“Sourwood Mountain”

Description

Dance tune with words; young man wants his true love, but she is coy. Versions often contain a variety of floating or spontaneous verses. First stanza may begin, "Chickens crowing on Sourwood Mountain...."

Notes

The Baptist church disapproved of dancing, but allowed playparties (dances with sung tunes instead of instrumental music) - PJS

It should be noted that this is primarily a fiddle tune; it's listed because it occasionally turns up with words. - RBW

Recordings

• Coleman & Harper "Sourwood Mountain" (Perfect 12751, 1931) (Oriole 8095, 1935)
• Fruit Jar Guzzlers, "Sourwood Mountain" (on CrowTold01)
• I. G. Greer & Mrs. I. G. Greer, "Sourwood Mountain" (AFS; on LC12)
• The Hillbillies, "Sourwood Mountain" (Vocalion 5022, c. 1926)
• Earl Johnson & his Dixie Entertainers "I've Got a Woman on Sourwood Mountain" (OKeh 45171, 1927)
• Kessinger Brothers, "Sourwood Mountain" (Brunswick 308, c. 1929)
• Bradley Kincaid ,"Sourwood Mountain" (Gennett 6417/Silvertone 8220, 1928) (Brunswick 420, 1930) (Conqueror 8090, 1933) (one of these is on CrowTold02, but it's not clear which)
• Clayton McMichen, "Sourwood Mountain [part of instrumental medley] (Decca 2649, 1939)
• Land Norris, "Dogwood Mountain" (OKeh 40433, 1925)
• Fiddlin' Powers & Family, "Sour Wood Mountains" (Victor 19448, 1924) (Edison 51789/5123, 1925)
• Hobart Smith, "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (on LomaxCD1702)
• Kilby Snow, "Sourwood Mountain" (on KSnow1)
• Ernest V. Stoneman, "Sourwood Mountain" (Victor 20235, 1926)
• Stove Pipe No. 1 [pseud. for Sam Jones], "Cripple Creek & Sourwood Mountain" (Columbia 201-D, 1924)
• Uncle "Am" Stuart, "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (Vocalion 15840, 1924)
• Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett, "Sourwood Mountain" (Columbia 245-D, 1924)
• Taylor's Kentucky Boys, "Sourwood Mountain" (on BefBlues3)
• The Vagabonds, "Sourwood Mountain" (Bluebird B-5335, 1934)
• Wade Ward, "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (on Holcomb-Ward1); "Sourwood Mountain" [instrumental] (on GraysonCarroll1)
• Henry Whitter's Virginia Breakdowners, "Sourwood Mountain" (OKeh 7005, 1924)

References

1. Randolph 417, "Sourwood Mountain" (4 texts plus a fragment, 1 tune)
2. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 346-347, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 417A)
3. BrownIII 251, "Sourwood Mountain" (7 texts plus an excerpt and 3 fragments)
4. Wyman-Brockway I, p. 91 "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Fuson, pp. 170-171, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
6. Cambiaire, p. 11, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
7. Sandburg, p. 125, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune); 320-321, "I Got a Gal at the Head of the Holler" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. SharpAp 216, "Sourwood Mountain" (3 texts, 3 tunes)
9. Lomax-FSUSA 24, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 276-277, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune, composite)
11. Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 897-898, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
12. Chase, pp. 148-149, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text, 1 tune)
13. Darling-NAS, pp. 257-258, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
14. Silber-FSWB, p. 35, "Sourwood Mountain" (1 text)
15. DT, SOURWOOD
16. Roud #754
17. BI, R417