“Jimmy Burse”
Author: unknown (but very possibly by someone in the Vass family)
Earliest date: 1957 (collected by Shellans from Ruby Vass, who had a manuscript dated 1937)
Found in: US(SE)
Description
"I saw the undertakers leavin' With a casket in the hearse... The remains of Jimmy Burse." Burse goes out to transport a convict in his car, but is shot by the prisoner York. Burse is buried; the singer hopes he will find justice
Historical references
- 1932 - Murder of taxi driver Jim Burrus. Shellans prints a newspaper chronology of the saga.
References
- Shellans, pp. 70-71, "Jimmy Burse" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #7323
- BI, Sel070
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008
by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.