liner notes: american folk songs
American Folk Songs
In memory of my late son,
John Nova Lomax (1970-2023)
And my brother,
Joseph Franklin Lomax (1949-1988)
This album is also a tribute to my father's 1956 debut LP for Folkways, "JOHN A. LOMAX JR SINGS AMERICAN FOLK SONGS." He was ably assisted by my mother, Margaret Marable "Mimi" Lomax.
This recording and my live "Lomax on Lomax" performances present the Lomax family's contributions to American culture over five generations and 148 years. I have chosen 26 songs that were found, written, recorded, and/or popularized by family members: my grandfather, John Avery Lomax, uncle Alan Lomax, aunt Bess Lomax Hawes and my Dad, John A. Lomax Jr., "The Dean of Texas Folk Singers." He was also a founder of The Houston Folklore Society, which is still going 73 years later. Special Guest Rattlesnake Annie sings one of her best songs. I wrote one by myself and another with James Tristan Redding. Thus, the digital version of AMERICAN FOLK SONGS delivers a spoken word Introduction and 26 tracks!
I grew up hearing folk music. We had family singalongs and I heard most of these songs from 1951. In about 1956, rock 'n'roll spirited me away from folk. Later, I embraced reggae and for the last fifty years, country music was my major interest. Early in my beery college days, I realized I was spending most of my free time listening to music, playing records, attending shows and hanging out with musicians. So, despite my lack of formal knowlege, I became a music journalist. I can now look back on fifty-five years of published work, the latest in July's COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE, the world's most widely read country publication.
Additionally, I was also an early manager of Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle. I produced two albums, each by "America's Dulcimer Champion," David Schnaufer, legendary Texas guitarist Rocky Hill and retrospective releases by my Dad. I've written three books, collaborated on a fourth, was a publicist, tour manager and, from 1996, the operator of a very successful boutique global enterprise, Roots Music Exporters, earning a 2010 CMA International Achievement Award.
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Available August 20, 2024
When streaming obliterated 95% of my business, I embarked on another project. While researching our family's achievements, I realized that no one had compiled these contributions into a concise presentation. Thus, The Lomax on Lomax Show, so named by Joe Nick Patoski, was born.
I began delivering the show at 78, barely two years ago and now have given over 100 performances. Plus, my research led to some startling information indicating that my grandfather and uncle played major roles in affecting the "English Invasion" of the early '60s, particularly the beginning of The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Animals. Here's the backup for what you might think is outrageous bullshit.
George Harrison said, "Without Lead Belly, there'd be no Lonnie Donegan. Without Lonnie Donegan there'd be no Beatles." Lonnie ignited England's skiffle music craze in 1955 with The Beatles then beginning as a skiffle band, the Quarry Men. The song that set off the craze was "The Rock Island Line," a Lead Belly selection, first recorded by John Avery Lomax in 1934.
John Lennon has said "Without Woody Guthrie, there'd be no Beatles." Alan Lomax first recorded Woody in 1938.
Alan was looking for Robert Johnson when he recorded McKinley Morganfield at Stovall Plantation, Mississippi, in 1939. Morganfield moved to Chicago and became Muddy Waters, writer of the song from which the Stones found their name. Alan later brought Muddy, Howling Wolf and other US roots artists to England during the mid to late '50s, formative years for the band.
"The House of the Rising Sun" was a blugrass song said to have originated in England. It was first recorded in the '20s. Alan recorded three versions during the '30s, years before The Animals' member Alan Price, who claimed Authorship, was born. It was the group's biggest hit, launching Eric Burdon on an ongoing career.
The Lomax touch was felt domestically, from the recordings and covers of songs by Lead Belly, Guthrie, Waters and others. In all, the family contributed over 17,000 field recordings to The Library of Congress and made thousands more independently.
For example, The Beach Boys' response to the Brits was their comeback album, PET SOUNDS. The first single, "Sloop John B." went to #3 and set the stage for "Good Vibrations" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice." Alan Lomax made the first recording of "Sloop John B." in 1935, featuring the Cleveland Simmons Group!
I am now adding my voice to a long line of Lomax recordings that began in 1940. These are the first newly recorded Lomax material since Alan's SONGS OF TEXAS in 1993.
The official CD release date, August 20th, is my 80th birthday. Kinda late to start a recording career but I'm nine years younger than England's Colin Thackery, who crafted his debut at 89.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy my virgin voyage into the recorded music universe and I thank you for listening!
There's more, lots more at CulturalEquity.org, founded by Alan Lomax in 1977 "to give a voice to the voiceless." Have a look also at TheGlobalJukebox.com, an amazing site that tracks music across the world!
Clement House Chorale
Front: Melanie Wells, John Lomax III, Rattlesnake Annie, Amanda Lomax, Mary Elizabeth Long, Robyn Taylor
Back: Ben "Jonesy" Jones, Bob Clement, Allen Reynolds, Rob Stanley
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WITH ABUNDANT GRATITUDE
First, to my adorable wife, Melanie Wells, who has enthusiastically attended more of my shows than anyone and who loves me dearly, as I do her.
To my daughter, Amanda, for her encouragement, support and photos and to her husband, the very talented Ben "Jonesy" Jones.
To my grandchildren, John Lomax V and Harriet Rose Lomax and their mother, Jacqueline Wallace.
To my producer, Matt "Buster" Allen and my longtime friend Richard Bennett for not breaking into hysterical laughter when said I wanted to make an album, but instead aided and abetted me in the endeavor.
SPECIAL THANKS
George & Donna Alexander, George & Linda Banks, Andrew, Nikki & Hazel Dansby
Bianca De Leon, John & Suzanne Fain, Ed Gertler, Randy Goodman, Kelly Graml
Anita Humphries, Sharon Lynn and Tom Evans
Mark & Debbie Miller, Rex & Malyna Miller, Ed Morris
Robert K. Oermann & Mary Bufwack
James Tristan Redding, Robyn Taylor, Troy Tomlinson
And to my cousins: Dr. Anna Wood, Naomi Hawes Bishop, Corey Hawes Denos, the remaining 3rd generation Lomaxes
THANK YOU
Ann Pullen, Sydney Bucheisther, The Woody Guthrie Center, Bob Saporiti (aka Reckless Johnny Wales)
Bobby Davis, Bruce Payne, Cady Shaw - The Woody Guthrie Center
Carl Hill, Charles Green, Constance Kilgore, Dallas Burrow & The Redbird Listening Room
Danny Foster, Dr. Don Counts, Dr. Frank Rivers, Dyna Start at KNON in Dallas
Ed Salamon, Esther & Dr. Stanley Lee, Harold Eggers, Henry Guest, J.D. McCorkle, City Winery/Nashville
Jack Lyndon Thomas "Coyote Jack," Jamey Phillips, Jim Rooney
Joanna Jetton, John Wheat/Briscoe Center, UT-Austin, Keaton Patterson/Brazos Books
Ken DeLorenzo, Kerry O'Neil
Kyle Young and the Staff at The Country Music Hall of Fame
Lance Cowan, Margaret Downing, Matt Harlan, Norie Guthrie, Pat Alger
Pete Gerson/The Orange Show, Houston, Texas
Pete Loesch, Quinn Bishop Cactus Music, Houston
Richard & Trish Simonite, Rusty Gordon at The Mucky Duck, Ryan Schemmel
Sawnie "Trip" Aldredge, Springwater, Susan Collier
Sylvia Morales at The Texas Music Museum, Austin
The Houston Folklore and Music Society
Thomas Escalante/Sig's Lagoon, Houston
AMERICAN FOLK SONGS
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by MATTHEW “BUSTER” ALLENEngineering Assistance by CAMERON DAVIDSONAdditional Engineering by TRAVIS HUMBERT
Expert instrumental licks: RICHARD BENNETT, SHAWN CAMP, VINCE FARSETTA, JIM HOKE,BEN “JONESY” JONES, JAMES TRISTAN REDDING, RATTLESNAKE ANNIE
Cowbellist: JOHN LOMAX IIIRecorded at CLEMENT HOUSE STUDIOS and ALLEN SOUND
Clement House Chorale: ALLEN REYNOLDS, AMANDA LOMAX, BEN “JONESY” JONES, BOB CLEMENT, MARY ELIZABETH LONG,MELANIE WELLS, RATTLESNAKE ANNIE, ROB STANLEY, ROBYN TAYLOR, JOHN LOMAX IIIMastered by ERIC CONN, INDEPENDENT MASTERINGGraphic Design & Layout: DENISE FUSSELL/FUSSELL GRAPHICSPhotos: AMANDA LOMAX, MATTHEW “BUSTER” ALLENPublishing Assistance: MARGHIE EVANS, DO WRITE MUSIC, LLCDigital Delivery Services: ED GERTLER An Oddity: The Tex-I-An Boys, my dad’s group, released SONGS OF TEXAS in 1962.Alan Lomax released an album with that title in 1993, 31 years later.And now, 31 years after that comes AMERICAN FOLK SONGS.
Meant to be.
I truly believe I am on this planet to sing songs of our Heritage.
Expert instrumental licks: RICHARD BENNETT, SHAWN CAMP, VINCE FARSETTA, JIM HOKE,BEN “JONESY” JONES, JAMES TRISTAN REDDING, RATTLESNAKE ANNIE
Cowbellist: JOHN LOMAX IIIRecorded at CLEMENT HOUSE STUDIOS and ALLEN SOUND
Clement House Chorale: ALLEN REYNOLDS, AMANDA LOMAX, BEN “JONESY” JONES, BOB CLEMENT, MARY ELIZABETH LONG,MELANIE WELLS, RATTLESNAKE ANNIE, ROB STANLEY, ROBYN TAYLOR, JOHN LOMAX IIIMastered by ERIC CONN, INDEPENDENT MASTERINGGraphic Design & Layout: DENISE FUSSELL/FUSSELL GRAPHICSPhotos: AMANDA LOMAX, MATTHEW “BUSTER” ALLENPublishing Assistance: MARGHIE EVANS, DO WRITE MUSIC, LLCDigital Delivery Services: ED GERTLER An Oddity: The Tex-I-An Boys, my dad’s group, released SONGS OF TEXAS in 1962.Alan Lomax released an album with that title in 1993, 31 years later.And now, 31 years after that comes AMERICAN FOLK SONGS.
Meant to be.
I truly believe I am on this planet to sing songs of our Heritage.
THE SONGS
John Lomax III arrangements of PD songs are credited to Folk Invasion (ASCAP)
I shortened the title of grandfather’s pioneering 1910 work, COWBOY SONGS & OTHER FRONTIER BALLADS, to simply COWBOY SONGS, as was the title in subsequent editions.
1. I Was Born 10,000 Years AgoP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
My dad always introduced this song by saying, “There’s three kinds of lies in this world: regular ol’ lies, white lies you call them, and then there’s Bald-Faced Lies and then, then there’s WHOPPERS.And this song tops the Whopper list in American folk music”. The last verse is my concoction. 2. John Lomax III Introduces the Album 3. Git Along Little DogiesP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Harry “Mac” McClintock, Bing Crosby, Sons of the Pioneers and The Kingston Trio have all released their versions of this western classic. 4. Cowboy’s DreamP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
One of many from Cowboy Songs recorded by Eddy Arnold and Rex Allen, many others.
5. The Streets of LaredoAka The Dying CowboyPD: arrangement: John Lomax III
Another one from Cowboy Songs, later recorded by Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, many more.
6. Cotton Fields/Pick A Bale of CottonPD: Arrangement John Lomax III
I pair these two songs popularized by Lead Belly. Note the custom verses during “Pick A Bale of Cotton”.
7. Sloop John B.P.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
This Bahamian folk song has become an American classic, recorded by Johnny Cash, Dick Dale andThe Del-Tones, Jerry Butler and more before the monster Beach Boys 1966 hit.
My dad always introduced this song by saying, “There’s three kinds of lies in this world: regular ol’ lies, white lies you call them, and then there’s Bald-Faced Lies and then, then there’s WHOPPERS.And this song tops the Whopper list in American folk music”. The last verse is my concoction. 2. John Lomax III Introduces the Album 3. Git Along Little DogiesP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Harry “Mac” McClintock, Bing Crosby, Sons of the Pioneers and The Kingston Trio have all released their versions of this western classic. 4. Cowboy’s DreamP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
One of many from Cowboy Songs recorded by Eddy Arnold and Rex Allen, many others.
5. The Streets of LaredoAka The Dying CowboyPD: arrangement: John Lomax III
Another one from Cowboy Songs, later recorded by Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, many more.
6. Cotton Fields/Pick A Bale of CottonPD: Arrangement John Lomax III
I pair these two songs popularized by Lead Belly. Note the custom verses during “Pick A Bale of Cotton”.
7. Sloop John B.P.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
This Bahamian folk song has become an American classic, recorded by Johnny Cash, Dick Dale andThe Del-Tones, Jerry Butler and more before the monster Beach Boys 1966 hit.
8. M.T.A.
Bess Lomax Hawes/Atlantic Music (BMI) & Jacqueline Steiner/publisher not knownDave Guard / (for the intro) Publisher not known
Written about a Boston election in 1949 it later became a hit for the Kingston Trio, who added the ominous intro. It’s revived whenever M.T.A. problems occur and has many variants. 9. Home on the RangeP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
The song began as a poem by Dr. Brewster Higley, then it was set to music by Daniel Kelly. It was first published in a tiny Kansas newspaper in 1873. Next time it saw print was in Cowboy Songs, 37 years later. 10. Froggie Went A Courtin’P.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Originated in Scotland in the 16th century and first published here in American Ballads and Folk Songs (with 35 verses). I’ve done some editing. Bruce Springsteen’s recording only includes nine verses, mine has eighteen. You do the math!
11. Long JohnP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
A true story of a Texas folk hero and one of my dad’s signature songs, found on his Folkways album and 2022’s FOLK LIVE: THE GARDNER RECORDINGS from 1965 live radio shows. 12. Goodbye to a RiverRattlesnake Annie McGowan/Ann McGowan Music, Inc. (BMI) I’ve loved this song since I first heard it 44 years ago before I knew that the dam displacedher and her husband from their home on the Brazos. One important aspect of the Lomax tradition is to find songs and artists worthy of widespread attention. It’s an honor to present Rattlesnake Annie’s voice and guitar and a privilege to add my voice to her masterpiece. 13. Midnight SpecialP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III Inmates at Sugarland Prison outside Houston believed that if the light from this train fell on you then you would soon be freed.
Bess Lomax Hawes/Atlantic Music (BMI) & Jacqueline Steiner/publisher not knownDave Guard / (for the intro) Publisher not known
Written about a Boston election in 1949 it later became a hit for the Kingston Trio, who added the ominous intro. It’s revived whenever M.T.A. problems occur and has many variants. 9. Home on the RangeP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
The song began as a poem by Dr. Brewster Higley, then it was set to music by Daniel Kelly. It was first published in a tiny Kansas newspaper in 1873. Next time it saw print was in Cowboy Songs, 37 years later. 10. Froggie Went A Courtin’P.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Originated in Scotland in the 16th century and first published here in American Ballads and Folk Songs (with 35 verses). I’ve done some editing. Bruce Springsteen’s recording only includes nine verses, mine has eighteen. You do the math!
11. Long JohnP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
A true story of a Texas folk hero and one of my dad’s signature songs, found on his Folkways album and 2022’s FOLK LIVE: THE GARDNER RECORDINGS from 1965 live radio shows. 12. Goodbye to a RiverRattlesnake Annie McGowan/Ann McGowan Music, Inc. (BMI) I’ve loved this song since I first heard it 44 years ago before I knew that the dam displacedher and her husband from their home on the Brazos. One important aspect of the Lomax tradition is to find songs and artists worthy of widespread attention. It’s an honor to present Rattlesnake Annie’s voice and guitar and a privilege to add my voice to her masterpiece. 13. Midnight SpecialP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III Inmates at Sugarland Prison outside Houston believed that if the light from this train fell on you then you would soon be freed.
14. Cowboy Jack Clement Joke / The Frozen LoggerCountry Music Hall of Famer and my first Nashville boss, Cowboy was fond of makingpronouncements like, “All people from Memphis speak in parables” and the one recorded.P.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Written 100 years ago by James Stevens: Johnny Cash & Odetta are among many to record this chilling tale.
15. Goodnight, IreneP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
This Lead Belly number was the #1 song in the U.S. for 13 weeks in 1950 per Billboard magazine, longer than Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz” or Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa”. 16. The Rock Island LineP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
The Lead Belly song that ignited the skiffle craze and got the Beatles going. John A. Lomax recorded it in 1934 and 1939. Dozens have covered it, check the Wikipedia entry for a chronological list. 17. The Ballad of Aimee McPhersonP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Aimee McPherson was the most important evangelist of the first half of the 20th century.Additionally, she was a founder of what we now call televangelism. The song is fun but mostly untrue.
18. They Came But Did Not SeeJohn Lomax III, Folk Invasion (ASCAP) James Tristan Redding, Songdoer Sounds/(BMI) I wrote the lyrics in 1960, in 2024 James put it to music and plays guitar on the recording. I read a lot of sci-fi back then.
19. The Virgin SturgeonP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIII have no idea where or when this song originated nor who wrote it. I learned it from my dad and confirmed that the turtle verse came from Ogden Nash but that’s all. 20. Last Night I Had the Strangest DreamEd McCurdy/Folkways (BMI) Featuring the Cowboy House Chorale Written in 1950, five years after the atomic bombs and as the Korean war loomed. McCurdy’s classic became an official song of the Peace Corps and has been sung in 76 languages to date.
Written 100 years ago by James Stevens: Johnny Cash & Odetta are among many to record this chilling tale.
15. Goodnight, IreneP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIIFeaturing the Cowboy House Chorale
This Lead Belly number was the #1 song in the U.S. for 13 weeks in 1950 per Billboard magazine, longer than Patti Page’s “Tennessee Waltz” or Nat King Cole’s “Mona Lisa”. 16. The Rock Island LineP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
The Lead Belly song that ignited the skiffle craze and got the Beatles going. John A. Lomax recorded it in 1934 and 1939. Dozens have covered it, check the Wikipedia entry for a chronological list. 17. The Ballad of Aimee McPhersonP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax III
Aimee McPherson was the most important evangelist of the first half of the 20th century.Additionally, she was a founder of what we now call televangelism. The song is fun but mostly untrue.
18. They Came But Did Not SeeJohn Lomax III, Folk Invasion (ASCAP) James Tristan Redding, Songdoer Sounds/(BMI) I wrote the lyrics in 1960, in 2024 James put it to music and plays guitar on the recording. I read a lot of sci-fi back then.
19. The Virgin SturgeonP.D. – Arrangement: John Lomax IIII have no idea where or when this song originated nor who wrote it. I learned it from my dad and confirmed that the turtle verse came from Ogden Nash but that’s all. 20. Last Night I Had the Strangest DreamEd McCurdy/Folkways (BMI) Featuring the Cowboy House Chorale Written in 1950, five years after the atomic bombs and as the Korean war loomed. McCurdy’s classic became an official song of the Peace Corps and has been sung in 76 languages to date.
