Judy Cook, Folksinger

Pretty Crowing Chicken (Grey Cock)

Author: trad (NC) [Child 248]

Source:  Hattie Presnell, 1966  in Some Ballad Folk (Burton) and 1951 Traditional American Folk Songs (Warner).Hattie Presnell lived on Beech Mountain in Wautauga County in nw NC.

Notes: Child #248 "The Grey Cock" or "Saw Ye My Father"Child has only one version.Bronson has 16Sharp has only oneDavis none. Hattie Presnell lived on Beech Mountain in Wautauga County in Northwest NC. In 1951 Jeff Warner’s parents visited her and collected this wonderful version of “The Grey Cock.” It’s called “Pretty Crowing Chicken.” There is a case of what I call “bird bribery” in this ballad; and you gotta love the notion of a false-hearted chicken.