Push Boat

DESCRIPTION: "I'm working on a push boat from Catlettsburg to Pike... for old man Jeffies' Ike." The hard work and low pay of poling on the Big Sandy River are described. Much of the song is devoted to the relations between the singer and his girl, (Cynthie Jane).
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1939 (Thomas)
KEYWORDS: river ship work courting sailor
FOUND IN: US(Ap)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
Thomas-BalladMakingInMountainsOfKentucky, pp. 35-37, (no title) (1 text, 1 tune) (OakEd, pp. 48-49)
Thomas/Leeder-SinginGatherin, pp. 18-19, "Push Boat" (1 text, 1 tune)
Botkin-TreasuryMississippiRiverFolklore, p. 567, "Push Boat" (1 text, 1 tune)
Cray-AshGrove, p. 17, "Pushboat" (1 text, 1 tune)
Salt-BuckeyeHeritage-OhiosHistory, pp. 48-49, "Working on a Pushboat" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, PUSHBOAT*
Roud #8088
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Liza Jane" (lyrics)
NOTES [36 words]: This reminds me -- very strongly -- of "Liza Jane," and the two have assorted individual lines in common. I would not be surprised if they have a common origin. But they have drifted enough that we separate them. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: BMRF567

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