“Kathy Fiscus”
Description
"On April the eighth, the year forty-nine, Death claimed a little child so pure and so kind." Kathy Fiscus falls down a dry well. Workers try to dig her out, but she is dead when found. The singer "know[s] Kathy is happy up there with God now."
Notes
This is a case where tradition is muddy. Kathy Fiscus died in 1949, and several songs were recorded about the event. This one, well-known in bluegrass circles, seems to have been the most popular. It seems likely that Paul Clayton's informant, Lily Maggard, learned the song from radio play or a phonograph recording. Does that qualify as traditional? - RBW
Historical references
- 1949 - Death of Kathy Fiscus
Recordings
- Possibly related recordings:
- Jimmie Osborne, "The Death of Little Kathy Fiscus" (King 788, 1949)
References
- Darling-NAS, pp. 224-225, "Kathy Fiscus" (1 text)
- BI, DarNS224