Annotation:Hellbound for Alabama
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HELLBOUND FOR ALABAMA. AKA - "Hell Bound for Alabama." AKA and see "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, north Georgia. Originally recorded by north Georgia fiddler and showman John Carson and his Virginia Reelers in 1927. Words to the song/breakdown go:
My name's Ran, I work in the sand,
But I'd rather be a Nigger than a poor white man.
Going to hitch my oxen side by side,
And take my gal for a big fine ride.
Going to take my gal to the country store,
Going to dress her up in red calico.
You take Kate, and I'll take Joe,
Then off we'll go to the party-o.
Going to take my gal to the Hulla-baloo,
Where there ain't no Crackers in a mile or two.
This was followed on the recording by a skit:
(Fiddler) "Oh, Sal! Where the mild strainer cloth?"
(Banjo player) "Bill's got it wrapped around his old sore leg."
(Fiddler) "Well, take it down to the gum spring and give it a cold water drench; I despises nastiness anyway. I've got to have a clean cloth for the milk."
After which the tune resumes:
He don't like whisky but he just drinks a can,
Honey! I'd rather be a Nigger than a poor white man.
I'd rather be a Nigger, and plow old Beck,
Than a white Hill Billy, with his long red neck.'
'
A similar tune called "Ride Old Buck to Water" was recorded by another north Georgia band, the Skillet Lickers, about the same time.
Ain't no hell in Georgia,
Hell broke loose in Georgia,
...in the old tin pan,
I'm goin' to hell just as quick as I can.
Some of the rhymes Carson used for the tune were taken from the song "I'd Rather Be a Nigger Than a Poor White Man." (See Talley {Ed. Wolfe}, 1991, pp. 36-37).
My name's Ran, I wuks in de san',
But I'd druther be a Nigger dan a po' white man. (Talley)
Similarities to the Ozark region tune "Little Home to Go to (1)."
Source for notated version:
Printed sources:
Recorded sources: Document "Fiddlin John Carson Vol. 4 1926 - 1927." Folkways FTS 31062, "Ship in the Clouds: Old Time Instrumental Music" (1978). Okeh 45159 (78 RPM), Fiddlin' John Carson (1927).
See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]