Pulling Hard Against the Stream

DESCRIPTION: "In the world I've gained my knowledge, And for it have had to pay... Do your best for one another... Help a worn and weary brother Pulling hard against the stream." The singer advises helping those in need
AUTHOR: Harry Clifton (per Ives-FolksongsOfNewBrunswick)
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Spaeth); 19C (broadside, LOCSinging as110820)
KEYWORDS: nonballad help
FOUND IN: US(SE) Canada(Mar) Britain(Scotland(Bord))
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 54, "Pulling Hard against the Stream" (1 text)
Spaeth-WeepSomeMoreMyLady, pp. 157-158, "Pulling Hard Against the Stream" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ives-FolksongsOfNewBrunswick, pp. 133-136, "Pulling Hard Against the Stream" (1 text, 1 tune)
McMorland/Scott-HerdLaddieOTheGlen, pp. 45-46, 149, "Pulling Hard Against the Stream" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #1958
BROADSIDES:
LOCSinging, as110820, "Pulling Hard Against the Stream," unknown, 19C
NOTES [76 words]: Although the description sounds like a religious song, there are in fact no explicit Christian references in this piece. - RBW
Ives's attribution of authorship to Harry Clifton is supported by the "Song Writers of the Halls" article -- quoting The Melodies Linger On by Walter Macqueen-Pope -- on Harry Clifton at Frederick Denny's World of the Music Hall site. - BS
For background on author Harry Clifton, see the notes to "The Good Ship Kangaroo." - RBW
Last updated in version 3.2
File: Br3054

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