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Babs
Feb-07-2004, 11:35am
Hi,
Im not sure if Im posting this in the right place or not, if not, I do appolgize.
Im looking for some lyrics to some old folk songs. #I know they have been passed down for at least the past 4-5 generations. #All his brothers (5 of them) can play like you've never heard before http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #They know the music, but are not sure of all the lyrics. #I am hoping someone out there can point me in the right direction or might know where I can find them. #Ive been looking for weeks now.

Sourwood Peaks
Ballad of the Martins and Coys (this one is based on their family, not the one based on WWII)
Wreck of the old (ole)#5 or might be known as Wreck of the ole C&O. #I found one version, however, it is not the right one. #The one I am looking for he is laying in the track broken in half..or along that line.

Places I have checked:

Max Hunter Folk Song Collection (http://www.smsu.edu/folksong/maxhunter/index.html)

Muleskinner Jones (http://www.muleskinnerjones.com/index.html)
Ron's Folk Music Cords and Lyrics (http://members.aol.com/rongrittz/page/chords.htm)
Free Country and Rock Sheet Music (http://www.brandononline.com/)
Singingfish (http://www.singingfish.com/)

Any help is much appreciated! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

John Flynn
Feb-07-2004, 5:08pm
The "C&O Wreck" is here:
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiCOWRECK.html

"The Martins and Coys" is here:
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiMARTNCOY.html

Babs
Feb-07-2004, 11:42pm
jflynnstl,

Thanks for the links. #

"The Martins and Coys" is the one I was looking for http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

However, the "C&O Wreck" is not the right version I heard. #The one I am looking for had something to do with him being cut in half by the steam. #I have the other versions, but not this one.

Thanks again!

Babs

John Flynn
Feb-07-2004, 11:57pm
Babs:

Just a thought: Often old-time songs have had verses added and verses lost over the years. For instance, I read that the tune "Old Joe Clark" has over 90 verses documented, but you will never find more than 6 or 7 on any one site. That "C&O Wreck" may actually be the tune you are looking for, but just missing that verse.

Also, I have never heard of, or could I find, "Sourwood Peaks," but "Sourwood Mountain" is a very popular old-time tune and lyrics are readily available. There is a set on the same site as those other two.

Martin Jonas
Feb-08-2004, 4:21am
Also, I have never heard of, or could I find, "Sourwood Peaks," but "Sourwood Mountain" is a very popular old-time tune and lyrics are readily available. There is a set on the same site as those other two.
This holds as a general comment for all those looking for lyrics and/or basic tunes for traditional songs: the Digital Tradition is the place to look for first; it's by far the largest online database for the genre.

The main site, with search engine and option to download the entire database as a standalone application (highly recommended!), plus an extremely knowledgeable bunch of people at their messageboard (Jean Ritchie, for example, is a regular) is at:

http://www.mudcat.org

Martin

Babs
Feb-08-2004, 8:39am
Thanks for the links and the information. #

You're right,some of these old songs have been changed over the years. #My husbands family has been passing them down for at least the past 80 years. #They play and all of a sudden remember there was more to the song. #This is where I come in (Im the music handicaped one in the bunch..hehe) I hit the computer and see what I can find. #Most times I go by parts and phrases in the song. #Amazing what I can find just by that http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Jean Ritchie has been a big help. #She is my father-in-law 3rd cousin. #This is the kind of family I married into. #Gotta love it!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Thanks again
Babs

Andrew Reckhart
Feb-11-2004, 11:32am
Are you sure that you aren't looking for "The Wreck of the Old 97'? #It has a line that goes #...."he was goin' down the grade makin' 90 miles and hour when his whistle broke into a scream. #he was found at the wreck with his hand on the throttle he'd been scalded to death by the steam." #or lyrics really close to that. #I'm just taking a shot in the dark, as I have never heard of the song you mentioned.