Sample sound clips

Below are a few sample sound files generated by the notation programs used to create the scores for the book. The files are in .mp3 format. Along with some of them are notes giving a bit of underlying information about them, which we think some will find interesting. Click on the titles to play the music.

A resource we have added recently allows you to hear sound files for all of the 361 songs in the book.

Songs

9. As I Walked out One Morning Alone- Lottie Hendrickson, Marion, rec. 1934

As I walked out one morning alone, I heard an old bachelor making his moan.
"Yet I don't know why the reason could be, none of these girls won't marry poor me."

133. I Seen a Crane Fly Over the House- E.S. Dillon, Benton, rec. 1947

"I learned this from my mother, Elizabeth Bell Dillon, around the year 1880."
--E.S. Dillon

I seen a crane fly over the house, the fool, the fool.
I seen a crane fly over the house, the fool, my Joe.
I seen a crane fly over the house with seven millstones in his mouth.
And we'll all get drunk tonight, boys,
But you and I and sober Joe.

135. I Went Down to New Orleans- Lem Harris, Fairfield, rec. 1952

"As Mr. Harris sang, he sat in a chair and stomped his foot on the beat and clapped his hands on the off-beat. He was past eighty years of age."
--D.S. McIntosh

I went down to New Orleans, I'd never been there before.
They fed my horse in a poplar trough, and I'll go there no more.

Chorus

Walk daddle diddle in the middle of the day, and I'll walk daddle do tomorrow.
Walk daddle diddle in the middle of the day, and I'll walk daddle do tomorrow.

142. If You Want to Go a-Courtin'- William Jones, Carbondale, rec. 1935

If you want to go a-courtin', boys, I'll tell you where to go,
Down to the old man's, just down below.
The old man and woman away from home,
Children a-cryin' and their heads not combed.
Children a-cryin' and their heads not combed.

152. Jacob the Pilgrim- William Fearington, Montrose, rec. 1976

"There was an old fellow who came there, and he was a big stocky built fellow, and his eyes were white. I suppose he was blind. In all, he looked a little bit scary, me being just a kid. But he'd stand up and sing, and he'd pound his fist on the back of the bench in front of him for emphasis. And this is the song he would sing."
--Wm. Fearington

When Jacob the pilgrim was a-wearied by day,
At night on a stone for a pillow he lay.
He saw in a vision a ladder so high,
A ladder of mercy from the ground to the sky.

169. Kind Old Husband- Thelma Boyd, Creal Springs, rec. 1953

"I remember that day well when the Zoellers came and recorded Mom and Grandpa. I just sat on the floor and took it all in."
--John Boyd

What'll you have for dinner, my kind old husband?
What'll you have for dinner? She called him her dear.
What'll you have for dinner, my kind old husband?
The best old feller in the world.

195. Lord Henry- Rev. Branon, Tamaroa, rec. c. 1950

"Now this is one Grandmother used to sing."
--Rev. Branon

"Come in, come in, loved Henry," she said,
"And stay all night with me.
Cold sherry I have, and the very best I have.
I'll freely give to thee."

242. Old Pike- Annamae Todd, Pinckneyville, rec. 1951

"This nonsense song was sung by my grandfather, Alexander Craig of Pinckneyville."
--Annamae Todd

I once knew a man by the name of Pike, belonged to the fam'ly of Riggins.
And like an old fool he bought an old mule and started for the California diggins.

Chorus

Haul off your coat, roll up your sleeves, the plains am a hard road to travel.
Haul off your coat, roll up your sleeves, the plains am a hard road to travel, I believe.

245. Oma Wise- C.E. Wolf, DeSoto, rec. 1953

Come all you good people, I'd have you draw near.
A sorrowful story you shortly shall hear.
A sorrowful story about Oma Wise,
And how she was delivered by Lewis's lies.

259. Poor Married Man- M.J. Penninger, Stonefort, rec. c. 1950

You may talk of the joys of a sweet honeymoon,
I agree they are nice while they last.
But in most every case, they're over too soon
And numbered as things of the past.
The troubles and fusses are sure to begin;
You may do the very best that you can.
You will wish you were out of the chatter and din
That follows a poor married man.

264. Pretty Polly- Daisy Stutsman, St. Francisville, rec. 1954

There was a young lady in London did dwell.
Her beauty so great no tongue could not tell.
I courted that lady one long live night,
Got home the next morning before it was light.

278. Sally Taylor- Helen Allen, Dahlgren, rec. 1953

"Well, I learned it from my father, and he learned it from his mother, and she learned it from her father."
--Helen Allen

Spoken:

The first time I married, I married a girl named Sally Taylor.
She did pretty well for awhile but at last she commenced kicking things---

Refrain, sung:

All around the room, once loving Sally Taylor.
All around the room, she woke at the break of day.
And ever since I married her, I've nothing else but hate her.
And now she's gone to Bole Town City, twelve long months to stay.

287. Shoe Cobbler- Nine Barnett, Wayne City, rec. 1952

"The lady who sings these songs it at least 87 years old. She learned this one from one of her boyfriends when she was a girl."
--Donald Wolfe, Music 307 student who recorded Nine Barnett

I am a rich old cobbler, which makes me a freeman.
I've had my fortune told; they said I'd marry a wee man.

Chorus

Ling a ling a ling, ling a ling a li du
Ling a ling a ling, ling a ling a li du
Ling a ling a ling, ling a ling a li du
Although she was my dear.

333. Willie Dear- Harvey Taylor, Effingham, rec. 1975

"That's one my folks used to sing. They had a great big book they'd made of all those old songs."
--Harvey Taylor

"Who at my bedroom window's calling,
Calling loud for me to come?"
"'tis I, 'tis I, your own dear Willie.
Oh, Nellie come and pity my case."

Fiddle tunes

31. Calico's Corn- Gib Ingram, Oakland, rec. 1976

38. Chicken Found a Pepper- Floyd Pullen, Fults, rec. 1977

118. John Dye- Henry Hall, Cave-in-Rock, rec. 1956

269. Walk Old Shoe, Heel Come a-Draggin'- Pauline McGinnis, Vienna, rec. 1977

277. Who'll Cut the Britches?- Henry Soper, Mt. Vernon, rec. 1953

314. Jump Waltz- Ben Woods, Ingraham, rec. 1976

318. Old Country Waltz- Harry Elie, Dundas, rec. 1979

357. Raven Schottische- Stelle Elam, Brownstown, rec. 1975