*From The 1960s Folk Revival -Spider John Koerner-Music For The Long Haul From When First We Came Unto This Country

Click on title to link to YouTube's film clip of Spider John Koerner performing at the "Plough And Stars" In Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2007. Sounds like about the right place for him to be, right?

CD Review

Stargeezer, Spider John Koerner, Red House Reords, 1996

Okay, Okay those of you who have been keeping tabs know that I have spend much of the last year, when not doing political commentary or book or movie reviews, reviewing many of the old time folk artists that, along with the blues, were the passion of my youth in the early 1960's. You might also know, if you are keeping tabs, that I have been attempting to answer a question that I have posed elsewhere in this space earlier about the fate or fates of various performers from that period. Spider John Koerner was a lesser known, but important, fixture on the Cambridge/Boston folk scene during that time, as well as later once the hubbub died down and he and a local stalwart, Mr. Bones, carried on the tradition in smaller venues and in front of smaller crowds.

The CD represents a later 1996 attempt to keep up with folk developments as well as the old traditions. I find the CD as whole a little uneven in quality but certainly his efforts on "Stewball", "Danville Girl" and "Casey Jones" rank with the best of his earlier work. I would make special note of his cover of the old popular tune "Stardust". That cover may be worth the price of the whole CD. He is coming from some very different place on that one, and it is a very nice place indeed.


WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY
Lyrics: Traditional
Music: Traditional


When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name

I courted her for love
Her love I didn't obtain
Do you think I've any reason
Or right to complain

I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both night and day
I stoled a fine stallion
From Colonel Charles Grey

I rode to see my Nancy
I rode both day and night
I courted fairest Nancy
My own heart's true delight

The sheriff's men they followed
And overtaken me
They carted me away
To the penitentiary

They opened up the door
And then they threw me in
They shaved off my hair
And they cleared off my chin

They beat me and they banged me
And they fed me on dry beans
'Til I wished to my own soul
I'd never been a thief

With my hands stuck in my pockets
And my cap set on so bold
My coat of many colors
Like Joseph's of old

When first unto this country
A stranger I came
I courted a fair maid
And Nancy was her name