Originating in the 19th century, “Cripple Creek '' is one of the most popular and catchiest banjo tunes of all time. Multiple versions of the song can be found in the “Journal of American Folklore,” noting that “Cripple Creek'' is “A well-known mining district in Virginia.” Though the original date of origin is unknown, the song was popular in the 1800s. The “Journal of American Folklore” mentions that the song is “From East Tennessee; Mountain Whites; from memory.” & “From South Carolina; Country Whites.”
These facts solidify the notion that the song is an old and time-honored tune that mountain performers had committed to memory after many years of playing it. The song is heavily documented in the “Frank C. Brown Collection of NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE Vol 5,” and in “Folk Lyric” published by Duke University. As soon as songs could be recorded, “Cripple Creek" was among the most popular. The song quickly entered the mainstream, with even country music recordings of the 1920s and 30s featuring the song often.
The song itself tells the story of romance and debauchery in the mountains. “I’ve got a gal at the head of the creek, I’m goin’ up to see her ‘bout the middle of the week. I’ll kiss her on the mouth, as sweet as any wine, she wraps herself around me like a sweet potatoe vine… I got drunk fell against a wall, and old corn liquor was the cause of it all.” The narrator does mention his love for “the gal with the pretty blue eyes, one of these days in gonna make her mine.” When listened to closely, the song is certainly one of the raunchiest to be found in popular 19th century canon.
In the Nutmeggers’ recordings featured on “In High Water: Songs of the Civil War,” we hope to do justice to those musicians who came before us, and especially those who gave their all, that we might see “a new birth of freedom.” We seek to honor the spirit and humanity of those brave souls who fought so that this nation might live. This is their music, and these are their stories.
Sources:
“Cripple Creek.” Traditional Tune Archive, tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Cripple_Creek.
“Cripple Creek Song History.” Matteson Art, www.mattesonart.com/cripple-creek-song-history.aspx#:~:text=Versions%20of%20the%20bluegrass%20song,in%20JOAFL%2C%201915%2C%20vol.
“Cripple Creek.” Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, vwml.org/record/CJS2/10/3930.
- Ralston, John A. Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cow Camp. University of Illinois Press, 2005, books.google.com/books?id=jzGdAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA180#v=onepage&q=Cripple%20creek&f=false.
