The Saddest Country & Old-Time Songs Of All Time
Wayne McClure
Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
Frank Dalton, Library Guy
>Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
>the last chance to suggest more.
I think 'Nail That Catfish To A Tree' is pretty sad.
I have my reasons. <g>
Frank Dalton
********************************************
"Within the kingdom of every soul lie
waiting the three beasts of humanity:
33, 45 and 78 RPM." - Anon.
********************************************
jp...@postoffice.swbell.net
Flowers"
which is all about your mother dying. I think that one would qualify,
Peter Shenkin
>
> I have a recording of Maybelle and her daughter singing "Sweeter Than The
> Flowers"
> which is all about your mother dying. I think that one would qualify,
Moon Mullican also recorded this (in fact, he might have had the hit).
Another irresistably mawkish tune he recorded in the same genre is
"The Leaves Mustn't Fall". About how a little kid is found tying
leaves to a tree in the early fall. He recounts a story about how
his little sister is dying, and the doctor-man says she'll die
before the autumn leaves fall to the ground. The song ends with
an imploration to the passer-by to help him tie the leaves....
And let's not forget "Little Blossom."
-P.
--
*** "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." (B.
Yeltsin)***
*Peter Shenkin; Chemistry, Columbia U.; she...@columbia.edu
(212)854-5143*
*MacroModel WWW page:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/chemistry/mmod/mmod.html *
hob...@my-dejanews.com
dal...@vet.upenn.edu (Frank Dalton, Library Guy) wrote:
> Wayne McClure writes:
>
> >Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
> >last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> >the last chance to suggest more.
>
> I think 'Nail That Catfish To A Tree' is pretty sad.
> I have my reasons. <g>
>
> Frank Dalton
>
Hope it didn't have anything to do with our discussion this past weekend Frank
Ray
--
a hero ain't nothin' but a sandwich...now a hobo..that's a different story
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Sherryl J
>jp...@postoffice.swbell.net wrote:
>>
>> I have a recording of Maybelle and her daughter singing "Sweeter Than The
>> Flowers"
>> which is all about your mother dying. I think that one would qualify,
>
>Moon Mullican also recorded this (in fact, he might have had the hit).
>
>Another irresistably mawkish tune he recorded in the same genre is
>"The Leaves Mustn't Fall". About how a little kid is found tying
>leaves to a tree in the early fall. He recounts a story about how
>his little sister is dying, and the doctor-man says she'll die
>before the autumn leaves fall to the ground. The song ends with
>an imploration to the passer-by to help him tie the leaves....
>
>And let's not forget "Little Blossom."
>
> -P.
Have never heard either of these but both sound like heartbreakers. The one
that really sticks out in my mind is Raggedy Ann. Just imagining the old man
climbing that hill one last time...
Sherryl
JPGX
Never was a sadder thing than a boy losing a dog and because his dad could'nt
stand the puppys' playful noise. Dad bought him a bike instead. I'm misty just
thinking about it!
Jim Gorichanaz
for
Pure Country Music
Representative for Marvin Rainwater
Write Marvin at
Marvin Rainwater
RT # 1 Box 675
Aitkin Mn 56431
Donny Kaye
Wayne McClure wrote:
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>
> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
Wayne;
How about all those tribute songs after the death of Hank Williams.
Jack Cardwell, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and many more.
Also, "The Death of Little Cathy Fiscus" (a true story sang by Jimmie
Osborne), or "Jeannie's afraid of the dark", by Porter & Dolly. I had a
problem keeping a dry eye when "Paper Rosie" by Gene Watson was played.
More later, Donny
Wayne McClure
F. de Jong
--
Greetings from Fryslân,
Fokke de Jong
Drachten, the Netherlands
Remove the 'x' to reply
Joao Alberto Magro
--
-----------------------------------------
jma...@banespa.com.br
ma...@embratel.net.br
Sao Paulo - Brasil
Wayne McClure escreveu na mensagem <35F7BE82...@wcta.net>...
laura
Laura
Mydnyte
Flowers for Mama and also Down from Dover by Dolly.
Wayne McClure wrote in message <35F7BE82...@wcta.net>...
JBAB
John
Donny Kaye
Donny Kaye wrote:
> Wayne McClure wrote:
>
> > The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> > Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
> >
> > last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> > the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
>
> Wayne;
> Reading the other posts reminded me of a few more; "Trouble in the Amen
> Corner" by Archie Campbell, "The Blizzard" by Jim Reeves, and C.W. McCall's
> "Rosed for Mama". Probably the worst of all was the Louvin Brothers,
> "Knoxville Girl", a 1st person account of a murder.
Let's find a more pleasant subject, Donny
>
>
>
>
> Donny
Luvless
>
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>
> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
I'd like to add a couple.
1. Skid Row Joe - Porter Wagoner
2. I Just Came Home To Count The Memories - John Anderson
Please post your list here when it is complete.
Thanks-
-Luvless
Mike Schway
Mary on the Wild Moor (her folks wouldn't let her inside on a winter's
night 'cause she fooled around too much, so she died of exposure).
The paperboy song (sorry, don't remember the exact title), the chorus
starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
others (non-BSB material) include: Rose Connoly; Banks of the Ohio;
Darlin' Cory; (say...don't these 3 share the same theme?...).
Momma's not dead, she's only a-sleepin'; Sailor on the Deep Blue Sea;
Even "Footprints in the Snow" leaves me wondering....
"June Apple" hints at masochistic cannibalism.
Finally, have you ever tried to translate 90% of the Cajun songs out there?...
--Mike Schway
=====================================================================
Mike Schway | [visualize your favorite quote here]
msc...@nas.com |
=====================================================================
larryd
Wayne McClure wrote in message <35F82597...@wcta.net>...
>> > Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started
this
>> >
>> > last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
>> > the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
>>
>> Wayne;
>> How about all those tribute songs after the death of Hank Williams.
>> Jack Cardwell, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and many more.
>> Also, "The Death of Little Cathy Fiscus" (a true story sang by Jimmie
>> Osborne), or "Jeannie's afraid of the dark", by Porter & Dolly. I had a
>> problem keeping a dry eye when "Paper Rosie" by Gene Watson was played.
>> More later, Donny
>
"Gone" by Ferlin Husky
"Jim (I Wore A Tie Today)" by Eddy Arnold
"Just Call Me Lonesome" by Eddy Arnold
"I Wonder If I Care As Much" by The Everly Brothers
"Begging To You" by Marty Robbins
"One Dyin' And A Buryin'" by Roger Miller
"I Want To Go Where No One Knows Me" by Jean Shepard
"The Last Letter" written by Rex Griffin, but I prefer Ray Price's version
"That's What It's Like To Be Lonesome" by Bill Anderson or Ray Price
"Beyond The Sunset" by Hank Williams
"End Of The World" by Skeeter Davis
"How Far Is Heaven" by Kitty Wells
"Lonely Mound Of Clay" by Roy Acuff
"Wreck On The Highway" by Roy Acuff
"Mother Hold Me Tight" by Kitty Wells and Roy Acuff
"Mommy For A Day" by Kitty Wells
"My Elusive Dreams" by David Houston & Tammy Wynette
"I Miss You Already (And You're Not Even Gone)" by Faron Young
"Daddy Come And Get Me" by Dolly Parton
"Little Rosa" by Webb Pierce & Red Sovine
"How Do You Talk To A Baby" by Webb Pierce
"I'm Sorry" by John Denver
"Angel's Dolly" by The Browns
"Old Rivers" by Walter Brennan
"You're Running Wild" by The Louvin Brothers
Those are a few of the saddest songs I know.
Larry Davis
Paul Tyler
John Mulvey
On Thu, 10 Sep 1998, Wayne McClure wrote:
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
>
> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
I'd almost say ANYTHING by Townes Van Zandt, but I think I'll restrain
myself and just vote for "Tecumseh Valley."
John.
Mydnyte
JBAB wrote in message <35F876...@telusplanet.net>...
>Try "Faded Love"
>
>John
Dot Roots
Change Her Mind Gene Watson
larryd <lar...@cport.com> wrote in article
<el1K1.403$qE2.2...@news14.ispnews.com>...
>
> Wayne McClure wrote in message <35F82597...@wcta.net>...
>
> >> > Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started
> this
> >> >
> >> > last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!!
Here's
> >> > the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
> >>
Joel
>"Mommy Will My Doggy Understand"
"That I am going to a better land" Interestingly, one of the questions
asked by Darling Little Joe in what is really the saddest song.
Joel Shimberg
--
(Joel)shim...@poboxes.com
Insanity is hereditary....
You get it from your kids.
John Garst
wrote:
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>
> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
All those "little" songs:
Little Joe
Put My Little Shoes Away
Little Rosewood Casket
Also the one (title?) about the little blind girl whose father is about to
wed again after her mother has died. She doesn't want to attend the
wedding, but she wonders if his new bride will love her like mother did.
As she is expressing these thoughts to her father, her face suddenly
brightens, she collapses, and is now happy with her mother in Heaven. I
could dig this one up if necessary.
John Garst ga...@sunchem.chem.uga.edu
Kerry Blech
by many old-time artists, the most moving
by Dock Boggs.
--
Blec...@WolfeNet.com
"When you get above the clouds, you can do just as you choose."
- The Rector Trio, Asheville, NC 1930
Donny Kaye
Donny Kaye wrote:
> Donny Kaye wrote:
>
> > Wayne McClure wrote:
> >
> > > The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> > > Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
> > >
> > > last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> > > the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
Wayne;
I don't think the above post came out as I intended it to. Just in case you
missed it; While reading other posts, a few more came to mind,
Jim Reeves "The Blizzard", "Roses for Mama" by C.W.McCall, and Archie
Campbell's "Trouble in the Amen Corner".
Probably the worst of all is a 1st person account of a murder on
the Louvin Brothers "Knoxville Girl". What about Marty Robbins "The Chair", (the
electric chair).
Though it's on the mild side, Porter's "Carroll County Accident"
may qualify.
More later, as they come to me, Donny.
>
>
Peter Shenkin
...
> Finally, have you ever tried to translate 90% of the Cajun songs out there?...
I bet most of those would turn out to be real tear-jerkers, other
than the fact that they're so damn happy. :-)
Peter Shenkin
>
> In article <35F8A15E...@wwa.com>, Paul Tyler <pty...@wwa.com> wrote:
>
> >"Mommy Will My Doggy Understand"
>
> "That I am going to a better land" Interestingly, one of the questions
> asked by Darling Little Joe in what is really the saddest song.
This reminds me of another good nominee: "Mommy, when is Daddy
coming home?" (By Kitty Wells)
Also, if we open the Molly O'Day songbook, we get into a whole mess
of candidates. What's the one about the old man who goes to the
local depot to pick up his son, and is told that the train about
to arrive isn't the passenger train -- he must have made a mistake
-- but rather the freight train. Of course, the son is arriving
as freight -- in a box (having died for the old red, white and blue).
On a similar theme: "Soldier's Last Letter" -- E.T. had the hit, but
Merle covered it during the VietNam era. I forget who wrote this. But
I remember some words:
I'm writing this down from a trench mom
Don't scold if it isn't too neat
You know, as you did, when I was a kid
And came home with mud on my feet.
The mother receives the letter unfinished and unsigned and knows
that "it was the last from her dear darling boy".
Peter Johansson
/Peter
Paul Mitchell
> Also, if we open the Molly O'Day songbook, we get into a whole mess
> of candidates. What's the one about the old man who goes to the
> local depot to pick up his son, and is told that the train about
> to arrive isn't the passenger train -- he must have made a mistake
> -- but rather the freight train. Of course, the son is arriving
> as freight -- in a box (having died for the old red, white and blue).
Peter,
Arn't you talking about the song G. B. Grayson recorded as He is Coming
To Us Dead?
Paul
Peter Shenkin
As I said to Paul by email, "Yup."
Mydnyte
Peter Shenkin wrote in message <35F94B...@still3.chem.columbia.edu>...
>Joel wrote:
>>
>> In article <35F8A15E...@wwa.com>, Paul Tyler <pty...@wwa.com>
wrote:
>>
>> >"Mommy Will My Doggy Understand"
>>
>> "That I am going to a better land" Interestingly, one of the questions
>> asked by Darling Little Joe in what is really the saddest song.
>
>This reminds me of another good nominee: "Mommy, when is Daddy
>coming home?" (By Kitty Wells)
>
>Also, if we open the Molly O'Day songbook, we get into a whole mess
>of candidates. What's the one about the old man who goes to the
>local depot to pick up his son, and is told that the train about
>to arrive isn't the passenger train -- he must have made a mistake
>-- but rather the freight train. Of course, the son is arriving
>as freight -- in a box (having died for the old red, white and blue).
>
>On a similar theme: "Soldier's Last Letter" -- E.T. had the hit, but
>Merle covered it during the VietNam era. I forget who wrote this. But
>I remember some words:
> I'm writing this down from a trench mom
> Don't scold if it isn't too neat
> You know, as you did, when I was a kid
> And came home with mud on my feet.
>The mother receives the letter unfinished and unsigned and knows
>that "it was the last from her dear darling boy".
>
joe_...@my-dejanews.com
>Little Rosewood Casket
Never heard it, but I think that one's represented in the, uh, body of work of
Marty Robbins. "Streets of Laredo" is the song he's done that's always kinda
gotten to me, though.
So what else would I offer? Country and old-time, huh. That lets out
Jann Arden, and whatever came from the orange clouds raining in Tori
Amos's head, and a lot of other things. But C&W can surely
assemble a good long list without outside assistance, so let's try...
* "Slow Surprise" off the soundtrack album for The Horse Whisperer.
Emmylou Harris, pick up the blue misery telephone, please. Looking back
to the other end of her quarter century of exquisitely miserable songs
about love and its aftermath, if "Boulder to Birmingham" doesn't make
you cry, you're probably just too dehydrated from drinking all morning.
* "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," a Johnny Cash classic all the sadder
because it's more or less based on a true story.
* "Diana" by Merle Haggard. "Just a few more breaths and I'll be
coming home..." Yaboy. Anything left in that bottle?
* "Too Long in the Wasteland," James McMurtry. Try the version on
Columbia Records Radio Hour, Vol. 1 and you'll also get Mary-Chapin
Carpenter and Shawn Colvin collaborating on "Come On, Come On," which I
think could make it onto a top-100 list of this sort of thing.
* "Black Muddy River" by the Grateful Dead. If you think that isn't
reaching too far, try making a grab for Joan Baez doing "Diamonds and
Rust" while you're at it.
--Joe
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bll...@concentric.net
I haven't seen you're list, but how about:
Mama take me home, by George Jones
Do you believe me now, by Vern Gosdin
How could I explain, what I can't understand. by Del McCoury
Wayne McClure wrote in message <35F7BE82...@wcta.net>...
Beth
While we're here, there's a song I heard only once, years agoã"The Maple
in the Lane." (Not "The Maple on the Hill.") The only line I remember is
"Tell her I died like a soldier dies." It was sung by the late Peg
Moreland, and he turned me on to country music with it. (My father knew
Mr. Moreland slightly, and asked him about his wooden leg. Mr. M.
replied, "I got it going over the topãof a freight train.") Does anyone
remember this song, and do you by any chance have a copy?
All the best,
Beth
Ironbanjo
whip little Benny, Chiseled in Stone by Vern Gosdin, and Little Joe the
Wrangler, by Jack Thorpe?
Charley Orlando
Ironbanjo
Belmont, NY
Joel
<she...@still3.chem.columbia.edu> wrote:
>
>Also, if we open the Molly O'Day songbook, we get into a whole mess
>of candidates. What's the one about the old man who goes to the
>local depot to pick up his son, and is told that the train about
>to arrive isn't the passenger train -- he must have made a mistake
>-- but rather the freight train. Of course, the son is arriving
>as freight -- in a box (having died for the old red, white and blue).
That's "In The Baggage Coach Ahead," and I'm sure it is mentioned in
either "Read 'Em And Weep" or "Weep Some More My Lady," Sigmund Spaeth's
books on this subject
>
>On a similar theme: "Soldier's Last Letter" -- E.T. had the hit, but
>Merle covered it during the VietNam era. I forget who wrote this. But
>I remember some words:
> I'm writing this down from a trench mom
> Don't scold if it isn't too neat
> You know, as you did, when I was a kid
> And came home with mud on my feet.
>The mother receives the letter unfinished and unsigned and knows
>that "it was the last from her dear darling boy".
When the postman delivered the letter,
It filled her dear heart full of joy.
But she didn't know 'til she read the inside,
It was the last one from her darling boy.
"I'm writing this down in a trench, mom
Don't scold if it isn't too neat
You know, as you did, when I was a kid
And came home with mud on my feet.
"Well, mom, they just gave us our orders,
And, mom, we will carry them through.
I'll finish this letter the next chance I get,
But for now I'll just say 'I love you'."
Then the old lady's hands began to tremble,
And she fought against tears in her eyes.
But they came unashamed, for there was no name
And she knew her poor darling had died.
That night as she kneeled at her bedside,
She prayed, "Lord above, hear my plea.
Please protect all the boys who are fighting tonight,
And, dear God, keep America free."
(I didn't think that I could still remmeber it all!) I always thought that
Ernest wrote it. Was it someone else. I'll dig through and see if I have
his 78 to check on attribution.
>-P.
Joel
Joel
>Donny Kaye wrote:
>Probably the worst of all was the Louvin Brothers,
> "Knoxville Girl", a 1st person account of a murder.
>
> Let's find a more pleasant subject, Donny
You mean the Louvin Brothers' cover of (tribute to) the Blue Sky Boys'
recording of this song. I think that it's a reworking (no doubt older that
the Blue Sky Boys) of an English broadside, "The Wexford Girl," or "The
Oxford Girl." I'd bet that one of the Pauls would know for sure.
Given the prominence given to this genre by traditional musicians, I think
it's strange for someone in this group to feel uncomfortable with it. To
many of us (I think), it is pleasant to pay tribute to these songs by
remembering them and not making fun of them or the feelings they engender.
And, Donny, the Knoxville Girl is not a whole lot more graphic or whatever
than Pretty Polly ... certainly nobody would have a problem discussing
that one.
Best wishes,
Joel Shimberg
Pete Peterson
Goodbye Mary Dear by Charlie Poole (same tune as Hungry Hash House, but
played in A, and IMHO much sadder words)
Tiny Playmate by the Louvin Bros
Over the Hill to the Poorhouse-- the recording I have is the classic Flatt
and Scruggs but I understand it dates back somewhat before them. That one
hits a little too chose to home...
Pete Peterson
Donny Kaye
Joel wrote:
> In article <35F87BF4...@erols.com>, donn...@erols.com wrote:
>
> >Donny Kaye wrote:
> >Probably the worst of all was the Louvin Brothers,
> > "Knoxville Girl", a 1st person account of a murder.
> >
> > Let's find a more pleasant subject, Donny
>
> the Blue Sky Boys'
> recording of this song.
>
> Given the prominence given to this genre by traditional musicians, I think
> it's strange for someone in this group to feel uncomfortable with it.
>
>
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Joel Shimberg
Joel;
One of the reasons I don't usually contribute to the old-time group
is that I'm not that familiar with that genre. I was not aware the Blue
Sky Boys recorded "Knoxville Girl", or I would have given them credit.
Also, Death, of fathers, mothers, sisters, country music stars, etc., and
the losses of arms or legs, or even a woman making paper flowers to make ends
meet, or a town desperately trying to save a little girl that fell down a
well, or maybe a little crippled boy on a CB set, a candle on a grave site.
These are what I call sad songs and are typical of the genre since we've been
recording Country music.
I don't think a 1st person account of a murder is in the same category as
the above. That's the "unpleasant subject" I was referring to; the murder, not
the sad songs. (even though I'm the one who mentioned "Knoxville Girl" as a
"sad song" in the first place!)
Thanks Joel for your response, Donny
>
>
>
>
larryd
remember the lyrics quite well.
Larry
Joel wrote in message ...
Donny Kaye
Wayne McClure wrote:
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>
> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
Wayne;
Another trio comes to mind; "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving
Somewhere" by Elton Britt and "Six White Horses" by Tommy Cash, Henson
Cargill (and maybe others), and The Carter Family (OCF) with "The
Cyclone of Rycove" (school hit, children killed)
'Til next time, Donny
larryd
Pete Peterson wrote in message <6tfcfm$b...@enews3.newsguy.com>...
>My own nominations:
>
>Goodbye Mary Dear by Charlie Poole (same tune as Hungry Hash House, but
>played in A, and IMHO much sadder words)
>
>Tiny Playmate by the Louvin Bros
>
That's a great choice Pete. The song is actually called "Tiny Broken Heart"
and was written (like so many of their songs) by Ira and Charlie Louvin. It
tells the tale of a little boy who's girlfriend's family is moving away from
the farm next door. The little boy offers to have his Dad sell all his toys
and take his small savings so they can buy the farm and she won't have to
move. It can be found on the 8 CD Bear Family box set "Close Harmony".
In line with Donny's discussion about sad songs so often being about death,
desperation, poverty and other forms of human misery, I think the saddest
songs are based on the idea from an English poet who wrote:
Of all the words e're writ by men
The saddest are these: "it might have been".
That's why the songs of unrequited love like Ferlin Husky's "Gone", George
Jones' "He Stopped Loving Her Today", or Ernest Tubb's "Have You Ever Been
Lonely? (Have You Ever Been Blue)" or "Tomorrow Never Comes", or fit that
bill perfectly.
So naturally Country music, music from the people, will have a lot of these
songs in its repertoire. Everyone has had personal experience with loss and
longing of some kind. If you were to write a song from personal experience,
you'd more likely write about love and heartache then about "Blue Suede
Shoes".
Wayne has a lot of listening to do to ever "finalize" his list. The saddest
songs aren't always the biggest hits. Some very pretty sad songs were
ignored the first time around. The Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison song
"Making Plans" was recorded by both The Browns and The Wilburn Brothers
around 1966. It only became a hit when Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner found
the right arrangement for it in 1980, and took it to number two.
I even disagree with some of the songs on his list. I don't see the sadness
in "Carroll County Accident". It's an intriguing story: a father having an
affair, that was uncovered when the son finds his father's ring after a
fatal crash. The ring had been removed to hide the affair. Great song. Neat
story. But sad? Not to me. A sad Wagoner song is "An Old Log Cabin For
Sale", where a son returns to his family home after wandering for years, to
find that his parents have died, yearning for his return. It goes something
like this:
"Many years an old couple so patiently looked
For their son whose life's promise did fail
And now he was standing in silence
Too late, yes too late, he'd returned.
And the sign read: An Old Cabin For Sale,
An old oaken bucket and well.
Easy terms, just keep a log on the fire
And a light burning bright in the dell."
Larry Davis
F. de Jong
<6tb5d0$2nv$1...@news.igs.net>...
> Just a hundred yards from Mary Ann
>
If we also look at the field of Bluegrass, I have always loved the song
"Bringing Mary home". The song was given to Bill Clifton (I don't know who
wrote it), and Bill liked the words, but he didn't like the music. So he
asked John Duffey if he would write a new melody for it. John did so and
Bill recorded it. The Country Gentlemen also recorded it, but for no reason
at all they left out a verse. The version of Bill Clifton was released
years later and had all the verses. Bill told this story and sang the song
a few years a go when he was performing in the Netherlands.
For the Seldom Scene album "Like we used to be", John Duffey wrote a sequel
entitled "I've come to take you home" that is almost even better.
--
Greetings from Fryslân,
Fokke de Jong
Drachten, the Netherlands
Please remove the 'x' to reply
Mydnyte
Mydnyte
Mydnyte
when I was little, and I agree that it has to one of the saddest songs I
have ever heard.
Joel wrote in message ...
>In article <35F94B...@still3.chem.columbia.edu>, Peter Shenkin
><she...@still3.chem.columbia.edu> wrote:
F. de Jong
<mschway-1009...@pm3-d16.nas.com>...
>
> The paperboy song (sorry, don't remember the exact title), the chorus
> starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
>
That's "Jimmy Brown the newsboy". Can't find quickly enough who wrote it,
but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
--
Greetings from Fryslān,
Fokke de Jong
Drachten, the Netherlands
Remove the 'x' to reply
Disasterer
"The Angels Will Be Taking Care of You", written by Bill Harrell after his
wife died and he was left with their three young kids to be raised. True
story, therefore especially sad.
Joel
<fok...@worldonline.nl> wrote:
>> The paperboy song (sorry, don't remember the exact title), the chorus
>> starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
>>
>That's "Jimmy Brown the newsboy". Can't find quickly enough who wrote it,
>but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
>
>--
>Greetings from Fryslân,
>Fokke de Jong
>Drachten, the Netherlands
Not quite -- it's from the Blue Sky Boys, and it was called (pretty much)
The Little Paperboy Out On The Street."
Greetings back to Friesland, cradle of much of the English language. (Not
to mention those Frisian cows!)
Joel Shimberg
--
(Joel)shim...@poboxes.com
Keep the net free from pornography.
Don't quote Jesse Helms or Ken Starr.
Marianne Kovatch
>>That's "Jimmy Brown the newsboy". Can't find quickly enough who wrote it,
>>but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
>shim...@poboxes.com (Joel) wrote:
>Not quite -- it's from the Blue Sky Boys, and it was called (pretty much)
>The Little Paperboy Out On The Street."
>
Of course "Jimmy Brown the Newsboy" is also attributed to A.P. Carter,
as is almost everything the Carter Family ever recorded.
- Marianne -
larryd
Joel wrote in message ...
>>> starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
>>>
>>but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
>>
>>Greetings from Fryslân,
>>Fokke de Jong
>>Drachten, the Netherlands
>
>The Little Paperboy Out On The Street."
>
Wiseman's hit (#5 in 1959) was called "Jimmy Brown The Newsboy".
Whether it was known by other titles from other artists, I can't say.
Like Jimmy Dickens' "Pennies For Papa" and "Rockin' Alone In An Old Rockin'
Chair" (Bob Wills did it in 1936, Eddy Arnold in 1947, Everly Brothers in
1957), I called these songs "tear-jerkers". "Sad" is too mild a word.
Maudlin may be appropriate. Ferlin Husky had a hit called "Little Tom" in
1955 (remade by George Hamilton IV in 1957) about a newsboy from a big
family, who's daddy get's drunk every night and is mean to them. Like I
said, real "tear-jerkers".
Larry Davis
Mike Schway
<lar...@cport.com> wrote:
> Joel wrote in message ...
> >In article <01bddf3b$bb23ec00$67e7f1c3@default>, "F. de Jong"
> ><fok...@worldonline.nl> wrote:
> >
> >>> The paperboy song (sorry, don't remember the exact title), the chorus
> >>> starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
> >>>
> >>That's "Jimmy Brown the newsboy". Can't find quickly enough who wrote it,
> >>but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
> >>
> >>--
> >>Greetings from Fryslân,
> >>Fokke de Jong
> >>Drachten, the Netherlands
> >
> >Not quite -- it's from the Blue Sky Boys, and it was called (pretty much)
> >The Little Paperboy Out On The Street."
> >
>
>
> Wiseman's hit (#5 in 1959) was called "Jimmy Brown The Newsboy".
>
> Whether it was known by other titles from other artists, I can't say.
>
It really is a different song. "The paperboy on the street" is a waltz. A
particularly dreary one, but a waltz nonetheless. Jimmie Brown is in 2/4
(or is it 4/4?)
--Mike Schway
=====================================================================
Mike Schway | [visualize your favorite quote here]
msc...@nas.com |
=====================================================================
Don Talley
Red Sovine including Little Rosa, Giddyup Go, and others.
In old-time and early country music here are some that come to mind:
Jimmie Rodgers penned and performed several sad songs including Waiting For
A Train.
One of the classic tear jerkers from the early brother duet genre is:
A Picture From Life's Other Side
By Bill And Early Bolick who performed as The Blue Sky Brothers.
Another early song performed by Bradley Kincaid and later by Grandpa Jones
is
The Blind Child
The song tells of the how the child's mother passed away and of how she
grieves as her father remarries and eventually the blind child joins her
mother in death..According to the Liner notes on Grandpa Jones "Family
Album" the song was found in print as early as 1860
While I don't care much for his voice, I am a great admirer of Roy Acuff
song writing. Roy wrote lots of tear jerkers which never achieved
commericial popularity but are nonetheless classic lyrics. Among them are:
Sad Memories - a classic story of the a grieving husband who deceased
wife had been his childhood pal, and later became his wife, but died at an
early age leaving him to raise a young son.
Lonely Mound of Clay, the story of a grief stricken husband who mourns
at the grave of his beloved wife.
A Vagabonds Dream which details the lonely life of a hobo who dreams
of his parents and home.
SAD MEMORIES
Today sa memories come to me of one whose gone away,
It seems I see her once again, just as of yesterday
Her school days they were over, her life companion won
When God did send death's angel down to take our Sarah home.
A darling little blue-eyed boy had come to bless her home
But anges hovered round her bed, and softly bade her come
She gently smiled a fond good night the lights of life grew dim
Her loved ones hear a faint voice say, "Dear God, please watch o'er him"
Chorus:
We'er lonesome for your, Sarah, our hears are crushed with pain,
The fun we've had together, can never come again.
But heaven holds our treasure, God needed you I know
Your sunny smile and beuaty fair would brighten heaven so.
In school her desk was next to mine, in play she was a pal
The happy voice we loved to hear is hushed in silence now.
She smiled through all her sorrow and as she went away,
Two tiny hands were held in hers-he wanted her to stay.
Today an angel mother waits in heaven for her son,
I pray that God will guide her boy through manhood safely home.
Some day, old pal we'll join you, and when the school bells chime,
We'll ask the teacher if he'll move your desk right next to mine.
LONELY MOUND OF CLAY
Beside a new-made grave heartbroken
My love for her won't let me go away
And leave her there to sleep forever
All alone beneath that lonely mound of clay.
Chorus:
Oh Lord, why did you take her from me?
Why didn't you take me away
So I could have been there beside her
All alone beneath that lonely mound of clay?
Many times I looked toward heaven
And prayed she wouldn't be taken away
But this sinner's prayer wasn't answered,
So She's sleeping now beneath the clay
I'll stay here beside you, little darling
And I promise I'll never go away
Until my life here is over
And I'll be with you beneath the clay.
A VAGABONDS DREAM
I'm a roamer on highways of beauty,
But I long for a home far away,
Where a mother and daddy are waiting
To welcome me back there some day.
I can see that old house in the valley
On the banks of a clear rippling stream,
And I vow that I'll soon be returning,
But it's only a vagabond's dream.
It only a dream, a vagabond's dream
Who's adrift on life's restless stream.
Oh I vow that I'll sonn be returning
But its only a vagabonds dream.
Now the lure of the road is a passion
And my weary feet ever must stray
And the treasures I left in the valley
Drift farther and farther away.
There's a wish that I pray God will grant me
When I stray to that last rolling stream
May the joys that await me up yonder
Be more than a vagabond's dream
I hope I haven't shorted out my keyboard with the tears.
Don Talley
Black Mountain, NC
Chris Battis
way through without tearing up. In fact, just thinking about it makes me
sad.
Chris
ma...@warehouse.net
Hi,
My vote would have to go to Grayson & Whitter's Victor recording of
He Is Coming To Us Dead. Victor 21139-A (40303-2)
pamela Longtine
> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed.[....]
>
Country? Old-Time?
"You Never Even Call Me By My Name" (Steve Goodman)
"Seeds and Stems (Again)" (Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen)
Paul Mitchell
tune, probably written by W.S. Hays. This is recounted in Bill Malone's
Singing cowboys and musical mountaineers, a fabulous book.
Paul
==============================================================================
Paul Mitchell
email: pmit...@email.unc.edu
phone: (919) 962-9778
office: I have an office, room 28, Phillips Hall
life: It appears I have one of these, as well...
==============================================================================
On 13 Sep 1998, F. de Jong wrote:
> Mike Schway <msc...@nas.com> schreef in artikel
> <mschway-1009...@pm3-d16.nas.com>...
> >
> > The paperboy song (sorry, don't remember the exact title), the chorus
> > starts: "Please buy a paper from me, so I can get something to eat."
> >
> That's "Jimmy Brown the newsboy". Can't find quickly enough who wrote it,
> but it was well-performed by Mac Wiseman.
>
> --
> Greetings from Fryslân,
> Fokke de Jong
> Drachten, the Netherlands
>
Paul Mitchell
On Sat, 12 Sep 1998, Pete Peterson wrote:
> My own nominations:
>
> Goodbye Mary Dear by Charlie Poole (same tune as Hungry Hash House, but
> played in A, and IMHO much sadder words)
Sorry Pete, I have a hard time linking the words "Charlie Poole" and
"sad". There's something about the NCR band sound that is decidedly
upbeat, irregardless of what song they do. But if I had to pick one, it
would be "The Letter, But Alas it Never Came", (an approximation of the
title). Again though, if I had my druthers, I'd listen to the Blue Ridge
Mountain Singers version of it, now there's pathos!
> Tiny Playmate by the Louvin Bros
In agreement here, a truly tragic song.
Paul
GARELICK
By contemporaries, I'd say George Jones "He Stopped Loving her Today" is a
classic. Also "My Elusive Ways" (I can't remember who did it, but it's a very
sad song). Gee, most of Merle Haggard's songs are pretty sad, when you think
about it;"If we make it through December" and "Kentucky Gambler" are great
songs. And how about Eddie Rabbit and "Rocky Mt. Memories." That's a
good'n.And then the old time songs, like "Pictures from Life's Other Side" and
all those murder ballads-- "Little Omie," "Knoxville Girl" and "Banks of the
Ohio."
brian-a-morris
it allways bring a tear to my eye
pamela Longtine wrote in message <01bde0b7$5e334fe0$7aa64b0c@default>...
cam...@webtv.net
Bill Dillof
emotion and subject matter represented as "sad". I have to agree with young
Mr. Mitchell that presentation has alot to do with it. Anyhow, I didn't hear
anyone mention the following:
Daddy and the Wine - Little Jimmie Dickens (5 teardrops)
Mama Hated Diesels - Commander Cody (5)
The Lover's Return (Too Late) - E.V. Stoneman, et. alia (4)
No Telephone In Heaven - Carter Family (4)
Pretty House For Sale - Charlie Pride (3)
No One To Welcome Me Home - Hank Williams (3)
So Lonesome I Could Cry - ditto (3)
Far Back In My Childhood - Oscar Coffey (4)
Old Shep - Jimmie Driftwood? (4)
and many, many others, but, like, I better quit this right now, sob!
Bill Dillof
MDuborgel
How about " The Blue Diamond Mines" by Jean Ritchie.?
duBorgel
houndman
It's about a old woman that makes paper roses from crepe paper.
John Mulvey wrote:
> On Thu, 10 Sep 1998, Wayne McClure wrote:
> > The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
> > Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
> >
> > last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
> > the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
>
> I'd almost say ANYTHING by Townes Van Zandt, but I think I'll restrain
> myself and just vote for "Tecumseh Valley."
>
> John.
luec...@world-net.net
Babys' Book by E.T., or "I Cried but My Tears Were Too Late" and "Only
a Rose" by Hank Snow"?. So many more.
>Just a hundred yards from Mary Ann
>
>JBAB wrote in message <35F876...@telusplanet.net>...
>>Try "Faded Love"
>>
>>John
>
>
Dot Roots
Listen to his Old Man and His Horn it will make the hair on the back your
neck stand up. Another great one is Change Her Mind
--
Dorothy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To reply remove the OKRA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
houndman <houn...@centuryinter.net> wrote in article
<360204F1...@centuryinter.net>...
George Conklin
Donny Kaye <donn...@erols.com> wrote:
>
>
>Wayne McClure wrote:
>
>> The songs of loves, and lives, lost which we all adore...
>> Soon I'll have the all-time saddest songs list completed. I started this
>>
>> last spring, and you all gave me many excellent suggestions!!! Here's
>> the last chance to suggest more. Thank you for your help!
>
> Another trio comes to mind; "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving
>Somewhere" by Elton Britt and "Six White Horses" by Tommy Cash, Henson
>Cargill (and maybe others), and The Carter Family (OCF) with "The
>Cyclone of Rycove" (school hit, children killed)
> 'Til next time, Donny
>
>
You mean God gave me the right to be a free American
And for this precious right I'd gladly die
There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving somewhere
In that heaven there should be a place for me......
Britt also had a blood bank song for soliders
lying in the Korean mud.....
Jerry Dallal
Mother the Queen of my heart
Prison Warden's Secret
Lightning Express
Baggage Coach ahead
although it's not ot, I can't construct a list of heart-wrenchers
without included Woody Guthrie's "1913 Massacre". If that song's
allowed, does anything else make the list?
Brent Cantrell
Steel
one always gets to me.
Beth
Bumpkin." Great song.
Beth
In article <exlaw-17099...@blp46.vgernet.net>, "Bill Dillof"
F. de Jong
--
Greetings from Fryslân,
Fokke de Jong
Drachten, the Netherlands
Remove the 'x' to reply
Steel <st...@network-one.com> schreef in artikel
<3601f...@207.226.241.101>...
le...@sccoast.net
WISEMAN ?
Kelly Paul Graham
houndman <houn...@centuryinter.net> wrote in article
<360204F1...@centuryinter.net>...
> How about "Paper Rosie"? Sorry, can't remember who was the one that sang
it.
>
> It's about a old woman that makes paper roses from crepe paper.
>
The singer is Gene Watson.
Kelly Paul Graham
How about the recitation "21" by Red Sovine ?
The song is a letter written to his son by a father he never knew, of will
know.
The letter is written from Death Row before the man is to be executed.
Kelly Paul Graham.
Kelly Paul Graham
> In article <35FBF55B...@erols.com>,
> Donny Kaye <donn...@erols.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >Wayne McClure wrote:
> >
> >"Six White Horses" by Tommy Cash, Henson
> >Cargill (and maybe others),
A song that I would consider sad because it's ( still)
frighteningly true
is Henson Cargill's "Skip-a-Rope". It's also among my all-time favorites.
Listen to the children while they play
Now aint it kinda funny what the children say
Kelly Paul Graham.
Mydnyte
also like to hear that read sovine song about the father on death row. any
suggestion where i could get that?
Kelly Paul Graham wrote in message <01bde78e$3692bb00$a38dd3d0@kgraham>...
Frank E. Clark
Kelly Paul Graham
<kgr...@wt.net> wrote in article <01bde78c$4675b9c0$a38dd3d0@kgraham>...
Dot Roots
Paper Rosie album.
--
Dorothy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To reply remove the OKRA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Frank E. Clark <fcl...@bellsouth.net> wrote in article
<01bdf012$79253100$0d2fd6d1@default>...
Michael Kolonel
Dallas Harms.It was issued in 1975 on his LP "Paper Rosie" - Broadland BR-1917
and became a country hit in Canada before being covered by Gene Watson.The
Watson recording was much better known in the USA
but it wasn't the original version.