|
The first printed version of the song, compiled by Cecil Sharp, appeared in
1917 and consisted of just four lines and a melody.
The lines are: Black girl, black girl, don't lie to meThe song shows definite blues influence but was known to both black and white singers in the South. It has been recorded by many performers including Dock Walsh (1926), Darby and Tarlton (1927 as Lonesome In The Pines) and (Lonesome Railroad, 1928), Roscoe Holcom, J. E. Mainer and His Mountaineers (1935), Josh White, Dave Van Ronk, Joan Baez and Doc Watson. The best known recordings are by Lead Belly who recorded over a half dozen versions between 1944 and 1948, most often under the title, "Black Girl" or "Black Gal". The lyrics are probably a combination of several separate songs: one about a down and out girl sleeping rough and getting favors from miners and railroaders and another about the railroad accident. The melody is similar to "House of the Rising Sun" and it's easy to drift from one to the other. I learned it either from a re-release of Lead Belly or from Pete Seeger. It gets more bluesy if you capo the guitar up 3 frets (or whatever suits your voice) and finger in E. |