Ballads & Songs of Southern Michigan-songbook

A Collection of 200+ traditional songs & variations with commentaries including Lyrics & Sheet music

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Voucher Codes



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
Humor
387
159
KATE AND THE COWHIDE
The informant of A declared that the ballad was based upon an incident which happened near Zanesville, Ohio. In Conesville, Schoharie County, New York, a prose version of the ballad is told, and the old home of Kate is pointed out. There her grandchildren are said now to live See Gardner, pp 194-196. For a text and references see Mackenzie, pp 325-327. See also Sharp, I, 405-406. Version A was obtained by Mrs. Maude Simpson, Detroit, from the singing of her grandfather, Mr. Seth Evilsizer, Alger, eighty-two years old. He learned the song when he was seven or eight years old from an aunt, Mrs. Chatman, who lived near Zanesville, Ohio; she had learned it from an English neighbor, who affirmed that she knew personally the principals in the story, although scholars have traced the genealogy oJt this ballad to a broadside dated 1689-90
A
1 A lady lived in Lancaster, Tra-la-liddle-te-i-de-O; A gamester came a-courting her; Tra-la-liddle-te-i-de-O; He courted her for many a day, But still this lady answered "Nay."