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Bell Cow, The
Traditional Old-Time Reel; Pa.
ARTIST: Dixie Crackers;
Listen: New Lost City Ramblers- Old Bell Cow- Lyrics and fiddle are similar to Cracker's version.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: 1880s- Early 1900’s (1927 published- Ethel Park Richardson) (1929 recorded Dixie Crackers)
Listen: New Lost City Ramblers- Old Bell Cow
RECORDING INFO: Bell Cow
At - Fare Thee Well Sweet Killaroe
Uf - Russian (Roosian) Rabbit
Hartford, John. Wild Hog in the Red Brush, Rounder 0392, CD (1996), trk# 1 (Squirrel Hunters)
Indian Creek Delta Boys. Indian Creek Delta Boys, Davis Unlimited DU 33029, LP (1976), trk# 12
RECORDING INFO: The Old Bell Cow [Me II-AA34]
Richardson, Ethel Park / American Mountain Songs, Greenberg, Bk (1927/1955), p 98 (Bell Cow)
Dixie Crackers. Paramount Old Time Recordings, JSP 7774A-D, CD( (2006), trk# A.11 [1929/01]
Dornfield, Bernstein, and Murphy. Ways of the World, Foxglove FG 9801, CD (1998), trk# 3a
New Lost City Ramblers. Cohen, John, Mike Seeger & Hally Wood / Old Time String Band Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976/1964), p110
Rutherford, Enoch; and the Gold Hill Band. Old Cap'n Rabbit, Heritage (Galax) 080, Cas (1989), trk# 19
Schwarz, Tracy and Eloise. Down Home, Folkways FTS 31052, LP (1978), trk# B.07
Wheeler, Carol Ann. Joy of Fiddling, American Heritage 401-532, LP (198?), trk# 10b
OTHER NAMES: "The Squirrel Hunters," "Squirrel Hunting," "Fare Thee Well Sweet Killaroe," "Roosian Rabbit."
SOURCES: Bayard- Dance to the Fiddle; Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc.
NOTES: Known alternately as "Bell Cow" or usually "Old Bell Cow", Andrew Kuntz has two listings for this tune. The tune is related to "Roosian Rabbit" and "The Squirrel Hunters" or "Squirrel Hunting."
Traditional Ballad Index: Old Bell Cow
DESCRIPTION: Humorous description of a cow that's difficult to milk: "Went down to the cornfield to pick a mess of beans, Along come the bell cow a-pecking at the greens." "Some of these days when I learn how, I'm gonna milk that old bell cow."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (recording, Dixie Crackers)
KEYWORDS: farming work humorous animal
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 110-111, "Old Bell Cow" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Dixie Crackers, "The Old Bell Cow" (Paramount 3151, 1929; on CrowTold01)
New Lost City Ramblers, "The Old Bell Cow" (on NLCR10) (NLCR16)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Bell Cow
NOTES: It has long been a custom to tie a bell around a cow's neck so she can be found easily. - PJS
Notes Kuntz- Bell Cow II: Bayard (1981) collected this tune from southwestern Pa. fiddler James Taylor who stated this was the name for this tune around the town of Rogersville, Greene County, Pa.
Here is the version sung by the Dixie Crackers:
BELL COW- Dixie Crackers 1929
(Fiddle Intro)
Went down the cornfield to pick a mess of beans
Along came the bell cow takin’ after me.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail. (O-hoo)
One of these days when I learn how,
I’m gonna milk the darned old cow.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
(Fiddle Fill)
The milk tastes good ‘til the butter ain’t fat
Darned old cow ain’t my best pat
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
(Fiddle Fill) (Oh Jersey)
One of these days when I learn how,
I’m gonna milk the darned old cow.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
(Fiddle Fill)
The old bell cow never knew how to court
Sold the milk and I got me a horse.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
(Fiddle Fill)
The old bell cow she had a couple horns
Ain’t been milked since I been born.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
Way down yonder in Arkansas
The bell cow hoofed her mammy and pa.
(Fiddle Fill)
Some of these days when I learn how,
I’m gonna milk the darned old cow.
Oh the bell cow never got a pail
Oh the bell cow never got a pail.
(Fiddle Outro)
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