I've Rode the Southern and the L & N

DESCRIPTION: Blues; singer says he's ridden the Southern & L&N railroads, has been treated badly, is a rambling man, and has found his "two blue eyes" at last. He has had to offer her his watch, his chain, and all he had before she would agree to marry him
AUTHOR: Possibly Homer Callahan, but since it's mostly floating verses...
EARLIEST DATE: 1935 (recording, Homer Callahan)
KEYWORDS: courting marriage bargaining rambling train floatingverses
FOUND IN:
Roud #8589
RECORDINGS:
Callahan Brothers, "I've Rode the Southern and the L & N" (ARC 351011/Conqueror 8557, 1935; the ARC master was issued on Banner, Melotone, Romeo, Oriole and Perfect; some labels issued it under the name Homer Callahan)
Merle Lovell, "I Rode Southern, I Rode L & N" (AFS 4111 A1, 1940; on LC61)
NOTES [49 words]: The "L & N" was the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
This barely qualifies as a ballad, but the narrative thread, though thin, is present, and while some of the floating verses come from Jimmie Rodgers via Homer Callahan, they've floated through enough places to become part of tradition. - PJS
Last updated in version 4.2
File: RcIRtSLN

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