The first song I remember hearing on a jukebox was "Goodnight, Irene." It was first recorded by the American blues musician Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter in 1932. In 1950, one year after Leadbelly's death, the American folk band The Weavers recorded a version of "Goodnight, Irene" which reached the Billboard Best Seller chart on June 30, 1950 and lasted 25 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. I was 6 years old.
Goodnight, Irene
Last Saturday night, I got married,
me and my wife settled down
Now me and my wife are parted,
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown
Sometimes I live in the country,
sometimes I live in town
Sometimes I take a great notion,
to jump into the river and drown
I love Irene, God knows I do,
I'll love her till the seas run dry
But if Irene should turn me down,
I'd take the morphine and die
Stop rambling, stop your gambling,
stop staying out late at night
Go home to your wife and your family,
stay there by your fireside bright
Here is The Weavers sing "Goodnight, Irene."
The second song – "Now and Then There's A Fool Such as I" – was written by Bill Trader and was published in 1952. Hank Snow's original version peaked at number four on the country charts in 1953. I remember it well.
Since Snow's version, the song has been sung and released by such diverse artists as Jo Stafford, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Baillie & the Boys.
Now and Then There's A Fool Such As I
Pardon me if I'm sentimental when we say goodbye
Don't be angry with me should I cry
When you're gone yet I'll dream a little dreams as years go by
Now and then there's a fool such as I
Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love and now you say that we are through
I'm a fool but I'll love you dear until the day I die
Now and then there's a fool such as I
Now and then there's a fool such as I am over you
You taught me how to love and now you say that we are through
I'm a fool but I'll love you dear until the day I die
Now and then there's a fool such as I
Here is Hank Snow in 1965 singing the song:
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3 comments:
Two fabulous tunes... even the Grateful Dead did Goodnight Irene, but only once apparently, on December 31st, 1983, accompanied by Rick Danko and Maria Muldaur... now if that isn't trivia, I don't know what is...
brings back memories of my dad who always sang in the car...these tunes were definitely in his repertoire!
I listened to these songs too, as my mum sang along to the radio! I grew up on a diet of Hank Williams, Slim Whitman, Tom Jones, and a whole host of other greats of that generation.. I can still hear my mother singing, "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone.."
Ahh, memories!
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