Exposure to the Old Ways of Doing Things: Folk Music from the 19th and early 20th centuries
This page promotes exposure to old Adirondack folk tunes. After listening through a few of these tunes, as well as visiting our Folk Theory page, you should have a very good sense of what Adirondack folk music sounded like during its beginnings and why it is the way it is.
Each of these tunes is a home-grown Adirondack folk tune. For all of you who are familiar with the Adirondack region, you will recognize several towns mentioned such as Saranac and Tupper Lake.
1. I'm Just a Common Lumberhick, an unattributed song commonly sung by loggers in the Adirondacks
The Lyrics of the first verse read:
Well I'm just a common lumberhick, and I've made a pile of jack,
I shot the wad, and now, by God, I won't try to have it back;
I haven't a pain, so I can't complain, but a few things I will mention,
I won't be long in singing my song, if you'll give me your attention.
2. Beaver River, written by Adirondack folk figure Ted Ashlaw
The lyrics to the first verse:
Come boys, if you'll listen, I'll sing you a song
If you'll pay good attention, it won't take me long
It's up at Beaver River, a place you know well,
And it's not far from Tupper, but closer to Hell,
Derry down, down, day derry down
3. Bert LaFountain's Packard, orignallly written and sung by Milt Okun
The lyrics to the first verse:
'Twas on a Sunday morning, I headed for the north,
The road I'd often traveled while riding back and forth.
I crossed the old St. Lawrence, going straight to Montreal
With Bert LaFountain's Packard for a load of alcohol