Thursday, December 10, 2009

*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"The Waggoner's Lad" — Buell Kazee (1928)

Click on the title to link to a presentation of the song listed in the headline.

The year 2009 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.


The Wagoner's Lad

Oh hard is the fortune of all womankind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Confined by their parents until they are wives
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives

Oh I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I've always been courted by the Wagoner's Lad
He's courted me daily, 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
But I work for a living, my money's my own
And if they don't like it, they can leave me alone"

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

Oh hard is the fortune of all womankind
They're always controlled, they're always confined
Confined by their parents until they are wives
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives

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