I haven't heard the song with the first verse used above. The classic version was
I asked your mother for you
she told me that you was to young
I wish to the lawd
I never seen your face
I’m sorry you ever were born.
This always suggested to me that the song was about unrequited love for an underage girl; that may be my seedy way of thinking, but many of leadbelly's songs dealt with dark and disturbing themes. I agree with the king however that this is the greatest folk song recorded.
@tired82 It was written in 1933 - they didn't do "underage" in songs in those days. "Too young" didn't mean "under 18" (or "under 13" if we're talking 1930s Virginia). Parents would say a girl was "too young to get married" when they didn't approve of the suitor.
@tired82 It was written in 1933 - they didn't do "underage" in songs in those days. "Too young" didn't mean "under 18" (or "under 13" if we're talking 1930s Virginia). Parents would say a girl was "too young to get married" when they didn't approve of the suitor.
Billy Bob the rough boy from the hog plant wants to ask out Irene? "She's too young to go courtin'." Captain Rogers, home from the war, wants to marry her? "Let me go pack her case for you."
Billy Bob the rough boy from the hog plant wants to ask out Irene? "She's too young to go courtin'." Captain Rogers, home from the war, wants to marry her? "Let me go pack her case for you."
I haven't heard the song with the first verse used above. The classic version was
I asked your mother for you she told me that you was to young I wish to the lawd I never seen your face I’m sorry you ever were born.
This always suggested to me that the song was about unrequited love for an underage girl; that may be my seedy way of thinking, but many of leadbelly's songs dealt with dark and disturbing themes. I agree with the king however that this is the greatest folk song recorded.
@tired82 It was written in 1933 - they didn't do "underage" in songs in those days. "Too young" didn't mean "under 18" (or "under 13" if we're talking 1930s Virginia). Parents would say a girl was "too young to get married" when they didn't approve of the suitor.
@tired82 It was written in 1933 - they didn't do "underage" in songs in those days. "Too young" didn't mean "under 18" (or "under 13" if we're talking 1930s Virginia). Parents would say a girl was "too young to get married" when they didn't approve of the suitor.
Billy Bob the rough boy from the hog plant wants to ask out Irene? "She's too young to go courtin'." Captain Rogers, home from the war, wants to marry her? "Let me go pack her case for you."
Billy Bob the rough boy from the hog plant wants to ask out Irene? "She's too young to go courtin'." Captain Rogers, home from the war, wants to marry her? "Let me go pack her case for you."