Waterboy (song)

Song infobox
Name = Waterboy" / "Water Boy


Caption = Cover of sheet music to a piano version of the "negro convict song" arranged by Avery Robinson for singer Roland Hayes, 1950
Type =
Artist =
alt Artist =
Album =
Published = 1922
Released =
Recorded =
Genre = Jazz, Folk, Blues
Length = Typically 3-4 mins
Writer = Traditional
Composer = Avery Robinson (arr.)
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"Waterboy" (a.k.a. "The Water Boy") is an American traditional folk song.

Originally a black prison work song, a jazz arrangement by Avery Robinson [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3hdsa9ygi230~T3 AMG: Avery Robinson > Songs composed by] ] popularized "Water Boy" in the 1920s. From 1949 onwards, it has also been performed by many blues and folk artists.

Versions

*Roland Hayes (1922)::"This is the version arranged by Avery Robinson [ [http://www.jstor.org/pss/1214997 JSTOR: "The Black Perspective in Music", “Isaac Hayes in London”] retrieved April 25, 2008
If unavailable, text also contained in [http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22Water+Boy%22+OR+Waterboy+%22Roland+Hayes%22&btnG=Search&meta= Google search result] ] (see )."

*Fats Waller - "Fats Waller in London" (1922) [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kxfyxq8gldse Fats Waller - "In London", AMG] ] , "1938" (1938) [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ti0xlffejcqr Fats Waller - "1938", AMG] ] ::"Waterboy" was recorded by several other jazz singers around this time, including Fats Waller (see below), Earl Hines and John Payne."

*John Lee Hooker (1949)::"This version appears on the compilations "The Country Blues of John Lee Hooker", "The Unknown John Lee Hooker: 1949 Recordings" and "Jack O' Diamonds: 1949 Recordings"." [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=33:0x60tvpukl1x John Lee Hooker - "Water Boy", AMG] ]

*Odetta & Larry - "The Tin Angel" (1954)

*Odetta - "My Eyes Have Seen" (1959)::"Song: "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain/Water Boy"." [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=33:4rkqoataeiod Odetta - "I've Been Driving on Bald Mountain/Water Boy", AMG] ]
"Waterboy" became a song Odetta performed regularly, and it appears on several of her albums. It is also the song she plays in the film "No Direction Home", in a TV performance from the 1960s (shown to highlight her influence on Bob Dylan)."

*Harry Belafonte and Odetta - "Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall" (1960) [ [http://www.akh.se/harbel/lso6007.htm Harry Belafonte - "Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall", www.akh.se] ]

*Paul Robeson - "The Power & the Glory" (1991 compilation) [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:h06ftr29klox Paul Robeson - "The Power & the Glory, AMG] ]

*The Kingston Trio - "Stewart Years" (2000 compilation)

External links

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=17:1673354~T00C "Water Boy" on the All Music Guide]
* [http://www.metodocallan.net/canzoni/waterboy.odetta.html Callan School of English: Lyrics to Odetta's "Waterboy"]

References

Retrieved January 14, 2007 unless stated