My Name is John Johanna

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One of my top faves from Anthology of American Folk Music

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Likewise you walking skeletons, you old sassafras hills 2
His bread was old corn dodgers, his beef I could not chaw 1
But I never knew what misery was ’til I went to Arkansas 1
I got so thin on sassafras tea I could hide behind a straw 1
Alan Catcher was his name although they called him Cain 1
I got up that next morning to catch that early train 0
He said "don’t be in a hurry lad, I have some land to drain 0
You’ll get your 50 cents a day and all that you can chaw 0
You’ll find yourself a different lad when you leave old Arkansas" 0
I worked 6 weeks for the son of a gun, Alan Catcher was his name 0
He stood 7 feet 2 inches, as tall as any crane 0
You bet I was a different lad when I left old Arkansas 0
Farewell you old swamp rabbits, also you dodger pills 0
If you ever see my face again I’ll hand you down my paw 0
He charged me 50 cents a day in the state of Arkansas 0
My name is John Johanna, I came from Buffalo town 0
For 9 long years I’ve travelled this wide wide world around 0
Through ups and downs and miseries and some good days I saw 0
I went up to the station the operator to find 0
Told him my situation and where I wanted to ride 0
Said hand me down 5 dollars, a ticket you shall draw 0
That’ll land you safely railway in the state of Arkansas 0
I rode up to the station then chanced to meet a friend 0
His hair hung down in rat tails below his under jaw 0
He said he run the best hotel in the state of Arkansas 0
I followed my companion to his respected place 0
Saw pity and starvation was pictured on his face 0
I’ll be lookin’ through a telescope from home to Arkansas 0


Abbott, Saturday, 13 September 2008 15:07 (seventeen years ago)

His bread was old corn dodgers, his beef I could not chaw

Kelly Harrell seems pretty awesome. I have some other song by him called "Wish I Was a Single Girl Again."

clotpoll, Saturday, 13 September 2008 15:29 (seventeen years ago)

But I never knew what misery was ’til I went to Arkansas

So, so true.

EZ Snappin, Saturday, 13 September 2008 15:29 (seventeen years ago)

Abbott you need this:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Recorded-Works-Vol-1926-1929/dp/B000006NLM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1221335280&sr=8-2
and its companion volume.

ian, Saturday, 13 September 2008 19:48 (seventeen years ago)

Oh my gosh I think you're right.

I have a Bascom Lamar Lunsford album and that guy was the business.

Abbott, Saturday, 13 September 2008 21:19 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Monday, 22 September 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

http://i1.ebayimg.com/01/i/06/4e/88/f2_1_b.JPG

Listened to this before work today. So great.

ian, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 17:00 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)


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