Crooked Road CD Series [Back]

Gin Burris: Wind & Rain

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THE SONGS

BARBARA ALLEN The most widely known of the Child Ballads (Child 84), the song is one of the most popular in the English language.  It is, without question, the most widely collected ballad in Virginia, with a record 92 versions in the A.K. Davis Collection.The first known reference to the song is found in a diary entry from 1666.  It is rumored to have been a favorite of George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and Abraham Lincoln is said to have sung it as a boy in Indiana. Joan Baez and Jean Ritchie introduced this song to many modern listeners during the folk music revival of the 1960s. Often known as "Barbry Allen" in the Southern mountains, this song was taught to Gin by her grandmother, Jessie Burcham. "Barbara Allen is the old-time way. That's the way my Grandma Burcham used to do it, with the little turns on the end of the words."
Gin Burris - vocal

THE BUTCHER BOY The Butcher Boy is from the collection amassed by G. Malcolm Laws (Laws P24). Gin says, "This is a song from my mother, Ethel Burcham. She won many folksong competitions with this song. It is also another song from England, probably from the 1600s or 1700s."  The Virginia Folklore Society collected numerous versions of this song, particularly in Campbell County.It has been recorded by many artists, including Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson and, most notably, by Buell Kazee in 1928, captured on the monumental Anthology of American Folk Music, on Smithsonian Folkways Records (SWF40090). Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar Terry Semones - bass

CABBAGE HEAD A song going at least as far back as the 1700s, this is a variant of Four Nights Drunk (Child 274), which, was also often known and collected in Virginia as Our Goodman.This song experienced numerous commercial recordings, and was featured on the Anthology of American Folk Music, in a version by Coley Jones.Gin says, "My Grandma Burcham sang that when she was a girl, and she sang a couple verses of it at her 100th birthday party.  She still remembered the words to it! That amazed me. I said I'll have to do that one for Granny!" Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar Kevin Fore - clawhammer banjo

FAIR AND TENDER LADIES "This song came from my mother, Ethel Burcham, and Great Aunt Evelyn Farmer, and Uncle Jesse Lovell. This song is also quite well known here in the mountains and has been performed at conventions and festivals for years," says Gin. With the gorgeous a-capella three-part harmony, Gin and friends turn in a nearly definitive performance of this lovely song of American origin. Recorded also by Mike Seeger and Mother Maybelle Carter among others, related songs include old-time music legend Roscoe Holcomb's haunting 1964 Willow Tree. Gin Burris - lead vocal Joey Burris, Ronnie Lyons - harmony vocals

GEORDIE This song (Child 209) has variants reaching back to the 1600s, possibly even earlier.The earliest documented Virginia version was collected in Bedford County by the prolific song collector Cecil J. Sharp, in 1918.This song came to Gin through her mother's family. "I've kind of put it a little more upbeat, a little jazzier than the original way." Note Joey Burris' wonderful guitar work.  In many American versions of the song, the condemned's name is changed to "Georgie.” Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - Guitar

MARY OF THE WILD MOOR A song (Laws P21) popular in both Britain and America and dating back to at least the 1700s, it has been found throughout the American South, as well as in Canada and Wisconsin.  Versions were collected throughout central and southwest Virginia.Gin says, "This song is another one from my mother. I always loved the story of this song and could see the words come to life." She adds, "It's embarrassing; I used to cry when I'd sing that song." It has been recorded by the Blue Sky Boys, and memorably, by an aging Johnny Cash in 2000. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar Ronnie Lyons - mandolin Terry Semones - bass

ONE MORNING IN MAY Variants of this song are found in England as early as 1675. This is an American version (Laws P14). Gin's mother and great-aunt both used to sing this song, which has been recorded by Jean Ritchie, the Country Gentlemen, and James Taylor, among many. The melody was adapted by Woody Guthrie for his 1913 Massacre. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar Ronnie Lyons - mandolin Terry Semones - bass

PRETTY SARO "This is a song that my grandmother, Jessie Burcham, used to sing and hum when I was small. It is said to be one of the first American ballads, probably from the mid to late 1700s," says Gin. Other collected Virginia versions include the titles Little Saro from Albemarle County and My True Love, from Gin’s own Carroll County.Noteworthy recordings include Jean Ritchie, Doc Watson, Judy Collins, and David Grisman. Gin Burris - vocal

SHADY GROVE "This song is a standard of the mountains and I can remember a number of my family members performing this song. My great-grandpa Glenn Smith used to play this song. I wanted to showcase the three distinctive styles of clawhammer banjo playing," says Gin. The three banjos make this a delightful and innovative take on one of the true classics of old-time American music. The earliest known version dates back to 1916. Versions have been recorded by hundreds of artists, including Clarence Ashley and Bill Monroe. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris, Kevin Fore, Trish K. Fore - clawhammer banjos

SILVER DAGGER Gin learned this song from her mother. This is another song of American origin, perfectly suited to Gin's lovely voice. The earliest known version is from 1904, although it is almost certainly older.There were numerous variations of this ballad collected throughout Southwest Virginia, with titles ranging from Come Men and Maids (Dickenson County) to Broken Hearts (Roanoke County.) It was most famously recorded and performed by Joan Baez in the early 1960s, including a 1964 live recording with Bob Dylan. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar James Burris - Fiddle Ronnie Lyons - mandolin Terry Semones - bass

WILL THE WEAVER This comical song of infidelity (Laws Q9) came to Gin from her mother, via her sister, Gin's Aunt Peggy. The earliest known version comes from a broadside from 1793. It has been found in America, Canada, and Ireland. Recorded versions include performances by Doc Watson and Mike Seeger. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar James Burris - bass

WIND AND RAIN "I got this song from my uncle, Terry Wayne Burcham, in Alabama," recalls Gin. This song, a variant ofThe Twa Sisters (Child 10) makes its earliest known appearance in a 1656 broadside. Gin and company turn in a fine performance of this tune.  Notable recordings include performances by Mike Seeger, and autoharp virtuoso Kilby Snow. Gin Burris - vocal Joey Burris - guitar Trish K. Fore - clawhammer banjo

I hope y'all enjoy this CD. I really enjoyed making it, and I put some of my favorite songs on it. I think it’s really important for the younger generation to hear these songs and to pass them down to the next generation. We must preserve the songs from our past. I hope that, in some small way, I have helped to keep these songs from disappearing and that they will live on for years to come.

Thanks so much for listening ~ Gin

This CD is dedicated to Mom and Dad.I love you and miss you.

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