“When the Work's All Done This Fall”

Description

A cowboy tells of his plans to at last go home and see his mother "when the work's all done this fall." Soon after, the cattle stampede. The cowboy controls the herd but is fatally injured in the process. He will not see his mother; he sends tokens home

Notes

The most likely author of this is D. J. O'Malley, who seems to have been responsible for the earliest printed version. But Laws does not mention the attribution to O'Malley, and notes that J. Frank Dobie attributes it to Marshall Johnson of Texas. I know of no verifiable field collection before the Carl T. Sprague recording from 1925. - RBW

Same tune

• The Virginia Strike of '23 (File: LSRA591)

Cross references

• cf. "The Virginia Strike of '23" (tune)

Recordings

• Jules Allen, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (Victor V-40263, 1930; rec. 1929)
• Fiddlin' John Carson, "The Dixie Cowboy" (OKeh 7004, 1924)
• The Cartwright Brothers, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (Columbia 15346-D, 1929)
• Bill Childers, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (OKeh 45203, 1928)
• Al Cramer [possible pseud. Vernon Dalhart], "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Broadway 8060, n.d.)
• Vernon Dalhart, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Banner 6086/Domino 0192, 1927; Challenge 683/Challenge 688, 1928; Conqueror 7737, 1931)
• J. D. Farley, "I'm a Lone Star Cowboy" (Victor V-40269, 1930; Montgomery Ward M-4300, 1933; rec. 1929; on WhenIWas2)
• Harry Jackson, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (on HJackson1)
• Bradley Kincaid, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (Gennett 6989, 1929) (Brunswick 403/Supertone S-2017, 1930)
• Frank Luther, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Grey Gull 4264 [as Jeff Calhoun]/Van Dyke 74264 [as Jeff Calhoun]/Radiex 4264 [as Carlton Boxill], 1929; Madison 5013 [as Tom Cook], c. 1930) (Melotone M-12143 [as Phil & Frank Luther]/Vocalion 5483 [as Luther Bros.], 1931)
• Claude Moye, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Champion 15688 [as Asparagus Joe]/Supertone 9351 [as Pie Plant Pete], 1929; Champion 45064 [as Asparagus Joe], c. 1935)
• Aulton Ray, "The Dixie Cowboy" (Challenge 335 [as Charlie Prescott]/Champion 15277/Silvertone 5084, 1927; Supertone 9250, 1928) (Herwin 75552, c. 1927)
• George Reneau, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (Vocalion 15150/Vocalion 5079, 1925)
• Rodeo Twins, "When the Work's All Done this Fall" (Victor V-40186, 1930; rec. 1929)
• Carl T. Sprague, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" Victor 19747, 1925; Montgomery Ward M-8060, 1939; on AuthCowboys, BackSaddle)
• Ernest V. Stoneman, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (Edison 51788, 1926) (CYL: Edison [BA] 5188, 1926)
• Taylor's Kentucky Boys "The Dixie Cowboy" (on WhenIWas1, KMM) [Note: As Aulton Ray sang the lead on this recording, it's possible, maybe even likely, that it is identical with the recording on Challenge/Champion/Supertone. But until I've verified that, I'm keeping them separate]
• Vagabonds, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Bluebird B-5300/Montgomery Ward M-4442, 1934)
• Frankie Wallace, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Romeo 913, 1929)
• Frank Wheeler & Monroe Lamb, "A Jolly Group of Cowboys" (Victor V-40169, 1929; Montgomery Ward M-4470, 1934)
• Marc Williams, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (Brunswick 244, 1928; Supertone S-2054, 1930)

References

1. Laws B3, "When the Work's All Done This Fall"
2. Sandburg, pp. 260-262, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. BrownII 264, "When the Work is Done This Fall" (1 text)
4. Fife-Cowboy/West 81, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Pankake-PHCFSB, pp. 282-283, "When the Work's All Done This Fall" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Leach-Labrador 97, "The Cowboy" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Silber-FSWB, p. 263, "When The Work's All Done This Fall" (1 text)
8. DT 371, WORKDONE*
9. Roud #450
10. BI, LB03