“Katy Cline”

Description

"Oh, who has not seen (Katy Cline/Kitty Clyde)? She lives at the foot of the hill In a shy little nook by the babbling brook That carries her father's old mill." He wishes he were a fish to be caught on her hook, a bee who could take honey from her, etc.

Notes

Silber's version of this song is mysterious: Is it a collection of floating verses (from "Free Little Bird" and other courting songs), or is it a love ballad that has been so chopped down as to lose all meaning? I can't tell. Some of the verses remind me of some vague memories, so I suspect the latter -- but until I can remember details, I can't really say. - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Free Little Bird" (floating verses)
• cf. "Take Me Home, Poor Julia" (floating verses)

Recordings

• Cranford & Thompson, "Katy Cline" (Champion 45061/Supertone 2594, c. 1935)
• R. C. Hedrich, "Kitty Kline" (AAFS 3763 B2)
• Horace Helms, "Katy Kline (Katie Kline)" (on HandMeDown1)
• Grandpa Jones, "Kitty Clyde" (King 772, 1949)
• Vester Jones, "Katy Cline" (on GraysonCarroll1)
• Monroe Brothers, "Katy Cline" (Bluebird B-6960, 1937)
• Piper's Gap Ramblers, "Katie Kline" (OKeh, unissued, 1927)
• Skyland Scotty, "Sweet Kitty Clyde" (Conqueror 8307, 1934)
• Ernest Stoneman, "Katy Cline" (Gennett 3381, 1926/Challenge 151, 1927/Herwin 75528), "Katie Kline" (OKeh 45065, 1926)
• Fields Ward & Bogtrotter Band, "Katy Kline" (AAFS 1360 B1)
• Alice Williams, "Kitty Kline" (AAFS 1012 A3)
• Ganos Williams & Ben Platt, "Kitty Kline" (AAFS 1014 B1)

References

1. BrownII 198, "Kitty Clyde" (1 text)
2. Silber-FSWB 149, "Katy Cline" (1 text)
3. Roud #3768
4. BI, FSWB149