493
Railroad Dinah Gal
This may have come originally from the minstrel stage, or it
may be an impromptu of some Negro singer. I have not found it
in other collections of folk song.
'Railroad Dinah Gal.' Obtained, in 1921 or thereabouts, from Miss
Jennie Belvin of Durham. With the tune, hi the manuscript there is a
comma between "Railroad" and "Dinah," but it seems more likely that
the two words constitute the girl's name. Lines 5-6 and 9-10 are clearly
a refrain, though they are not so marked in the manuscript.
1 As I went down to Simon's mill.
There I found a very steep hill.
The steers began to bellow and balk
And 1 began to cuss and talk —
Railroad Dinah gal. Lm goin' over the mountains.
Railroad, my true love, Lm goin' over the mountains.
2 Me and old Dinah killed a sheep,
Give old Dinah the head and the feet.
Railroad Dinah gal. Lm goin' over the mountains,
Railroad, my true love. I'm goin' over the mountains.
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493
Railroad Dinah Gal
'Railroad Dinah Gal.' Sung by Miss Jennie Belvin, Durham, 1921 or 1922.
F-448
As I went down to Si - mon's mill, There I found a
ver - y steep hill. The steers be - gan to bel - low and
balk And be - gan to cuss and talk — Rail - road Di - nah
I'm go o - ver the moun - tains,
Rail - road, my true love, I'm go - in' o - ver the moun - tains.
Scale: Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abab^cc
(2,2,2,2,4,4) = aa^bb (4,4,4,4). Circular tune (V).