Help: location

Subject: location
From: bet
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 03:31 PM

My 4th graders are learning, Pay Me My Money Down. Our books says it is from Georgia Sea Islands. Where is this? I can't find it on the map. Sure hope someone out there has the answer they are really into the history of songs. thanks bet

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 04:16 PM

The 'Georgia Sea Island Singers' are mostly from St. Simon's Island, Georgia, where they have an annual festival (and have made many recordings). The first generation have died off and even the 2nd is getting old now.

"Pay me" is side 2, #7 of their LP "Georgian Sea Island Songs", New World Records, Recorded Anthology of American Music, Inc., NW 278, stereo (1977) sung by Joe Armstrong with Group A. The great Bessie Jones was still alive then and is on the recording.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: MMario
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 04:21 PM

Bet - the Georgia Sea Islands are the barrier islands along the Georgia coast. As mentioned above St. Simons - and several others. this is also where the term 'sea island cotton" comes from.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: bet
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 04:33 PM

Bruce and M Mario,Thanks so much for the quick answer. I knew someone could tell me. bet

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: Hollowfox
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 05:08 PM

See if you can find the book "Ain't You got a Right to the Tree of Life?" by Guy Carawan. Lots of photographs, and they might like the "Barney McCabe" story as well; it's like no version of Hansel & Gretel they've ever heard before.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 05:09 PM

If I remember correctly, (Mrs) Frankie Sullivan is the current leader of the Georgia Sea Island Singers.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 11:31 PM

Hollowfox, according to Sing Out's Index of Songs, there is one called Barney McCabe. Same character? Do you know the song?

You keep those kids' curiosity up, bet/sis, it's good for them! Here's a link to the Georgia Sea Island Singers as Bruce O. mentioned.

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 11:51 PM

If you go to the links near the bottom of that page, be sure to read the story about Sapelo Island by Cornelia Bailey. It is a very moving and important bit of cultural history.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 11:53 PM

There is a dark side history to the islands too along with being the birthplace of some famous other folks. The poverty on Jekyll was as deep as the highs of the many wealthy who vacationed there and owned much of the property.

If you're down that way, be sure to visit them as they are incredibly beautiful places with (now) some great living history. Cumberland Island is pretty much off limits I think still and is the home of a herd of wild horses, but another beautiful and pristine place.

Non music trivia: The only man to be both in the laCrosse and football hall of fames was born on Jekyll.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: Stewie
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 01:49 AM

Kat, in Mrs Janie Hunter's story, 'Barney McCabe', referred to by Hollowfox, Barney McCabe is one of 3 dogs - Barney McCabe, Doodle-le-doo and Soo-Boy - that finally do nasty things to the wicked witch. I don't know the 'Sing Out' song, but the sung bits in the story would be meaningless if detached from it.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 03:52 AM

Stan Hugill, who was a shanty man and devoted his later years to researching them, writes that he thinks it "a typical example of a West Indian shore work song taken to sea and adapted by sailors for use as a hauling song" He gives references to its being used at the pumps and the halliards.
Keep those mites a hauling,
Keith.

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: Amergin
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 04:07 AM

Sorry to be a prick, (well sort of) but don't you mean halyards?

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: GUEST,Bedridden Barry on Sis's laptop
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 06:00 AM

I believe Stan's reference is to what he thinks maybe a relation to "Pay Me The Money Down", a log loading shanty & "Pay Me The Money Down" a haylard shanty. Like Bruce mentions Joe Armstrong, of the first generation of the Georgia Sea Island Singers, was recorded siging this back in the 30' or 40's, I think, by Lomax & I think he says he learnt it on his granddaddy's knee. Joe at the time already being up there in age. The GSI Singers are now lead by Frankie Quimby & her husband & are one fantastic dynamo of song. Barry

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: GUEST,Bedridden Barry
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 06:05 AM

Sorry that should've read "Pay Me My Money Down" log loading & "Pay Me The Money Down" halyard shanty. Barry

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 08:59 AM

Bet Keep those kids interested. It sounds like your a fantastic teacher. As a side note The barrier Islands was where Edgar Allen Poe based his story the Gold Bug If I remember correctly. Kindest reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: bet
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 11:34 AM

Wow! You all impressed my students. I'm now hunting books that you mentioned, maps are flying and one is going to try to read the Gold Bug, we'll see how that goes. Thanks to all. bet

Subject: RE: Help: location
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 12 Apr 01 - 01:33 PM

Be sure to look at the click on that kat provided. There you will see that the current leader of the Georgia Sea Island Singers is Frankie Sullivan Quimby.