Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 04/09/2010:  02:54:45

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I'm interested in the folk lore that generated many old time tunes and lyrics - I know many are obvious, for example disaster songs and murder ballads, but some are more enigmatic. Was there really a Corey? did she have a still house? and what sea bank did she sit upon? Also - cumberland gap, I believe there is a cumberland gap, but where did all the different waters come from with which to wash your face? - I wonder if cumberland gap was the convergence of streams or the source of several springs? Any information would be great, if anyone knows any snippets behind the folklore of the old time songs.

youdog - Posted - 04/09/2010:  03:57:28

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found this site interesting. hope it helps!

lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/...ongs.html

Brian Welch - Posted - 04/09/2010:  06:23:07

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For instance, why didn't Georgie Buck want any shortnin in his bread??

steve j. - Posted - 04/09/2010:  07:04:34

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quote:

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Originally posted by youdog

found this site interesting. hope it helps!

lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmOlSngs/...ongs.html

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This is a great resource, thanks
For a long time I thought Woody wrote "Gypsy Davey"

If you watch Doc perform,, he tells a bit about the song,, I think it really draws people in, and gets them really wanting to enjoy the tune your gonna play.
In my limited experience at this it seems to work.

Somebody once told me ,,, that people "want" to enjoy what your gonna play for them. This gives them another reason to "want to", exception is a few ,,nabobs ,, who just want to be critical


Steve

bltupper - Posted - 04/09/2010:  07:14:34

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That would be an interesting study for sure. Cumberland Gap is a pass in the Cumberland Mountains of appalachia. It used to be called Cumberland Water Gap. The only thing I can think of '3 types of water' would be that it lies at the convergence of three states, Kentucky, TN, and Virginia. The gap served as a main passage for migrants into Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley. I believe the '14 miles to Cumberland Gap' is a reference somehow to the civil war, the Union and Confederates were involved in a year long battle for control of the gap in 1862/63.

Here is some more takes on Cumby Gap: guitarholler.com/articles/Cumb...ndGap.htm

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Edited by - bltupper on 04/09/2010 07:16:28

Kevin Fore - Posted - 04/09/2010:  10:16:08

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Well, Back in the day them musicians lived their music. Here are a few Local example from here. There's a story behind all them ol songs and tunes. I could go on and on and on. one example, like Sally Ann. The Surry County and below the mountain Virgina aka Lambsburg 3 part version. The third part "Who in the dog gone nation is throwing them rocks at me" The story behind it is that the young Fred Cokerham was walking along up in Lambsburg and the Lamb boys rocked him and they ran him out of Lambsburg.

Another is Sugar Hill, "If I had no horse to ride, I'd be found a walking, Up and down ol Toenail Gap to hear that gal a talkin. The story is, A few few miles from here is Fisher's Peak mountain. There, is a what we call Toenail Gap. Its a area not as steep as the rest of Fishers Peak Mountain where folks back in the day used to carry loads of tanning bark and other stuff down the mountain from Carroll County Va. to sell in Mount Airy NC.

Breaking Up Christmas- Said to be 1st played by Civil War Veteran Ol Man Preston "Pet" McKinney (1846-1926) of Round Peak- This verse was sung later in the Round Peak Area. "Hooray Jake, Hooray John , Breaking up Christmas all night long". Jake and John were some local fellers here. Jake (1874- 1934) and John was Jakes son (1909- 1954).

You learn a whole lot a listening to the older folks from the area which you live. Sadly, There is only a very, very few older folks 80+ years old here in the area now to tell them stories. I strongly encourage all of you to seek out the older generation and sit down with them and just start asking them to tell you some stories of the past. You will leave amazed in what you heard. Record them if they will let you.

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 04/09/2010:  12:26:36

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And now, 80 isn't old enough (unless they're passing on stuff from folks even older than they are)because they grew up in the 1930's and '40's.

The oldest person I personally met was born in 1875, and I was only 8 at the time.
I was lucky enough to be around folks who were born in the late 1880's on forward,
and some of these folks were relaying info their parents or grandparents told them.

My Dad was born in 1914, and in his boyhood, he knew folks (one of them a banjo-player) who were born in the 1840's. I always listened to the old stories. In my Cotton Blossom book, the notes to "Old Jim Wren" preserve a couple of local incidents going back to the Civil War in my Dad's
stretch of the country. My family actually dates back 175 years in that small geographic area in Missouri.

Also, In my family, folks tend to have kids later in life so the generations stretch out.
My Dad was born in 1914,
his mother in 1886,
and her father in 1828!
Three generations and I'm already back
182 years, and each generation had contact at least with the one immediately
preceding it.

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Edited by - R.D. Lunceford on 04/09/2010 12:32:20

Kevin Fore - Posted - 04/09/2010:  14:32:29

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Well 80 is old enough when you know how they start a telling them stories then the next thing you know you're into the early 1800's from the stories that was passed down to them. Now every time I get the notion to go to visit some older person I drop what I'm doing and go right then. In the past I would say I need to go see so and so and put it off then the next thing I knew I was hearing their obituary over WPAQ. My family goes back to 1802 here in Round Peak, I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for my late cousin Paul Sutphin. And boy them stories ol Paul told me. They will be with me forever.

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Edited by - Kevin Fore on 04/09/2010 19:53:27

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 04/09/2010:  17:44:12

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Don't overlook the Tune of the Week. There's a lot of information and history for each tune posted.

By the way, I need to know who is scheduled through May 18th - I lost my list (well, my hard drive crashed, and I didn't have the TOTW file totally backed up).

So, if you are scheduled for a TOTW, please email me so I can get my records straightened out- and also, looking for more volunteers. I know we have through May 18th - so anyone else, just email me at inquiry@siliconheights.com.

Bluegrass-Gibbs - Posted - 04/10/2010:  07:04:59

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thanks all for your links and comments, the info I have found out so far really enriches the heritage of the tunes, and it feels good to keep the spirit of the folklore alive by continuing to play these old songs.