I'm Alabama Bound

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title="I'm Alabama Bound"
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writer=
composer=Robert Hoffman
lyricist=
published=1909
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language=English
form=Ragtime
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recorded_by=
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"I'm Alabama Bound" is a ragtime melody composed by Robert Hoffman in 1909. Hoffman "respectfully" dedicated it to one M. T. Scarlata. [Hoffman, "I'm Alabama Bound".] The cover of its first edition (published by Robert Ebberman, New Orleans, 1909) advertises the music as "Also Known As The Alabama Blues" which has led some to suspect it of being one of the first blues songs. However, as written, it is an up-tempo rag (Rag Time Two Step) with no associated lyrics.

It has been recorded numerous times in different styles—both written and in sound recordings—with a number of different sets of lyrics.

Two recording artists claimed composing credits for the tune under two different titles and both with differing lyrics: Trixie Smith for "Railroad Blues" (Paramount 12262, 1925) and Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton for "Don't You Leave Me Here" (Bluebird 10450, 1939).

Huddie "LeadBelly" Ledbetter recorded perhaps the most well-know version of "I'm Alabama Bound" ("Alabama Bound", Victor 27268, 1940).

Lyrics

The first lyrics associated with the melody was a 1909 sound recording attributing the words to the owner of a New Orleans sheet music publishing company. The actual source of the lyrics is unclear, however, but they may have come out of a folk tradition.

1849—Minstrel

The earliest lyrics expressing the sentiment found in some of the later songs are found in a popular song, "I Hab Leff Alabama", written by Marshall S. Pike and published in 1849. The chorus, which is not the same melody, written in dialect in the original, is: :"Alabama agen, Alabama agen,":"And if I ebber lib till the sun rise tomorrow,":"I’s a gwine to go back to Alabama agen." [Pike, "I Hab Leff Alabama".]

1909—Rag

The first lyrics actually recorded to the music were by Price's Band (Columbia A-901) in November, 1909. The music was attributed to Hoffman and words to John J. Puderer. Charles Adams Prince was a popular march band leader of the day, performing cake-walks and military marches. Puderer was the proprietor of "The Music Shop" in New Orleans, who published Hoffman's sheet music. The verses, in rag-time, were pretty much the same as those found in later versions: :"I'm Alabama bound, I'm Alabama bound," :"I've tried you out, I've got to turn you down." The Columbia recording also included such staple coon song lyrics as: :"I done told you, nigger, for to be like me," :"Just drink good whisky, let your cocaine be."

1915/1916—Negro folk song

Alan Lomax attests to words found in his 1934 collection of "Alabama Bound" as being found in Newman I. White's "Negro Folk-Songs" (1915-1916). [Lomax, "American Ballads and Folk Songs", p. 206: "We include in this version stanzas from Professor White's "Folk Songs of the American Negro", from a collection made twenty years ago, and from the singing of prisoners in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi."] White's fragments, which are not set to music, are::"If de train goes and leaves me here,":"I got a mile to ride, I'm Alabama bound." [Cohen, "Long Steel Rail," p. 451.]

1925—Blues

Trixie Smith's 1925 "Railroad Blues" contains such lyrics as::"Now, if the train stays on the track, I'm Alabama bound.":"Now, if the train stays on the track, I'm Alabama bound." [Cohen, "Long Steel Rail," p. 450.]

1934—Folk song

Lomax's 1934 "Alabama Bound", collected from prisoners in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, contains such verses as::"I'm Alabama boun', I'm Alabama boun',":"Jes' as sho' as de train pull out, eas' today, I'm Alabama boun',":"Great God a mighty, babe, I'm Alabama boun'." [Lomax, "American Ballads and Folk Songs", p. 206.] and,:"Why doncha be like me? Why doncha be like me?":"Drink yo' high-tension whisky, babe, an' let yo' cocaine be, An' let yo' cocaine be.":"Great God a mighty, babe, An' let yo' cocaine be." [Lomax, "American Ballads and Folk Songs", p. 206.]

1939—Jazz

Jelley Roll Morton's 1939 "Don't You Leave Me Here" has verses such as::"I'm Alabama bound, Alabama bound,":"If you like me, honey babe, you've got to leave this town."

:"She said, "Don't you leave me here, don't you leave me here,":"But, sweet papa, if you must go, leave a dime for beer."

1956—Skiffle

Lonnie Donegan released a version of "I'm Alabamy bound" on the 1956 Pye 10" LP "Showcase", which reached no. 26 in the UK singles charts. [ [http://www.freewebs.com/lonniedoneganonvinyl/lps19561969.htm Lonnie Donegan Vynal Discography] ] The chorus, which feature a rare echoing vocal by guitarist Denny Wright goes as follows.:"If this train don't stop and turn around":"I'm Alabamy bound, I'm Alabamy bound"

Versions

John W. "Blind" Boone included a short section of "I'm Alabama Bound" in his "Southern Rag Medley No. Two (Strains from Flat Branch)." The sheet music, published by Allen Music Co., Columbia, Missouri, (copyright 1913), was transcribed from Boone's piano roll which he recorded for the QRS company in 1912.

Recording artists

References

Bibliography

*Boone, John W. "Blind Boone's Southern Rag Medley No. Two: Strains From The Flat Branch". Allen Music Co., 1913. (Sheet music)
*Cohen, Norm. "Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong". University of Illinois Press, 2000. ISBN 0252068815
*Hoffman, Robert. "I'm Alabama Bound". Robert Ebberman, 1909. (Charles H. Templeton, Sr. Sheet Music Collection–Mississippi State University)
*Lomax, John A. and Alan Lomax. "American Ballads and Folk Songs". Dover Publications (reprint), 1994. ISBN 0486282767
*Pike, Marshall S. "I Hab Leff Alabama". "The Harmoneons: New and Original Melodies Sung by Them at Their Principal Concerts", pp. 3-5. A & J.P. Ordway, 1849. (Library of Congress)
*Waltz, Robert B; David G. Engle. " [http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ballads/PSAFB044.html Alabama Bound] ". "The Traditional Ballad Index: An Annotated Bibliography of the Folk Songs of the English-Speaking World". Hosted by [http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/ California State University, Fresno, Folklore] , 2007.