economy until they and their ch'ldren salmns and St- lruis, ahicaSo. scattered. Some of his brothes tmk iobs in the railr@d shoF in Kansas City. In Hef,ry Thomas youth were just b€ginning to mak€ the Lonflie*. Teras and othes of the family drifted to Dallas or Psple qhrch from ru.al ways to uiban life. H. was of that Shrivemn. Henry Thomrs livd a lon8 life during he serded cru.ial shifi Pan a hach r€volutionary lhal i! evidencd less in in ditTirent to*ni tor Erids of lime bul eventually he b€came one rransilion. P€rid *ritren hisrories than il is in the rcmatkable bust of ncw music that of that army of homejess men. drifting around the suntry as h€ It's a came out of it. He was one of a facel€'s crcwd who, lik€ eandering pleased. carryin8 everything he oened on his back. fculiar - in cvery a8e. help definc and dcn mold thei' wo'ld ;nd close'knii fa;ily. rhee itinera"ts whoc pasagc was marked bv enterrain€B sith moralhy play and h€ro stori6. Yith complaint and irony. and lheir colorful n.*"i. oy u few leScnds or their idcas of revolution' track crew throuSh son85 that move ihc spiri!. and ccasiotrally by a Pile of slon6 wher€ a railr@d vere able to move casuallv over lhc landscaP€ largely found a dead hobo and buried him alongside th€ righlof-wav' Musiciani the qrace of indcrndcnt Bindd brakcmen rnd con Much of whal is known of Henry Thomas comd from a distant rhrou{h a,a* t n"v "Aa onlv to walk up ad rsl. Mistcr. can I ride relative qho. afier a se.ies of misadvcntutes sith $corcs of olhft jotrr rdinl rnd rs ofrea (cmizes as nor rhe man woutd wave hin on board. h.e (hc rrip in grraicr detait, sta.ring at rhe w As oile "Thar . l\e_xt old trninftran has cxplained. guira. was hh rickrt so hcginninS in Fo.l worth. l hc Tcras & p'cific ca.ries hinr tm mires hr ns I sas concerned. The conrpany didn r lose any money. Nol cast to Texa.kana whc.c hc hls r change of plan lnd doubtcs back ill ol lhen l-clt the same way and the cou(esy could rnd did chanse to Forr Woflh. Thi\ round ilip rhrough East Texas rs unersrnrral lion ooe rxilroad division poinr ro rhe next. 8ur where nee passage rnd rt scenrslair to inr(rpr(r it J\ r nosrdtgrcvisit lo frnritiJ. ptrccs Nas denied thcre w€re always the m€thods of rhe ordinary hobo: nnd home: cn'pty goMolrs lnd box ca6, th€ blind end of baSgage cars, and rhe Iruss rds underoeath the cars. Henry Thomai it's remenrbered, I '- - aluays carried a ticket boa.d a flat piee ofwd grmvd ro fit - c rn'ss rd - lbr ecasions when he h.d ro ride the rds. Charye co.s on ttu T.P..l I In lhc early stages. information about Heory Thomas was Leofiry Foil Worth. T.\os! lf grihcred aiftlessly. and th€n after yeas of rummaging rh€ pa[ern Going th.ough Dolasl nos so obvious emer8€d like a sharp glint of li8ht. It ccufted Helo, Teneu! I rI lhrough the elementary prtrss ofone day raking a map aod circlinS Graild Saline! the plac$ q here I had talked ro p€ople who rememkred hin. Many Silvn Lake! ?-l of rhose places coincided *irh rha rcuie of HiShway EO atrd of rhe T. (kter, F. & P. line. that paftem wai rsundingly @nfirmed by th€ Tyler! recording Ratlmdrz Soae wherc he mp6 out the nam6 of many of th€se same towns.) teffercon! @- The next st€p was the obvious one. I lan down a number of older rrainmen lmking fo. one who might (.member Henry Thomas. but Little Sandy! ASET( mosr of what they remembered was thar there us€d to be a cuitar Rie Sandy! player hanging around cvery depot up and dwn th€ tioe.-Th€y Turkana! THOSE described not one but dozcns of fren who uscd to hang around rhe And double back to Fort Wodh! THOMA domino parlor or somc acrGs,thc-tracks tav€m until train time when. with everyone .lsc in twn, the/d come over to the deFt. WheEv?r the rrain sropped it was ommonptace to l@k acr6s the platfom and sc one or go musicians in the c(wd. The tsinmcn The mut€ can b€ followed on old timdabl6. tt isn't lettcr lalk€d sot about individuals but rather thev Dainted the musicians p€rfEt. A few twns are out of requence, on€ is ncarby on another in as pa( of thc scene in that era when tie'Tcras & Pacific ws railrsd and one is oot a toen but a c@k, but rhe flow of ptae flmous for the elegant maintcnance of its rolling stek, and the big nam6 is a .inging hobo's eyevi* of.ailrcsding through East Tixa sream€ngines d.ifted dt of the yadi with tamF and cylindcr hada Then, back at his sta(ing point. he sets out ancw, catching rhe Katy gr€amrn8. which caftics him through a fw nonh Texas twns rnd then cr6s6 But one man, a rctired onductor namd C. T. Hady who uscd inlo *hat was still thought of as the lodian Tctrirory. to work.the pasn8cr trains oui of Dallas. had a morc prfri* "Ra8rime .:w6 memory.. Texas, he sid without h.sitaliotr. a great bi8 fellow that uscd to come aboard at Claddatcr or Mincola or smewh€re in therc." The old ondudor dctightdly dscriH Chanee ca$ or the Katy! ..Rrgrimc il8reG. sanerd ov€r nearly thirty y6E timc, whcn L@ving Dallas, Tes! T€xas" rod€ his trrin and cntenaind hi5 pasngen...t'd aiways Com ing t htoug h Roc tuoII ! ',Hc $rry him except whcn he was t@ diny." Hrrdy said. was Heilo. Oee^yiile! .€gular hob but I'd caq him m6t of th€ timc." Hardy ddcribd one acasion ph€n, rftcr waving him on bdd, he noticed the train didn't havc thc usual numbcr of chitdrcn South McAlester! "Ragtimc runnin8 rmuct in thc risl6. Ttcn hc came acGs Texr$" up front in onc ofthe whitc c@ch6 with all thc youngstG Mutkqee! "l Ssth€r.d around him- found him up therc picking guiur. singinS, ptaying Hello, Wagner! lhal *hrstl€-businGi and lding out Fl@F ro whcrc he had Po.rons. Kanros! half-a-dozcn youngstcs daocing up at thc front of the car-" Kanr6 Ch! "Rrgtimc Mct ofthc timc, Tcxs" sbyd f.dhcr bact in the Sedalia!.' ..For rain. in th€ smoking cer or bcyond in thc sch d6ignatcd And I change e.s andjump ir St. Ldis! Colorcd." Hady sid hc usld to mdc throgh th6. cas, singing "thc gspel songs for churchy p6plC' on onc sion, and on rhe ..ddil's ' neri tanging trcund with card play6 aod .inginS nusic. Simil.r eolldions can bc hcaid ftom ahr Lainmcn or fiom As hc movd fafrher from familiar grcuod he nam6 fd€i p€oplc in the tdns along rhc T. & P. bur msoy tim6, unl6 thcy plac6. The p.c€ sccel€rates as th€ Chicsgo & Alton crfti6 him olTcr a namc or poinr phiitle. makc e of d*ribinS his aia i( i5n1 pcsibti: close to his 8ol, ind here he trcats us to a samplc of ro know whdhcr thc musician thc/rc ratking about is Hcnry dialoguc bcscen train and trainmaster, th€ enginet stating his cse Thomas or onc of 6untl6s othe6 who tmvcla thc samc dth'. wilh No shofr, iharp blasts and getting back his clarance to pss "Rsgrimc Acsidingly. whaf s clerly knwn of Tcrs rcmains a thfough. slim group of.fads. and indc€d somc of thc fim6t fids arc thc rc@rds thcmrrlv6. Sdcml tim6. bcMccn 1927 and 1929. H.nry Thomas tmvct€d A RECC nonh to-pr*nt himsclf sl 623 South Wabash Arenu€, Chic.go, rhe Hilo Spdndieldl HENRY ofnc6 ofthe Erunswick.Brltc-Collcndd Co., makm ofthc fimous I'm m my way Chicago! lin! of billiard tsblcs. thc Psnstropc phonoF.ph, rnd pduccs of [email protected]! APPEAI thc Erunswick and Vealion rcs.d labcls. Ovc(all. thc lwrdinF "Can hc lcft with thcm ontein rclativcly linlc of autobioSnphidl the Eighbalt pss on thrcush?". "Highbot substrne. Thcy do includc numbc@s EfccnG to Tcrr ind to on thrcugh, til!" T.ns placcs(Hunbvill!, Elm dnd Main in Drlls) but motc far-nun8 Gnnd Cwsing! (Memphis, citi6 Baltimo.el ccur s wcll s this h.rdly lads to any T hirty- Fi'st S tnet D eNt ! point?d pcBonal rcvclation abqt thc singd. Th@ is. h@cvcr, that Polk Strcet DeFnt! one outstAnding cxccptlon - thc modologrc RaiLfudin SMe Chicaeo! whcrc he dirccly charadedzd him*lf. It *s on his l6t trip to rhc Chica8o tludio in Octobcr 1929 that hc lcft bchind this sinslat po(rait, . using the trip north ibelf e thc mcdium thrcugh which he skdch6 himself. lt is r bona.berc namtivc. liftl. mo.c thrn an itcmization of thc twns hc pa$6 thrdgh. but it has thc joy of His cnrry into Chicago is ! fan6y, Hc wmr to bc cntcdnS tmvcl in it, and it rcprcsctr8 Hcn.y Thomas' IEMmI stylc of lifc a d6 no othcr solding h€ lcft ua. lhc city simultanously by th@ diffdant rcut6. Kcy poinb on thc C. & A., thc Senh Fc and lllinois Ccntrel orc [email protected] lfs .i Shrcwdly, for th6c whffi Sdgraphy b lheky, hc bcgins rith a monta8c just summeiy of the vholc trip: of rnivals in Chicago whcrc, rs his $ngs aa oftcni comp6h6, hc's pdhaF tak€n sll th€ pFious trigs hc's msdc toi thc city aod @mpr6scd thcm into onc drrmatic if impcriblci sequcncc,. toppcd ofl by thc panpip6 blwing Chi€8o a briSht,! joyous salutc. I I leove Fofr Woflh, Ts6 and go to Taarka a! Hcnry Thomas has donc e rcmsrkabtc thin8 hm Thc matriati A^d double back b Fot wo4h! is I rlclctsl s r rrilwey timdablc snd ihc tlrrust of it tek6 thcl Come oi down to Dallas! Jd listencr seping elong with him, onc tnin .nd th.nl Cha^ge can on ah. Ksty! Fabbing anothd. th. stslions flashinr ast. lhe clsckins of unwclded .ailil Comi^g th;atugh the Tnibry b Ka^tus Caa/ .nd thc long shistlc.blss foi ircsings elt wrap-pcd into on€ of thc.i Aad Konsat City b St. Lilit! md daatirc cntn6 in that dch catcSo.y of music - end program; And St. Luis toChiugo! music - dedicat.d to rriluding. I'h M d! edv ht I hn t knN whaC i SAii;ei;iiiiffiii'i'iiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifi?gisiitiiiliiiiEiliili;iiiiiiiiii*iiiiiiiiiii1F *iiigi.:ii iEiiieriiiii ii;i;ieiii;ii;ilgiliiiiiiii?ei iiii;eitsi'iEiiellaiEiii+i iiiiiEii liiisEii? iifiliiif# fiffilliillliitiliili lfi:i*illlliil iiqri*gElgiriiiltssiiirlggiiiiiEiiiiiiiiliigiilii;iiiigliiiErliEgiiiiiiiiiilisg$lliail" i i{ifiii'llFii['iigiii:i iiiiiiiiliiil;;ii'':ei iglg;iisi[]iliiiF[iiiiEiiXi iEiisi iiEiiiii?is i r?:s :i;t;Fliit i?ii;,r*iei Esii*8il aii;eiEriiiiiFiii iiiiiiiaiii?iii5iFi€;ii iiiiiiiiiili ; serics of"one-veE€ ron8s" rtitched to8€thcr to fill up r thrcc minutc assumptiotr that his audiencc kncw in full such standard songs as record. Lovft roEe is p€rhaps.n advanc€d us ofthc tehniquc. It Ld Me A.ing My Clothet Back Hone .nd The S.a.e of A.tuntot t a classic elaboration of ahem6. semingly unrclatcd. yct cascadinS nd Ttureting M{n and thur hc was fre to mcr8e thcm into a bgether in a *ay that sustains a sin8le omplctc interior mood. palchwork m€dley that may follow a subtlc chain of sssiation (not Eventually the blues prc$cssed into a much morc sophirticstd always apparent unl6s the listcncr is.qurlly familiar with thc songs lorm rnd an rlm6r srandardizdl ve6c siructurc (A2A) devcloD€d. ouoted and alluded to). "rags" ln sclcctionr such as Red Riyd Blua HcnryThoms pous foih a One of lhese follds r gamblin8 motif. U$ing a wisp of an !ariery of unsrandardiz€d .nl€c€d.nt forms. Hc illuminetcs tm that ofd Kentucky hoKc racc b|llad R/^ MdUe Rcr for its litle, it "She 'Hold crucial st€p wh€re singl€ lin€i mcrgc into onc vcsc ontaining both repeats th€ lincs l6.ncd mc how to dcal th6e cards, qucrtion rnd rns*er, or strtcment and 6ponsc. Or hc shws how that jack and trcyl"' and thric rllud€s to thc finrl stanza of a rhc line\. rep€ated Mo or thG or fou. tim6, fall inro scqucnc€. ballad, w€ll knowtr in Tcras. pherc a younS man cn routc from thc erch n€s thought .laborating on what has Sonc bcforc. Thc chiin of Dallas jail to th€ statc prison at Huotsvillc confdsd to a lifc of sin krgic is sly. ironic. unrcl€nting: and ends his songs with thc moral pr€achmcnt: I n gonM build me u heuycn ofny o\|n Cone all yu drinkins ganblen. kke eaming no|| lion nL I n eonno build ne a hearn oJ ny own And neru ddnh rye whitkq whilc wotking on ,he tt.eet: I nt Coftna build n( o huren ofnt own The jwies .hq orc plen.y, .he judge it t,anding rhcrc. I it t1oilno Eiv( all eMd4ime women a home Thev ll tske wu down to Huntsillc to wear theballondchain.rr I n Eonna git( til Cdtdlime *omen a home Another rlm6t uniquc .spcd of Hcnry Thomas' rcordcd leSacy l il ponM give uil gnAaimcwoma a home is his use of th€ panpipd. It is the simpldt of instrlmcnts. needing Gq .wtt hut. ect wr. cNt. Cet thaking on down ,he line only somc cane from a aiver bottom to bc cut into tub6 of GLr .vour hat. ed wur cMt, get shaking on down ahe line progressively shoner lcnSth and bound tog€ther sidc-by-side ro form GLr vour hut. get wu. cMt. eet thoking on dN^ the line an instrument that is probably as old rs man'r ense of melody. Uniil the era of the fi$t World War vinually cv€ry Southern Pcsibly to a $eal€r eit{t than any othcr p€rformcr of his era, Henry Thomas givs ur a cr6s-s4tion of lh. drly, cvolving youngster s€ems to hav€ made himsclf a set of thc* panpip€s or blues. "quills" Yet neither from him nor from any souic€ is there e @mprchcnsive which rangcd in sizc from thr.c and four note models on up view. what we have is a rrrcam wh6c full flow is hiddcn. Only to sets of ten or frote not€s. Both Eill Monrc .nd Missiisippi John p€re broken and distant points .long this river can be sen. At times, Hu( hav€ dcscrib€d making such instrumcnts when lhey children. tuning thcm up by droppitrg p€bblcs into each tub€ unril it takinS a sp€ci{ic instance, ec can Sener.te an illurion of having sounded the desired pitch. Yet only four men havc ever been trrced hs cou$e. The line Wler pu tee me coming h.ist Nur r€cordcd playing this instrument which wcnl out of frshion as wtrlow l4lr was reported from a bhck work 8an8 head in or ncar Fayett€ county. Texas in 1892 aod it appc.6 in print in the cncore inerpcnsiv; haimonicas b€cam. widely availablc.rr Of rhose of a succcsstul popular sonS published in lE96 (by an author who r€cotdcd, Henry Thomas otTers th€ only ertcnsivc sample of this rradily admi(d that he gath€rcd his matcrials by listcning to oncc commonolace instrum€n(. Sou(hern NeSrNs).r' The same linc ccu6 in .arly .ccordings and Through the happcnstance of having made thcsc rdords. Henry it r€mains a lamiliar pan of thc veabulary of thc blucs up to the Thomas beomes a rclic from thc past. on€ of that lld of leflover prerent day. But all oflh€s€ are only scl*tive hints, scatteted poinls things that we must come to tr.asurc, or elsc disa.d bccausc ihey rlong the river. eithout fin.l answ€6.s to origins or actual clutter up our world. As with any relic. itr helpful to know the contcxl and thc rolc it placed in its dn time. but ukimately lhe relic - Sccaus€ Hcnry Thomas ofitE so much to the subject. he musi stand on its owo holdinS our alt€ntion beausc it is a rich, inevitably .eopens long-labored questions about origins and human lestam€nt that conlinues lo oleas€ us. whethe. valued hcginninSs. The adlent of the blu€s is traditionally discusscd in The test of Henry Thomas is he can bc heard and tcrtus of a prs.eativ€ act. a sudden tlowerinS. or bidh. Wc'vc had *ithout prior information or int€rest. Thc s(rcngth of his a.t must "fath.l'ofrh€ one man stake a claim as blu6. lnd wc'v. had (sincc bc suflicient. It is not enouSh that h€ akc6 somc prtronceptions or necessarily f926) the kinky obsterrical imagery of The Eiilh of The 81u4. sheds n€w light on the blu€s tradilion. Onc cannot Scriou! scholanhip a€nds to aftept much the samc concept of blu€s approach him from our of the archivs or steFd in knoeledge of felbw Thomrs was onc hudrd y€a.s originsi the elidence suSggts a sfific cvcnt sparkcd by c€(ain his musicians. Henry born y..c. t€nsions and neds. This line of thought naturally implics r spccific r8o. Thc relic k cxFctd to b.id8€ th. Some small .ltowances necd a little tole.ance birthplace. Propon€nts of variour stat6 Oens, Mississippi) rnd of can be made. For cxamole th. lis(cncr des - jus! ditTe.enl cities (M€mphis. Nce O.lcand havc endlcssly pu6ued their and patience with his idiomaric spctrh as H€nry Thomas 'whc.e paticncc with your argumcnb about the blus were born." would need curious spcech. This erchange of patienc€ .cndcrd In r€sp€ct to Texas. a mountain can b€ dcumentcd - through can be .egardd as a basic coun6y belween rhe combination of both early and more r€ccot ficld work and people of ditrerent worlds. Civ€n the opponunity h€ carrics lhe world. place. rccordings, rhrouSh the old [email protected] .nd diaries and ncwlpap€E, listener dccply into his his tinc and and immeasurably th.ough a vari€ty of adists on race rsods. and so on. Thus thc enhanc6 onc's s€n* of cultural he.itage. hobo wilh m6l of lilt more mountain itself appeam to makc its own argum€nt, but that tm is He is a touSh old sonSs thal span s pass'ons, illusion. A detailed suryey of all thc carly materials and tGtimony rccessary sinply l€nds no clea. suppod to any rcgional claim for prinacy. Lines lnd verses that Hcnry Thomas sings ar€ repo(ed frcm tv Mississippi in l% and from Csrgia in 1904. Podions of his blu€s The question ofwho ir was thrr I iloppd on (h€ st.eet that day rep€rtoire we.e known at an carly date in Paducah. Kentucky and in 1949 has n€v€r b.€n answered to snrplete ratisfaction. lt cannol in Mobile.Alabama. He sha.cd much, not only with Cha.lie Pafron in be se(led althouSh. for me. th€ doubi has diminishd sinc€ seeing M'ssiss'ppi, but wilh William Mmr€ in Virginia. copi€s of the oriSinal advediscm.nts for Jorr fl"nry ^nd tor Tcxas No a.row points to a bi(hplace or an innovator. But whai dcs Easr S!rcet Blues which appeared in N€gro ncwspaper when the se€m apparent is that from whalever FDint or FDints thc blucs records wer€ first releas€d.lr One of th6e adv€rlisements contains a €merged, they gained quick conient and iprcad dramaticilly mottled photograph and the oth€r a line dBwing ofa fi8ure with the rhroughout the South. All of , sudden thce sonSs about possums samc physique and that e8gshard h€ad I li6( saw near Hou*on s and raccmns and gum stumps begao to vanish. ln their stead came Union Station on that winter afternmn. not only blud, but also ja4 and ragtime. and the hot gcpd sound Some long forSotten deteils about that encountcr have come to that spept across the country wifh lhe ncw holinds churches. liSht through the remvery of a pesonal lc(e.. s.itten iust At €v€ry mom€nt Henry Thomas is a firm exponent of the Texas aftepard. if, which I'd descnbed the meting al some lengrh. It branch of these movemests, with deeply-etchd chrradcdstics that mentions, among oth.r lhin$, th.t the old man's guitar bore a id€ntiti him with l6al traditioo. Morover, he has r distinctive number of d€orations and .hat scve.al symbls and animal shapes accenr rhat is assciatd *ith a spccific pan of East Tcxs and with - one a snake which fist app€ared to be a orkscw - were a padicular group there. Non€th€16s, beyond th€se traits, he is at lighlly burnt into th€ wood. There wcr€ two photoSraphs pasted on. the same rime r€pGentive of an entire generation. In hearing him one of Franklin RGevelt. and the oth€r a cracking. browned-out on€ needs to inraSine sonFte6 sattcrcd ovet 22 5tat6 who knw print of an clde.ly woman. and sanS the same son8s. ind.njoyed the same kinship with their The letter described hov at on€ point the man had broken off playin8, dissatisfied wiih the curious metal whistle he used (it was white ihe evidence rvailablc givd only flimsy dirediors as to zol the quills head on th6e records). He stoppd and salked ovet whe.e traditions originatd, how thcy iraveld is morc rcdily to a nearby building which tumd out to k a Catholic sch@l and "therc unde.stood considerinS thc 6tim.te that were as many as laid his Suirar down, then sloely bcgao goinS through his peke6. 75.000 out-and-out bums in this country by the cod of thc From one pckel cam€ some patched cyeglasses, from anolher a nineteenth century- l! Some of them caned animals in exchange hammer, and a third produced a pair of plie6. Then. using th€ tbr meals qhile othes worked their way through the world with . stone wiodow sill of the schml for his anvil. and with dozens of guita.. moving liom town to lown, playing on ihe sidsalks with t curious people passing by. he rlowly and delicatcly began cup or an uplurnd hat or coming to challcngc lcal musicians. hamnering and bending the metal instrumenl into a more These me€ting: b€Neen hometwn musicians aod the chall€nging satisfactory condition. When he *as finishd h€ restored the t@ls to I visitor were events of sharp lcal ioter6t. Nw songs were erp€ded their ptrkets and play€d another sel*tion. The instrumenl now to be h€ard end exchanged in e tough compelitive spirit. pleased him morc and prduced a gritty. pulsing sound. Polishcd perhaps for just such cnsunteF. the most intriguing Aclually the man was coaxed into not one but No p€rformances "ft85" aspect of Henry Thomas' songlorc b ehal ver. known 6 - that aliern@n. On€ was on the ltrcet orncr. and thc other was t fhar is. pieces of rons patched together, compGsed into beforc a microphone. In spite of his infirmiti6. there was t6 much dnthologies wilh an almost ,oycean flavor.r He worked on the of nerit and interest in th€ man s music not to try fudher, and so hofin8 ro obr.in a belkr f{ormance. ar efrbd was made ro remrd 6-Tha lorn hiShball atuuta to tun tail ot to desianote o.fost l 3. Odu rr. hin) A .kis€ Iricnd. (rhat Fld Badeaur. owned a wire re@rder t.oilt derivcs.frcn the old signal lor o cl.a, ,ruck ,,hi.h was o f4.J..6d,.,r Thonor. Sou'h Tuur Nqtu wu*-Sonb,^ lu.t^ - dinbolic li)rrrunnL. of lapc) and was rhat the machine usd larfr thc hail .oisc.l to the top of a pst. bo$ fn The Morning Grlrt. 1926) ond th( Npul\. ir,\ srnre dnr- 8ur again lhe resuXs wer€ dispfpinlinS. 1. Alitr Joliet. the pints mntioned orc locations a'ithin the cit! of Ne$ Bullv tr Chuil.s E. Tr.\'olhon. Ihr nr.chine lsrll nou brorcr. sritt €xists in an arlic. AlonAside Chicoso. '!^4 C.onA Cm$';a" ir o nonnoth inftrcAongc *her. l5.Bill C!il1i.h.d. Incrcdiblt CdlectoA. wirrd An;r1\ci ' ,\ J hdr ,il \n,xt\ tuil ot $ire. yo'^ thin. briilte Untire rap. recorJings tht Iilinois Cenltut cn,rses over a nutuber o.ftihes.otuine in.Aon odd Hi,hhics tN,r' tuilt h t!: thoplo o, T:-he Ar.t donr on uirr arr subjecl a to enormous problens. The eire breaks th( Ealr. .?tst Steet is o .elcbroted thorcushfu.. oil the blo.k 16.Ailtilhrt oulrh ot shch iles a Lil Mcehnrccr': D',ii \o^ cr\rl! ard ascrger ro trink q and snarl. lt can require as long as ten Sout hsid( l.l. Cloru Snil, r 3lst Street Blu6 or on), lazz histon' Thinl l nr Santa Claus ntortud in l9l0 ahich r a rortr.;'li, nrinnrc\ to clclr a sinSle lbt ol lanSled wire. r.tuilins l-e r and iD rh€ course of;l th. Elo.;es ol Lincdn Ga.dens ot the Arcnue Thearc,). oi ru ""tB' pthtt:htJ n rh( Ieuz 0s pind. s* rte -rli. f'1 I rh( ruhbing ol onr ponion of sire agairst another may cause a spl Thrl( nos ilo 3lst Stre.t D.pt- ss such but the rqfennce is Rrchntd Rttchrl!,n ,, JfMf Quarterl). Nt' Ie Utt 4,\^ L1 .L l (rJ\,il( 'fclt" q Errat\ are rep.ircd bv lnoilinS rhe oo cnds rogerher. robablr k' Ih. Halsteod Strc.t Stttion locakd only a.ls blocks Tht rKordhs is utuilabk o" CBS 52796. Tht I.t4 '^ q .Ju\int rhe l)1. of rhat parr ofrhe recording. Somewh€re in lhis pite u\'a\'. Polk St.cet D(pt' is thc earlier aon? hr thc Deorbom th( s.il!( til hhi.h it ir usd h.rc is distinct.totab^l li;; r\ ol uolabrlsd uirc ihe recording made in 1949 may srill erist. lt Stu!ioil ot Polk and Dearborn in downtos'n Chicago. chq t.lohdtlhry \,1th thr u\'rd rognil. Ihot dr',in\'.; t{L $r{ld .rquir€ jusl gothi. { rn enormous elTorr 1o derermin€ rhelher or nor it Fa,n, Jolid ino the Lep. sev.al .a;h@ds -ould bc ftquired to ttt\thr D'uri. !ilJ d r'rn'ul !^h ut Ih. 1890! / h ; itt'ft r| is rhrrc. and rhe ellbrt has bcen abandond. not because of the D'uk( oil lhr(( dnts. 10 D'tsil nhn'h is rut.hel topilh(-ton pi(.s ol liffi;.il LEt(:i kchni.rl dillic!ltie. alonr. bul beiause ir sould sefrc no DurDme lo 8. lt is nnpossibh to nam( r.ilh onr ce.ta;n\ th. oldest puf'on"l .nd krItutr! l((l\tt || rcprtsL4rtd tBhilJ when wa\ 'Ihrer on recoils. Hoftw.. Io, those interested in pwsuing l7.O'ir Ghn!' B6t I A Small 8o1,1htrr:r, i. peoplc hcard thal t^\''i) 8€ntleman on lhat afternmn in 1949. th! qulni.rt. some pints con be nadc. \It1: rh. h,uttA n"",i- or rht ot*u.,ru,t.'pi\tA - 3 All nrc rgrced otr ceilain poinrs: he sas a singular black giant ofa A puhlishLd nporr rhat Frunk Stokes was bom 1865 it n,lrdrs il hdr til H.u:tot. c. 1930. v!t! .'^ tvj A o.olnd rnilu..J t,\i nrrtr- I lascinarangpersl)nalily. and yet as a nusician hc had simply .oiltudickl. both 4' the oe. given on his d@th cerrificarc and hallutl ottut bt o nuDtbu ol ston.lard rclten.L b:, K;. t't.A SET ' hsr rfil nruch srnsory abilily. His a8e and rhc haNhness ofhis tif€ b| o photogrcph that sho||s him ot o,eloti,eb wune nan os of hildr. Ihr ith The Dxllls Count! lail. 5e u pltt\l l'!1,4\ :4 hrd nrndr it in)possiblc lor him lo make a useful remrding. If il th! 1920s. Mdt.nnh Ldr!. Nrrtre Amcric!n BxttaC,^ tPhilo.l"lllhq, L,t::\ HOSI. $rre Io bc lburd. il woulJ be monilrously unfair to circulale such Acrcnliry to il'tbrnation pr$ent\' awilobl. the distinction of thrh turuh'ps ir t L I7 An ililt n.otdinp n T^? jt. "r,4'l ' ItOM/ nn iknr- Il mav eren br unfair to Sive unduc €mphnsis lo that _li.sthom aprysts to belong to on odist namd Johnny Wotson Cfuho). ,\ Wurtt ud Wtly'n 'il Porunount }006 : _ nerring-'lhc pidurc ol him Ihat rcmains fiom that day is more nho said hc was 90 )lors old in l960lsc. Paul Olter, ConveEa- t8. Rtrtiains it rh( quitl! ohd aalc;.1^r-.tl Ah1 . propfilv lisual - his size. thc sudden brighlnss of his smile, and tion Wilh The Blus, p /43t. O.[ his eorl),r?cordings, mode undet ifArrx',rnr hu! ./.n.ksrd "r lsso n Grcrgc Cabl( i l/r|!urt/ ih( rh!ilur€ drdicarion $ith {hich ( f t' a t he mntinued movinc around the th( nant? Dodd| Stovepiry. onry oie it ovoiloble on microg@ve |rhttJ uil|| h\ /o, The entury MaE zt^c descn bnl t t-dAt €adhasir pk.r\.d him to do so. Whcn I slopped tri. tt. "ut loil Orieh I4r. h Loilvttu Tu ull rhts thLrL nas lonQtih?! addat ,l n'^ t' planning on ealling several miles to a friend's hou* in Third Attonp olhcr cloinantt. th( best is Fobobl! Son Jones 9f pipr ol hut thtil'ru.lt. il,ottu lront sineh.ioints ql ihe ra,uaoa wrrd. Hc qas slill viSorous. stil' *alkinS up lo conductoE. askinS. Kuluckr *ho rucodcd in 1924 and oeain in 1927 uline the bru*c cunL. und colhd hr Easlish-sp.okine nesto.s ''Mi{cr..rn rh. < "tllr;'a, I ride your tra;n? He was still sleeping under brid86 nuot Srowpip No. l. His npedoite oJ.frddle tunes, reels, ond OnL nay rnt ot lhl '.tr\ hrd, rh" hlocl |ad. 'ou"te.tl\ a. - ri{lin8 *hen - - and thc blinds the ccasion required. hh6 us *eil as INal rccolections o!the non in Cinciilnati ut sursd h(hild u ti\' .oA 5 thut h( hu! lound neur 7t.' e,l1 : .t' It s the nrcmorr of thar a$.csomeSenlleman that one r.lains and k\.1 k' plu.t hin sonwhat s.nior to Hen4' Thomas. rhr ttnLhntl uhort h, hu cut his lht.c quil\ Ftt.ttI.t',nA - it i rhi\ albunr ol hi5 1927,29 recodines rhat is his mosl 9. This alhum rcn ail6 the complete Hcn4'Thonot mless son@ne h6rits, tLtr ard o\\'t .' , .1 rpproprirtc lcSacr. Dtoilup(s 1o turn up test prcssings oI unrcleosed materiol. Th? 7hL quillr Uh( \a,rd 'atuils linplr o hollor' tub(t '!:l t' rt,t^t' - - n G tir. Chicken Raa ol on( unissued nen h *nown fron trDn, Ihr qtull tshpullt) rhih 6 o tihd ol.fitc wth I' t:'. 4.ttt .Bl Sroah,t Doac< s sconning of the onginal rcco.ding ledgers, the nhith t: titt hcdrd in lun't onn' q tnc iiurt -,1 -!',\ v-: t(sults til thich oppearcd in Sto ,riile 34 lApd l97ll. The th( hltnnililt 'rdtut.d n a t927 ,ecordtns Ay 8,. 0, -a 'fau.r1;.;/ NOTES iil_lbtD'otior eiven therc rpdal.s ond stiehtb.eyises th. Chdt"d.1tu qullt IhoI H.nt1 ,Lat i t dis..ryruphic b,lbrnotioa Eivea on Hen4,Thomos in th. plu.tt h\,. p$ihtt n u shuuld{ .acl but me f/ ; r.. r,l. r'l rq l.lndex to tan upplartd in litur eolun?s betueen 1945 and 1948: :tandaftl rclercn.. Blres & G6fEl RNrds lm2-1942 conpiled h(ld ht d h"x oilo,hrJ to thr !id. el lhc Sunot .,-: .fl "Rogline ' tP2 tI. Iust .'l " hi.h .ufti.d o lisling of sone o.f T$os hr Johil Co.ldch and Robn M. w. Deon Uondon. 1969r. tn srir d,'rar'. r"oJilt hLord nenodct oi IhD in'|r,,fr' ag*EiiEgIEiiBEiEiiEEIEi=IiEEeF EASEE EFieFi1E -E* ;iEEi3 gigg? F-gFe=E F SFgiEE3FF3 OE It=3q eBeE iilll s*$iEiriir i*3t: fi*,i';itit "Honet, Mt wifesaid, I'm don€rith bem _ I'mgonna (catch) a pasu€r lraitr" 0h, ny.little honeydon't you male me go I g€ta iob,if ,ou allowme, sure. All c.apshmtem.| f,ill shun Goodlittle balt iustl€t mewort Whentou lry chictenall I wantis the bone lYhertou bu, b€€rI bestislied rith thetoam. l'll worl..both.nightand dat. t,ll beca.eful wh.t I st. tlorey,"Ulhatl" "Please lel mebring mt clothesbact home" 00wr lhe kact this morningshe did st.oll. W€ll,a ,ccidenl;her lot lol ceughtin . h0lq I m.gonnalell tou lh€ lrutft;a natural,.....(p@,man?) ilight ir toufig,dresss lurn Ihe failroadtract is run I'mgonna but them ill Ciga.€tles,ct€f,ing tobacco - andtry egain. I'd lile tou lo lnow how$tan d@sd?r, pq mal I amI ramblinggamblin! man I gembledin manttowns. I rrmbledthis f,ideworld 0€r I rambledlhii rorldaround I hadmt upsand downs through lile Ind bilt€rtims I saw. 8ut neterlnew wftal mis€fl rs Iill I lit on oldlrlan$s l.started.0{t0n€ m0rning, "You t0 met lhateart, kain Hesaid, bctterworl with ne I havesome land lo drain fll liv€ tos filtt centsa dat;tour rasting, hoard and all Andyou shail be a difterellman In the Staleof old l.tensar,' I worlediir mo[thsfoJ the rascal ,oc Herrinwas his nam€ th led.meold_ com-d0dg€6, th., 16 hard6.n, ral tly lmlh is all gotl0os€ned, and m, tns h8in to tnal Inat wasthe tind of hashI tol In the Statcof A*af,sas Irarclingman, I'y€ trayclsd rll aroundlhis trdd Trarelingman, l'll tray€ltrom land lo land Iray€lingman, l'll trayelall amundthis rqld Uaell,it taintno use, rriting nones I'ma karelingman. C0mp6ite.Ihs seleclronskitters through three or lqgr5e6g5, 311 lolibtrje,$:ejll00w at the time.A ceorgiarcrsion 0t Babr,Gt t{e lrllq ut ctothe!Bacl Homeappeared in theloumal ol lmerican rori'Lore,tuty.September, l9ll, p. 2gl, and a NewOrleans ve6r0n.rsin C{tf€c in th€Gourd, p. 6l (Aushn,1923). In both .'to . 0f thesethe departingwrfe decides oa$ l0r whtte Versrons0l lhe Slat€ot Ailans areplentilul. See the relerences r0 lvlalcombLaws, llalive lmerical &lladrr. Earlyrecordi0gs ru0 t0 overa dmn. inctudingthos by Unctebare i,lrcon(rriil"tte on Decca4760) and lhe GotdenMetody Boys (auiiabte on Hrstorical 24332) Irarelir! llar is equaflywelt tnown with recordrngs0y coley Jones. Virgil Childers, [uke l0rdan, 00ct Walsh andJrn Jackson(this last available on Collector'sClassics 3) HenryThomas' role heresems t0 be that of an editor,delfly bringrngtogether a sequenceof comicungs to describe - an odyssey homthe bfealup 0f a hometo lrialsof a wandefing laborer IltEfor fi{ont H0ur{Ds 0h [ira, I'n loingaf,at I'mgoin! awat YesI is, taintno use flow...... what'llI do? Golro woman,do['l wanttou, g@dbrc ]areyou w€ll, Lira Liza,Liza Lml downthe road, lmt downthe md Possummrn, big old gun 0n hisside, lmt lih mine Salttdog, l€t's get some Calchit imn, tou oughta!o Yes,she's blowing her rhistlc hoth l0ud and stong. |!lellmama, well nama Comingbehind the train l're beengone sirleen tea6 She'sblof,ing h€r whistl€ both loud and skon& l'll behome som€ of thes dats Comingbehind lh€ train lf I liw. don'tget lilled Mmmmlittle redcaboose, little tld cabGc lml downlhe rcad Comin!b€hind lhe kain. Possumman, big old gun Littlered cabme, little redcabm 8igold gun,lml lile mine Comingbshind the train. Salttdog, let's get some Yes,the littl€ redcrb06e, litlle redsbme Catchit soon,tou oughta80. Comingbehind th€ lrain. Th€liltl€ r€dcabme, liltle redcab6c elusivetheme here a Composite.In searchingout the $mewhat Comingbehind lhc train. pointt0 keepin mindis that. in Southetnhaditi0n, the fox chase and the pursuit0l lugitiresinvolved much the samesocial neel In his noteslot TheRailmd in folteng i0 the RCAVict0r exerciseas well as lhe sane yipping h0unds, Vintageseries. Archie Green commented Raik0aders delighted in cabooseditties which evoked the warmth 0l a trainman'shome REORIVER ETUES andth€ spirit 0t hisfinal parting." Smewhat disoncerting is the diltiesseem to haleshared the sm€ title Thus, gon€.(2) lact that these [ml wh€rethe sun done Thomasgospel songlike enky has linle in commonwith gone,pw girl Henry looftwhere the sun dom thesame name such as a 1929recording bythe Pickard gon€. otheisol "lolly [ool wherethc run.done tamily(Romeo 1080) which merily de$Iibes the crewyou it'i gone, lnors rh?.e.(2) Yes, God will findif youcome and see us i0 thelittle red caboose behind wherethe sun done gole down lher€ Lmk the train,"and nothingwhatever in commolwith RedRivel [@l rhe.e lhe sundone gone. Dare's1944 lecordi0g (Musicratt 285) which tells a coocmteJ bab€,l'm .ll ool anddown. 2) Lo{in' storyol a honeymoonin a caboosand train wreck that kills the I'm all out anddown, I'n latingto lhe grilnd bride.Norman Cohen has obsrwd in RaikoadFolksongs on [ml whcrethc sundonc !one. Record- A Survey"(l{ew tod toltlde quail.rlt, ,une 1970), p@r longrat lron home "there I'm a bot ald r areactually at leastnine completely independent songs by longf,at ttomhomc Poorbot ,nd a this title that tangebetween 1870 and 1930in date 0l pmf lotrgf,aF lrm hmc, downh€rc. I'm a bot anda comoosition. lml rherc the suo'sdone 8one. $lhich.a-tratdo lhc RedRirer run! (2) 808 ilcnflilEY $lhich-a-watd0 th€ RedRirer run, pot boy? downlohnson Street, 8ob llcl(inmt me pasin! bt Which-a-rafdo the RGdRire. run? $lcnl I Yes,she rlns norlhand guth GoinSon downthat lohnenSkect, malc trilbt€ in tiat Line guth $lasn'thc b.d?Y6, lltasn'the b.dl It runsnorlh and "Comc $lhich-a-w.yd0 the RcdRircr run, po bq? Bobblsaid to Margat€t, t0 m! | sid, put..3t hcad." |!l€ll,it runsnorlh atrd euth. ll td don'tcome in . hurry,l'll thoughrour he bad?Y6, f,asn'the bad? Ulasn't "l'm 8lues. Ihe apparenterolution of this song'sfamily can be more Eobbtsaid t0 8€nte(is, boundto lalc ;ot life' fully tracedthan usual.The question whichr'wat do lhat blmd Youcaused t.ouble batwcn oc.nd nt wita" .€drivcr runl wasasked by the €arly spirituals. The bluesmenconv' Y5, rasr't hr bad? llasn't h. badl "iledn't e(ed the line t0 their us and pr0videdtheir own answerwith Eobbtsats t0 the HighShelilf, thinl I'm lmna run' lineslike lt run lrom my bac*windor t0 thedsing sul However' ll I hld anotherlBd, m€and tou'd ha[ smr tun." therea.e a nunbet 0f specificrivers by this name,the largest lllasn'the bad?fr, wasn'thc bad? beingthe RedRiver which runs east t0 formthe Texas'0klahoma 0h m, babe,tale ne bacL malinga sharpright turn. runs $uth and borderand then. "corner" Hor i[ th€ world,[ord, tatr m€brL southeastthr0ugh Louisiana. This its€lf s€emsto be Mondaymorning, ron't be lmg describedby ManceLipscomb in lllhicheraytlo Rcdfiirer iunl Yougonna call me, l'll begone. wherehis answ€tto the questionis: Shelurned around, lwo or lhrcclimc [ast,Ilest, then ]un llorth andSouth Makcmy bed and talc mr bacL Ial€ meback (2) literal Ihesesongs stretch from Siblical alleg0ry (2 Kings3:22) t0 Mahemy bcd and tale mebacl the present relerencesto the neighboringRed River. Compare 0h, nale mca palleton tourllmt (RepIise recordrngwith the l96l tecordingby ManceLipscomb ll€t, maleme on€ pallet on tour llof' (Columbia 2012)a;d the 1935rersion bv HuddieLedbetter 0h nalc (m. a) pall€ton tour flo. on the 30035) tach 0f theseis a blues'clustercentering $lon'tyou male it s0tour man n41 lnor. as havingbeen title.versewhich has been consistently dated Het,male it sotour man nerer lnor. (2) currentand widely known bY 1905. lh makea pallclon tour - Won'ttou makeit m tout mannflcl lw. IuI [IIru REDCASNSE Yes,I'm ldlinS forthat bolltlaid mc dowc lmling forthat bullt leidne &rr 0h, the little tedcabmq littlersd cabm€ Hey,I'm lor that bullt,that bullt, 6n't be - Comingbchind tt. train. l'm lmtinX lor thal bullt laidme doutr (3) Little .€d cahN, lilllc rcd Ehcc YA, l'm lmting l0r that bullt,thal bullt can'tb€ lond. Comingb.hind thr lrain, I'm lmtin[ I'm lookingfor tiat bullt laid me dorn 0h, gett0ur ticlct andget on boald" Comingbehind lhe train L Line = row ol tavern!batbershops p@l halls.etc lust ticlet and on boaaL f,ettour 8el Comp6ite. 8ob lrcl(innetplaces itself in St. Louisthrough the Comingbchind lhe tnin meniionof lohnsonSkeei. Alth0ugh a cas couldbe madel0r vesI lmkeddom thc fod sbouttody mil€s New0rleans, which also has an inpottaotstreet by this nameSt Comingbehind lhe lnin Louisligures if, muchof theballadry that gfew out of the 1890s Y€s,I lmheddowo thc r@dabout lo.lt mil6 and tht vital socialbackground for this hasbeen described by Comingbchind thc lt io "There ArnaEontemps and lack Conroy in Antplac€8ut llerc: was Yes,the tittle redcabN, red6bG€ hardshipand waflt in theSt. L0ui5 0f 1893.Ihere was also cnme Comingbehind thc l6in. depravity The Clereland paf,ic had done lts work among lust a little redBbw, littlc rcdoDG! and Negres; thei were leaving the South in endless streams and St Comingbehind lhe lrain. louiswas drawing m0re than its share 0l themigrants. The overcrowdingwhich resultedproduced intolerable conditions. Sittingspace in poolhalls became a fealluxur!. Thousands 0l vagrantsslept 0n lhe cobblestones0l the levee. Police brutality reacheda poinl seldom equaled. 0llicers 01 the law carried nighl sticfisa yardlo[8 and learned to hurlthem at lheleet ot lleeinS migrantsin sucha wayas t0 tip themup whenthey kied t0 run...out0l theirbrushes with the law grew such popular songs as Bradt, He's Dead and Goneand Loolinglor the 8rlly." the recoveryol an unhnownor previouslyunide0tilied Negr0 balladis aneyent 0l signiticanceconsidering theslim number 0l lhesesongs which have suruived. Unfortunately, heretot0re Bob llcl(i[net has beencasually dismissed as merelya variationol Duncanand Bradt 0r 0l Staclolc?.All havemuch in common,but eachtells a seoarateand distinctslory. A chielreouiremenl 0l the natrative ballad is thatit be briel. Bob lrcxinnet is so briel as, on lirst hearing,t0 appear incomplete.Howeler the entire story is here,either stated darectly 0r implicitin thelour tersly described scenes as Bob Mcl(inney (l) swaggersdowr JohnsonStreet, (2) bullieslMargaret, (3) ShoolsBen Fe(is; and (4) hasa linalencounter with lhe High Sherill.NothinS more need be sid. Theoutcome is lett t0 the inaginationand Henry Thomas drifts into a potpoutri0l bluesand soflgslavored by the wanderingpeople who congregated in St. Iouas. HollEY.tfot{'T You Atto$, ilt oilt Mont cHAilct? I rent hon! laslnighl Thr mdn wasshining briSht Drinlinglceling dir4 aboutm, hrad llrell,I rrppld 0n lh! dmr, I heardmy babt roar "llonet I'm gon!to b!d." "Getup andlel mein." "0h, rhat uas that tou sid? lou lnow yo haren'ltrealed m! right. l're paidall this rent,tou har0n'lgot a c0nt. You'llharc t0 hunla neuhonr lonight" Honct,allor m0ona morc chanca. I alwaF will lreat ,ou ri8ht. Hon€t,r0n'l ,0u allor ne oncmde chanc€?I uor'l sla, out all nighf llonet,won'l t0! allor meone nor0 chance, l'll tale tou to the ballin []ancc. onelind lrrol I asl ol you,iust allor mejusl one nore chance. lfcll dandtsp.nding lell nGhen. | $l downbside ol herbrd. Sap, honcydcal, you hare snc beer?She shml herhead and eid: "l mndq, wondd,,our businesould bebigga. lou lnor p! h.wn't lraahdme dght | oaidall this rant.You hrrcn't got a cent lou'll har€to h0nte ner honetoniglt" Honey,allo* mconr morechancc. I alwtts will ksal ,0u right. tlonet,ron'l ,ou ellor m?ono norc chane?| u0n'lstat oul all nighL H0nst,ron'l tou allor meone m$€ chancs,l'll lale youl0 th€ ballin frarce. lust onctind law I asl 0l ro, iustallow me one msc chanc€. Itell, honey,all0r mr onc morechanc!. I alrlaF will treal tou .ight Honet,ron'l tou allor me one mor0chanc€? | won'lslat oul all nignt. Honet,ron'l tou allo|rmc onr morechanc€, l'll talc ,0u l0 the ballin llanc€, llere'sthc onelind larorI asl 0l ,0u,iusl all0w me just one more chanc!. Juslslrt andprde. I don'llnox. l(0eDon chancesl0 be. Don'llet mebaul, I gotno dough CryinBat tour dmr. X,ellit I'ainl no us! tou crying,now l'[ gotlh. ch.ncethal tou der had. I ain'tgot onc, I d0['l ln$r, iusl all0wme iust one more chance. Reel.In th. early1920s a ladyin Marlin,Iexas was in thehabit ol passingout herhusband's old shoesand hats to localNegroes in exchangefor their teaching her songs, which she then wtole out andsent along to a ladynamed Dorothy Scalborough who had ask€dhelp in puttingtogether a b00k.Ihe volume0n TheTrail 0l I tf'- ll.8rofoll.Sonss was duly pubtished in lg25under the digoified [. C.Perrow s- Songsand Rhymes jmprinlol ihe..Har!ildUniwrsity pres. lromthe South publshed In Anongthe songithal lne rournat0t Americanfoll-l-ore camrthr0ugh this bizarre pipeline Vol ?g.p. l7g. Inrludedthe wasone subitantially id-enticai loll0wing,with the note that it j0 l0 HenryThomas lloney you cametrom mountatn whttes lllon't lllm ih onr Moc Chance? Iast Tennesseein rnp srmilailtvts greal lg05: so as to suggesla commonand slandard Porelim. Liza,pore litfle gal! sourceam0ng the coonsongs published around the turn 0t the PoreLittte Liza lanr! ceItury. Henry Th0masonits a final stanzawhich th€ b00t Poreliltle [iza,pore gal! Incru0es: litile Shedied on the lnin! Ih€n lhis c@n beginsto grin, And.DoiothyScarborough i0 0n Hatrd in pclct. lhe lrail ot l{.gro toll-Son8s, his prinlsthis verse in a songtron Virginja: Pullsout a ten, lips ies'lil€ a cherry, Then her etes begin lo dance, "Baby, Cheels lile a .N. l'll'lor you, i?s' HowI lovcsdat taller gal 0ne morechance!,' lord llmightrlnowC For Henry.lhomN recordrng0l lhts inspireda recell conp0stti0n intormatioo0n the horserace ballad which forns the (wrtcn unspolen rerredmosfly 0n the tifle.phra*) circulaledin lhe lg60s bachgfoundforthis mofley 0l gamblingsongs se Ten wrlh a label credit Br0ecl.An-d lroilie: A Raceand A "H. d€scribinSan improbablecollaborati0n: B;llad; ny O. x. Wiremin Ihomas- B. 0ylan." l(enlucly[olllore Record,Juty.septembe, i956. Theiirors matchrace in whichlen Eroecldeteated lhe bravemare Mrss RUt{,itou.tt, Rull MollieMccarth, on luly 4, 1878is describedin the welt known nun,Mollie, run (3) recordby Bill Monroeand in a Ig30 recofdingby Johngyrd. Lelus hayesone tun. (availableon 0rigin 8). liza ]as a Samblcr,learned mc hor lo sleal ,'llold I learnedme how lo dealthme ordl thatiacl andtrcy." sHlilnsLurs Run,Mollie, run. (3) I don€lring al yourdmr lel ushare sone lun. lnd thetroublc got mlling down, - Musicin lhelilchen, music in thehall. Gonnanale it to ny Gether outla n! ll ,ou can'lcome Salurday night you ned nolcome al all mind. lhat.lonf,(l was)driyen out; I dontlnow ciling nor (3) lllenl route nun,lilollie, run. Well,Tho [ord, God malc your senanl all mine. lel us hatesom€ fun. And,il belongl0 'our road,I don'lmalc no senant now. lYhoaLiza, pmr girl,lllhoa lia lane I'm cryingnow alone at yVhoa ,oul door. [iE, p00rgirl, dird 0n th€tnin. I'm goingt0 th€ l{alion,I aintgonm male no troubla. I Mi$ lita wasa gamblet,sh€ leam?d ms hor l0 sleal. Shof methG ronan anybody "lloldthaliarl canhust. She learnedmr hor l0 deal thc erdsr and Caussdme lo "esp,causd nc to noan Iret." Causdne lo lcayemt home. nur,Mollie, run. (3) Ashes,ashes, mll it intodust lel us haresomc tun. Showne lhal womanantbod, can trust I renl downl0 lluntsville,I did not g0 t0 stat Causedm€ to weep,causd mslo moan Causedne iusl gollh€r€ in theg@d old time to rearthe ball ard chain. to lcaremy hone Iroublein ,ourlime, tired in Jourmind (3) Run,Mollie, run. Showme that romal tou cantrust lel us havesome lun, I don€|tin& lringdown, mt headt0 thc wall Chetry,Cherry Shorne thalwoman 'ou canirusl. Cherrylile a rce, lYell,the law's on rour side, l'll nevergel a dine. l'll maleil I lovelhat prettt,cllor gal, lo n, shanttil I can. Godflmighlt lnows, ll I can,il I can Run,Mollie, run (3) l'll maleit lo nt shangit I can. l-elus iave some tun Dog'son n, lrach,man's 0n hisho6e. llhoa [iza,lllhoa liza Jane. lilals il to mt shanttit I can llhoa Lira,poor gi.l, died 0n th€ train. lt I can,it I can I well downt0 Huntsyille,did not go t0 st.r. I rill maleil lo m, shan! it I can, pawned ,ust8ol liere in lhe tmd oldlim! t0 rearth? ball and chain. Yss,I shotn, dicc,I all 0t m, clotha nun,Mollie, run (3) l'll mateil to n, shanbil I can. Letus hare some tu[. ll,henI gollo g0round, Lord, I gott0 g0 Misslira wasa gambler,shc l€arned mr hfl lo steal. l'll nale il lo n, shrnttil I can. lord.I can.it I cen Shelearned me tow to dealthm c.rds,,'Holdthat iacl and ket." I will mal?it lo m, shanttil I can. 0h, Lordr,lordr, crring al ,ourdmr Run,Mollie, r[n (3) l'll msle it to mt shanttit I can. lel us haresome lun. llrell,I wentup on the hill. I gavemy horn a blow. Shelenl downlo the bottomfield, did nd g0to stat l'll nale il to m, shalt, it I can. Sheiust g0l lherG in thegmd old time t0 ra thalrellin'ball Run,Mollic, run I lhe Nati0n= anotherreference t0 the IndianTerilorv: lhe Run,llollie, run (2) ChmlawNation was directly north 0l the RedRiver, aboul 80 lel ushare some lun. mileslrom Henry Thomas' home. 8l[B 00r0thy Scarboroughhas published verse lr0m I A dealerwho holds oul a jachand thfee sriously reduces a his MississiDDithat lits here: opponentschances 0l layingdowfi a sequencein Coon Can or Dechiclens similargames. in n, ecl, deblmdhounds on mytracl Goin8to malait lo mt shanttil I can Comp6ite.Ihis selectionhas already b€en Howeverthe essential "rags" touciedup0n in lhe bachgfound0f this curious blues seems t0 descripti0n0l whereone 0f the songsalluded l0 was bel0ngt0 the imagery0l spiritualssuch as Lord,Until I ieach lly "Wh€n quotedin part.The breadth 0t the traditionrepresented in thes€ H0mtwhich c0ntains phrases such as I waslyin'athell's conposrtescan bestbe illustratedby a fewparallel verses trom dari door"paralleling the openingline here.Ihis is the 0nly dillerentoarts ol the countn. recordingon whichHenry Thomas uses the l0ile.style0l guitar. tvmoHoustBtuts 0h daddt,daddt, ahh tou doneme won& "gol well,it ainl no u3€tour singing thehollffi log" I gotlhc lfoodhousc8lues. l're gotthe lYmdhous 8lu€6, iust 6 blu. s | 6n be I'm bluFinall lho tim.. |llell,it ,inl n0 usce.3ingint "g0l lhr holl0rlog" I gotlhe lllmdhouseElucr l'm loingdown South start lovin' bad, I'm t0ingoul in thc wodd. lvell,it aintn0 u!€ tourtalling rboul r hollo{log, I gol th€ l{oodhouss8lucs. I gotthe Uloodhourc 8lues, iust as blu€ I I car be. I'm blueinall lhe time. lYell,beli.ye tou gotl0 ridin&| don'tlnor | lol lh! llmdhousc8lu.g llhentou seemc talling rboul your lletloring mind I don'th.a. mocryin! nor, Don'tlearr hasgol youlor down. I got lh. Woodho{sr8luCi' I'r€ gotthr lllmdhousBlues, iust m bluc6 | 6n ba I'mbluein all the lim.. llo u$ ,ourlalling aboutth! orcrymail. | 8ollhe llmdhouse8lu.s | f,ort mt arc,uorl mt meul,l'm f,0*ingit rll thelima llhln d.ddt go€sto tof,nlhln I'm goinghomc frini no usr to['n gonnacall my coin (l) I rait a little whilo,I don'lInor I gotthe lllodhouic8lu6 | 8otlh€ l!,mdhou$8lu.s I'mblu+in all the timc. llo u$ tou callme, no lair l0 mydnem. I do mt ro* andI do mt stutf. ll aintno usc tou'ra lonna ddo sith mc,daddt, Daddr,I gotthe u,odhNs EluB iep on ridin!uilh thc tnin. Ireil, tou'rulale, oon'ltou calltour racs, whon th€ ncc comeriding bt! llell, il ainttro us cryin!nw I gotthe l!,odhous 8lu6 I g0lthe $fodhou$ Blu6, blu. as| 6n ba l'm blulin all thelime l{o u* youcrying, ldirg deddt I golthe lYoodhoun Blos 8lu6 lhe declamatorysinging of this piec€suggests the style0f bluessingers and the slection mayin fact be the theatrical "blue.in" deriredfrom by oneof tho$ performen.The recurcnl (il thatis a co(ecttranscriptio0) is probably a play-onwords, lhe "l'm basisbeing hewingall the time" in keepiIgwith the metaohorhere. ronlH tlt IltE ||tuEnx$s chorus:Hcy, lonah, Halleluiah! llet, ,onah,pr.aching in th.l rildcm6 Prcachingin th.l f,ildctn6s, preachingir lhrl rildorness G0down t0undfi lo thr botlomol theship SeGcin ,ou findlhe...... Chdstian Gototrdcr lo the bottomnw S.ecen tou lind thc...... Chdstian Surato comeifter, io st lhe Lold Couldnol lind lha.,...... Chrislian Gotonder to theclder I sa* Se cantou lind th€...... ,Chdstia[ Sureto com€after, $ It thelord Couldrol find the...... Chtistian clrms lord told lonah,eid to goand pilach ,onahdeclared that hc rorld nolgo Hidhimscll in lhe botlomof thoihiD Searchedthal ihip fron bollomto lop HadErolher lonah $d ocrbG.d Ceslthe birdand dropped the seed 0roppedthe seed, along camc lhe ml fm thor0l isthat slmng rinr I'm goingto thr Sn .nd thanttim itr mt hrad fremthe finG is lhet tlon! shade l'll me€lt0! at lho slalionrh.n thc lnin c0m.al0ng Unde.that ihade brelhcr lmah laid V{henthe tnin comealon& f,hrr th€tnin comrddl W.lhedright [p to thc f,ansimmm I will mst tou at lhc ttatim rhen thr tnin come.lmg tntitledto th€thonc lhat lmah sl q I matbe blind, I cennol$r llhetr| 8cl to h!ar!n,I rill sil .nd lcll I will met tou at thc atatiotrrh!tr lhr t,aincm! aleg l'{e €$apedbolft dcetft rnd hlll Th€kain com€alon& tho Inin comcalm[ cnr0us I will met tou at th. 3htio rft0nthrt tnin cm. .long lYh€nmt mothrrrantod mc, I pr4!d lff nliSim Shioml€d tromshorc to sfttrc I'll mcettou .t th€slalion uhrn thc tnin cm! don& Shipmlcd lromshrc lo sicc llell, thotrain conc rlon8, rcll, lho Inin comGdong Goddeclared lhat lhoship rcnt unng I will m*t tou et ih. datid rhcn lhc tain conr aln& Jonahstart.d l.sying lher. ore night I ma!be blird, I cannolsc cnorus l'll m€elrou.t thoslelion rher thc tnin cmc.long Thetrain come alon& lh. lnin cone,long Godtold t{oh to gobuild an tul l'll m*t rou.l the3lrlion f,hll lh. tnin cmc.long. Godtold ileh to gobuild .n Id I'm pntingin mt h€rrl,I'm cryingoll mt et6 oeclar€dto Godth.t herdld nol build l€susdiod for mytina Rain€dlortt daF andlqlt dghts | trill mccttou al lh. slelion,I rill mclt to in lh3 morr choaus I rill ncl yourl lhc strlionrhln lh. tnin com.almg |lrhanthe tnin comcdong, thc lrein comc almg flamtiyeGdspel Song. An ess€ntialpreanble t0 followingthis I rill moeltou el th. slalionrh.n thclrain com. ddg dilficultsong is an acquaintancewith the b00k0t dah and I matbe blind, I ennot sle recognititionthat in a lolkreligion Ctristian symboh mix readily with l'll meettd al tho slalionwh.n tha tnin comcdon& stories0f 0ld lestamentproohels. Ihus, the reluctant prophet ,onah Ihe lraincmr alon&thc lnin comcrlong mayals0 be describedas an tlfaithful0r backslidingChristian. I will ncl youat thc ttationrhcn thc traincm..long Ihe lirst stanraconcerns the eftorts0f the samento *arch l'm pratingin mt hcarl,I'm pntingtil mt eul. theirship ffi thecaus 0f the tempestthat hadcome upon them I rill mmt tou at th. statimrh.n th. tnin com!rlong. (seelonah l:4.7) lonah is found.and tells the seanen that he lhe tnin comorlon& th. lnin comerl0og "tled pu lromthe presnceof the [ord," urgingthat theycast him I will meet .t thc atalimihcn lh! tnin cmc .lm& overboard.Henry Thonas, c0nsistent with his principal0l avoiding G6p0l. otherversions of thissong are those by 0detteand Ethel, the obvi0us,skips the mostlamiliar part 0l the storywhere a "great Theil0rf0lk Jubilee Quartet, and the 1934rec0.di0g by Uncle fish" swall0wsloflah and three days later vomits him out DaveMacon (available on RBF5l). lt alsoa0oears in l0hnWork's ondry land. lmericrnllegro Songr and spidluah (t{ew York, l9{0). Ihe songthen leaps t0 thebook's final chapter and the episod€ 0f thegourd rine growingover ,onah's head to atfordhim shade. 8utl mZE EtUtS In the popularbeliet that surr0unds the Biblicalstory the role0f I'm gdngarat, babc,and il f,on'tbc lm& thegourd vine is €ntirelyditferent. In the Bible,the vineprovides I'm goin!arat ind il ron't bc lon&(2) the examplefor a pajableabout mercy, but in oral kaditionit lust assur€ ,r lhal tnin lcavcsout ol lhat ilobilclad (3) comesalong to torma crossover ,onah's head. Hear for example Comcshalc tour hand, tell 1ourpapa godbtr. (3) RichAmerson's narative (0n folkwaysft 4418): I'm goingbacl to Tcn[M. Welllhc ralcr rhalc ome rlmg sxallorcdhim rhoh! l'm goingbacl to Memph[Tcnnm Rmlingand r-m€lin8 of ltc rtip to long! I'm Sdngbach l{rmphis, Icnncsca Ihenhc putedSlolhcr lonah 0n drt land! I'm !oin! rhon I nmr getbulklozcd. Reclingand &mlirg ol lhc tiip solong! I'm loingf,hcn I nwcr getthe bulldora lhen thc gouldrire gwcd dlr lmh's hdd! I'm goinguhcro | ncrcrgct bulldozcd- Relingand a-mting of lte shipso long! lf tou don'lbslidc I'm sinlin&lool rhat a holcI'm in. (2) lh€nlhc anchrffn mc rlong- clt il doun! lf tou don'lbelieyc I'm linlin& lml rhrl a lool l'ra bcn- Relingind a-mling ol lhr shit to lmg! 0h, mt bab€,tale mGbrcL Ihal mrder c6 mr lffih's h6d! Hor in lhe rodd. [ord,tate mcbrcll Relingand .-cliog ol theship e ld8! 8lu6 Theentry in the &tdd EnSlisiDicllm.ry lor the word spoken:Thco loneh got [p .nd - lhcn "1876 "bulldoze"isilluminating: lncdcanllcrsgr., lf a negrois he f,cnl lo prcachin! 'Ihe inritedt0 it (a wiely called Stop'),and refuss,he is other versions0f the storyand other interpretationso{ thes ioin takento the woodsand whipped.Ihis whippingis called a parablesare scattered through many recordings such as thoseby 'bulfdoze', 0r dorefit for a bull.The application of the bulfdoze Armstrong,lJncle 0are llacon, Rer. J. C. Burnett & Louis wasfor the purposeof makinSTilden roters; hence we tear 0f the Marlor,Norfolk C0ngregation,Marshall Smith & John lubilei 'bulldozed'parishes. B. Bery fihcr Sidc155 Tfiey..pull (this Roots 1880C. Quartetand Rer. F. w- lrcce lastavailable on 304). him out of bed with a revolverto his head...that'scalled is trom well.circulated 'bull-dN' Ihe chorus0f HefiryThonas'yeGion the 'bulfdosing'a man.l88l Set Rn 9 ,uly 10/2 A which stringstogether Pr.achingin the lfildens typically meansa large efficiefit dos 0f any $,t of medicineor yeMs prophets 'bull-dose'a narrative dealingwith various whofailed t0 heed punishment.lbid. T0 negroin the SouthernStates Noahis included theLord's irskuctions. Somewhat uniustly, olten meanst0 floghim t0 death,0r nearlyto death." amongthe reluctaotones, as is lhe ca$ here. 001{'TtAsE tt 11{ ttHEltfit IRili 00rrs tlof{e Ulhenlhc tnin conr along(2) Don'l€as, don'ltou las Ah,don't ca$ mein. I'll met tN et thr stationrhcn lh! tnin cm.dff& tou I matbc blind,| 6nnot s It'a all nilhl, Cunningham,don'l w m0ir | rall, emetimE I t ll l'll me€ttou at thr dalio rhcn thcInin cme rlong Som€lim6 Ih€ tnin concalon& lhr tnitr mc alm! I nercrget drunl, tha[l God,lil mt blulbifllst lL Don'tea$, don'l as. l'll mflt tou at thc striion rhen llE tBin m€ dmg tou I marchedm lhr shoc.I canndsec Don'ttou easene in, nilht lon8,CunninSham, don't @ mc in. I rill met 'o! .t lh. slationuhln llrc Inin cmc alon& tt's all lfhenth€ lnin mc dd& lh. lnin come.long I beatmt gid f,ith a sinSletr* heistup the window,sweet mama hollend'ralch mr ma" l'll meeltou al theslation rhen lhc Inin cme alon& She Don'telse, don't pu ease- Ah,don't tou easeme in. It's all nightlon8, Cunningham, don'l ease ne in. I'vegot a girl,she's liltle andshort. Sheleaye here wallin!, loring' babe, talling true loe tall. oon'l ease,don'l tou eas. Ah,don't tou ea$ mein. It's all nightlon8, Cunnin8ham, don't ease me In. I wasstandin8 0n thecorner, lalling to m, bfown I lurnedarolnd, swel nama,I ras wotlhousebound. Don'l?ase, don'l tou ease. Ah,don't tou €aseme in. It's all nightlong, Cunninghan, don't eas mein. Sats,I'E gola gitl,and she worling hard SaF, lhe drrs she'stearinS, sreel nana, ets' it's pink and blue. Shebrings me collee, and sho bdngs ne tea 'cepl Sh€brings me eyertthing th€iailhouse let' Don'tease, don'l tou easc. Ah,don't you ea* mein. It's all nightlon& Cunningh.m don't eas mern Gotlhe$ terasBlu6, I gotthe leras Blues. It's all nilhl long,Cunningham don't leaw me here. ' sa6 | l@leddown ttain. old [llum to Satsall thc ronen coningdown llain hadthem Teras Elues' "Deep Ltllum:tlm Streelin oallasand specilically the Ellum' D s€clionol thal stteet. $, parents0l thissong cai stillbe heard in theilat lields '1 Bluei lhe alonpthe BrazosRivet where the larms 0l lhe state prisonsystem themcrowded now by the sprawling edge 0l Houston '1 lie.iome ol suburbs.Young convicts turn oul t0 woll lhelields by hand labot praclicaltyn0 wheteelse and to learnthe m€thodsthat;xist "Don "All I' redundanleng phtass t easeme in" and nightlong YI withthe mlltiple meanings that gave them special signilicance.in Hl orisonswhere women nete' came and where the liShlsin the Hl dormilorieswere never lurned oul. Currously lhey stng also about a manlhey know nothing aboul. A ceflturyago a Dusrnessman Ht namedCunningham leasid convicts llom lhe state prison t0 worh the sugarcane lields alonS the Brazos.His namebecame 0t imnulabhlired in the 0ris0nsong traditi0n. surviling in songs IT throushsenerations ol conrlcl son8 leaders and eYen cropping up Sr on teio,iedblues detived kom the prisontradition Aside lt0m lhisinstance provided by HenryThomas there is Smoke!Hoggs 1952Penitentiary Elues with its dial0guebetween mother and l6 conviclson: rl Yo irt nana mllcdme - "ila'am" H( I answercd H( "Youtired ol rolling- tu Cunninghan?" H. lu TTTISEASY STRTET BIUIS Ifr Ahhhh.what's th€ matl€i now? nou? H. Telln., mama,that's tho matler I'n goin!bacl to l?ras,sil o[ eaststreet. m, nane' llo Ulhcnrcu seene conitr8don'l call Itlell,ihrn pu se m! coningdon't call m, nams' H. I'n g0in[bacl t0 ler6, sit on eaststteet. Ohhh.what's the naller now? ,u! SDoher:lin'l nothin!the matlcr now? td Plcastell me,whal's the malter mattet Do SDoken:lell tou,wasn'l nolhing the sltel. C0 I'n Boingbacl to leras,sil on eas, u,r 0hhh.uhat's th€ malternou? I'u Iell na mama,rhal's th? nall€r now? I'n rdnr bacl t0 ler6, sit d eaststt?et. lai (2) Ilhei ;oi *c meconin& heist tour window hiSh n.l Urrlll'm goingbacl t0 l?tas,sil 0n eastsltesi ol' 0hhh.whal's the matlernor? in Pl0asrtell n!, $at's th€mattcr now? oul I'm goingbact l0 l0ras,sil onrast slle€l asr Golth! Teras81u6, blue as I canbe (z) I'm goinSbacl lo leras,sit on east_tlreeL Puton the slillei, nerermind tour lid 0hh,trhat's the matlernow? Mamagonna cml'en withlhe shorl'nitrg bread. Iell memama. whal's the matter mw? Yeah,you been lishing all the time Gola blaclmule, baby, licling in ny stall. I'ma'going fishing tm. 0hhh,smatter now? I bettour lile, rour loYing wite oom,whal's the matlernow? Calchmore lish lhan roo. l'm goingbacl t0 leras,sit oneast streeL Anylish bite,you gol god bait. Whenyou s€e me running, smething Soint on uong (2) Here'sa litllesonething I uouldlile to relate. I'm goingbacl lo Teras,sil on eastslret Atrtlish bile, you got 8@d bait. I'm a'goinglishing, I'm g0in8fishinS, I'n a'8oin8lishi Eluer Ihis selectionplayed an importantrole in hacingHenry tes, lhomas.Whenever it was playedfor Negr0esthey older Reel.Ihis is pureminstrel sh0w materaal. a0antecedent 0l c0nsistenllyidentjIed the accentheard in the spolenpassages waspr0bably such songs as Gumbo Chatl popularized by (apparentlysomewhat wilh the speechin certain exaggerated) companiesin the early 1830s. This tame song has been er areas0l [astTexas and the northweslern corner 0l louisiana.ll andgiven a bawdy,lavorbyother musicians. See a lragmer wasan these twenty parishes rec0llecli0ns 0rs0 counties and that a locals0ngster in Catesrille,Teras published in Collee 0l himlurned up withslightly g.eater trequelcy and somewhal Gourd(Austin. I923) p. 47.0r Goingl0 tishingby tadd moresubslance. prompting repeated visits which t0 thearea then lVartinand Willie Brown fecOrded l0r theIibrarv 0i Cou narrowedthe search to thearea along the T. & P. andeventually l94l at LaleCormorani, Mississippi. lo UoshurCountY OIDMUilTRI STOMP TETASITORRIED BTUTS Getrour parlner, pronenade Iheworried blues, God, l'm leelingbad Pronenadeallaround, now. l'vegot the woried blues, God, I'm leelinSbad (2) Hopon, 'ou starledwronS I golno one lell mt lroubleslo. (3) Iale yourparln€r, come on the train, Youcan bor meup andsend me l0 mt na. (3) I'm goingarar, I'm goingaway (2) It mt ma don'lwafll me, snd n€ t0 nt pa (3) I'mgoing bacl to Baltimore, pa girl.(3) ll mt do['l wantne, sendme to mt tar€tou uell, lare tou f,ell (2) ll m, lirl don'lwanl m€, cast me in th?$a. (3) Mistrealed,mishealed Tom (3) S0the tish and the f,hal€snale a tus all d€r ne Mistreatedsince I beengone. I'm80nna build ne a heayen0f mt 0wn.(3) Goodbreboys, lars,ou trell (2) I'm gonnagire all g@d-timewomen a homa(3) I'mgoinS bacl lo Baltimore.(2) Geltour hat, gel tour c@t,8et shaling 0n down lhe lin?. (3) lhat'sahight, call it gon€(2) l{owlare thee, mt honet,fare thee. (2) Ilowcome, bots, and go wilh me Blu€s.The ship my.body device is one0l the oainstays0l the Comeon, boys, and go with me. blues.lt washeard lrom a blactentertainer wotling in Greenville. Reel.This is one 0l lh€two selections which were Include SouthCarolina in 1969.it aDoearson rariousrecotds such as the Anthologyol American [0ll ilusicin 1952.with a nole 1930Squabblin' Slues by 8arel00tBill (available 0r ori8inl4), Smithwhich can be applopriatelyrepeated here: lrr anda lvississippiVefsion was printed in thelournal 0f American lune.with square dance calls in lhe lirstpart ol lhe r toll.Lorein I 9l l: replacedlater by l0lh.lyricword cluslers Composrng a ll I di€if, Arlansa', repeatingthe samephrase several tlmes. preceded I Desship m! bodtto mt moth*in-lrr. populartechnique ol singingone line twice.lollowe "lf nt molherreluse n€, shipil to m, pa dillerentphrase 0l lhesame length and rhyme as lhe I "lf mypapa retuse me, ship il l0 mt gil Thislater device was p0pularized around 1900. "lf mt Sirlretuse m€, shdc meinlo d€$a, $lherede lishes an'de whal€s mal€ a lus oer mr." cHAnillil BtTsl I'mgoing atound the mounlain, CharminS Betst. flsH[{G BLUtS I'mgoing around lhe m0unlain, lsrale€ WenluD on the hill about l2 o'cl6l. ll I nerersee lou no nore Reachrighl bacl andgol n€ a pol.. Do.Lord, renember me. Wenllo lhe hafdware,8ol me a hmlL [iBt timeI seeCharminS Betst Threadlhal lin€right on thal hml. Sh€wanl everything lhal she seen. Yeah,you been lishing all the limc Lasllim€ | se€CharminS Eelst I'ma'going lishing lm. Sh€'sw.aling thal ball and chain. 8etst. I bettour lile, tourldinS tite, Yes,I'n goingalound lhe mountain,ChalninS Calchmore lish lhantou. I'mgoing alound lhe nounlain, lelalee Anytish bite, tou gotgmd bait. ll I neversee you no more Here'sa litlles0mcthing I rould lile l0lelale. Do,[ord, remembet me. Antlish bile, tou 8otgmd bail. I'mgoing around the mountain, chatming 8etst. l'm a'goingfishing, res, I'm 80in8 lishinS,I'm r'going I'm goingaround the mountain,t@,a'lee lishinttm! ll I nerersee tou no mote lmheddown lhe rirerabout I o'cltrl DoLord, renembor ne. SDieda cattish swimminS.tound. I wenldown lo Huntsvilletown I gote hunSrt,didn'l lnor whalto do. I did notgo to stat. l'm a'gonnaget me a callishtm. I iustBot there in tho gmdold time Ieah,tou beenlishinS all th€time Io uearthat ball and chain. l'n a'8oinglishing lm. Yesl'n g0ingatound the nountain,Charming Belst. I belyour lile, tourl0ing wite, l'm goinBaround the mountain,loorale€ Catchmor€ lish than,ou. lt I nrrel se€tou nomor€ Anylish bile,you gol 8md bait. Do,lord, rememberme, Here'sa littlesonething I would lil€ to relatt. Yellowgal rid6 in an aulomobilc Anylish bile,you 8ol 8md bait. Erownskindo lhe same. I'm a'goinglishing, res, l'm going lishing l'n a'8oing Blaclgal rides in an oldair ship lishingtm! Butshe's riding iusl the sme. i''jnss{t'sta,r% ,isMi,i;Mw.*.,,.**ffi n'""€i*gi*{es{#{ Is I'm goingaround the mountain,Charming Eets!. I'm gqingaround tho mountain, toora.lee lf I nevease tou no mor€ Do,lfid, rcmembetm€. Rsel. An insightint0 the extentof sharedblack.white song materialcan be gainedb, comparingthe rather numerous examplesof CharmingBetsy. Ihere are versions by FiddlingJohn Carson,The Georgia 0rgan Crinders, and the one by land I'lo(is- a whitebanjoist from Dalton, Georgia who recorded the songin 1925- nowavailable on County515. These can be setal0ng - sideHenry lhomas' version, orthe 1928 recording bylim laclson, 0r thatby Gus Cannon quoted by Paul0liver in Corr€nationltitt Thc8lu€s (London. 1965). "Huntsville" In hisversion. Henry lhomas quotes the versethat occursearlier in RunMollie Run and inverts the usual ifonv 0f the yellow.brown.blaclgal verses. lt is usuallythe light slinned womenwho rides in theline vehicle while the black gal has t0 "She's maked0 with a buggy0r oldmule but gettingthere just thesame." As he has it. it'sthe black woman who rides - 1929 beingthe peakof difigibletravel - the stylishaif ship. louil{'848E 0h, l-oin' EabeI'm .ll ouiand dowtr. [din' SebcI'm all oul anddown. (2) l'n laing clce to theSround. [ml whcrethe evening sun is gone. [oo*rhcre lhe €venin8sun's 8one. Ldt rherelhat croningsun don€ gon€. Gonc.God lnors f,here. It's long6tdat, darling, ercr I ssen, 16, thel0ng0sl det, honct, srer I're seen. V{€ll,th€ lonlcat dat, hofley, ever I s€n lhe dat Robcrtadied. lusl maleme 0[e pall0t0n lour floor.(2) Ah,mal€ me a palleton ,our llo.. 0h, maleit I tourhusband never lnow. Ihal cast.boundkain comeand !one. Ihrt east.boundkain c0meand g0ne. (2) Goingto comeno more. Gotthc blu6, darling,fesling bad. Yeih,| lol the woriedblu6 l€elingbad. I gollh€ blucsI'm leclingbad. fo€lingbad, God lnous uh€re - 8abe.l'm all outrnd down. lh, l,oin' EabeI'm all out anddown. ldin' EabeI'm all outand down. I'm latingto the ground. Sl Louis"Sun" come and gone. I [ord,east-bound "Sun" come and gone. Yes,the cast-bould "Sun's" come and gone. [0in' EabeI'm all outand dosn. Robertababy's gone aray. Yes,Robrrla honet's gone awrt. Y6, Roberlebrb. lon€rrat. Shc'sloing to comano noro. lub medown trn your flmr. Y€s,rub me dorn on tourflmr. (2) nubis thoughtour mrn nertrlnw. llmnm f,hathave I done? 0h, LOin'Eabe rhal hareI done? lorin' Bab€rhat har. I donol Honetbab€ tou lr€atingme urong: I'm loin8to com€no morc. 16, I'm goingawat to com€no morc. I'm goingawat to comeno nore. Melem€ ono more on tour llmr. "Sunshine I St.Louis"Sun'=a relerencet0 the Special"which ran eastfrom Dallasand then northeastt0 St. Louis. 8lu6 lhisis one 0f theclassic Texas blues. heard not only lrom HenryThomas'generati0n (for an0thererample hear Huddie ledbetter's1935 recording Honet, I'm lll Outand oown), but also recordedin recefityears by youngsterssuch as Lightninflopkins, LeroyJohnsoo and Hoo Wilson. 3AaEF3eisEEEEEaiEeE:FEE;Ea=?;aEe!;,IEEEEEEigEE! F; +Ea:aEiiieEEicaaEaaicgEEie IEE?eBE;EE;E?Ea?E?E=E = *E}Ei3FA[?iEF[gil"ii*iEPi=i=iA;i;sg:Eeiai?iiiii*'EeiEi"i3E*' eiE,'EEiEEgi'*t*'= i= d; 5a-s;; i -= ; E gggqiil 5 E l = 3'E:; g 3e3e g AE;i 5 =35o *7,c;ii E?ffi,ffil?1:E ; 9eEF? .=FaEgi alas?il?#*aata:= = eiel ?#a*ta#aea*1at ; i:ig = E33e a 9qE= = =4 6E' lei?Ee, i =3l-" :llEia?aaEsEEEal,31E1?:i * 6 40 0 :i:Eiia?ffilEEEllEEtl*a1E11E1EE