Wagoner’s Lad

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Last week, I had the pleasure of performing at a
tribute concert for The Harry Smith Anthology, sponsored by the
Smithsonian, The Folk Alliance, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

It was a wonderful night of music and re-acquaintance with old
friends. Ella Jenkins was there, whom I hadn’t seen in over thirty
years, as well as the New Lost City Ramblers, and new friends, Jeff and
Jay from Wilco.

This is one of my favorite songs from the Anthology. It’s one of
those melodies that stays with you long after you’ve heard the song.

The original recording is from 1928, by Buell Kazee, with just vocal
and 5-string banjo. I have done it again, keeping the sound as close to
the original as possible.

The format is interesting; the first verse is by a narrator, the
second by the girl, the third by the boy and the fourth and fifth verses
are split between the boy and girl.

She’s trying to talk the Wagoner’s Lad into staying with her, and he’s dead set on leaving.

Lyrics:
[G] Oh hard is the [C] fortune of all women [G] kind.
They’re [D] always [G] controlled, they’re always [D] confined
Controlled by their [G] parents until they are [D] brides
Then [C] slaves to their husbands for the rest of their [G] lives

Oh I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I have always been courted by the wagoner’s lad
He courted me daily both by night and by day
And now he is loaded and going away

Your parents don’t like me because I am poor
They say I’m not worthy of entering your door
I work for my living, my money’s my own
And if they don’t like me they can leave me alone

Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Come sit down beside me as long as you may
My horses ain’t hungry, they won’t eat your hay
So fare thee well darling, I’ll be on my way

Your wagon needs greasing, your whip’s for to mend
Come sit down beside me as long as you can
My wagon is greasy, my whip’s in my hand
So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand
� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

This Train

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On June 1, 1997 Camilla and I boarded a flight for
London to begin a tour of the U.K. We had decided to travel light with
just carry-on bags and one guitar. I brought my Martin D-12-45 in a
leather gig bag. Our idea was to take the trains of Europe for the whole
tour.

From the outset, people in the U.K. said ‘you’ll never be able to do
it!’ But the trains were all on time and as efficient as any form of
transportation we’d ever seen, and it was great fun!

We even took the Eurostar through the English Channel to France and
took French trains through the whole country from the north to the
south. We flew home from Nice on July 1, 1997 with a love of the people
of the U.K. and France, and of their wonderful train system. I wish the
trains in the United States worked as well!

With that in mind, I thought this old gospel song about a heavenly
train would be appropriate for the Folk Den this month. Sorry it was a
little late.

Lyrics:
[E]This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory [B7] this train
[E]This train is bound for glory
[A]Don’t carry nothin’ but the righteous and the holy
[E]This train is [B7]bound for glory [E]this train

This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers
No crap shooters, no midnight gamblers
This train don’t carry no gamblers this train

This train is leavin’ in the morning this train
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train
This train is leavin’ in the morning
Great God a new day’s dawning
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train

This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers this train
This train don’t carry no rustlers
No street walkers no two-bit hustlers
This train is leavin’ in the morning this train

This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory this train
This train is bound for glory
Don’t carry nothin’ but the righteous and the holy
This train is bound for glory this train

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

East Virginia

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This love song was also passed around by word of
mouth, throughout the Appalachain Mountains for many years.I learned it
at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

This recording was made in the late 50’s at my home, 57 East Division
Street, in Chicago. I used a Pentron reel to reel tape recorder running
at 7 1/2 IPS.

Lyrics:
East Virginia

[F#m] I was born and raised in East [E] Virginia
[F#m] North Carolina I did roam
[F#m] And there I met the fairest [E] maiden
[F#m] Her name and age I do not know

Her hair it was of a light brown color
Her cheeks they were of a rosy red
And on her breasts she wore white lilies
Where I long to lay my head

I’d rather be in some dark ‘holler’
Where the sun don’t never shine
Than to see he wed another
And to know that she’s never be mine

I was born and raised in East Virginia
North Carolina I did roam
And there I met the fairest maiden
Her name and age I do not know

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

Wayfaring Stranger

This song was passed around by word of mouth,
throughout the Appalachain Mountains for many years. Its roots are
possibly from an old Irish tune. The singer is taking comfort in his
faith that the temporal aspects of this life are but for a moment, and
that an incalculably more pleasant eternity lies ahead.
Lyrics:
[Em]I am a poor [Am] wayfaring [Em] stranger
Wandering [Am] through this world of [Em] woe
But there’s no sorrow, [Am] toil or [Em] danger
In that bright [Am] land to which [Em] I go

I’m [G] going [C] there to see my [G] father
I’m going [C] there no more to [G] roam
I’m just a [Am] going over [Em] Jordan
I’m only [Am] going over [Em] home

I know dark clouds will gather ’round me
I know myway is rough and steep
But golden fields lie out before me
Where all the saints their vigils keep

I’m going there to see my mother
I’m going there no more to roam
I’m just a going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

I’m going there to see my Saviour
To sing His praise forevermore
I’m just a going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

� 1998 McGuinn Music – Roger McGuinn

Alberta

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This is a song sung by the stevedores who worked on
the Ohio River. There were two types of river songs. The first was the
fast ‘Jump Down Turn Around’ type. The other kind was slow and blusey.
That could be because when it came time to load and unload these boats,
it was a pretty busy session. There was lots of time in between to sing
songs like this one.
Lyrics:
[D] Alberta let your [C] hair hang [D] low,[C]
[D] Alberta let your [C] hair hang [D] low,
[G] I’ll give you more [Bm] gold than your [F#m] apron can [G] hold
[D] If you’ll just let your [C] hair hang low [D]

Alberta what’s on you mind
Alberta what’s on you mind
You keep me worried, you keep me bothered all the time
Alberta what’s on you mind

Alberta don’t treat me unkind
Alberta don’t treat me unkind
My heart feels sad ’cause I want you so bad
Alberta don’t treat me unkind

Alberta let your hair hang low,
Alberta let your hair hang low,
I’ll give you more gold than your apron can hold
If you’ll just let your hair hang low

Happy Valentine’s Day
Roger McGuinn � 1998 McGuinn Music

Lost Jimmy Whelan

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There are versions of this song, where the ghost of Lost Jimmy Whelan comes back to tell the fair maiden that they are both better off now that he is no longer burdened with the cares of this world.

I recorded this for the Folk Den just minutes after hearing of the unfortunate death of Bob Gibson. If it hadn't been for Bob, I might never have learned this, or any other folk song.

Thank you Bob, for everything!

Lyrics:
Am G F E7
All alone as I strayed by the banks of the river
C Dm Am
Watching the moonbeams as evening drew neigh
Am G F E7
All alone as I rambled, I spied a fair damsel
C Dm Am
Weeping and wailing with many a sigh.

Weeping for one who is now lying lowly
Mourning for one whom no mortal can save
As the foaming dark waters flow silently o'er him
Onward they sweep over young Jimmy's grave

Oh Jimmy why can't you tarry here with me
Not leave me alone all distracted in pain
But since death is the dagger which has cut us asunder
Then wide is the gulf, love between you and I

All alone as I strayed by the banks of the river
Watching the moonbeams as evening drew neigh
All alone as I rambled, I spied a fair damsel
Weeping and wailing with many a sigh.

Easter

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This is a song that was performed by Lead Belly on his 12-string guitar. It's interesting to note that although it's in the key of E minor, Leadbelly played only major chords while singing the minor melody line, as he did with all his songs in a minor key. The effect is very unusual and quite appealing.
Lyrics:
[E] On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose [B7] for me
[E] One day when I was [E7]lost
They [A] hung Him on a [E] cross
They [A] hung Him on a [B7] cross for [E] me

The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray
The sky turned dark and gray for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died
He bowed His head and died for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb
They laid Him in a tomb for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me

On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose
On Easter morn' He rose for me
One day when I was lost
They hung Him on a cross
They hung Him on a cross for me