Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas

Subject: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: GUEST,JB3
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 12:40 PM

I heard a song at Berea College from Jennifer Armstrong called
"The Rivers of Georgia" that she had put together based on a song called "The Rivers of Texas," I believe. Does anyone have the Texas song? Jennifer was from a well-known singing family. Was it the Frankie Armstrong family? Any help would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 12:44 PM

JB3-

There is a traditional version of the Texas song in the Digital Tradition archives here (referred to as the DT): click here for lyrics

And there is more discussion in the threads if you search for "Rivers of Texas."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: GUEST,JB3
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 01:20 PM

Thanks Charlie. I found it. Don't know why it didn't show up when I was looking, before. Thanks, again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: pdq
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 01:57 PM

The Limeliters recorded this in 1964 with Ernie Sheldon as a member.

Here is a version thanks to Lyle Lovett...


TEXAS RIVER SONG (traditional)
as recorded by Lyle Lovett (1998)
Step Inside This House (MCAD2-11831)

capo 3, 3/4 time

   C
We crossed the wild Pecos
   F            C
We forded the Nueces
    C
We swum the Guadalupe
       G
And we followed the Brazos
    C
Red River runs rusty
    F       C
The Wichita clear
    C
But down by the Brazos
G          C
I courted my dear


       C            
Singing li, li, le, le, le
F            C
Lend me your hand
C
Li, li, li, le, le, le
G            C
Lend me your hand
C
Li, li, li, le, le, le
F            C
Lend me your hand
       C
There's many a river
    G          C
That waters the land


Now the fair Angelina
Ruins glossy and gliding
The crooked Colorado
Runs weaving and winding
The slow San Antonio
Courses the plains
But I never will walk
By the Brazos again


Singing li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
There's many a river
That waters the land

She kissed me and she hugged me
And she called me her dandy
The Trinity's muddy
But the Brazos quick sandy
She kissed me and she hugged me
And she called me her own
But down by the Brazos
She left me alone

Singing li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
There's many a river
That waters the land

INSTRUMENTAL

Now the girls of Little River
They're plump and they're pretty
The Sabine and the Sulphur
Hold beauties a'many
The banks of the Neches
There's girls by the score
But down by the Brazos
I'll wander no more

Singing li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
There's many a river
That waters the land

Singing li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Lend me your hand
There's many a river
That waters the land



TEXAS RIVER SONG (CHORD CHART)
capo 3, 3/4 time

VERSES
|C |C |F |C |C |C |G |G |
|C |C |F |C |C |C |G |C |

CHORUS
|C |C |F |C |C |C |G |C |
|C |C |F |C |C |C |G |C |C |


CHORD THEORY
      no capo - capo 3
I:   Eb      - C
IV:   Ab      - F
V:   Bb      - G

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 02:31 PM

I know that Art Thieme does this song but it mentions the rivers of Illinois. So I suspect there are several versions out there. It could be adapted to whatever region you want to sing about. I've always ment to ask Art if he's collected other versions of this one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:41 PM

Some...(like me)... sing it with alternating choruses.
"
Singing li, li, le, le, le
Pole the boat on.
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Pole the boat on.
Li, li, li, le, le, le
Pole the boat on.
My Brazos River sweetheart has left me and gone.

(I learned it in 1962)


------------------------------------

Oh....and there IS "The Rivers of Nebraska"


"We crossed the wild Platte
   F            C
We forded the Platte
    C
We swum the Platte
       G
And we followed the Platte
    C
The Platte runs rusty
    F       C
Sometimes it runs clear
    C
But down by the Platte
G          C
I courted my dear....


(if they let you get this far, improvise)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 08:51 PM

JB3-

You're welcome!

I am fond of this song, as it's one that I often heard at family song parties in the 1950's. One of our summer neighbors, Wendy Holt, had collected it as a young women while resident in Texas in the 1930's.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 09:18 PM

?? Really,Charlie? That's the first time I think I have heard the origins pushed back beyond the 50s. Any idea what sort of person Wendy says she got it from? It would be fascinating to discover the author....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 09:32 PM

Hmmmm. The Traditional Ballad Index says Randolph collected it in 1942. Randolph says he collected it from Mrs. Irene Carlisle in Fayetteville, Arkansas, January 30, 1942. Mrs. Carlisle learned it in 1921 from a hired hand who had lived in Texas. The lyrics in Randolph's Ozark Folksongs are the ones we all know. There's a classic Sandy Paton post on the subject here (click)

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Arkie
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 10:39 PM

Down by the Embarras is the title of the song about the rivers of Illinois. I have assumed The Rivers of Texas was the original but then again, who knows?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Lighter
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 10:25 AM

In this case, we do know. In his book "Songs of Man" (1965), Chicagoan Win Stracke prints "Down by the Embarras" with the note that he himself adapted it to Illinois from "The Rivers of Texas."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 07:25 PM

Bill-

Wendy certainly didn't collect it from the author; it was simply a favorite song that people in the area enjoyed singing. I'll see if I can find more from her notes.

Anyway, Wendy taught the song to my mother, and she taught it to Bill and Gene Bonyun who helped make it a folk hit.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: autoharper
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 08:08 PM

Dear Charley,
I have spoken with others who said they sang it in the 1930's. Do you remember Wendy's version? Was it different in melody or lyric from the one most folks sing today?
Thanks,
-Adam Miller

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: oldhippie
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 08:40 PM

Carolyn Hester recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Rivers of Texas
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Dec 09 - 08:41 PM

Adam-

The lyrics were very similar and so was the melody.

Charley Noble