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Betty Baker
Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia, Kentucky.
ARTIST: From Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 36.
Listen: Hiram Stamper- Betty Baker- Field recording by Bruce Greene.
Listen: Hiram Stamper- Indian Nation- Field recording by Bruce Greene.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: circa 1800’s
OTHER NAMES: Sally Cooper (Bruce Green); Indian Nation (Art Stamper)
RECORDING INFO: Augusta Heritage Records 003, Ernie Carpenter - "Elk River Blues - Traditional Tunes From Braxton County, W.Va.", cut# 9. Wine, Melvin. Hannah at the Springhouse, Marimac AHS 2, Cas (1989), cut# 14 Campbell, Manon. Titon, Jeff Todd / Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes, Kentucky, Bk/ (2001), p 36/# 5 [1977/03/19]
Carpenter, Ernie. Elk River Blues, Augusta Heritage AHR 003, LP (1986), trk# 9 [1982ca]; Greene, Bruce. Five Miles of Ellum Wood. Kentucky Fiddle Tunes, Greene BG-c01, CD (1996), trk# 21; Wine, Melvin. Hannah at the Springhouse, Marimac AHS 2, Cas (1989), trk
SOURCES: Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 36. "A tune also called "Betty Baker" is known as a "W.Va. standard," and was in the repertoire of Ernie Carpenter (related to, not closely, French Carpenter), learned from legendary fiddler Uncle Jack McElwain (1856-1938) from Webster County, W.Va. The late Braxton County, W.Va., fiddler Melvin Wine (d. 1999) learned the tune from Tom Allen, a member of a musical family from around Napier, Braxton County. Gerry Milnes (Play of a Fiddle, 1999) says at least six members of the family were fiddlers, although all have since died." (Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion, http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc); Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1940/1965), p 36b;
NOTES: Known by Hiram Stampler as Indian Nation: Key of G, Fiddle tuned gdad. Recorded 01-06-77. [Listen: Hiram Stamper- Indian Nation] Because of the implications of the title, Stamper considered this "the oldest tune ever made." This tune is also known in eastern Kentucky as Betty Baker. John Salyer of Magoffin Co, KY played a version and called it by both names. His son Grover recalled a verse,
"Went over the hill to see Betty Baker,
She was asleep and I could not wake her."
Hiram Stamper also recorded a different tune similar to "Wolves A-Howling" that he titled Betty Baker. Listen: Hiram Stamper- Betty Baker
The tune was also in the repertoire of Owen Snake Chapman as "Indian Nation." Kuntz, Fiddler's Companion lists the song: G Major; Standard; AABB.
Titon published a transcription of "Betty Baker" by Manon Campbell, Hallie, Letcher County, Kentucky, March 19, 1977. Field recording also by Bruce Greene.
BETTY BAKER- Lyrics collected by Ford
I went down for to see Betty Baker,
She was asleep and the Devil couldn't wake her;
She wouldn't stir and her mother wouldn't shake her,
Long time ago.
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