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Wagoner's Lad/Loving Nancy/My Horses Ain't Hungry
Traditional Old-Time song; widely known
ARTIST: from Wolf Collection and Max Hunter Collection (4 versions)
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
EARLIEST DATE: 1800s; JOAFL 1907; 1908 Sharp
RECORDING INFO: Waggoner's/Wagoners Lad [Sh 117/Me II-E 2b]
Rt - Rambling (Rambler) Gambler; My Horses Ain't Hungry; On Top Of Old Smokey/Smoky; Pretty Saro; Poor Girl's Warning; It Was a Young Man; Texas Cowboy; I'm a Rambler, I'm a Gambler; Farewell Sweet Mary; Pretty Nancy; Coo Coo [Bird]
At - Loving Nancy
Sm - John Adkin's Farewell ; Rye Whiskey ; Farewell to Tarwathie
Mf - Heather's Song
Uf - On Top Of Old Smokey/Smoky
Dunson, Josh; & Ethel Raim (eds) / Anthology of American Folk Music, Oak, Sof (1973), p 30
Silverman, Jerry (ed.) / Flat-Picker's Guitar Guide, Oak, Sof (1963), p29
Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Merry Ditties, Bonanza Books, Bk (1958), p 64
Sing Out Reprints, Sing Out, Sof (1959), 3, p 8
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Hootenanny Tonight!, Gold Medal Books, sof (1964), p134
Miller Jr., E. John; & Michael Cromie / Folk Guitar, Quadrangle, Bk (1968), p 42
Silverman, Jerry / Folk Guitar - Folk Song, Scarborough Book, Sof (1983/1977), p 47 (Hard Is the Fortune [of All Womankind])
Fife, Austin E. & Alta S. / Cowboy and Western Songs, Bramhall House, Bk (1982/1969), p 13/# 6
Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1975/11,p11
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), trk# p343
Baez, Joan. Joan Baez, Volume 2, Vanguard VSD 2097, LP (1961), trk# 1
Baez, Joan. Siegmeister, Elie (arr.) / Joan Baez Song Book, Ryerson Music, Sof (1971/1964), p 20
Baez, Joan. Treasures from the Folk Den, Appleseed CD 1046, CD (2001), 1
Benford, Mac; and the Woodshed All-Stars. Willow, Rounder 0371, CD (1996), trk# 3
Boguslav, Raphael (Ray). Songs from a Village Garret, Riverside RLP 12-638, LP (1956), trk# B.07
Bostwick, G. W.. Scarborough, Dorothy (ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p274,428 [1930] (My Fortune's Been Bad)
Carter, Ora. Chase, Richard (ed.) / American Folk Tales and Songs, Dover, sof (1971/1956), p181 [1930-40's]
Clapp, June. Buttermilk Hill, Butterfly CP 1992, Cas (1992), trk# A.02
Cowan, Debra; and Acie Cargill. Songs and Ballads of Hattie Mae Tyler Cargill, Folk Legacy CD 128, CD (2001), trk# 21
Davis, Bill. Sounds of the Smokies, Old Traditions BWD 51471, LP (1971), trk# A.01
Ebenezer. Tell It To Me, Biograph RC 6007, LP (1975), trk# 6
Gibson, Bob. Carnegie Concert, Riverside RLP 12-816, LP (1957), trk# A.07a (Hard Is the Fortune [of All Womankind])
Grey, Rhoda. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p127/# 117F [1918/08/03]
Gwynne, Kitty. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p125/# 117C [1916/09/01]
Houston, Cisco. I Ain't Got No Home, Vanguard VRS 9107, LP (1962?), trk# 2
House, Hester. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p126/# 117D [1916/09/14]
Isle of Skye. Isle of Skye, Kicking Mule KM 234, LP (1983), trk# A.04
Journeymen. Coming Attraction - Live, Capitol ST 1770, LP (196?), trk# A.06
Kazee, Buell. Anthology of American Folk Music, Smithsonian/Folkways SFW 40090, CD( (1997), trk# 7 [1928/01/18]
Kazee, Buell. Buell Kazee Sings and Plays, Folkways FS 3810, LP (196?/1956), trk# A.04
Kazee, Buell. Lomax, Alan / Folksongs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p220/#112
Kazee, Buell. Mountain Frolic. Rare Old Timey Classics; 1924-37, JSP 77100A-D, CD (2007), trk# C.02 [1928/01/18]
Kossoy Sisters. Bowling Green and Other Folksongs from the Southern Mountains, Tradition TLP 1018, LP (1956), trk# 7
Kossoy Sisters. Banjo Music of the Southern Appalachians, Olympic OL-6173, LP (197?), trk# B.03
Molsky, Bruce; and Big Hoedown. Bruce Molsky and Big Hoedown, Rounder 0421, CD (1997), trk# 5
O'Quinn, Orville. Scarborough, Dorothy (ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p276a [1930] (Last Farewell)
Owens, Mary. Scarborough, Dorothy (ed.) / A Song Catcher in the Southern Mountains, AMS, Bk (1966/1937), p273 [1930]
Ramsey, Obray. Obray Ramsey Sings Folksongs from the Three Laurels, Prestige International INT 13020, LP (196?), trk# A.02
Red Fox Chasers. Red Fox Chasers, County 510, LP (1967), trk# A.01 [1931/01/27] (Pretty Polly)
Robinson, Zilpha. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p124/# 117B [1908]
Sams, John. Mountain Music of Kentucky, Smithsonian/Folkways SF 40077, CD (1996), trk# 2.48 [1959]
Schilling, Jean and Lee. Porches of the Poor, Traditional JLS 617, LP (1971), trk# 3
Sellers, Maxine. Folk Songs, Prestige Folklore 14032, LP (1964), trk# B.04
Seneff, Liz. Now Listen to Liz, Gateway GLP-2081, LP (196?), trk# B.01
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Teach Yourself Guitar, Oak, Sof (1971), p 44
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Folk Style Autoharp, Oak, Sof (1967), p 40
Trapezoid. Another Country, Flying Fish FF 287, LP (1982), trk# 1
Trivette, Marina. Carolina Sampler, Global Village C 312, Cas (1992), trk# 16 [1980s]
RECORDINGS: Dock Boggs, "Loving Nancy" (on Boggs3, BoggsCD1)
Vernon Dalhart, "My Horse's Ain't Hungry" [sic] (Edison 52077, 1927)
[G. B.] Grayson & [Henry] Whitter, "My Mind is to Marry" (unissued; on StuffDreams1)
Kelly Harrell, "My Horses Ain't Hungry" (Victor 20103, 1926; on KHarrell01)
Buell Kazee, "The Wagoner's Lad" (Brunswick 213B, 1928; Brunswick 437, 1930; on AAFM1) (on Kazee01)
Mr. & Mrs. John Sams, "Wagoner's Lad" (on MMOKCD)
Pete Seeger, "Fare You Well, Polly" (on PeteSeeger07, PeteSeeger07a);The Wagoner's Lad" (on PeteSeeger17)
SOURCES: Folk Index; Kuntz
Leach, pp.738-740, "The Wagoner's Lad" (2 texts, with the "A" text belonging here and the "B" text a composite of "Wagoner's Lad" and "Old Smokey" verses)
Randolph 740, "Texas Cowboy" (1 text, with much floating material but the plot seems to be here)
BrownIII 250, "The Wagoner's Lad" (3 texts plus 3 fragments; the texts "A"-"C" are "The Wagoner's Lad," and "D" has an associated verse, but "E" and "F" are fragments of a love song, perhaps "Farewell, Charming Nancy" or "Omie Wise," both of which have similar lyrics; "D" also shares this single verse, and "E" adds a "Troubled in Mind" chorus)
Chappell-FSRA 42, "Lamkins" (1 text, apparently a fragment of Child #93 (containing only a threat of cannibalism) plus three "My Horses Ain't Hungry" stanzas)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 272-282, "The Waggoner's Lad" (9 texts, 6 tunes on pp. 428-431, but the entry combines many songs; A (no title), B ("My Fortune's Been Bad"), and E ("My Horses Ain't Hungry") are extended versions of "The Wagoner's Lad"; C ("The Last Farewell") is a short text probably of "The Wagoner's Lad"; D ("Old Smokie") combined one "Smokey" verse with three "Wagoner's Lad" verses; "F" ("Old Smoky") is a very long "Old Smokey" text which seems to have gained parts of other songs; G ("A False Lying True Love") is "Old Smokey" minus the first verse; H ("I'll Build My Cabin on a Mountain So High" is "Old Smokey" with a first verse from a drunkard song and a final floating verse supplying the title; I (no title) is a fragment probably of "Old Smokey")
SharpAp 117, "The Wagoner's Lad" (6 texts, 6 tunes)
Cambiaire, p. 37, "Loving Nancy" (1 text)
Wyman-Brockway I, p. 62, "Loving Nancy" (1 text, 1 tune)
Sandburg, pp. 284-285, "Rabble Soldier" (1 text, 1 tune -- a strange version, probably composite, in which the wanderer is a "rabble soldier")
Lomax-FSNA 112, "The Wagoner's Lad"; (1 text, 1 tune)
Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 30 "The Wagoner's Lad" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fife-Cowboy/West 6, "The Wagoner's Lad" (1 text, 1 tune); 83, "Old Paint" (3 texts, 1 tune, of which the "C" text appears actually to be a version of this piece or perhaps "Rye Whisky")
Chase, pp. 181-182, "The Wagoner's Lad" (1 text, 1 tune)
Abrahams/Foss, pp. 38-39, "Wagonner's Lad" (1 text)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 21, "My Horses Ain't Hungry" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 171 "The Wagoner's Lad"; p. 174 "My Horses Ain't Hungry"; p. 186 "Hard Is The Fortune Of All Womankind" (3 texts)
Saffel-CowboyP, pp. 211-213, "Jack o' Diamonds" (1 text; this particular Lomax offering contains elements of "Jack o Diamonds/Rye Whisky," "The Wagoner's Lad," The Rebel Soldier," and others)
OTHER NAMES: "Loving Nancy," "My Horse's Ain't Hungry," "The Waggoner's Lad"
An Inconstant Lover; I'm a Rambler, I'm a Gambler; The Rambling Gambler
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "The Cuckoo" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Goodbye, Old Paint" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Rye Whiskey" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Gambler (I)" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Oh Lily, Dear Lily" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Lady's Case" (floating lyrics)
cf. "I Am a Young Maiden (If I Were a Blackbird)" (lyrics)
cf. "The Rebel Soldier" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Rue and the Thyme (The Rose and the Thyme)" (floating lyrics)
cf. "Farewell, Sweet Mary"
cf. "Goodbye, Little Bonnie, Goodbye" (theme)
cf. "Moonshiner" (floating lyrics)
cf. "The Virginia Lover" (plot)
NOTES: The song is related to many different songs. The song, of English origin, is titled by many early country recordings artists as "My Horse's Ain't Hungry," "Your Wagon Need Greasing" and even "Pretty Polly." The verses are found in many songs and can be traced back to England in the 1730s song, "The Ladies Case."
The basic plot is: Young woman is courted by a wagoner's lad. Her parents don't like him because he is poor; he tells her he is self-supporting and not ashamed. He tells her he is leaving; she asks him to linger with him, but he refuses. She laments women's hard fortune.
The classic first verse was collected by Cecil Sharp in 1908 and appears in his EFSSA:
No. 64 Version B. The Wagoner's Lad
Zilpha Robison; Clay Co. KY 1908
1. I am a poor girl my fortune's been bad
So ofttimes I've been courted by a wagoner's lad.
He courted me duly, by night and by day,
And now for to leave me he's going away.
Eleven of the stanzas of Sharp's Version A are almost identical with eleven of the stanzas of the preceding song, "Old Smoky". Wyman and Brockway, p. 64 title the song "Loving Nancy") and Cox, No. 146 "Farewell, Sweet Mary" and his interesting note pointing out how lines of other songs have been taken up by "The Wagoner's Lad."
The song is listed in Kuntz as a fiddle tune: WAGONER'S LAD, THE. AKA and see "Rye Whiskey," "The Drunken Hiccups," "The Cuckoo," "Jack of Diamonds," "Robie Donua Gorach," "Tod(d)lin' Hame," "Johnnie Armstrong," "Bacach," "Clinch Mountain." Old‑Time, Air. USA, Kentucky. C Major. The song was first printed by the English collector Cecil Sharp, who toured the Appalachians in 1908. Biograph RC6007, Ebenezer ‑ "Tell it to Me." Rounder CD0421, Bruce Molsky - “Big Hoedown” (1997. Learned from recordings of Mr. & Mrs. John Sams of Combs, Kentucky, and also Buell Kazee).
Here are additional notes:
[1961:] [This] and On Top of Old Smokey are first cousins in the complex Anglo-American family of folksongs which includes East Virginia, The Cuckoo, Sugar Baby, Pretty Polly and probably a few dozen other folksongs. Originally, it was a British broadside ballad, and then it became transformed into an American lyric folksong, ignoring the sage advice of Polonius, and freely borrowing and lending verses to and from a score of other songs. (Reprint Sing Out 3, 138)
[1967:] We have suggested the majority of English songs tell a story or at least purport to. But there are also songs that are simply expressions of mood and nothing more. They are not numerous but they are confusing in their variety because they make use of a stock of symbolic or epigrammatic verses that are combined and re-combined in song after song, so that often it is hard to tell one piece from another. This stock of common-place lyrical 'floaters' [...] is relatively restricted, comprising perhaps not many more than fifty tropes in all [...]. The verses are usually concerned with love, especially love betrayed or denied, and a repertory of such verses provides a handy kit for making countless songs almost at will. [...] Fluid as the use of these floating stanzas may be, sets of them sometimes show signs of crystallizing into specific songs [e.g. The wagoner lad]. [...]
The first verse of "The Ladies Case" from 1734 is simliar to most versions of the 'The Wagoner's Lad.' The text below is from a single sheet song with music, but evidently an unathorized issue. Henry Carey is elsewhere credited with the first two verses here,
which was his complete song, "The Ladies Case". I do not know exactly when it first appeared, but can narrow down the range. The song was printed without credits and without music in a book of 1734, 'The Vocal Miscellany', II, p. 159, and noted in a book with music, 'The Universal Musician', [1737], to have been sung by Miss Raftor (trained by Carey) at the Theatre Royal. She made her debut in 1728 and became Mrs. (Kitty) Clive in 1732. Mr. Gouge (whose first name seems to be unknown) was credited with the music in later printings, e.g., 'The Muses Delight', p. 143, Liverpool, 1754 (slightly revised and retitled 'Apollo's Cabinet', 1757). [Bruce olsen]
The Ladies Case
(Attributed to Mr. Henry Carey)
How hard is the fortune of all womankind,
Forever subjected, forever confined,
The parent controls us until we are wives,
The husband enslaves us the rest of our lives.
If fondly we love, yet we dare not reveal,
But secretly languish, compelled to conceal,
Deny'd every freedom of Life to enjoy,
We're sham'd if we're kind, we're blamed if we're coy.
If fortune we have Oh! then we must be joyn'd,
To the Man that is by our Parents Design'd,
Compel'd for to have the Man we never see,
No matter if Ugly or Handsome he be.
Then who would be Wealthy or Strive to be great,
Since so many Dangers upon them does wait,
That Couples most happy that Love uncontroul'd,
That marrys for nothing despises the Gold.
Another similar song that shares the same first verse is Batchelor's Hall. Note the first verse of Jean Ritchie's version is an imitation of the 1st verse of Henry Carey's "The Ladies Case", c 1730-32. In addition to Baring-Gould, it is in Edith Fowke's Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, and Fuson's Ballads of the Kentucky Highlands. Those lyrics correlate closely with the Ritchie song.
How hard is the fortune of all womenkind,
They're alway contolled, they're always confined,
Controlled by their parents until they're made wives,
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives.
Notes from Ballad Index- Wagoner's Lad: This song, which barely qualifies as a ballad even in its full forms, has produced many non-ballad offspring, of which "On Top of Old Smokey" is the best known. Randolph apparently thinks his "Texas Cowboy" piece to be related but separate, but (based on his text) I would have to say they are the same. It is very hard to tell certain versions of this from "Rye Whiskey"; the two have exchanged many verses. But the "core" versions seem to be distinct.
An even greater problem is posed by the relationship between this song and "On Top of Old Smoky." The two are occasionally listed as one song (e.g. by Leach); indeed, this was done in early versions of the Index. This was done under the influence of the Lomaxes, who classify the songs together.
Further study, however, seems to show that all versions which have common material are derived from the Lomaxes. The plots of the two songs are different, their tunes are distinct, and true cross-fertilization seems very rare. It would appear that the identification of the two is purely the result of the sort of editorial work the Lomaxes so often committed.
Due to this inconsistency, it is suggested that the reader check all versions of both songs, as well as both sets of cross-references, to find all related materials.
Another closely related song is "Farewell, Sweet Mary," as much as three-quarters of which may derive from this song. It has taken a slightly different direction, however, and is at least a distinct subfamily of this piece. Since it doesn't have anything about horses or wagoners, I list it separately. - RBW
Wagoner's Lad- Versions from Wolf Collection/Max Hunter Collection
PRETTY POLLY (MY HORSES AIN’T HUNGRY; TEXAS COWBOY; THE WAGONER’S LAD)
The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection; Sung by: Mrs. Russell Vaughan
Recorded in Memphis, TN
My horses ain’t hungry;
They won’t eat your hay.
So fare ye well, Polly,
I’m going away.
Your mama don’t like me;
She says I’m too poor.
She says I’m not worthy
To enter your door.
Also found in Randolph, Vol. IV, #740, “Texas Cowboy”; Brown, Vol. III, #250, “The Wagoner’s Lad.”
My Horses Ain't Hungry
Max Hunter Cat. #0485 (MFH #436) - As sung by Mrs. Kenneth Wright and Mrs. Gladys Jennings, Hurley, Missouri on May 22, 1960
VERSE 1: My horses ain't hungry
They won't eat your hay
So, fare-you-well Polly
I'm going away
VERSE 2: Your parents don't like me
They say I'm to poor
They say I'm not worthy
To enter your door
VERSE 3: My parents don't like you
But why do you care
You know I'm your Polly
You know I'm your dear
VERSE 4: Go saddle your horses
We'll be on our way
We'll drive on a little farther
An' feed on our way
VERSE 5: So fare-you-well Mother
I'll leave you behind
I'll do as I promised
That Johnny of mine
VERSE 6: We'll pack our belongings
An' drive till we come
To some little cabin
We'll call it our home
VERSE 7: Our horses ain't hungry
They won't eat your hay
So fare-you-well Polly
We'll be on our way
My Horses Ain't Hungry
Max Hunter Cat. #0569 (MFH #436) - As sung by Mrs. Haden Robinson, Fayetteville, Arkansas on November 26, 1960
VERSE 1: It's raining an' it's a hailing
An' th moon gives no light
My horses, they won't travel
This dark road tonight
VERSE 2: Go put up your horses
An' feed them on hay
Then set your sweet self, beside me
As long as you'll stay
VERSE 3: O, my horses, they ain't hungry
An' they won't eat your hay
So, I'll travel on to Georgia
An' I'll feed them on the way
Pretty Mary
Max Hunter Cat. #1524 (MFH #436) - As sung by Julie O'Rielly, Springfield, Missouri on March 20, 1975
VERSE 1: My horses ain't hungry
They won't eat your hay
So, fare thee-well darlin'
I'm going my way
VERSE 2: Your parents don't like me
They say I'm too poor
They say I'm not worthy
To enter your door
VERSE 3: Pretty Mary, Pretty Mary
Would you think me unkind
If I were to see you
An' tell you my mind
VERSE 4: I'm sure as the dew drop
Falls on the green corn
Last night I was with you
Tonight I am lone
VERSE 5: Now, my horses ain't hungry
An' they won't eat your hay
So, fare-thee-well darlin'
I'm goin' my way
So, fare-thee-well darlin'
I'm goin' my way
Rambler And Gambler
Max Hunter Cat. #0789 (MFH #436) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on June 25, 1969
VERSE 1: I'm a rambler an' a gambler
An' along ways from home
People don't like me
Can leave me alone
VERSE 2: O, put up your horses
An' feed them some hay
An' make yourself welcome
Wherever you stay
VERSE 3: My horses ain't hungry
An' they won't eat your hay
An' if they get hungry
I'll feed them on the way
VERSE 4: You parents don't like me
An' that I do know
They called me a drunkard
An' a gambler also
VERSE 5: Pretty Sally, pretty Sally
I'll tell you my mind
My mind is to ramble
An' leave you behind
VERSE 6: If the ocean was whiskey
And I was a duck
Dive to the bottom
An' never come up
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