If You Sing Songs ... Judy Cook

Unaccompanied Songs and Ballads

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1) Barbara Ellen (traditional Kentucky) 6:46  Lyrics  Listen
From Cecil Sharp & Maude Karpeles' 80 Appalachian FolkSongs. Collected from Mr. Bin Henson at Barbourville, KY. Text from the singing of Miss Carrie Howard at Pineville, KY

2) Drowsy Sleeper (traditional North Carolina) 2:12  Lyrics
This conversation between lovers was sung by Rebecca King Jones in the NC mountains for Anne & Frank Warner. I found it in Warners' Traditional American Folk Songs. My favorite line in this song, "If you sing songs go court some other", was the inspiration for the title of my recording.

3) Once I Had an Old Grey Mare (traditional) 1:56  Lyrics
My sister and I used to sing this song when we were little girls. I was delighted to find it in Sharp's Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, and to add another verse.

4) Indeed Pretty Polly (traditional North Carolina) 3:02  Lyrics  Listen
One of the songs that Anne & Frank Warner collected from Tink Tillett on the outer banks of North Carolina. I like its portrayal of a young woman who is strong, but not bitter towards her misguided young William.

5) The Captain with his Whiskers (T. H. Bailey) 3:02  Lyrics  Listen
When the Warners collected this version from Lena B. Fish in NH in 1940, she told them, "...no man of this day and age could ever hope to find a girl to dance or keep company with him if his face was covered with whiskers. But in the good old days, whiskers were deemed to be an emblem of strength and manhood...".

6) Bed is Too Small :45  Lyrics
I learned this one at Camp May Flather in Virginia. I can still hear Candy Sutton singing it all in duck talk.

7) Jessel Town (traditional Virginia) 4:39  Lyrics  Listen
Collected from Texas Gladden in 1932 for Arthur K. Davis. I found it in his More Traditional Ballads from Virginia. I particularly like the way the tomahawk has been added to the song since it came to this country. British versions often have the bow and arrow - but no tomahawk!

8) The Crying Family (traditional Vermont) 3:26  Lyrics  Listen
I love the silliness of this song collected in VT by Helen Hartness Flanders and given to me by her granddaughter, Nancy-Jean Seigel.

9) When the Roll is Called Up Yonder (J..M. Black ) (with Lisa, Mary, George & Dennis) 2:14  Lyrics  Listen
A well known, rousing gospel.

10) Sheffield Apprentice (traditional North Carolina) 3:00  Lyrics  Listen
In Cecil Sharp's Folksongs from the Southern Appalachians. As sung by Mary Sands.

11) The Lovers’ Tasks (traditional Kentucky) (with Lisa, Mary, George & Dennis) 2:07  Lyrics
A version of Child ballad #2 collected in Kentucky by Cecil Sharp.

12) A Mother’s Last Words to her Daughter 4:53  Lyrics  Listen
I got this song, popular with Jubilee singers of 1920's, from the singing of Washington Phillips.

13) Allison Gross (traditional) 3:20  Lyrics  Listen
When I removed the strongly syncopated beat & heavy electronic accompaniment from the tune Steeleye Span uses, I noticed the similarity to the tune of "Down in Yon Forest" from the Oxford Book of Carols. I went back to Child for the rest of the words.

14) The Dun Brown Bride (traditional Scotland) 4:23  Lyrics  Listen
Gordeanna McCullough gave me this fine version of "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet" at Whitby Folk Week 1997.

15) Three Men of Gotham (T.L. Peacock/tune trad) 1:28  Lyrics
I was delighted to find this very different sort of drinking song in The Pocket Book of Poems and Songs for the Open Air compiled by Edward Thomas, given to me by Susan Hills. It's obviously linked to the nursery rhyme: "Three wise men of Gotham went to sea in a bowl / If the bowl had been stronger, my song would be longer."

16) Tree in the Woods (traditional) (with George Stephens) 3:42  Lyrics  Listen
I love the feeling of timeless potentiality of the unborn song on the tongue of the bird in the egg. This song is a melding of two similar songs from a recording of Appalachia the Old Traditions that Julie Henigan gave me.

17) What Are They Doing in Heaven Today (with Lisa, Mary, George & Dennis) 2:53  Lyrics  Listen
Charles Albert Tindley published this song in 1901. He was a popular Methodist minister who preached in Philadelphia. I first heard Andy Cohen sing it.

Chorus: Lisa Null - soprano, Mary LaMarca - alto, George Stephens - baritone, Dennis Cook - bass.

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