Artist: Henry Whitter
Author: traditional
Label: Okeh
Year: 1923
From Fries, VA, situated along the New River. Song learned from the Ward family from nearby Galax, VA. About the trainline along the New River, now a 57 mile long bike route operated by the National Park service. As the only north-bound and navigable waterway of the Appalachian range, the New River offered an ideal escape route for runaway slaves and a major link in the Underground Railway system.
Covers:
Kelly Harrell [also from Fries]
Ernest V. Stoneman [from Galax, VA]
Wade Ward [this was a Wade family song since the end of the 19th century]
See also: I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground.
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)