*In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"Way Down The Old Plank Road" — Uncle Dave Macon (1926)

In Folklorist Harry Smith’s House-"Way Down The Old Plank Road" — Uncle Dave Macon (1926)


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.



Way Down the Old Plank Road


I'd rather be in Richmond in all the hail and rain
Then to be in Georgia, boys, wearing that ball and chain

Chorus
Won't get drunk no more
Won't get drunk no more
Won't get drunk no more
Way down the old plank road

I went down to Mobile to get on the gravel train
Very next thing they heard of me, had on the ball and chain

Doney, oh dear Doney, what makes you treat me so
Caused me to wear the ball and chain and now my ankles sore

Knoxville is a pretty place, Memphis is a beauty
If you want to see them pretty girls, now hop to Chattanoogie

I'm going to build me a scaffold on the mountain high
So I can see my pretty girl as she goes riding by

My wife died a Friday night, Saturday she was buried
Sunday was my courting day, and Monday I got married

Eighteen pounds of meat a week, whiskey here to sell
How can a young man stay at home, pretty girls look so well
.Listen to this song
This Song Clip was recorded in the key of G. (Click below to play.)



A song from the Mountain Music for Everyone Song Collection from the ToneWay Project. Our website has lyrics to nearly 400 traditional songs common in bluegrass and old-time circles. Most songs also include a free MP3 recording that you can listen to. The ToneWay Project also offers songbooks, CDs, and resources for learning to play music by ear. http://ToneWay.com
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