The Wagoner's Lad
Script error: No such module "AfC submission catcheck". "The Wagoner's Lad," also known as "My Horses Ain't Hungry," is a traditional American folk song. The song is often sung as duet or as one singer pitching their voice for the exchange between the wagoner's lad and the girl who loves him and tries to delay his departure. Its tune is related to Jack of Diamonds, Clinch Mountain, Bacach, Toddlin' Home, etc. It shares floating verses with some versions of On Top of Old Smokey and The Cuckoo
The song first appeared in print after being collected by Cecil Sharp in Kentucky. The first recording was in 1926 by Kelly Harrell, but alternate versions were recorded again in 1927 (Vernon Dalhart) and 1928 (Buell Kazee).
Lyrics[edit]
The first verse seems to have been lifted wholesale from an earlier song, "The Ladies Case" (Henry Carey, circa 1730).
O hard is the fortune of all womenkind
They’re always controlled, they’re always confined
Controlled by their parents until they are brides
Then slaves to their husbands for the rest of their lives
O I am a poor girl, my fortune is sad
I have always been courted by the wagoner’s lad
He courted me daily both by night and by day
And now he is loaded and going away
Your parents don’t like me because I am poor
They say I’m not worthy of entering your door
I work for my living, my money’s my own
And if they don’t like me they can leave me alone
Your horses are hungry, go feed them some hay
Come sit down beside me as long as you may
My horses ain’t hungry, they won’t eat your hay
So fare thee well darling, I’ll be on my way
Your wagon needs greasing, your whip’s for to mend
Come sit down beside me as long as you can
My wagon is greasy, my whip’s in my hand
So fare thee well, darling, no longer to stand
Performers[edit]
| Artist | Album name | Album year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Baez | Joan Baez, Vol. 2 | 1961 | |
| Vernon Dalhart | Edison 52077 | 1927 | "My Horses Ain't Hungry" |
| The Duhks | The Duhks (album) | 2005 | |
| Bob Dylan | 1988 | Frequently performed as encore at live concerts | |
| Jerry Garcia | Before the Dead | 2018 | Track was recorded in 1961 |
| Kelly Harrell | Victor 20103 | 1926 | "My Horses Ain't Hungry" |
| Buell Kazee | Brunswick 213B | 1928 | |
| The Kingston Trio | An Evening with The Kingston Trio | 1994 | Track was recorded in 1962 |
| Kossoy Sisters | Bowling Green | 1956 |
Notes and references[edit]
This article "The Wagoner's Lad" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Wagoner's Lad. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
