“Lucy Long (I)”
Description
"If I had a scolding wife, As sure as you are born, I'd take her down to New Orleans And trade her off for corn."
Notes
Randolph and Brown both report this as a fragment of "Lucy Long," and I file it as such. It is interesting to note that both have the *same* single-stanza fragment; it seems likely enough that that one verse circulates on its own -- perhaps as the only traditional part of the song. - RBW
References
- Randolph 279, "If I Had a Scolding Wife" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune)
- BrownII 200, "If I Had a Scolding Wife" (1 fragment)
- BrownIII 415, "Lynchburg Town" (3 texts plus 2 fragments, 2 excerpts, and mention of 2 more, all with the "Lynchburg Town" chorus, but "A" and "B" have verses from "Raccoon" and "Possum Up a Gum Stump and "D" and "E" are partly "If I Had a Scolding Wife" ("Lucy Long (I)"); only "C" seems to be truly "Lynchburg Town")
- Roud #7413
- BI, R279