“Sam Bass”

Description

Sam Bass, a cowpuncher and at first a kind-hearted fellow, turns to train robbery. Betrayed by an acquaintance named Jim Murphy, he is killed by a Texas Ranger

Notes

Report has it that Bass had his shootout with the police on July 20, 1878; he was captured the next day and died the day after. That July 22 is said to have been his 27th birthday.

This song has been attributed (e.g. by Thorpe) to a John Denton of Gainesville, Texas, and supposedly written in 1879, but most scholars think that multiple hands have been involved. - RBW

Historical references

• 1878 - Death of Sam Bass near Round Rock, Texas

Recordings

• Harry "Mac" McClintock, "Sam Bass" (Victor 21420, 1928; on AuthCowboys, WhenIWas1)
• Marc Williams, "Sam Bass" (Brunswick 304, 1929; rec. 1928)

References

1. Laws E4, "Sam Bass"
2. Belden, pp. 399-400, "Sam Bass" (1 text plus mention of 2 more)
3. Randolph 142, "Young Sam Bass" (1 text plus a long excerpt, 1 tune)
4. Friedman, p. 375, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
5. Sandburg, pp. 422-424, "Sam Bass" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Thorp/Fife X, pp. 112-120 (24-26), "Sam Bass" (3 texts, 1 tune)
7. Fife-Cowboy/West 95, "Sam Bass" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Larkin, pp. 158-161, "Sam Bass" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Lomax-FSUSA 81, "Sam Bass" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 126-128, "Sam Bass" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. LPound-ABS, 66, pp. 149-152, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
12. Burt, pp. 199-200, "Sam Bass" (1 short text)
13. JHJohnson, pp. 96-98, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
14. Darling-NAS, pp. 190-191, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
15. Silber-FSWB, p. 196, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
16. Saffel-CowboyP, p. 204-205, "Sam Bass" (1 text)
17. DT 621, SAMBASS*
18. Roud #2244
19. BI, LE04