Songs on Anthology of American Folk Music Volume 3 Disc 2

A list of songs on Anthology of American Folk Music Volume 3 Disc 2, including artist, title, and track length.

“The Coo Coo Bird” – Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson

“The Coo Coo Bird” is a traditional Appalachian folk song likely originating in the 18th century. The song was first collected by musicologist Cecil Sharp in 1916 from the singing of Anna Leopard, a member of the Melungeon community in Hancock County, Tennessee. It is one of the most widely recorded folk songs, with over 400 versions existing.

The song is essentially a dialogue between the titular bird and a man, in which the bird repeatedly asks the man to “go tell Caroline” about something, but never specifies what that something is. In some versions of the song, the man grows increasingly exasperated with the bird’s request, while in others he simply tries to reason with it. The meaning of the song has been variously interpreted as a coded message for illicit lovers, a reference to the American Civil War, or simply a nonsense song.

“The House Carpenter” – Ewan MacColl

“The House Carpenter” is a traditional ballad, originally from England. It was collected by Francis James Child in the late 19th century and published as part of his legendary work, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Ewan MacColl recorded a version of the song for the influential Anthology of American Folk Music, released in 1952.

“The Roving Gambler” – The New Lost City Ramblers

“The Roving Gambler” is a folk song collected by musicologist John Lomax in 1934 from the singing of Texas fiddler Eck Robertson. It has been recorded by many artists including the New Lost City Ramblers, who included it on their 1960 live album, The New Lost City Ramblers at Carnegie Hall. When they learned the song, they were unaware that it had already been collected and published by Lomax.

“Pretty Saro” – Sarah Ogan Gunning

“Pretty Saro” is a traditional English ballad dating back to the 1600s. It was first collected in the United States by musicologist and folklorist Cecil Sharp in 1918, who found it being sung by Appalachian singer Frank Proffitt. Gunning learned the song from Proffitt and recorded it for the Library of Congress in 1937. gunning’s version is a tragic love story about a young woman named Saro who dies of a broken heart after her true love marries another woman.

“Sugar Baby” – Dock Boggs

“Sugar Baby” is a folk song written and recorded by Dock Boggs. It was released on Anthology of American Folk Music Volume 3 Disc 2 in 2002.

The song is about a man’s love for his “sugar baby”, and has been covered by many artists including Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and Beck.

“In the Pines” – The Carter Family

“In the Pines” is a traditional American folk song, most commonly known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?”, which became popular during the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s. The song is believed to date back to the 1870s, and it has been recorded by a number of artists over the years, including Lead Belly, Bill Monroe, Nirvana, and many others.

TheCarter Family’s version of “In the Pines” was recorded in 1929 and released on their self-titled album in 1930. It is one of their most famous recordings, and has been covered by many other artists over the years.

“In the Pines” is a dark and eerie folk song that tells the story of a young woman who is murdered by her lover and left to die in the pines. The song is typically played on guitar or banjo, and features simple chords and haunting lyrics.

“The Cuckoo” – Ola Belle Reed

Ola Belle Reed (1916-2002) was an American folk musician and songwriter from Leslie County, Kentucky. She is best known for her association with the folk music revival of the 1940s and 1950s. She is considered one of the key figures in the development of Appalachian folk music.

“The Cuckoo” is a traditional folk song that was collected by Frank C. Brown in 7 volumes of folklore called The Anthem of American Folk Music. Ola Belle Reed’s version of “The Cuckoo” was recorded in Appalachian Spring, North Carolina in 1974 and released on Anthology of American Folk Music Volume 3 Disc 2 in 1997.

“The Banks of the Ohio” – The Weavers

The Weavers – “The Banks of the Ohio”
The Weavers were an American folk music quartet based in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. They sang traditional folk songs from around the world, as well as modernized versions of traditional songs, and original compositions. The group was founded in late 1948 by Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman.

“The Banks of the Ohio” is a traditional American folk song about a young woman who murders her lover. The song was popularized by The Weavers and has been covered by many other artists.

“Barbara Allen” – The Stanley Brothers

“Barbara Allen” is a traditional ballad originating in England and Scotland. The song tells the story of a young woman who dies of a broken heart after her lover leaves her. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, but the version by The Stanley Brothers is considered one of the best.

“The Wagoner’s Lad” – The New Lost City Ramblers

“The Wagoner’s Lad” is a traditional American folk song. It was collected by the folklorist John Lomax in 1934 from T.C. Richards of Kentucky. The song was included in the seminal 1952 anthology Folksongs of North America and later in the influential Anthology of American Folk Music, which helped to revive interest in traditional folk music in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. “The Wagoner’s Lad” has been recorded by numerous artists, including the New Lost City Ramblers, Woody Guthrie, Peggy Seeger, and Emmylou Harris.

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” – The New Lost City Ramblers

“The Girl I Left Behind Me” is a traditional American folk song. The song was collected by musicologist and folklorist Sigmund Spaeth in his 1928 book, A Book of Folk Songs. Spaeth noted that the song was originally published in 18th century broadside ballads and was popular among minstrels. The song became popular again in the early 20th century, when it was Recorded by the New Lost City Ramblers in 1952.

“Wild Bill Jones” – The New Lost City Ramblers

“Wild Bill Jones” is a song about a murderer who is on the run from the law. The song was collected by folklorist Harry Smith and included on his Anthology of American Folk Music. The song was recorded by The New Lost City Ramblers in 1960 and has been covered by many other artists, including Bob Dylan, who included it on his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.