“Way Out in Idaho (I)”
Description
A railroad man, enticed by "Kilpatrick's man, Catcher," goes to Idaho to work on the Oregon Short Line. Disillusioned by hard work and bad food, he winds up "happy, down in the harvest camps" and plans to marry a girl and bring her "back to Idaho."
Notes
The Digital Tradition notes that the tune for its version is a "slight variant on Son of a Gambolier." - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "The Son of a Gambolier (I)" and references there (tune)
- cf. "The Buffalo Skinners" (lyrics, plot)
- cf. "The State of Arkansas (The Arkansas Traveler II)" [Laws H1] (lyrics)
Recordings
- Blaine Stubblefield, "Way Out in Idaho" (AFS 1634 B1, 1938; on LC61)
References
- Cohen-LSRail, pp. 560-566, "Way Out in Idaho" (1 text plus a text of "The Arkansaw Navvy"="The State of Arkansas (The Arkansas Traveler II)" [Laws H1], 1 tune)
- Botkin-RailFolklr, p. 440, "Way Out in Idaho" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, OUTIDAHO*
- Roud #16409
- BI, BRaF440