“Quantrell”

Description

"Come all you bold robbers and open your ears, Of QuantrelI the lion-heart you quickly will hear." Quantrell raids and burns Lawrence, Kansas, but allegedly he supports to the poor, and "a brave man or woman he'll never annoy."

Notes

As is so often the case with outlaw ballads, this paints much too pretty a picture. For a brief background on Quantrill (the name used in Confederate records), see the notes to "Charlie Quantrell."

To tell this song from other Quantrell pieces, consider this first stanza:

Come all you bold robbers and open your ears

Of QuantrelI the lion-heart you quickly will hear

With his band of bold raiders in double-quick time

He came to burn Lawrence just over the line.

This song is item dE33 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW

Historical references

  • Aug 21, 1863 - Quantrill's Raiders destroy Lawrence, Kansas, killing about 150 men.
  • May 10, 1865 - Quantrill is mortally wounded on his way to Washington (where he hoped to stir up trouble by assassination). He dies 20 days later.

Cross references

References

  1. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 132-133, "Quantrell" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. DT, QUANTRLL*
  3. Roud #4094
  4. BI, LoA132

About

Author: unknown
Keywords: outlaw
Found in: US(Ro)