Annotation:Johnny Inchin' Along
Tune properties and standard notation
JOHNNY INCHIN' ALONG. AKA and see "Indian Nation," "Nigger Inch Along." Old-Time, Breakdown. The tune is related to Ed Haley's "Indian Nation", Alva Greene's "Indian Squaw", Art Stamper's "Terry Fork of Ball," and the Kentucky tune "Nigger Inch Along." "Johnny Inchin' Along" is the title Doc Roberts used. John Hartford (in liner notes to "Ed Haley: Forked Deer, vol. 1") notes that the late Gus Meade noted similarities to Noah Beavers' tune "Goin' to London", and Hartford himself said "There is a faint hint of COTTON EYED JOE and POOR LITTLE DARLIN (WOLVES A-HOWLIN') here....Coarse section also smacks of Snake Chapman's PAT HIM ON THE BACK."
A song in Marsh's The Story of the Jubilee Singers with Their Songs' (c. 1880's) may help to explain the title, as it contains the chorus:
Keep a inching along,
Keep a inching along;
Jesus will come by 'nd-bye;
Keep a inching along like a poor inch-worm,
Jesus will come by 'nd bye,
Source for notated version:
Printed sources:
Recorded sources: Gennett 7049 (78 RPM), Doc Roberts (1929).