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The Couch Family

by Dables

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1.
i killed james a garfield i killed him with two shots and if you don't believe me i'll show you the very spot 's I rambled round the depo to make my escape the circumstances were against me i found i was too late my name is Charleston Guitoff my name I won't deny I killed james a garfield i scaled the scaffold high
2.
Moonshiner 03:01
the promise she made me about three weeks ago she promises she would marry me standing in her parlor door i'll walk up on the mountain and put me up a still i'll make you one gallon for a two dollar bill i go to the grocery and drink to my friends no woman to follow me to see what I spend I oft times have wondered how women love men many a time i've studied how men do love them come on all you pretty women and stand in a row you lookin' so sadly, you're lonesome i know, i know... you've caused me to see trouble and many a downfall if you want to live happy don't marry at all (i'm just a)mooonshiiiinnneeerrrrrrr!
3.
i was standing by my window one cold December day when I saw that hearse come rolling for to carry my mother away will the circle be unbroken? by and by, by and by there's a better home a waitin in the sky, lord, in the sky when i said to the undertaker, undertaker please drive slow for this lady you are haulin' lord i hate to see her go will the circle be unbroken? by and by, by and by there's a better home a waitin in the sky, lord, in the sky lord i followed long behind her till we come to the family grave but i could not hide my sorrow when they laid her in the grave will the circle be unbroken? by and by, by and by there's a better home a waitin in the sky, lord, in the sky went back home and home was lonesome, oh yes my mother she was gone brothers and sisters all were cryin', oh what a home so sad and lone will the circle be unbroken? by and by, by and by there's a better home a waitin in the sky, lord, in the sky one by one our family is leaving, one by one they're gone away but someday i hope to meet them in that coming judgement day
4.
Icy Mountain 02:24
gonna cross the icy mountain gonna cross the icy mountain little girl and i never expect to see you anymore rock and feed my baby candy rock and feed my baby candy little girl i never expect to see it anymore i'm gonna cross the icy mountain gonna cross the icy mountain little girl and i never expect to see you anymore stop and tell my mama howdy stop and tell my mama howdy little girl i never expect to see her anymore gonna cross the icy mountain gonna cross the icy mountain little girl and i never expect to come back anymore
5.
down by the willow garden where me and my true did meet we sat there a-courtin' my true love fell off to sleep i had a bottle of that burglar wine in which i did not know that that there'd i'd murder my own true love down on the banks so cold as i drew a dagger to her which was a bloody knife down by the willow garden i took that poor girl's life my father always told me that money would set me free if i would murder that pretty little girl her name, Rose Anna Lee and now he's standing in his cabin door with teardrops in his eyes looking on his only son upon the scaffold high my work is done beneath the sun and hell is waiting for me because i murdered that pretty little girl her name, Rose Anna Lee
6.
clear the way for old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker he got drunk fell in the fur' and kicked up a chunk a red hot coal hopped in his shoe good god a'mighty how the ashes flew get out of the way for old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker climb a tree the lord did save for him to see the limb did break, he did fall killed ol' Callie with a buck eyed ball clear the way for old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker was a fine old man swapped his wife to a bob-tailed ram rode him over a big high cliff she ain't got up, been laying there yet get out of the way for old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker he went to town swallowed a barrel of molasses down the hoops did swell and the barrel did bust sent him to hell in a thunder-glust get out of the way it's the old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker went out a-huntin' the first thing he spied was a big boar a-rootin' his back was bent and his tail was a-shakin' he cocked his gun and he saved his bacon clear the way it's the old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper old dan tucker was a fine old man he washed his face in a fryin' pan combed his hair with a wagon wheel and he died with a toothache in his heel clear the way for old dan tucker you've come too late for to get your supper
7.
oh my father's gone to glory i'm alone in this world oh my father's gone to glory i'm alone i'm alone in this world jesus knows i'm alone take me home, blessed savior take me home oh my mother's gone to glory i'm alone in this world oh my mother's gone to glory i'm alone i'm alone in this world jesus knows i'm alone take me home, blessed savior take me home i'm alone in this world i am weary of life i'm alone in this world i'm alone i'm alone in this world jesus knows i'm alone take me home, blessed savior take me home
8.
one evening when the sun was low brown eyes whispered i must go not one moment would she wait she kissed my cheek, she left the gate it's those brown eyes i love so well it's those brown eyes i'm longin' to see how i sighed for those brown eyes strangers they have come to be one night we met upon the street i tipped my hat, but i could not speak with another man by her side the man i thought would take his bride it's those brown eyes i love so well it's those brown eyes i'm longin' to see how i sighed for those brown eyes strangers they have come to be one year ago just from today they laid my darling brown eyes away now up in heaven i know she be my brown eyed angel waiting for me it's those brown eyes i love so well it's those brown eyes i'm longin' to see how i sighed for those brown eyes strangers they have come to be
9.
Cock Robin 03:13
who killed cock robin? me said the 'spur, with my little bow and 'arr it was me, it was I who seen him die? me said the fly, with my little yeller eye it was me, it was I who called his blood? me said the fish, with my little silver dish it was me, it was I who dug his grave? me said the crow, with my little spade and hoe it was me, it was I who hauled him off? me said the lark, with my little hoss and cart it was me, it was I who covered him up? me said the duck, with my little flatter foot it was me, it was I who preached his funeral? me said the 'swaller, dist loud as I could holler it was me, it was I
10.
jack was a lonely cowboy with a heart so brave and true he learned to love a maiden with eyes of heaven's own blue they learned love to each other and named the wedding day when a quarrel came out between them, and jack he rolled away he joined a band of cowboys just to try to forget her name but out on the lone prairie she waits for him the same your sweetheart waits for you, jack, your sweetheart's waiting for you but out on the lone prairie your sweetheart's waiting for you jack reached the lone prairie, he found a new made mound his friends so sadly told him they laid his loved one down your sweetheart waits for you jack, your sweetheart's waiting for you out on the lone prairie where the sky is always blue
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who killed cock robin? me said the 'spur, with my little bow and arr' it was me, it was I who seem him die? me said the fly, with my little yeller eye it was me, it was I who called his blood? me said the fish, with my little silver dish it was me, it was I who dug his grave? me said the crow, with my little spade and hoe it was me, it was I who hauled him off? me said the lark, with my little hoss and cart it was me, it was I who covered him up? me said the duck, with my little flatter foot it was me, it was I who preached his funereal? me said the swaller', dist loud as I could holler it was me, it was I
20.

about

This CD was recorded in 4 different home studios throughout upstate South Carolina from Dec 2010 - Sep 2011, thanks to the help of my friends Alex Murray, Micheal Keller, Jake Garrett, Cody Blackwell, Daniel Neely, and the moral support of my parents John and Susan Walker, and several others.

I discovered the book "Sang Branch Settlers" (also published as "Up Cutshin and Down Greasy") in my Dad's closet (as well as a huge cd-wallet full of Couch Family music) as a kid
and found out about my great grandpa Dave Couch and my great great uncle Jim Couch and their coal-mining, moonshining, Kentucky mountain lives and the hundreds of folk, bluegrass, and traditional country songs and hymns they recorded in the early 1950's. I learned how to play several songs from the book and with the help of my friends and family ultimately created this album.

The first 10 tracks are my interpretations of the songs of The Couch Family: the songs of my family, performed and recorded by myself and my friends. The last 10 tracks are the original recordings from the 50's, performed separately and together by Jim Couch, Dave Couch, and Frank Couch (Jim's son), and was recorded by Professor Leonard Roberts in the hills of Kentucky while writing his book 'Sang Branch Settlers', on a single track reel-to-reel.

Listen to small things like roosters crowing and children playing nearby throughout the recordings as these songs were recorded quite literally in the hills of Kentucky, out on the front porch, sippin' on moonshine.

It is a honor and privilege to carry on the music of my family, and was a wonderful experience to find so many people willing to help me bring this idea to completion. Thanks a lot!

Hugs and Kisses,
David Walker, 2012

credits

released March 1, 2012

all music performed and recorded by David Walker
all music mixed and mastered by Alex Murray


Additional Music Performed by:

Will The Circle Be Unbroken:
Alex Murray-guitar
Daniel Neely-guitar
Micheal Keller-percussion,production



Icy Mountain:
Alex Murray-guitar,percussion
Daniel Neely-guitar,percussion
Micheal Keller-percussion,production



Willow Garden:
Micheal Keller-production


Old Dan Tucker:
Cody Blackwell-guitar,vocals
Jake Garrett-banjo,vocals


Cock Robin:
Alex Murray-guitar
Micheal Keller-guitar,vocals,production
Daniel Neely-guitar,vocals

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Dables Greenville, South Carolina

Dables is the alias for DIY manic folk rocker David Walker who has been a staple in the upstate South Carolina scene since 2005. After playing in Death Mullet, Mr. Waffle, DAN, and Closet Monster, he started performing and recording solo as Dables. In 2010, Dables became a full three piece band, playing shows all around the Southeast. RAWK AND/OR ROLE! ... more

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