“Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms”

Description

Chorus: "Roll in my sweet baby's arms (2x)/Lay around the shack till the mail train comes back/Roll in my sweet baby's arms." Floating verses, e.g. "Ain't gonna work on the railroad/Ain't gonna work on the farm"; "Where was you last Friday night...."

Notes

Paul Stamler lists this as a humorous song. I thought I should add that the versions I've heard have been done "straight," often with a blues feel. - RBW

Cross references

Recordings

  • Buster Carter & Preston Young, "I'll Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (Columbia 15690-D, 1931)
  • Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (Mercury 6372, c. 1951)
  • Monroe Brothers, "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (Bluebird B-6773, 1937)
  • New Lost City Ramblers, "I'll Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (on NLCR03)

References

  1. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 178, "I'll Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Silber-FSWB, p. 159, "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" (1 text)
  3. DT, ROLLBABY*
  4. BI, CSW178

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1931 (recording, Buster Carter & Preston Young)
Found in: US(Ap,SE)