258
Joe Bowers
For an account of the range of this most widely known of the
songs of the forty-niners and the theories as to its origin, see BSM
341-2. To the references there given may be added Michigan
(BSSM 480 — listed but text not given), Virginia (Davis FSV,
listed).
'Joe Bowers.' Reported by Thomas Smith in 191 5 as obtained from
Mrs. Mae Smith Fox of Vilas, Watauga county; with the notation that
it "was sung in this part of the county fifty years ago. George Smith
of Sugar Grove used to sing this song a great deal."
1 My name is Joe Bowers; I've got a brother Ike.
I came from old Missouri, all the way from Pike.
I'll tell you why I left thar, and why I came to roam
And leave my poor old mammy so far away from home.
2 I used to court a gal thar ; her name was Sally Black.
I axed her if she'd marry me; she said it was a whack.
Says she to me, 'Joe Bowers, before we hitch for life.
You ought to get a little home to keep your little wife.'
3 'Oh, Sally, dearest Sally, oh, Sally, for your sake
I'll go to California and try to raise a stake.'
Says she to me, 'Joe Bowers, you are the man to win ;
Here's a kiss to bind the bargain,' and she hove a dozen in.
4 When I got in that country I hadn't nary red.
I had such wolfish feelings I wished myself 'most dead.
But the thoughts of my dear Sally soon made them feel-
ings git
And whispered hopes to Bowers. I wish I had 'em yit.
6o8 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
5 At length I went to mining, put in my biggest licks,
Went down upon the boulders just like a thousand bricks.
I worked both late and early, in rain, in sun, in snow.
I was working for my Sally ; 'twas all the same to Joe.
6 At length I got a letter from my dear brother Ike.
It came from old Missouri, all the way from Pike.
It brought to me the darndest news that ever you did hear ;
My heart is almost bustin', so pray excuse this tear.
7 It said that Sal was false to me, her love for me had fied ;
She'd got married to a butcher. The butcher's hair was
red..
And more than that, the letter said — it's enough to make
me swear —
That Sally had a baby ; the baby had red hair.
8 Now I've told you all about this sad afifair,
'Bout Sally marrying a butcher, that butcher with red hair.
But whether 'twas a boy or gal child the letter never said.
It only said the baby's hair was inclined to be red.
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258
Joe Bowers
'Joe Bowers.' Sung by Miss Jean Holeman. Recorded at Durham, in 1922.
This tune is identical with that for 'The Unreconstructed Rebel,' III 465, No.
391, as sung by Lois Johnson. In its melodic outline the tune is very similar to
that in OFS 11 194, version D. The editor says there that the tune was also
used for Lily of the West' and 'Young Caroline of Edinborough Town.' Here
is another example of what can happen to a tune on its voyage through time and
space. Actually, our version and the Ozark version are beyond description.
For melodic relationship cf. ***OFS 11 194, version D; FSmWV 65, first
and last two and a half measures.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abba^ (4,4,4,4).