In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"Buddy Won't You Roll Down the Line" — Uncle Dave Macon (1930)
The year has turned into something a year of review of the folk revival of the 1960s. In November I featured a posting of many of the episodes (via “YouTube”) of Pete Seeger’s classic folk television show from the 1960s, “Rainbow Quest”. I propose to do the same here to end out the year with as many of the selections from Harry Smith’s seminal “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” in one place, as I was able to find material for, either lyrics or "YouTube" performances (not necessarily by the original performer). This is down at the roots, for sure.
Roll Down the Line
Way down yonder in Tennesee, they leased the convicts out
To work in the coal mines, against free labor South;
Free labor rebelled against it. To win it took some time.
But while the lease was in effect, they made 'em rise and shine.
cho: Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin', comin down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin', comin down the line.
Early Monday morning they get you up on time,
Send you down to Lone Rock, just to look into that mine.
Send you down to Lone Rock, just to look into that hole
Very next thing the captain says "You better get your pole."
The beans they are half done, the bread is not so well.
The meat it is all burnt up and the coffee's black as heck.
But when you get your task done and it's on the floor you fall
Anything you get to eat it'd taste good, done or raw.
The bank boss he's a hard man, a man you all know well,
And if you don't get your task done, he's gonna give you hallelujah!
Carry you to the stockade, and it's on the floor you fall
Very next word you hear "You better get your pole (or coal)"
Note: based on the Coal Creek wars.
Recorded by Dave Macon
RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!
The year has turned into something a year of review of the folk revival of the 1960s. In November I featured a posting of many of the episodes (via “YouTube”) of Pete Seeger’s classic folk television show from the 1960s, “Rainbow Quest”. I propose to do the same here to end out the year with as many of the selections from Harry Smith’s seminal “Anthology Of American Folk Music,” in one place, as I was able to find material for, either lyrics or "YouTube" performances (not necessarily by the original performer). This is down at the roots, for sure.
Roll Down the Line
Way down yonder in Tennesee, they leased the convicts out
To work in the coal mines, against free labor South;
Free labor rebelled against it. To win it took some time.
But while the lease was in effect, they made 'em rise and shine.
cho: Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin', comin down the line.
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Buddy, won't you roll down the line?
Yonder comes my darlin', comin down the line.
Early Monday morning they get you up on time,
Send you down to Lone Rock, just to look into that mine.
Send you down to Lone Rock, just to look into that hole
Very next thing the captain says "You better get your pole."
The beans they are half done, the bread is not so well.
The meat it is all burnt up and the coffee's black as heck.
But when you get your task done and it's on the floor you fall
Anything you get to eat it'd taste good, done or raw.
The bank boss he's a hard man, a man you all know well,
And if you don't get your task done, he's gonna give you hallelujah!
Carry you to the stockade, and it's on the floor you fall
Very next word you hear "You better get your pole (or coal)"
Note: based on the Coal Creek wars.
Recorded by Dave Macon
RG
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!
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