Boggs was born in Norton, Virginia and began working in the coal mines of Appalachia at the age of twelve. At around this time, Boggs became interested in the banjo. As was the case of many musicians and performers of his era, Boggs learned to play the banjo watching and listening to family members and other performers, drawing additional influence from local African American musicians.
Boggs, while playing a traditional-style of play, did not play in the knock-down, sometimes called clawhammer or frailing style, instead employing a three-finger method that involved picking upwards on the strings of the banjo and permitted him to execute crisp single-note runs in a manner similar to that of a fingerstyle guitarist. Nevertheless, Boggs' style should not be confused with the bluegrass style of playing otherwise known as Scruggs style, made famous by Earl Scruggs, which also involves up-picking the banjo strings.
In 1920 Dock Boggs became influenced by blues tunes. He heard music played and sung by African-Americans while working in the coal mines and around the railroads of Appalachia. In 1927 he attended an audition in Bristol, Tennessee with the Brunswick record company. He was offered a contract to record with Brunswick and as a result travelled to New York where he recorded eight sides: "Sugar Baby," "Down Home Blues," "Country Blues," "Sammie Where Have You Been So Long," "Danville Girl," "Pretty Polly," "New Prisoner's Song" and "Hard Luck Blues." After these sessions, Boggs never recorded for Brunswick again.
By 1933, Boggs had given up hope of making a living as a musician. He hocked his banjo and did not play again until the early 1960s when he was re-discovered by Mike Seeger of the New Lost City Ramblers. As a result of his relationship with Seeger, Boggs enjoyed a renaissance of sorts during the Folk Revival, and recorded again.
Cole Younger
Dock Boggs Lyrics
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My friends I brought to shame.
Of robbing of a Northfield bank's
A thing I can't deny.
Now I'm a poor prisoner, In the Stillwater jail I lie.
The first of my many robberies
I will relate to you, Was a poor Californian miner, And the same will surely rue.
I taken from him his money, And I told him to go his way, The same will check my conscience
I went home
And brother Bob did say,"
We'll buy fine horses
And together ride away."
We started out for Texas, That good old Lone Star State, All on the new prairie
There the James boys meet. (1)With knives and revolvers, We all set out to play, A-drinking good corn whisky, boys, To pass the time away.
The Union Pacific
We first did surprise, A-murdering of your own heart's blood
Would bring tears to your eyes.
Brother Bob was shot and wounded
All in Northfield he did lie, (2)All on the new prairie
There the bullion lie.(1) Should have been sung "
The James boys we did meet."(2) Should have been sung "
All in Northfield he did die."
Dock Boggs's song, "Cole Younger," is about the eponymous outlaw who describes himself as a notorious bandit responsible for death and shame of many. Younger claims that he cannot deny robbing a Northfield bank, for which he is now languishing in Stillwater jail as a poor prisoner. He then proceeds to narrate his very first robbery, in which he took money from a poor miner and instructed him to go his way, regretting his actions from that day until his death. Younger's brother Bob proposed that they start afresh in Texas together and they began their journey. Eventually, they met the James boys on the new prairie and set out to drink corn whisky and play with their knives and revolvers. However, their criminal activities caught up with them as they first surprised the Union Pacific and Brother Bob was shot and wounded in Northfield where the bullion was left.
The lyrics of the song describe the life of Cole Younger, the infamous American outlaw. The song's title, which is the character's name, suggests that the focus of the song is on telling the audience about his exploits. Younger is the singer of the song, and he recounts his criminal adventures, admitting his crimes and providing details about his first robbery, his family relationships and his time in jail. The song emphasizes the consequential nature of criminal conduct and draws attention to the shame one must face when caught. The lyrics allude to societal non-acceptance of such behaviour.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a noted bandit, Cole Younger is my name, To many a death procession
I'm a infamous outlaw known as Cole Younger, who has caused the death of many in various violent acts.
My friends I brought to shame.
I've disgraced and dishonored my companions through my criminal behavior.
Of robbing of a Northfield bank's
One of my most notorious crimes was robbing a bank in Northfield.
A thing I can't deny.
I can't deny that I committed the robbery in Northfield.
Now I'm a poor prisoner, In the Stillwater jail I lie.
I am currently incarcerated and imprisoned in Stillwater jail as a result of my criminal actions.
The first of my many robberies I will relate to you, Was a poor Californian miner, And the same will surely rue.
Let me tell you about the first of my many heists. The victim was a vulnerable Californian miner who will undoubtedly regret crossing paths with me.
I taken from him his money, And I told him to go his way, The same will check my conscience Until my dying day.
I robbed him of his money and sent him on his way. This act of theft has weighed heavily on my conscience and will continue to do so until my death.
I went home And brother Bob did say, We'll buy fine horses And together ride away.
When I returned home, my brother Bob suggested that we buy quality horses and make a swift escape together.
We started out for Texas, That good old Lone Star State, All on the new prairie There the James boys meet. (1)
We embarked on a journey to Texas, the great Lone Star State, where we eventually met up with the notorious James boys on the new prairie. (1)
With knives and revolvers, We all set out to play, A-drinking good corn whisky, boys, To pass the time away.
Armed with knives and guns, we engaged in reckless behavior as we passed the time by drinking corn whisky.
The Union Pacific We first did surprise, A-murdering of your own heart's blood Would bring tears to your eyes.
Our first great heist was robbing the Union Pacific, an act in which we committed cold-blooded murder, a crime that would bring tears to anyone's eyes if they were to witness it.
Brother Bob was shot and wounded All in Northfield he did lie, (2) All on the new prairie There the bullion lie.(1)
My brother Bob was shot and gravely injured during a heist in Northfield, where the stolen bullion remains hidden on the new prairie. (1) (2)
Should have been sung "The James boys we did meet."(2)
There is an error in the lyrics and this line should have been sung as, "We met the James boys." (2)
Should have been sung "All in Northfield he did die."(2)
There is an error in the lyrics and this line should have been sung as, "My brother Bob he did die in Northfield." (2)
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.