Ragtime Texas "The Fox and the Hounds"

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Ragtime Texas "The Fox and the Hounds"

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runobodyii

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Ragtime Texas "The Fox and the Hounds"

Posted about 1 year ago

Artist:
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Henry Thomas
Album:

Texas Worried Blues
Track:
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The Fox and the Hounds

This is a little gem. I love the cane playing, the vocal phrasing, and the call & response between the two. Here are the lyrics as far as I can make them out. Oh Liza, I'm goin away, I'm goin away;Yes 'tis true, it ain't no use;Oh Henry what'll I do? God don't want, I don't want you, Goodbye, fare you well, Liza, Liza, Liza[on the second verse I'm stumped: I think it starts "Look down the road," but maybe not, and I also imagine a "salty dog" and a "turkey in the barrel" and think dance calls...or trains...or...As I said: stumped.]Well Mama, well MamaI've been gone, sixteen yearsI'll be home, some of these daysIf I live, don't get killed[Then the incomprehensible part again - - really I tried.]

Comments (8)

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runobodyii says Duh, he's talking about the fox hunt in those passages: Look down the road, look down the road There's a man, a big ole gun Look back behind, saw the dogs but then something abouta barrel or a barn Catch you soon Maybe omething abaout a coon. But at least now there's that awesome juxtaposition of fox and man.

Permalink posted 04/11/2008
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dermahrk says Oh. My. Gawd. I recognized that pennywhistle(?) tune immediately. Because it was quoted verbatim in a Lovin' Spoonful song some 40 years ago. On ??Hums Of The Lovin' Spoonful?? is this song, ??Henry Thomas??:
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Play it and you will see what I mean.
Permalink posted 04/11/2008
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runobodyii says Is it supposed to be a parody, you think? Very interesting reading the tradition back to front and front to back and sideways and byways.

Permalink posted 04/11/2008
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dermahrk says No, some of them (Sebastian and Yanovsky, probably) seemed to be big fans of old-time music, so I see it as an ??homage??. But I never knew until now that it was a direct quote.

Permalink posted 04/11/2008
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Spike says Great post, runobodyii. dermahrk isn't it great when a link reveals itself, an epiphany? I'd heard both recordings forty years ago but, unlike you, had not precise enough a memory of them to know which Henry Thomas song the Spoonful were quoting. The Lovin' Spoonful's first LP Do You Believe in Magic (1965) had another Henry Thomas song, "Fishing Blues," learned either from the 1962 Origin Jazz Library label reissue LP Henry Thomas Sings the Texas Blues, or from Mike Seeger's Vanguard label LP from 1964.

Permalink posted 04/12/2008
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dermahrk says Wow, I didn't know that either. And I really like Seeger's treatment above. I suppose he's related to Pete, but I think I prefer Mike. I bought that first Spoonful album and remember being a bit disappointed in the folkier numbers. Time has certainly changed those opinions, and I think the Spoonful should be feted more for their entire body of work. Too many people just think of them as a singles band, They also did a couple other versions of ??Fishin' Blues?? on the soundtrack LP ??What's Up Tiger Lily?? (the first Woody Allen movie). I was thrilled when that LP, plus the ??You're A Big Boy Now?? were reissued as a two-fer on CD.

Permalink posted 04/12/2008
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Spike says Mike is Pete's younger half-brother, and he was in the New Lost City Ramblers. I didn't know about the Spoonful's other versions. I just occurred to me that these two recordings are relevant:
Canned Heat's Al Wilson

Permalink posted 04/13/2008
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runobodyii says Thanks for adding these, Spike. It's good to know he cast a shadow in some quarters.

Permalink posted 04/13/2008