Waggoner, The

DESCRIPTION: "September last, on the seventh day, I geared my team to start away, To the South Yadkin...." The singer describes his route, talks of the cold and difficulties of the trip, and happily recounts his arrival
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety)
KEYWORDS: travel
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety, pp. 300-301, "The Waggoner" (1 text)
Roud #3584
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Heights of Alma (I) [Laws J10]" (meter, lyrics)
NOTES [120 words]: Belden-BalladsSongsCollectedByMissourFolkloreSociety believes this piece tells of travel across the Appalachians, which, given the geography, makes sense. The initial line and the meter seem to imply acquaintance with "The Heights of Alma" (though in this case the song is rather worn down). That is a rather late date for such a piece. This may be further evidence of the "proto-Alma" song.
Roud lumps this with Lomax's piece "Ox Driving Song." There are a few words in common, but only a few, and those of the sort that could float or even occur to an author spontaneously; really, only thing they have in common that I can see is that both involve travel. -I can see Roud's point, but I'm not quite ready to agree. - RBW
Last updated in version 3.2
File: Beld300

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