Curtis, you have inspired me to spit out what I learned. I'm half way through the post - have to leave this AM and have several appt's today but will work on it in-between time. My guess is you know it all and more, but I'll send it anyway, so you can inform me.
Wonderful that you get to hear what is at the Smithsonian - that is one thing I learned. Josh Thomas recordings were not released and were archived there after Mike's death. What did he die of? Sounds like it was a sudden thing. Yes, I learned something about the lyrics in terms of how folk songs evolve - you are hip to that. And I will augment what you say below. Talk later, Emily >________________________________ > From: curtisdeltablues <curtisdeltabl...@yahoo.com> >To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com >Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:25 AM >Subject: [FairfieldLife] And the winner is... > > > > >Judy. She nailed the interpretation of the Roustabout song that is most >consistent with the rest of the verses. > >Emily in particular might be interested. I am in contact with the guy at the >Smithsonian who has the original recording of Josh Thomas' interview that Mike >Seeger got the song from, and he has offered to let me come hear it. That way >I will find out what verses are original and what come from Mike since he >plays a few different versions. I am most interested in the more authentic >African American banjo style since Mike is a virtuoso, and I suspect he has >added a lot of his own style to the song. > >So here are a few verses from the song found in an earlier version I believe: > >Roustabout, oh roustabout Where have you been so long? Oh I been and I been >with a forty dollar man Honey, I'm goin' back again Hop high, hop high, hop >high Oooo, baby, oh hop high you Lulu girl > >Where did you get those brand new shoes Shoes that you wear so fine? Well, I >got my shoes from a railroad man My dress from a driver in the mine Hop high, >hop high, hop high Oooo, baby, oh hop high you Lulu girl > >Who's gonna shoe your pretty little feet? Who's gonna glove your hand? Mama >will shoe my pretty little feet Papa will glove my hand Hop high, hop high, >hop high > >ME: > >A Lulu Girl is a tramp. This tramp seems to have turned it into a business. > >So in the context of the song, the meaning of the last verse seems clear. He >found out the kind of woman she was and it was the kind his Mama had warned >him about. > >So all that stuff about my interpretation being self serving and saying a lot >about ME can...well you know... > >Next question for me is what was Josh Thomas's actual version and what did >Mike add. Is the last verse even in the original song? > >I don't know. But I found a yahoo group of people interested in African >American banjo so I may ask there. Some of them have already heard the >interview and the original. > >So Emily, what is your take? Did you find anything else? > > > > >
