The 19th century was an exciting time for The United States. The most powerful military power in the world had been defeated by this up-start nation twice, and it was apparent the country was here to stay. Americans had plenty of optimism, plenty of land with plenty of resources needed for a prospering economy, and if you were not a slave, you had had freedoms no citizen of any previous society had ever experienced. The 1800's saw the music business grow and prosper as the American experience was documented in song. Songwriters captured the excitement of living in this young republic. They wrote about all aspects of everyday living: love, work, faith, death, family, politics, leaving home, dreaming of home, coming home, humor, and the experience of being a slave in mostly free country. Many of these 19th century songs are still loved and sung by adults and children in America today. This is a recording I have wanted to make for a long time as I have enjoyed many of these songs since my childhood. There are twenty cuts on this one -- the toughest part of this process has been to determine which historic songs I have to leave out of the program. I do hope you will enjoy these old tunes that Americans have been singing for over 100 years! Like all my previous recordings, these arrangements are my own, I did all the singing and all the playing (often on 19th century instruments). I recorded and mixed here in my home production studio, and composed the liner notes here -- hence the name "Homespun" in the title. B. Horton -- December, 2014 -- Birmingham, AL PROGRAM [1] ANGELS MEET ME AT THE CROSSROADS -- This one was written by William Shakespeare Hays (b. 1837), a riverboat captain who later became a newspaper man. Although songwriting was a hobby and not his vocation, he had several hit songs during The War Between the States and became well known for his songwriting skills. It is obvious that Mr. Hays was influenced by spirituals in this enjoyable composition. [banjo, fiddle, mandolin, hammer dulcimer, guitar, skin drum, spoons, bass, & vocals] [2] TOMBIGBEE RIVER SONG (a.k.a. GUM TREE CANOE) -- S. S. Steele wrote these lyrics and the music was apparently written by a minstrel performer named A. F. Winnemore in the year 1840. The Tombigbee River originates in Tennessee, then it swings into Mississippi for a short distance and finally turns to the east and enters northwest Alabama. It is a beautiful river that merges with The Alabama River south of Demopolis; The Alabama later joins The Tensas River in South Alabama; The Tensas eventually empties into Mobile Bay and finally makes it to The Gulf of Mexico. The Tombigbee is a lazy river with plenty of twists, turns, and beautiful limestone cliffs at several points in its journey to the south. This song effectively describes the easy-going flow of this river and the lifestyle of a 19th century black man who lives the in close proximity to it. [guitar, fiddle, & vocals] [3] BONNY ELOISE -- George W. Elliott (1830 - 1898) was the editor of the Fort Plain, NY newspaper, THE MOHAWK VALLEY REGISTER. He wrote these lyrics while riding the train from New York City to Fort Plain in 1858. His future wife, Mary Bowen, is the lady described as Bonny Eloise. This lovely music, penned by John Rogers Thomas (1829 - 1896), was so popular it was later used with two different texts - both were very popular Civil War songs. [guitar, violins, mandolin, & vocal] [4] CLARE DE KITCHEN -- This fun song talks of clearing out the kitchen because we're gonna have a dance! The song was written and published by George Willig, Jr. in the year 1832. It later appeared in many different songsters in the 19th century. [banjo, mandolin, fiddle, whistle, skin drum, guitar, & vocals] [5] THE OLD CABIN HOME -- Leaving, thinking of, or returning to the childhood home is a common theme in many 19th century compositions. This is a wonderful example of such a song. I was unable to determine the author of these powerful lyrics or the composer of this fine, simple melody. [guitar, banjo, & vocals] [6] OLD DAN TUCKER -- Daniel Emmett claims to have written these lyrics when he was only 14 years old. In the text, he is the Dan who is referred to and the last name of Tucker was chosen because it was his dog's name. He published the song in 1843 and quickly became one of the most popular songs in America in the middle of the 19th century. [banjo, mandolin, fiddle, fiddlesticks, guitar, & vocals] [7] EARLY IN DE MORNIN' -- This is another great song written by William Shakespeare Hays. This 1877 composition has a definite spiritual feel. [mandolin, fiddle, guitar, bass, & vocals] [8] GENTLE NETTIE MOORE -- This powerful poetry was penned by Marshall S. Pike, Esq. The author obviously had empathy for slave families that were broken up when members were sold-off. In these moving verses a husband and wife are permanently separated when she is purchased by a planter from Louisiana. The sheet music states the composer of the melody is G. S. P. and the great James S. Pierpoint (the composer of JINGLE BELLS) wrote the chorus and the piano accompaniment. [guitar, harmonica, violin, & vocal] [9] ARKANSAS TRAVELER -- This one is truly one of the most well-known American folk melodies. Some say it was actually composed around the year 1847 by a classical violinist and composer from Cincinnati, OH, Jose Tosso, while others say it just a folk tune. To the best of my knowledge these lyrics were written around the year 1850 by a fellow who had a humorous experience as a census taker in 1839 in The Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. No matter who wrote it -- it's a classic!! [fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, guitar, & vocal] [10] OLD JOE BOWERS -- Frank Swift, who would later become governor of California, came to that western state with others from Pike County, Missouri. There was an easy-going, happy person in the van named John Stone. Apparently John was "too lazy to work, and too honest to steal" but so lovable that Mr. Swift wrote a song about him using a made-up name -- Joe Bowers. In these lyrics Old Joe comes to "Californy" during the gold rush of 1849 to strike it rich in hopes that his girl, Sally, would marry him. This song was a huge 19th century "hit". [fiddle, guitar, banjo, & vocal] [11] JORDAN IS A HARD ROAD TO TRAVEL -- This 1853 composition is another hit written by Daniel Emmett. It was originally written to be performed on the minstrel stage and was recorded in 1927 by one of the original members of The Grand Ole Opry, Uncle Dave Macon. It is still performed by bluegrass bands and folk singers today. [banjo, mandolin, fiddle, octave mandolin, skin drum, & vocals] [12] WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, MAGGIE -- George Washington Johnson, a teacher in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, fell in love with Margaret "Maggie" Clark. In 1864 he wrote and published a melancholy poem about his relationship with Maggie. They were married that year and she, sadly, died of illness in 1865. James A. Butterfield wrote music for the poem and it became hugely popular around the world. [guitar, violins, bass, & vocals] [13] POLLY WOLLY DOODLE -- Many music historians think this timeless, fun song was also composed in the 1850's by Daniel Emmett to be performed by his group, The Virginia Minstrels, on the minstrel stages throughout the country. It was first published by a Harvard University publication in 1880 and also appears in Laura Ingall's Wilder's book THESE HAPPY GOLDEN YEARS. [guitar, mandolin, fiddle, whistle, & vocals] [14] GREEN GROW THE LILACS -- This Irish folk song was very popular in the 1840's in America; in fact, it is said to have been the number one song on the soldiers' hit parade during The Mexican War -- apparently they sang it constantly while in Mexico. Some historians claim the term "gringo" came from Mexican citizens' misunderstanding of the first two English words of the first verse _ "GREEN GROW the lilacs.......". [guitar, mandolin, fiddle, & vocal] [15] DE BOATMAN DANCE -- This happy little Daniel Emmett tune talks about a man who works the riverboats on The Ohio River. Boatmen were celebrities and often tended to be "rounders". While they are in town, you'd better keep an eye on your possessions and hold your sweetheart close! [banjo, mandolin, fiddle, whistle, & vocal] [16] NOAH'S ARK -- I was unable to determine the author of these lyrics or this melody, but the influence of the spiritual is evident. This song would have been performed in a minstrel show. [fiddle, mandolin, whistle, hammer dulcimer, octave mandolin, skin drum, bass, & vocals] [17] ANNIE LISLE -- This mega-hit was written in 1857 by H. S. Thompson of Boston, MA. It almost seems odd to people in our "modern" era that songs from the 1800's very often reference death and dying, but Americans in the 19th century had to deal with all aspects of the life cycle including birth, illness, death, and burial of loved ones and friends in the community -- this one describes the death of a lovely, young lady. The melody was so beloved it became the alma mater for many high schools and colleges in the later 19th century. [guitar, whistle, low D whistle, fiddle, & vocals] [18] ANGEL GABRIEL -- This minstrel song, like many others, was published by Oliver Ditson & Co. of Boston, MA. Gabriel is often referenced because he is known as The Angel of Death -- this is one of those tunes. [guitar, mandolins, bass, & vocals] [19] ALABAMA GALS -- In 1844 a minstrel performer, John Hodges, wrote this song that he originally called "Lubly Fan". This song was regularly played on minstrel stages throughout the country. Hs original lyrics refer to "Buffalo Gals" but singers tended to reference the gals where they were performing at the moment -- since I recorded this one in Alabama, I refer to the "Alabama Gals". [banjo, fiddle, fiddlesticks, mandolin, & vocals] [20] I CANNOT SING THE OLD SONGS -- This moving song was written by and English songwriter Mrs. Charlotte Alington Barnard (1830 - 1869) whose pen name was Claribel. [guitar, violins, & vocals]