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Ballad of America Volume 3: Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln

by Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band

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1.
Barbara Allen 05:23
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Was in the merry month of May When flowers were a-bloomin' Sweet William on his deathbed lay For the love of Barbara Allen Slowly, slowly she got up And slowly she went nigh him And all she said when she got there "Young man, I think you're dying" "O yes I'm sick and very low And death is on me dwellin' No better shall I ever be If I don't get Barbara Allen" "Don't you remember the other day When you were in the tavern You toasted all the ladies there And slighted Barbara Allen" "O yes, I remember the other day When we were in the tavern I toasted all the ladies there Gave my love to Barbara Allen" He turned his pale face to the wall And death was on him dwellin' " Adieu, adieu, my kind friends all Be kind to Barbara Allen" As she was walkin' through the fields She heard the deathbells knelling And every toll they seemed to say "Hardhearted Barbara Allen" "O mother, mother, make my bed O make it long and narrow Sweet William died for me today I'll die for him tomorrow" They buried Willie in the old churchyard And Barbara there anigh him And out of his grave grew a red, red rose And out of hers a briar They grew and grew in the old churchyard Till they couldn't grow no higher They lapped and tied in a true love's knot The rose ran around the briar
2.
Old Sister Phoebe 01:27
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Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we The day we sat under the juniper tree The juniper tree, hi ho, hi ho! The juniper tree, hi ho! Place this had on your head, it will keep your head And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm But a great deal of good, I know, I know A great deal of good, I know Old Sister Phoebe, how happy were we The day we sat under the juniper tree Now around and around we go, we go Around and around we go
3.
Old Dan Tucker 03:51
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chorus: So get out the way! Get out the way! Get out the way Old Dan Tucker You're too late to come to supper verses: I came to town the other night I heard the noise and saw the fight The watchman was a-runnin' round Cryin' Old Dan Tucker's come to town Tucker is a nice old man He used to ride our darby ram He sent him whizzin' down the hill If he hadn't got up he'd lay there still Here's my razor in good order Magnum bonum - I just bought her Sheep shell oats, Tucker shell corn I'll shave you soon as the water gets warm Old Dan Tucker and I got drunk He fell in the fire and kicked up a chunk The charcoal got inside his shoe Lord bless you honey how the ashes flew Down the road foremost the stump Master made me work the pump I pumped so hard I broke the sucker There was work for Old Dan Tucker I went to town to buy some goods I lost myself in a piece of woods The night was dark I had to suffer It froze the heel of Daniel Tucker Tucker was a hardened sinner He never said his grace at dinner The old sow squealed, the pigs did squall He hole hog with the tail and all
4.
Lincoln and Liberty 02:19
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Hurrah for the choice of the nation Our chieftain so brave and so true We'll go for the great reformation For Lincoln and liberty, too We'll go for the son of Kentucky The hero of Hoosierdom through The pride of the Suckers, so lucky For Lincoln and liberty, too They'll find what by felling and mauling Our rail-maker statesman can do For the people are everywhere calling For Lincoln and liberty, too Then up with the banner so glorious The star-spangled red, white and blue We'll fight 'til our banner's victorious For Lincoln and liberty, too Our David's good sling is unerring The Slavocrat's giant he slew Then shout for the freedom preferring For Lincoln and liberty, too We'll go for the son of Kentucky The hero of Hoosierdom through The pride of the Suckers, so lucky For Lincoln and liberty, too
5.
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen 05:28
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chorus: Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Nobody knows but Jesus Nobody knows the trouble I've seen Glory hallelujah! verses: Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down Oh yes, Lord Sometimes I'm almost to the ground Oh yes, Lord Now you may think that I don't know Oh yes, Lord But I've had my troubles here below Oh yes, Lord One day when I was walkin' along Oh yes, Lord The sky opened up and love come down Oh yes, Lord I never shall forget that day Oh yes, Lord When Jesus washed my sins away Oh yes, Lord
6.
The Battle Cry of Freedom 04:21
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chorus: The Union forever Hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor Up with the star While we rally round the flag, boys Rally once again Shouting the battle cry of freedom verses: Oh, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again Shouting the battle cry of freedom We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain Shouting the battle cry of freedom We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before Shouting the battle cry of freedom And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more Shouting the battle cry of freedom We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true, and brave Shouting the battle cry of freedom And although they may be poor not a man shall be a slave Shouting the battle cry of freedom So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West Shouting the battle cry of freedom And we'll hurl the Rebel crew from the land we love the best Shouting the battle cry of freedom
7.
Tenting on the Old Camp Ground (free) 05:27
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chorus: Many are the hearts that are weary tonight Wishing for the war to cease Many are the hearts that are looking for the right To see the dawn of peace Tenting tonight, tenting tonight, tenting on the old camp ground verses: We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground Give us a song to cheer Our weary hearts, a song of home And friends we love so dear We've been tenting tonight on the old camp ground Thinking of days gone by Of the loved ones at home that gave us the hand And the tear that said "Goodbye" We are tired of war on the old camp ground Many are dead and gone Of the brave and true who've left their homes Others been wounded long We've been fighting today on the old camp ground Many are lying near Some are dead and some are dying Many are in tears
8.
Home Sweet Home 03:09
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chorus: Home! Home! Sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home There's no place like home verses: 'Mid pleasures and palaces Though I may roam Be it ever so humble There's no place like home A charm from the sky Seems to hallow us there Which seek thro' the world Is ne'er met with elsewhere To thee, I'll return O verburdened with care The heart's dearest solace W ill smile on me there No more from that cottage A gain I will roam Be it ever so humble There's no place like home
9.
Dixie's Land 04:14
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chorus: Oh, I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray! Hooray! In Dixie land I'll take my stand To live and die in Dixie Away, away, away down south in Dixie Away, away, away down south in Dixie verses: Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton Old times there are not forgotten Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land In Dixie land where I was born in Early on one frosty mornin' Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land Old Missus marry Will, the weaver William was a gay deceiver Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land But when he put his arm around her He smiled as fierce as a forty pounder Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaver But that did not seem to grieve her Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land Old Missus acted the foolish part And died for a man that broke her heart Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land Now here's a health to the next old Missus And all the gals that want to kiss us Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land But if you want to drive away sorrow Come and hear this song tomorrow Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land
10.
Twenty Years Ago 05:18
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I've wandered to the village, Tom I've sat beneath the tree Upon the schoolhouse playing ground Which sheltered you and me But none were there to greet me, Tom And few were left to know That played with us upon the grass Some twenty years ago The grass is just as green, dear Tom Barefooted boys at play Were sporting just as we did then With spirits just as gay But the Master sleeps upon the hill Which coated, o'er with snow Afforded us a sliding place Just twenty years ago The river's running just as still The willows on its side Are larger than they were, dear Tom The stream appears less wide The grapevine swing is ruined now Where once we played the beau And swung our sweethearts "pretty girls" Just twenty years ago The spring that bubbled 'neath the hill Close by the spreading beech Is very low; 'twas once so high That we could almost reach And kneeling down to get a drink Dear Tom, I started so To see how much that I was changed Since twenty years ago Near by the spring, upon an elm You know I cut your name Your sweetheart's just beneath it, Tom And you did mine the same Some heartless wretch had peeled the bark 'Twas dying sure but slow Just as that one, whose name was cut Died twenty years ago My lids have long been dry, dear Tom But tears came in my eyes I thought of her I loved so well Those early-broken ties I visited the old churchyard And took some flowers to strew Upon the graves of those we loved Some twenty years ago Some now are in the churchyard laid Some sleep beneath the sea But few are left of our old class Excepting you and me And when our time shall come, dear Tom And we are called to go I hope they'll lay us where we played Just twenty years ago

about

Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln celebrates the 16th president of the United States through the music he cherished. Abraham Lincoln was a man of remarkable determination, compassion, honesty, humor, and melancholy. Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band's traditional acoustic arrangements of his favorite folk and popular songs enable 21st century listeners to better understand the man himself and the times in which he lived.

This is the soundtrack to Abraham Lincoln's life.

Extensive liner notes tell his story while highlighting his personal relationship to each song:

•His mother's favorite Old World ballad
•A minstrel song that amused him as a young man
•A campaign song that helped him win the presidency
•A slave spiritual that fueled his compassion
•A Civil War song that was played on a piano in the White House by a general
•Sentimental songs that appealed to his melancholy nature

Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln is the third compact disc in Matthew Sabatella's acclaimed Ballad of America series. With vocals, guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass fiddle, mountain dulcimer, and a wealth of traditional folk songs, Ballad of America brings the story of the United States vividly to life. Through recordings, live performances, videos, blogs, and an extensive website that ties it all together, Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band inspire people and create connections between them and the people who came before.

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released February 12, 2009

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Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band Florida

With vocals, guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and bass fiddle, Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band bring to life music that is woven into the fabric of the United States: traditional folk songs, fiddle tunes, old-time country, bluegrass, Appalachian music, ragtime, blues, spirituals, railroad and cowboy songs, work songs, sea shanties, reels, breakdowns, ballads, and more. ... more

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