The Braswell Boys- Parker Glenn c. 1890s
[The events are: the Nov 29, 1875 murder of Russell and John Allison of Putnam County, TN. They were allegedly killed by Jo and George "Teek" Braswell (and two others) as the Braswells attempted a robbery. On Mar 27, 1878 was the date of the hanging of the Braswells. Jo confessed to his crimes, but Teek maintained his innocence to the end. This ballad is usually sung to the tune of "Life's Railway to Heaven (Life is Like a Mountain Railroad)." The ballad is attributed to C.P. Glenn. Crabtree's version has an extra verse from the standard versions. It was also published by McDowell in her 1949 book, Memory Melodies.
Compare to Crabtree, where the names seem to be correctly spelled (Teek, Jo, Isham, and McFerrin). There are minor differences only.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE BRASWELL BOYS
The events related in this song actually occurred just as told in the song. The scene of the murder was in the southwest, part of Putnam County, Tennessee near the corners of Smith and Dekalb Counties, and the hanging was at Cookeville, Tennessee. The words and music of the song are, by many people, credited to Parker Glenn, an itinerant craftsman who rode on horseback throughout the rugged valley of the Caney Fork River during the last quarter of the nineteenth century; repairing clocks and watches in the homes of the people. He was perhaps our nearest approach to the minstrels of ancient England and Scotland, and was always ready to make and sing impromptu songs on any subject or occasion. He often conversed in rhyme, and was reported to have talked on one occasion for more than two hours in rhymed and measured sentences which he made as he talked. There are yet (1940) living a number of persons who can remember him as an old man with a heavy long gray beard, who rode up to the gate of the farmhouse and asked about the condition of the Seth Thomas clock, a piece of equipment found in almost, every home in those days. He was usually a welcome visitor, and spent the night wherever he happened to be
in the late afternoon.
The song ls known and sung throughout the valley of the Caney Fork. It is given here as remembered by Mrs. McDowell, with a little help from others.
BRASWELL BOYS
[Composed and Sung by D. P. Glenn] From Mrs. Eden Hash of Smithville, Tenn.
1. All my friends or near relations,
Come and listen to my song;
I shall sing about the Braswell’s,
The men who were hung.
2 The twenty-ninth of November,
Eighteen hundred seventy-five;
Was the night they did the murder
For which they had to give their lives.
3. They said, "Dear father and mother,
I hope you'll remember me,
When we're dead and gone forever
And our face no more you see.
4. When I rise and fly to glory,
I will meet my sister there;
I shall live and sing forever,
Shall we know each other there?
5. "For the judgement day is coming,
We must meet before the bar;
We must meet the ones we murdered,
Shall we know each other there?"
6. "We have lain so long in prison,
In our attempts we never fail,
God will aid and will assist us
For to break the Nashville jail."
7. When they started from the prison,
And the guards surrounded them,
"Teak," said Joe "We are lost forever,
Our escape is very slim.”
8. "Dear parents, sister and brothers,
For my soul do understand,
I am bound for to acknowledge
That I am a guilty man."
9. "I want you all to go to meeting,
"And new lives from this day,
For I expect to go to Heaven,
I can with you no longer stay."
10. Bohannon placed them in the wagon,
They were neat and very gay,
Their coffin was a seat for them
To the place where they hung that day.
11. They had a sister and a brother
That seemed so very nigh,
They followed down to the valley
Where they were so soon to die.
12. When they climbed up on the scaffold,
And the guards surrounded them,
They were joined by McPherrin,
Who opened up prayers for them.
13 The third chapter of Romans,
It was read to them that day there;
And after private conversation
They poured out their souls in prayer.
14 "Death, you know, is the wages
You receive for what you do,
You must learn that in the future
You must face all that you do."
15. "Do not drink a drop of whiskey,
Do not kill or rob a man,
It was for the love of money
That I do on the gallows stand."
16. "We know these committed murder
By taking others' lives away,
But now, in this solemn hour
We must take these lives today."
17. Then Jo said, in a cool voice
"Gentlemen and ladies, too;
If you will give you your attention
I will speak some words to you."
18. "I am here upon the scaffold
Here before you all today;
And what it is for is murder,"
Were the words he did say.
19. "What caused me to do this murder?
It was whiskey and money, too,
If you drink a drop of whiskey
Money, then, might tempt you too."
20. Teak said: “It is a solemn hour
It’s told me that I must die,
I am ready and awaiting,
Prepared and willing to die.”
21. Then as Abel came upon the scaffold
Shaking heads with them there;
They were delighted at his presence,
Seemed very glad to meet him there.
22. He said, “Joe, you were at my house
The night the murder was done?
“I was there and I am guilty,”
Was the answer Joe made him.
23 Teak was low and fair-complected,
Jo was tall and very neat
They were pale and very silent
When their lips did seem to meet.
24. They listened to the death sentence,
Which was there read to them then,
Then they tied their wrists and ankles
And placed white caps upon them.
25. One said, “Jesus do have mercy
Will you be with me today?”
The other said, “Lord, have mercy
On them that swore my life away.”
26. The door fell and left them swinging
There betwixt the earth and sky
It was for a dreadful murder
That these two men did have to die.
27 They were cut down, and placed in their coffin,
Delivered over to their friends,
That was there for the purpose
To receive them at the end.
28 Read this song while you are living
Before you at the judgment stand,
You by this might take warning,
Live and die a sober man.
29 Do not keep any bad company,
I advise you not to take your own dram
Or you might be like these two brothers
That did on the gallows stand.