John Jones- Thomas (WV) pre1975 (1963) Gainer; From: Folk-Songs from the West Virginia Hills 1973
[My title, replacing Gainer's generic "Get Up And Bar The Door." Dr. Gainer has given two different sources of his version in 1963 and 1975. No explanation has been offered about having two different informants for the same exact ballad. Gainer's history with this ballad dates back to c. 1923 when he was a student at the University of West Virginia and collected ballads with another student Carey Woofter for Josiah Combs, a teacher working on his doctorate, a "collection of folk-songs." Gainer also studied with Cox and Chappell but I suspect Woofter and Gainer were working mostly with Combs.
Gainer surely knew the title of the "other" West Virginia version, "Old John Jones," that his collecting friend, Carey Woofter, supplied to Combs and Cox. Because there were two different informants given by Woofter for the same rare ballad and some of Woofter's contributions have come into question, there is a possibility that version is not authentic.
Gainer choose not to associate his version by title with that version even though John Jones was present in the text as the name of the central figure and was a possible title. For whatever reason Gainer decided not to mention Woofter's version in his notes (see below)- even though he knew about it. (Gainer, Woofter, Combs and Cox were all associated with the University of West Virginia in the mid-1920s- Gainer and Woofter were students, Combs was a teacher working on his doctorate (his collection of folk songs) and Cox was a teacher. Another collector, Louis Chappell, was also there at that time and Gainer did some field work with him.
The same identical text version with the same melody that Gainer published in 1975, he published in his 1963 "West Virginia Centennial Book of 100 Songs." In 1963 Gainer said it was sung by "Charlie Montgomery, Elizabeth, Wirt County." Marie Boette published Gainer's 1963 version in 1971 (Sing Hipsy Doodle) just 4 years before he changed the informant's name to W. A. Thomas. Gainer contributed several ballads and songs to Sing Hipsy Doodle.
Here's what Boette says:
GET UP AND BAR THE DOOR
"Dr. Patrick W. Gainer is one of West Virginia's foremost leaders in searching and preserving the music native to the State. A West Virginia University professor, his courses in balladry have been most rewarding to extension students throughout the localities where he has taught. Possessing a beautiful tenor voice he has made two records for Folk Heritage Recording. Dr. Gainer was Chairman of the Centennial Committee on Folklore which published the West Virginia Centennial Book of 100 Songs from which with his permission the above ballad and three others were taken. This ballad was sung for him by Mr. Charlie Montgomery, Elizabeth, Wirt County.
The words of this song remind one of a party game where one person is supposed to remain silent for a certain time regardless of questions or heckling."
Gainer's version seems similar to Woofter's although there are some differences. Other incidences regarding multiple informants (i.e. having two different informants for the same song) have occurred among other of Gainer's collected songs.
R. Matteson 2013]
[John Jones] Child 275, "Get Up And Bar The Door"- This ballad, preserved in family tradition for many generations, brought laughter to the family circle on many a long winter evening. It was sung by W. A. Thomas, Webster County.
1. The wind blew high, the wind blew cold,
It blew across the moor.
When John Jones said to Jane, his wife
"Get up and bar the door."
2. "Oh, I have worked all day," said she,
"I've washed and scrubbed the floor,
You lazy man, get up, I say,
Get up and bar the door."
3. "Oh, I have worked so hard," said he,
"I know I can't do more;
So come, my own, my dearest wife,
Get up and bar the door."
4. Then they agreed between the two,
A solemn oath they swore,
That the one who spoke the very first word
Would have to bar the door.
5 The wind blew east, the wind blew west,
It blew all over the floor,
But neither one would say a word
For barrin' of the door.
6 Three robbers came along that way,
They came across the moor;
They saw a light and walked right in,
Right in through the open door.
7 "Oh, is the owner of this house
A rich man or a poor?"
But neither one would say a word
For barrin' of the door.
8 They ate the bread, they drank the ale,
Then said, "Come, give us more."
But neither one would say a word
For barrin' of the door.
9 "Let's pull the old man's beard," said one,
"Let's beat him till he's sore."
But still the old man wouldn't speak
For barrin' of the door.
10 "I'll kiss his pretty wife," said one,
"Oh, her I could adore."
And then the old man shook his fist
And gave a mighty roar.
11 "Oh, you'll not kiss my wife," said he,
"I'll throw you on the floor""
Said she, "Now, John, you've spoken first,
So get up and bar the door."