Katie Cruel

"Katie Cruel" is a traditional American folksong, likely of Scottish origin. As a traditional song, it has been recorded by many performers, but the best known recording of the song is by Karen Dalton on the album "In My Own Time". The American version of the song is said to date to the Revolutionary War period. [Ken Goldstein, liner notes to Sandy Paton, "The Many Sides of Sandy Paton", sound recording (Elektra Records, 1959) cat. no. 148.]

Lyrics

The American lyrics appear to contain an oblique story of regret. As given in Eloise Hubbard Linscott's "The Folk Songs of Old New England" [Dover, 1993; ISBN 0486278271] , the full lyrics are:

When I first came to town,They called me the roving jewel;Now they've changed their tune,They call me Katy Cruel,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

ChorusOh that I was where I would be,Then I would be where I am not,Here I am where I must be,Go where I would, I can not,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

When I first came to town,They brought me the bottles plenty;Now they've changed their tune,They bring me the bottles empty,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

Chorus

I know who I love,And I know who does love me;I know where I'm going,And I know who's going with me,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

Chorus

Through the woods I go,And through the bogs and mire,Straightway down the road,And to my heart's desire,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

Chorus

Eyes as bright as coal,Lips as bright as cherry,and 'tis her delightTo make the young girls merry,Oh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

Chorus

When I first came to townThey called me the roving jewelNow they've changed their tuneThey call me Katy CruelOh, diddle, lully day,Oh, de little lioday.

Origins

The opening verse of the song bears a strong resemblance to the Scottish song, "Licht Bob's Lassie", whose opening verses mirror the song in both notional content and form: [Jean Redpath, "Scottish Ballad Book", sound recording: Elektra EKL-214, LP (1962) ]

First when I cam' tae the toonThey ca'd me young and bonnieNoo they've changed my nameCa' me the licht bob's honey

First when I cam' tae the toonThey ca'd me young and sonsieNoo they've changed my nameThey ca' me the licht bob's lassie

"Licht Bob's Lassie" would appear to tell a story about a camp follower or prostitute:

I'll die my petticoats redAnd face them wi' the yellowI'll tell the dyser ladThat the licht bob I'm tae follow

Feather beds are softAnd painted rooms are bonnieI wad leave them a'And jog along wi' Johnny

Oh my heart's been sairShearin' Craigie's cornI winnae see him the nichtBut I'll see him the morn

The imagery about dyeing petticoats is shared by the Irish Gaelic lament "Siúil A Rúin.

Performances

Dalton's performance of the song is perhaps the best known. [Ben Ratliff, " [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E7D7173FF93AA15753C1A9609C8B63 MUSIC: PLAYLIST; Resurrecting 'Katie Cruel' and That Old, Weird Trebly Sound] ", New York Times, Oct. 29, 2006, accessed Mar. 29, 2008.] About her version, Stephen Thompson has written that "It's unsettling to hear Dalton, who died homeless and haunted, sing of bridges burned and backs turned." [Stephen Thompson, " [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6488736 Ruminations on Bridges Burned and Backs Turned] ". National Public Radio, Aug. 23, 2006, accessed Mar. 29, 2008.] Jerry Garcia also performed the song, as have a number of other performers, including Sandy Paton, Gingerthistle, and Bert Jansch (with Beth Orton and Devendra Banhart). The Demon Barbers also recorded the song on their 2005 album Waxed.

References