“I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground”

Description

"I wish I (was/were) a mole in the ground (x2), If I was a mole in the ground, I'd root that mountain down...." The singer complains of Kempy's expensive tastes and his troubles with drink and/or the law. He may wish to be other things.

Cross references

• cf. "I Don't Like No Railroad Man" (floating lyrics)
• cf. "My Last Gold Dollar" (floating lyrics)
• cf. "New River Train" (tune, floating lyrics)
• cf. "Oh, Honey, Where You Been So Long?" (lyrics)

Recordings

• Green Bailey, "I Wish I Were A Mole In The Ground" (Conqueror 7255 [as Amos Baker], 1929; rec. 1928; on KMM)
• Frank Bode, "Tempy" (on FBode1)
• Chancey Bros., "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" (on FolkVisions2)
• Eugene Jemison, "Girls, Quit Your Rowdy Ways" (on Jem01)
• Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" (OKeh 40155, 1924); (Brunswick 219B, 1928; on AAFM3, BLLunsford01); (BLLunsford02, FMUSA)
• Pete Seeger, "Mole in the Ground" (on PeteSeeger09, PeteSeegerCD02)

References

1. BrownIII 173, "Mole In the Ground" (1 text)
2. Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 900-901, "I Wish I Wuz a Mole in the Ground" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Courlander-NFM, p. 144, "(I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground)" (1 text)
4. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 152-153, "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" (1 text, 1 tune)
5. Silber-FSWB, p. 394, "Mole In The Ground" (1 text)
6. DT, WISHMOLE*
7. Roud #4957
8. BI, BAF900