Last Kind Word Blues
DESCRIPTION: Two themes: singer's father is bound for "the German war" and tells what to do if he is killed; singer's mother is concerned about her rambling daughter's wildness. See notes for details.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1930 (StuffDreams2)
KEYWORDS: love warning war train travel burial death Germany nonballad father lover mother
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RECORDINGS:
Geeshie Wiley, "Last Kind Word Blues" (on StuffDreams2)
NOTES [87 words]: The First World War theme is covered in three verses: Her father says "I may not see you after I cross the deep blue sea." His "last kind words" tell her to send his body to his mother, not for burial, but to be left out to "let the buzzards eat me whole."
Before her mother died she said, "stay safe daughter; don't you be so wild." Her lover being across the Mississippi, she "went to the depot and looked up at the sign" -- a common floating line -- and "cried; if a train don't come there'll be some walking done." - BS
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File: RcLKiWoB
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