Amos Furr- Woofter (WV) 1925 Combs
[No informant named, only a statement by Woofter: "The man who gave me this song said it was made over from a song his father used to sing. . . ". From Folk Songs of the Southern United States, revised with Wilgus as editor, 1964.
Amos Furr was reportedly a "vertern of the Civil War." Woofter wrote Furr "was noted for his fighting, his prayers and his fondness for women."
As noted by Wilgus, Linfors and I, Woofter is not a credible collector and this version is likely a ballad recreation from a printed text with a made-up informant. At least Woofter had a sense of humor (see last stanza).
R. Matteson 2012, 2015]
Amos Furr- no informant named, sung in West Virginia circa 1925 collected by Woofter in Combs, 1964 edition.
Old Amos Furr came down the road,
A-hunting for his Lizzie-O;
He pounded and he banged on the door,
But got no answer-O.
Old Amos Furr banged on the door,
A-calling to his Lizzie-O;
Her daughter made him an answer,
"She's gone with the sprucin' laddie-O."
"Go saddle me the Canada gray,
Go saddle me the bright-brown stallion-O;
I'll ride all night and I'll ride all day,
To overtake my Lizzie-O'"
He rode till he came to Paddy's Run,
And the water was muddy and swift-O;
He crossed his feet on the saddle-horn,
And crossed Cedar Creek so steady-O.
He rode till he came to Wellington's,
In search of his Lizzie-O;
He rode till he came to Willseat Ford,
A-hunting for his Lizzie-O.
Old Amos Furr did find his Lizzie
With that spruncin' laddie-O,
A-setting there on the river bank,
By the mouth of Willseat-O.
"And have you left your house and home
To sport with a spruncin' laddie-O?
And have you left your feather beds
To sport on the river bank-O?"
"And to sit on the river bank
With a spruncin' laddie-O
Is no worse than to be whacked with a broom
By old Jim Shiflett's wife-O.
"Yes, I have left my house and home
To s[port with a spruncin' laddie-O;
And I have left old Amos behind,
To hold his bag for the snipes-O."
"And I have left my feather bed,
The horse-weeds are much softer-O,
To-night I'll lag at the Willseat Ford,
With my sprucin' laddie-O.