“Country Blues”
Description
Floating verses; singer is in jail, possibly dying, lamenting his fate and hard living.
Notes
This is ALMOST a nonballad, but not quite; there is a hint of narrative. And while most of the verses show up elsewhere, this song as a gestalt comes squarely from its performer, Dock Boggs. -PJS
Some people consider this a version of "Darling Corey," the tune is very close and they share a lot of lyrics. But I tentatively agree with Paul: There are several unrelated verses on the front, and *they* make this a separate song.
Roud lumps the piece with "I Wonder Where's the Gambler" [Laws H22]. It may perhaps have been inspired by fragments of that song. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Darling Corey" (words, tune)
- cf. "Moonshiner" (words)
- cf. "Sweet Heaven" (words)
- cf. "Sweet Heaven (II)" (floating lyrics)
Recordings
- Dock Boggs, "Country Blues" (Brunswick 131A, 1927; on AAFM3, RoughWays1) (on Boggs1, BoggsCD1)
- New Lost City Ramblers, "Country Blues" (on NLCR05) (on NLCR16)
References
- Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 90, "Country Blues" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #428
- BI, ADR90