“A West Virginia Feud Song”
Description
A story of the "Lincoln County crew." Ale Brumfield is shot, perhaps by Milt Haley, but Brumfield (who survives) blames "McCoy." Later, at George Fries's house, a fight begins and many are killed. The singer blames the fight on drink
Notes
Cox views this as a reworking of "The Rowan County Crew," and Laws (in the notes to that song) evidently agrees. (Roud lumps them.) The resulting song is rare, and the Cox text is confused; it's not even clear who feuded with whom! The informants believed that the fight took place in 1890, near Hamlin, West Virginia. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Rowan County Crew (Trouble, or Tragedy)" [Laws E20]
References
- JHCox 40, "A West-Virginia Feud Song" (1 text)
- Roud #465
- BI, LE20A