Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
Abram, it’s been fourteen years since you asked about this song, but I just joined. I know which one you want. Find Bob Coltman’s album “Lonesome Robin” Minstrel JD-200 1973. Has Ed Trickett on there as well.
It’s probably still out of print but on a lucky day I found the vinyl at Amoeba music in Los Angeles. The back album cover states “lyrics and notes enclosed”, but unfortunately not inside this copy anymore
The whole album is great. Good luck.
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
Song is I Truly Understand, recorded 1928 by "Shortbuckle" Roark and family.
Here's his version:
My favorite version is Bruce Molsky's:
Couldn't be more different! The New Lost City Ramblers' version was based on Roark's.
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
Listening last night, I noticed that those lyrics appear in "Fall on my Knees," as well. Nice song.
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sjusk
Don't you see that turtle dove
That flies from pine to pine
He's mourning for his own true love
Just like I mourn for mine
I realize that this is a very old thread, but this song too has very old routes. This verse is found in slightly different versions in the traditional folk song "Mary Ann" found on both sides of the Atlantic. Bob Dylan is among many who recorded it. I sing a Nova Scotia version:
Yonder, see that turtle dove
Sitting on the style
He's mourning the loss of his own true love
As I do now for you my dear, Mary Ann.
Folk songs, like blues songs (or perhaps I should say including many blues songs) and old-time dance ditties, often having "floating verses" to fit in where appropriate.
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
A similar verse is found in a Hayes Shepherd song - Hard for to Love..
See that turtle dove,
sitting in yonder pine,
He'smourning the loss of his own true love,
As I mourn for mine.
He was an Appalachian itinerant singer. Found on Erynn Marshall cd.
Judith
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
"Hard for to Love" has another pair of verses that seem to appear in a lot of different songs:
So it's who will shoe your pretty little feet?
Oh, it's who will glove your hands?
Oh, it's who will kiss them red rosy cheeks?
When I'm in some far-off land.
Papa will shoe my pretty little feet.
Mama will glove my hands.
Sister will kiss my red rosy cheeks,
And I ain't a-gonna marry no man.
Also came across yet another song with "Wish to the Lord I'd never been born..."
44 Gun by the Wandering Ramblers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAIIXkqMaWU
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
I wonder what genre the song is, was it a bluegrass song or an old blues tune, I have some old historical collections I could look through, narrowing the search may help?
I know not of what song you speak. My 1st thought was Rick Derringer's I Didn't Ask To Be Born, but that's 70's rock with a nice riff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRSsVN7Vr0o
I grew up loving all kinds of songs, I remember my Grandmother singing to me 50+ years ago "You're the cream in my coffee, you're the salt in my stew", It warms my heart to just recall it.
Re: Wish to the lord I'd never been born...
Here's a link to Old Crow Medicine Show playing Fall on my Knees, one of my all-time favorites.
And I wished to the Lord
That I never had been born
That I'd died when I was young, little girl
That I'd died when I was young
Then I never would have kissed
Your red rosy lips
Never heard your lying tongue, little girl
No never heard your lying tongue.