“Down on Penny's Farm”
Description
"Hard times in the country, Down on Penny's farm." The renters are subjected to dreadful conditions: Bad land, houses with "no windows but the cracks in the wall," low income, high expenses -- and a threat of going on the chain gang for debt
Notes
Bascom Lamar Lunsford has the "Roberts' Farm" version from a Claude Reeves of North Carolina, who claimed to have written it around 1935. It would seem, however, that this was only a local adaption. - RBW
Bob Dylan wrote a parody/pastiche of this song entitled "New York Town". -PJS
And, of course, Gid Tanner produced a version about his own farm! - RBW
Recordings
- Bently Boys, "Down on Penny's Farm" (Columbia 15565-D, 1930; rec. 1929; on AAFM1, HardTimes1)
- Pete Seeger, "Penny's Farm" (on PeteSeeger02, PeteSeegerCD01)
References
- Lomax-FSNA 147, "Down on Penney's Farm" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Darling-NAS, p. 362, "Down on Penny's Farm" (1 text)
- Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 66 "Down on Penny's Farm" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Greenway-AFP, pp. 216-217, "Down on Roberts' Farm" (1 text)
- Silber-FSWB, p. 119, "Robert's Farm" (1 text)
- Roud #6687
- BI, LoF147