A few years ago I was able to hear a piece of music that had been passed down through my family generation to generation. It struck me deeply, and I have already taught it to my children. I felt a strong connection, through this song, to the family before me. My great-grandmother sang this song to my grandfather and great uncles as she put them to bed at night. This song falls into the category of Southern Appalachian music, but its print origins can be traced to the early 1900’s.
Southern Appalachian music is more than just banjos, toothless old men, and hound dogs performing on the porch of a mountain cabin. Southern Appalachian music is a family tradition that conveys stories, ideas and family memories. The song “Jack O’Frazier” also known as “Jack-A-Roe” is more than a piece of music, it is family history.
“Jack O’Frazier” is a song that my great-grandmother Ruby Amidon sang to my grandfather as she rocked him to sleep. It has been passed down through our family from generation to generation. Because southern Appalachian music is an important family tradition, I thought I would post this song so that my children will be able to see it, years from now, and remember their heritage.
Our family’s version may be a little different than the folk song your familiar with, but I hope that you find it worth adding to your family’s tradition.
Jack O’Frazier
There was a wealthy merchant
In London he did dwell
He had a lovely daughter
The truth to you I’ll tell
The truth to you I’ll tell
She had sweethearts a plenty
To court her both day and night
But none but Jack O’Frazier could
Maker he heart delight
Oh, could make her heart delight.
Early one morning father went into her room
Said, good morning Mrs. Frazier
If that be your sweethearts name
Oh, if that be you sweethearts name.
Said, yes my dear old father
No other can suit my mind
None back Jack O’Frazier
Can place his heart to mine
Oh, can place his heart to mine.
Father being angry
He went into the town,
And offered 50 francs
To have Jack over bound
Oh, to have Jack over bound
She was left at home
With money at her demand
So she took some traveling notion
To view some far off land
Oh, to view some far off land
She went down to the tailor shop
And dressed in man’s array
And landed on a board ship
To land herself away
Oh, to land herself away
Before we set to sailing
Your name I’d like to know
She answered him a smiling
You can call me Damon Rowe
Oh, you can call me Damon Rowe
Your waist it is slender
Your fingers they are small
Your cheeks to red and rosy
To face the cannonball
Oh, to face the cannonball
I know my waist is slender
I know my fingers they are small
But I do not think I’d tremble
To see ten-thousand fall
To see ten-thousand fall
So she was set to sailing
All out on the deep blue sea
And landed ore in France
In the war of Germany
Oh, in the war of Germany.
When she got there
She made a circle around
And among the dead and wounded
Her darling boy she found
Oh, her darling boy she found
She picked him up gently
And carried him into town
And hired a respirator
To cure his deadly wounds
Oh, to cure his deadly wounds.
When he was about recovered
He was very much surprised
To see her darling sweetheart
With the tears all in her eyes
Oh, with the tears all in her eyes.
Oh, with the tears all in her eyes.
