“Spanish Johnny”

Description

"The old West, the old time, The old wind singing through..." are the habitat of Spanish Johnny, who herds cattle and kills men and "sing[s] to his mandolin." Spanish Johnny is finally hung; the night before he dies, he sings one last time to the mandolin

Notes

Written as a poem, the Lomaxes apparently collected this from the author of the tune. There is no evidence that it ever entered tradition. - RBW

References

  1. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 123-124, "Spanish Johnny" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Roud #15551
  3. BI, LxA123

About

Author: Words: Willa Cather / Music: C. E. Scoggins (?)
Earliest date: 1934