Lyr Req: George Campbell (Gibb Todd)

Subject: Lyr Add: GEORGE CAMPBELL (from Gibb Todd)
From: Roberto
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 01:26 PM

Gibb Todd, on Connected, Lochshore CDLDL 1292, 1999. The notes say it is a traditional Texas version. Gibb Todd writes he got the song from a recording by Martin Simpson, but the recording by Simpson that I know is an instrumental of the classic version. I'd like to know if this version has actually any root in the tradition, and I'd like someone who has the recording to check and correct my transcription, Thanks. R

George Campbell lived in Texas with his mother and his wife
George Campbell lived in Texas with his mother and his wife
Two little children, they lead a hard hard (?) life

George Campbell left his mother, likewise his darling wife
George Campbell left his mother, likewise his darling wife
For to go to Austin, to make a better life

George Campbell went a-walking down by the riverside
George Campbell went a-walking down by the riverside
There he met a rounder, who shot him till he died

And who's gonna rock the cradle, who'll sing the songs?
Who will rock the cradle and who will sing the song?
Who'll rock the cradle, sing them (?), when I'm gone?

Well, who will plant the cotton, who'll hoe the corn
Who will plant the cotton and who will hoe the corn
Who'll plant the cotton and hoe 'im (?), when I'm gone

Sing, two women standing, children runnin' round
Two women standing and salt tears runnin' down
They're waitnig for a dead man come back home from town

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gibb Todd's George Campbell
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 04:00 PM

In a piece in The Living Tradition (January 2003) on Sara Grey and her son Kieron Means, Brian Peters mentioned hearing this form of the song from Suzanne Mrozak of Boston, Massachusetts. No sign of it in Bronson, and I don't find any other references at the moment.