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Darling Little Joe/Little Joe/ Death of Little Joe
Public Domain Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; Words and Music by V E Marsten, 1866
ARTIST: Blanche Coldiron (vocal and banjo)
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel;
DATE: 1873 Bliss; First Recorded by Charles Nabell 1925 OKeh
RECORDING INFO: Darling Little Joe/Little Joe [Me II-J 3] - Marsten, V. E.
At - Death of Little Joe
Wernick, Peter (ed.) / Bluegrass Songbook, Oak, Sof (1976), p 60a
Blake, Norman. Home in Sulphur Springs, Rounder 0012, LP (1972), trk# 8
Carter Family. Lonesome Pine Special, Camden CAS-2473, LP (1971), trk# 8 [1934/05/08] (Darling Little Joe)
Carter Family. Country & Western Classics, Time-Life Records TLCW-06, LP (1982), trk# 4.03 [1938/06/08]
Clifton, Bill. Carter Family Album, London SLH101, Cas (1990/1961), trk# 11
Country Gentlemen. Play It Like It Is, Rebel SLP 1486, LP (197?), trk# 8 (Darling Little Joe)
Cousin Emmy (Cynthia May Carver). New Lost City Ramblers with Cousin Emmy, Folkways FTS 31015, LP (1968), trk# 5
Joyce, Johnny. 51st Annual Galax Old Fiddlers Convention, Heritage (Galax) 703, LP (1987), trk# 13
Monroe Brothers. Feast Here Tonight, Bluebird AXM2-5510, LP (1975), trk# 29 [1938/01/28]
Nash, Rosa "Granny" Stevens. Wolfe, Charles K.(ed.) / Folk Songs of Middle Tennessee. George Boswell, Univ. Tennesse, Sof (1997), p111/# 68 [1951/06/21]
Penix, Ron. Reflections on the Carter Family, Take II T2P 002, LP (1981), trk# 5
Potter, Dale. Lowinger, Gene / Bluegrass Fiddle, Oak, fol (1974), p48
Poyner, Ruby. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p175/#712D [1932/01/10] (Darling Little Joe)
Price, Bill & Betty. Bill and Betty Price, Rural Rhythm RRBP-239, LP (196?), trk# A.04
Reams, James. Kentucky Songbird, Leghorn LH 004, CD (1994), trk# 13
Sheets, Leona. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p174/#712C [1930/06/07] (Darling Little Joe)
Thomas, Mrs. L. A.. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p173/#712A [1927/10/04] (Darling Little Joe)
Wall, James. 20 Carter Family Favorites, Rural Rhythm RC-175, Cas (1988), trk# A.06
Wilbur, Marie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p174/#712B [1929/10/23]
OTHER NAMES: "Death of Little Joe" "Little Joe"
SOURCES: Meade; Vance Randolph, Ozark Folksongs. Volume IV, Religous Songs and Others, Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1946), p174/#712B
NOTES: "Darling Little Joe" or "Death of Little Joe" or "Little Joe" is more of a sentimental ballad than a gospel song. Since it deals with death, heaven and angels I'll include one version by Blanche Coldiron (vocal and banjo) here. According to Meade's discography "Darling Little Joe" was written by V E Marsten, 1866 and C E Addison, 1876. Phillip P. The song was recorded fairly often, by the Carter Family, Bradley Kincaid, Mac Wiseman and others. However, probably the version that had the largest influence was Cousin Emmy's, who often sang it on her popular St Louis radio show (three remarkable airshots of Emmy playing the tune can be found on the Berea College website; they are far more lively than the rendition she later recorded for Folkways).
Blanche learned this song from the radio; I imagine from Cousin Emmy, although I am not certain.. She certainly listened to Emmy, but she also credited other tunes to the radio broadcasts of Pa and Ma McCormick's ensemble (which made a single celebrated recording for Gennett as 'The Blue Ridge Mountaineers'). She especially admired their classical style banjoist, 'Bigfoot' Homer Castleman.
Darling Little Joe - Blanche Coldiron, vocal and banjo (Rec: Mark Wilson, Heathen Ridge, Ky, 7/03/99). Roud 3545.
What will the birdies do, Mother, in the spring
Will they pick up the crumbs from around my door?
Will they hop from the trees and tap at my window
And ask why Joe wanders out no more?
What will the kitten do, Mother, all alone
Will he stop his frolic for a day?
Will he lie on the rug beside of my bed
As he did before I went away?
What will Thomas, the old gardener, say
When you ask him for a flower for me?
Will he give you a rose he has tended with care
Fairest first bloom of the tree?
I could see tears in his honest old eyes
He said the wind had brought them there
As he gazed on that cheek growing paler each day
His hand it trembled o'er my hair.
Keep Tag, Mother, my poor little dog
I know he'll mourn for me too.
Lying around in the shade of a tree
Mourning the long hot summer through.
Show him my coat so he won't forget
His master who will then be dead
Speak to him kindly and ask him of Joe
And pat him on his brown shaggy head.
And you, dearest Mother, will miss me for awhile
But in heaven no larger I'll grow
Any kind angel at the gates will know
When you ask for your darling little Joe.
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