STEWBALL

Created on 15/11/2005
Latest update on 02/11/2022

Artist: Lead Belly
Author: Bob Yellin/John Herald/Ralph Rinzler
Label: Victor
Year: 1940

With the Golden Gate Quartet.

Covers:

1944:

Woody Guthrie [own lyrics & melody; along with a more orthodox version with A.L. Lloyd, Ewan MacColl & Roy Harris]

1946:

Lead Belly-Woody Guthrie-Cisco Houston-Sonny Terry

1947:

22 & Group [Lomax recording in Parchman]

1956:

Lonnie Donegan

1956:

Jacques Jay et ses Joyeux Saltimbanques [as Laiss' tomber Joe]

1958:

A.L. Lloyd [as Skewball, with Steve Benbow on guitar]

1959:

Ed Lewis & prisoners [Lomax recording in Lambert State Pen, MS]

1960:

Greenbriar Boys [new melody impressing folk circles]

1960:

Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon

1960:

Weavers

1962:

Coasters

1963:

Peter, Paul & Mary

1964:

Joan Baez [credit the Greenbriar Boys]

1964:

Chad Mitchell Trio [as Stewball & Griselda]

1966:

Hollies [idem]

1966:

Hugues Aufray [translated by Pierre Delanoƫ]

1971:

John Lennon & Yoko Ono [strong echoes of Greenbriar Boys' version in Happy Xmas (War Is Over); see also: Pledging My Love]

1972:

Steeleye Span

1974:

Martin Carthy [as Skewbald]

1976:

Andy Irvine & Paul Brady [as The Plains Of Kildare]

1985:

Doris Day

1986:

Alpha Blondy

1988:

Robert Earl Keen Jr.

1990:

Headcoats

1999:

Patrick Street [as Stewball And The Monaghan Grey Mare; with Andy Irvine]

2020:

Calexico [idem]

2020:

Alanis Morissette [as Happy Xmas]

Irish origin, horse loving country #1. It's a song about a steeple chase in Co. Kildare in 1790, won by speckled Skewbald, underdog par excellence. Irish wouldn't even think of competing with such a horse, which on top of it all came from America (New England). The favorite (nobility) beaten by the outspoken underdog, that's the stuff nurturing lasting songs, inspiring bookmakers and Southern chain gangs alike. Lomax, Oster and Evans collected different versions all over the South. Bill Monroe's Mollie And Tenbrooks, bluegrass classic about two Kentucky race horses, is another offspring of the same Irish root.

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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