A SONG FOR RENDA - - By Caston Smith

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by StMark

Renda, I really feel that Caston should have the opportunity to come on AFF and defend himself at least just momentarily(on this thread)

I am personally all for that...as long as I am the one that gets to ban him again as soon as he opens his MOUTH

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

A first in my life to have someone sing a song for me and even to change the words to include my NAME!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pamBuNngU_I

You whinning long haired ladies have nothing to complain about. You need to just get tough headed and roll with the punches that are posted about long hair.

I can say that because I've been told I'm going to hell by several posters and even had a song especially sung TO ME.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

You whinning long haired ladies have nothing to complain about. You need to just get tough headed and roll with the punches that are posted about long hair.

I can say that because I've been told I'm going to hell by several posters and even had a song especially sung TO ME.

I wasn't whining. Killer song!

[TalkLady]

Oh, the fond memories - Caston Smith and "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"...We have something to tell our grandkids about. A happy bedtime story. Guys. I don't cut my hair, but I don't believe in making fun of those who do.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by TalkLady

Oh, the fond memories - Caston Smith and "Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls?"...We have something to tell our grandkids about. A happy bedtime story.

Just don't play it for them before bedtime.....it might scare them.

[TalkLady]

If we have love one to another, are we really going to be singing songs like that? My mother was "run off" from church by people trying to "straighten her out"....The pastor didn't do it - it was folks in the pews.

[James Griffin]

http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/0913/index.html

A recording of the original done in 1969

[James Griffin]

Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls
Cat. #0913 (MFH #721) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on September 16, 1969

VERSE 1
Why do you bob your hair girls
It is an awful shame
To rob th head God gives you
An' wear a flappers name
You taking off th covering
It is an awful sin
Don't never bob your hair girls
Short hair belongs to men

VERSE 2
Why do you bob your hair girls
You know your doin' wrong
Rob th head God give you
You should wear it long
Every time you bob it
You breakin' God's command
Cannot bob your hair girls
An' reach th glory land

VERSE 3
Why do you bob your hair girls
It's not th thing to do
Just wear it always wear it
To th Lord be true
An' then before th judgement
Meet your Lord up there
He'll say, well done for one thing
You never bobbed your hair

OTHER COLLECTIONS:
Randolph: IV-644 Why Do You Bob Your Hair, Girls
Brown: III-56 Why Do You Bob Your Hair Girls

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

http://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/0913/index.html

A recording of the original done in 1969

In my opinion, this version was far more enjoyable to listen to than Caston's version. I love folk/bluegrass music and this woman's voice on the recording sounded straight from the Appalachia region.

Thanks for sharing this version with us, JG.

[TalkLady]

I did a google search and found a song I used to hear as a very young child. I remembered the last three lines to the chorus from memory. There was another verse about women's standards, I think. Does anyone recall it???

The traditional Ballad Index says it's obviously a composed song, but the author is unknown. The first recording was in 1926, by Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers, but since then it has been recorded by Delaware Water Gap, in 1977, on the album "String Band Music," Georgia Yellow Hammers, in 1979, on the album "Moonshine Hollow Band," Karl and Harty, in the 1970s, on the album "Karl & Harty with the Cumberland Ridge Runners," Melanie Sovine, in the 1970s, on the album "Appalachian Folk Music," and Hedy West and Bill Clifton, in the 1980s, on the album "Getting Folk Out of the Country." It is also included in the book "Songs for Pickin' and Singin'", published in 1962, on p133, and "Songs for Swinging Housemothers," published 1963, on p. 43.


Since it's such an old song, there are many variations in the lyrics. One version given on the site I found has these lyrics...I added the last three lines in the chorus from memory of how my mother sang it to me.


I'M S-A-V-E-D
(As sung by Karl and Harty [Karl Davis and Harty Taylor].)

Some folks jump up and down all night at a D-A-N-C-E,
And Sunday go to church to show their brand new H-A-T.
Upon their faces smeared are daubs of P-A-I-N-T,
But still they've got the brass to say, "I'm S-A-V-E-D."

CHORUS: "I'm S-A-V-E-D, I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D.
I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D.
I'm H-A-P-P-Y because I'm F-R-Double E,
I used to be B-O-U-N-D by the chains of S-I-N,
But now I have the chance to say, I"m S-A-V-E-D.

I know a man; I think his name is B-R-O-W-N.
He talks for prohibition but votes for G-I-N.
He helps to mix the poison in his neighbor's C-U-P
But still he's got the brass to say, "I'm S-A-V-E-D."

CHORUS: "I'm S-A-V-E-D, I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D.
I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D."
I'm H-A-P-P-Y because I'm F-R-Double E,
I used to be B-O-U-N-D by the chains of S-I-N,
But now I have the chance to say, I"m S-A-V-E-D.


Some folks go to church to hear the B-I-B-L-E.
The preacher gives a sermon from the P-U-L-P-I-T.
Then they go home and play poker, and roll D-I-C-E,
But still they've got the brass to say, "I'm S-A-V-E-D

CHORUS: "I'm S-A-V-E-D, I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D.
I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm S-A-V-E-D."
I'm H-A-P-P-Y because I'm F-R-Double E,
I used to be B-O-U-N-D by the chains of S-I-N,
But now I have the chance to say, I"m S-A-V-E-D.