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The Banks of the Ohio/Old Shawnee/On the Banks of the Old Peedee/On The Banks of the Ohio
Traditional Old-Time & Bluegrass Song; Widely Known
Banks of The Ohio- painting by Richard Matteson C 2009
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Bluegrass Songs
ARTIST: from Richard Matteson based on traditional lyrics C 2009; Learn to play video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hczntFIkXI
DATE: Late 1800’s. Collected circa 1915, appears in Louise Pound's 1922 book, "American Ballads and Songs." Two texts: Old Shawnee; On the Banks of the Old Peedee; Recorded in 1928 by Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers
OTHER NAMES: "Old Shawnee;" "On the Banks of the Old Peedee;" "Wedding Day;" "On the Banks of the Ohio(Monroe Brothers);" "Down on the Banks of the Ohio (Blue Sky Boys);" "I'll Never be Yours (Whitter and Grayson);"
RECORDING INFO: Banks of the Ohio [Laws F 5/Me I-B 64]
Rt - Knoxville Girl
At - On the Banks of the Old Bayou; On the Banks of the River Dee
Rm - Sweet Song From Yesterday
Pound, Louise (ed.) / American Ballads and Songs, Scribner, Sof (1972/1922), p108/# 45A [1915ca] (Old Shawnee)
Laws, G. Malcolm / Native American Balladry, Amer. Folklore Society, Bk (1964/1950), p194 (On the Banks of the Ohio)
Dunson, Josh; & Ethel Raim (eds) / Anthology of American Folk Music, Oak, Sof (1973), p110 (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Traum, Happy (ed.) / Flat-Pick Country Guitar, Oak, Sof (1973), p 20
Snyder, Jerry (arr.) / Golden Guitar Folk Sing Book, Hansen, Fol (1972), p 19
Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976), p 26b
Leisy, James / Songs for Pickin' and Singin', Gold Medal Books, sof (1962), p 40
Lynn, Frank (ed.) / Songs for Swinging Housemothers, Fearon, Sof (1963/1961), p169
Best, Dick & Beth (eds.) / New Song Fest Deluxe, Hansen, Sof (1971/1948), p 48
Visconti, Carl (ed.) / Paint Creek Folklore Society Song Tune Book, Paint Creek, Sof (1986), p 2
Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof (1959), 1, p62
Miller Jr., E. John; & Michael Cromie / Folk Guitar, Quadrangle, Bk (1968), p 58
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 99
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p 20
Abe and Malka. Mandelblatt, Abe & Malka A. / 100 Guitar Accompanyments, Amsco, Sof (1974), p176
Armstrong Twins. Just Country Boys, Arhoolie 5022, LP (1981/1979), trk# 13 (On the Banks of the Ohio)
Baez, Joan. Joan Baez, Volume 2, Vanguard VSD 2097, LP (1961), trk# 8
Baez, Joan. Folksingers 'Round Harvard Square, Veritas, LP (1959), trk# A.01 (On the Banks of the Ohio)
Baez, Joan. Siegmeister, Elie (arr.) / Joan Baez Song Book, Ryerson Music, Sof (1971/1964), p102
Bailey, Mike. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1983/10,p14
Ball, George. Ball, George / Baxter's Flat-picking Manual, Amsco, Sof (1967), p41
Blue Sky Boys. Original and Great: Early Authentic Country Recordings, Camden CAL 797, LP (1964), trk# 2 [1936/06/16] (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Blue Sky Boys. Bluegrass Mountain Music, Camden ADL-2-0726, LP (1974), trk# 2 [1936/06/16] (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Blue Sky Boys. Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol 4, Revenant RVN 211, CD (2004), trk# 1.04 [1936/06/16] (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Blue Sky Boys. Blue Sky Boys / Sunny Side of Life, Rounder 1006, LP (1973), trk# A.07 [1936/06/16] (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Boswell, Lillian Gear. Pound, Louise (ed.) / American Ballads and Songs, Scribner, Sof (1972/1922), p109/# 45B [1915] (On the Banks of the Old Pedee)
Brown, Mason; and Chipper Thompson. Am I Born to Die. An Appalachian Songbook, Dorian Dor 83217, CD (1999), trk# 7
Clayton, Paul. Bloody Ballads, Riverside RLP 12-615, LP (1956), trk# A.02
Cohen, David. How to Play Folk Guitar, Kicking Mule KM 119, LP (1976), trk# A.04
Country Gentlemen. Country Gentlemen, Rebel RLP 1478, LP (1966), trk# 4
Crowe, J. D.; and the New South. New South Live, Trio PA 6326, LP (1975), trk# A.05
Davis, Bill. Sounds of the Smokies, Old Traditions BWD 51471, LP (1971), trk# A.03
Davis, Janet. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1978/01,p16
Freeman, Arlie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South and ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p137/#160B [1941/12/10] (I'll Never Be Yours)
Good Time Singers. Good Time Singers, Capitol T 2041, LP (1964), trk# A.04
Grayson and Whitter. Old Time Ballads from the Southern Mountains, County 522, LP (1971), trk# 9 [1927/10/10]
Guard, Dave; & the Whiskeyhill Singers. Dave Guard and the Whiskeyhill Singers, Capitol T 1728, LP (1962), trk# A.01
Hart, Mrs. Jenks. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p336/#180A [1934-39] (Wedding Day)
Hill, Dudley; and Mark O'Connor. Tenino Old Time Music Festival. 1973-74, Voyager VRLP 313-S, LP (1974), trk# 13
Hinsley, Dean; and Tommy Simmons. Music of the Ozarks, National Geographic Soc. 0703, LP (1972), trk# 5
Hodges Brothers. Watermellon Hangin' on the Vine, Arhoolie 5001, LP (1971), trk# 5 [1960-61] (On the Banks of the Ohio)
Jones, Clayton. Traditional Autoharp, Sunny Mountain EB 1006, LP (197?), trk# A.03
Kossoy Sisters. Bowling Green and Other Folksongs from the Southern Mountains, Tradition TLP 1018, LP (1956), trk# 6
Kossoy Sisters. Banjo Music of the Southern Appalachians, Olympic OL-6173, LP (197?), trk# B.02
Lunsford, Bascom Lamar. Smokey Mountain Ballads, Folkways FP 40/2040, LP (1953), trk# 5 (On the Banks of the Ohio)
McCarty, Gladys. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South and ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p138/#160C [1941/10/24]
McCurdy, Ed. Blood, Booze 'n Bones, Elektra EKL 108, LP (1956), trk# B.02
McDowell, Louise. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume II, Songs of the South and ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p137/#160A [1941/08/18]
Monroe Brothers. Feast Here Tonight, Bluebird AXM2-5510, LP (1975), trk# 11 [1936/06/21] (On the Banks of the Ohio)
Monroe Brothers. Bluegrass Bonanza., Properbox 29, CD (2001), trk# 2.02 [1936/06/21] (On the Banks of the Pamanaw)
Monroe, Bill; and Doc Watson. Bill and Doc, Sonyatone FEN-210, LP (197?), trk# 8
Neumann, Fred W.. Pickin' Magazine, Pickin' Magazine, Ser, 1979/07,p41
New Lost City Ramblers. Cohen, John, Mike Seeger & Hally Wood / Old Time String Band Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976/1964), p138
New Lost City Ramblers. New Lost City Ramblers, Vol. 2, Folkways FA 2397, LP (1960), trk# B.04
New Lost City Ramblers. Asch, Moses (ed.) / 124 Folk Songs as Sung and Recorded on Folkways Reco, Robbins, Fol (1965), p 16
Reid, Harvey. Chestnuts, Woodpecker WP 109, Cas (1994), trk# A.08
Rice, Tony. Tony Rice, Rounder 0085, LP (1976), trk# A.01
Schilling, Jean. Old Traditions, Traditional JS-5117, LP (1974/1967), trk# A.06
Seeger, Pete. American Favorite Ballads. Volume 4. Tunes and Songs, Folkways FA 2323, LP (1963), trk# A.01
Simmons Family. Stone County Dulcimer, Dancing Doll DLP 112, LP (197?), trk# 2.02
Stoneman, Ernest V. ("Pop"). Ernest V. Stoneman, Vol.1, Old Homestead OHCS 172, LP (1986), trk# A.06 [1928/04/25]
Stoneman, Ernest V. ("Pop"). Edison Recordings - 1928, County CD 3510, CD (1996), trk# 10 [1928/04/25] (Down on the Banks of the Ohio)
Tarleton, Jimmie (Jimmy). Steel Guitar Rag, Testament T-3302, LP (1967), trk# A.02 [1963/12/03]
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Folk-Style Guitar, Oak, Sof (1973), p 38
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Teach Yourself Guitar, Oak, Sof (1971), p 51
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Folk Style Autoharp, Oak, Sof (1967), p 38
Tottle, Jack. Tottle, Jack / Bluegrass Mandolin, Oak, Sof (1975), p 44
Vass, Ruby. Southern Journey. Vol. 2: Ballads and Breakdowns, Rounder 1702, CD (1997), trk# 12 [1959/08/28]
Watson, Doc. Doc Watson on Stage, Vanguard VSD 9/10, LP (1970), trk# 17
Wernick, Pete/Peter. Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Banjo, Oak, Sof (1974), p 76
Yarbrough, Glenn. Come and Sit by My Side, Tradition TLP 1019, LP (196?), trk# B.03
SOURCES: Lyrics from Pound; Mudcat Discussion Forum; Folk Index
NOTES: The first published versions of the lyrics appear in Louise Pound's 1922 book, "American Ballads and Songs." The two lyrics versions were collected in 1915 (On the Banks of the Old Peedee) and 1916 (Old Shawnee).
The traditional murder ballad was first recorded in 1927 by Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers followed by Whitter and Grayson's "I'll Never be Yours" the next year.
The ballad probably dates to the late 1800s and resembles other regional murder ballads like the Knoxville Girl. The girl rejects her lover and refuses to marry him so he kills her by pulling a knife and throwing her in the water where she drowns.
G. Malcolm Laws, Jr. says, "The history of this piece has not been traced, but its similarity to certain English broadsides has been pointed out." (Native American Balladry, rev. ed., 1964, #F5).
According to notes in The New Lost City Ramblers Song Book (retitled later as The Old-Time String Band Songbook), "This is one of the unsolved mysteries of American folksong. Although it is compared to 'Omie Wise,' there are no actual records of this specific crime anywhere in England or in the United States. It is mentioned in a few collections (Randolph, and Henry) who report an early version from a 1916 manuscript from the Southern highlands and another from Wyoming ('The Old Peedee'). The best conjecture has this song composed from fragments of other songs, and then passed on old records (Piedmont Log Rollers, Clarence Green, Grayson and Whitter) and has become one of the most popular 'city' folk songs."
45 (A) THE OLD SHAWNEE from Louise Pound's 1922 book, "American Ballads and Songs." Text from a manuscript book in the possession of L. C. Wimberly, 1916.
I ask my love to take a walk,
To take a walk a little way;
And as we walk we'll sweetly talk
Of when shall be the wedding day.
Then only say that you'll be mine,
And your home shall happy be,
Where the silent waters roll,
On the banks of the old Shawnee.
She said, "To that I'll ne'er consent,"
And he says, "Your life I'll take."
"My life you'll take instead of me,
For I ne'er shall give away."
He drew a knife across her breast,
And in anger she did cry,
"O Willie dear, don't murder me,
For I am not fit to die."
He took her by her long black hair,
And he threw her on the ground,
And drew her to the river side,
And left her alone to die
Banks of the Ohio From Wikipedia: "'Banks of the Ohio'" is a 19th century murder ballad, written by unknown authors, in which "Willie" invites his young lover for a walk during which she rejects his marriage proposal. Once they are alone on the river bank, he murders the young woman.
The first recording of the song was by Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers on August 12, 1927. The song has since been recorded numerous times, such as by Henry Whitter, Ernest Stoneman, Clayton McMichen, The Carter Family, Blue Sky Boys (whose version, performed in 1936, appears in the soundtrack of the 1973 film Paper Moon), Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner,Pete Seeger, Monroe Brothers, Joan Baez, Olivia Newton-John (with Mike Sammes, in 1971, her second commercial single in the United States), Dave Guard and the Whiskeyhill Singers, and Doc Watson, with slightly different lyrics when sung by a female. The song is similar in subject to "Pretty Polly", and likely tells the same story (Both songs date from approximately the same time, tell roughly the same story, and feature a villain named "Willie").
Another not so well known version of the song is entitled "On the Banks of the Old Pedee." Also, the song and its title serve as the theme song for, and title of, a long-running radio series broadcast of bluegrass music on WAMU-PBS and Bluegrass Country, hosted by Fred Bartenstein and produced for the International Bluegrass Music Museum, near the Ohio River in Owensboro, Kentucky.
TAB for Richard's simple guitar solo: Learn to play video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hczntFIkXI
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BANKS OF THE OHIO- Richard Matteson C 2009- Lyrics included on his painting, Banks of the Ohio, C 2010
I asked my love, to take a walk
Just a walk, a little ways with me.
And as we walked, along we talked
All about, our wedding day.
CHORUS: Darling say that you'll be mine,
In our home we'll happy be.
Down beside, where the waters flow,
On the banks of the Ohio.
I held a knife against her breast,
Into my arms she gently pressed.
She cried, "O Willie, don't murder me.
I'm not prepared for eternity."
I took her by the lily white hand,
Pushed her down the river strand.
Plunged her in where she would drown,
And stood and watched as she floated down.
Returning home 'tween twelve and one,
Thinking of the deed I'd done.
I murdered the girl I love you see,
Because she would not marry me.
The very next day at half past four,
The sheriff walked right to my door.
He said young man come with me and go,
Down to the banks of the Ohio.
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