“Old General Price”
Description
"Old General Price is a mighty fine man, From women an' children he steals all he can, It's damn any man that will follow his trade... These hard times"
Notes
Sterling Price (1809-1867), a former governor of Missouri and Confederate commander of Missouri troops, was almost certainly not a thief. His troops, however, were undisciplined and therefore even more likely to loot than the average soldier. Their depredations may account for the attitude toward Price shown in this fragment.
I have the strange feeling that "Old General Price" and "Sterling Price" are a single piece, one being adapted from the other -- but since we don't have a single complete stanza of either, and only one tune, this is beyond proof. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "Sterling Price" (subject)
References
- Randolph 224, "Old General Price" (1 fragmentary text, 1 tune)
- Roud #7828
- BI, R224