Annotation:Grey Cat on a Tennessee Farm

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GREY CAT ON A TENNESSEE FARM. Old-Time, Breakdown and song. USA, Tennesse. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. In repertoire of African-American Kentucky fiddler Cuje Bertram, and appears on a home tape made in 1970 for his family. See also the related "Rabbit in a Pea Patch" and the "Fort Smith (1)" family of tunes.

Just look to the man who can if he will,
Prosper in the valley of the Tennessee hills.

Chorus
Big cat spit in the little cat's eye,
Little cat, little cat, don't you cry.

I do love liquor and we'll all take a dram,
I'm a-gonna tell you pretty Polly Ann.

Cattle in the pasture, hogs in the pen,
Sheep on the ranch and the wheat in the bin.

Wagon in the shed, porker in the yard,
Meat in the smokehouse and a big tub of lard.

Fruit in the cellar, cheese on the board,
A big sack of coffee and suger in the gourd.

Horses in the stable, money's in my pocket,
A baby in the cradle and a pretty girl to rock it. (Macon)

Source for notated version: Uncle Dave Macon (1870-1952, Tenn.) [Kuntz].

Printed sources: Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pp. 216-218.

Recorded sources: County 521, Uncle Dave Macon- "Original Recordings 1925-1935." Rounder 0023, Highwoods String Band- "Fire on the Mountain." Rounder CD0403, The Freight Hoppers - "Where'd You Come From, Where'd You Go?"

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]

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