Old Bangum- Wilson (Murphy, NC) 1936 Niles A
[From The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles. University Press of Kentucky, 1961. A rare African-American version (see also Niles C)-- although Scaborough first collected an African-American version from Virginia and published it in 1925 (See Davis F). Because Niles has recreated and changed ballads, his authentic ballads are suspect. Is this traditional? Seems like it but we just don't know. Kentucky was an active area of circulation.
Since Niles uses dialect, why isn't this Ol' Bangum? One factor that tilts this toward a traditional version is the last stanza- this stanza is about the "witch woman" found in a few rare versions:
He split the old witch wife to the chin
And on his way he went ag'in
Just like a jovial hunter. (Sam Harmon, 1939 recording by Halpert)
R. Matteson 2014]
Old Bangum- Sung by Ella Wilson, one-time slave from Murphy NC, August 1936.
1. Old Banghum he did hunt and ride,
Cairo kimbo dillie-down-day-o,
Old Banghum he did hunt and ride,
Cairo kimbo dillie,
Old Banghum he did hunt and ride,
Sword and pistol by his side,
Cairo dillie-down-day-o.
2. They be a wild bo' in dese woods,
Cairo kimbo dillie-down-day-o,
They be a wild bo' in dese woods,
Cairo kimbo dillie,
They be a wild bo' in dese woods,
Eats men and women drinks dey blood,
Cairo dillie-down-day-o.
3. Bangum fired his pistol off,
Bo' he didn't more than cough.
4. Bangum pulled his mighty knife,
Swore he'd take that wild bo's life.
5. Bo' he make a mighty sound,
Tromp dose bushes all around.
6. Fit four hours in one day,
Bo' he bled and sunk away.
7. When dat woman fit and flew,
Bangum cut her through and through.