Moran Lee "Dock" Boggs (February 7, 1898–February 7, 1971) was an influenti… Read Full Bio ↴Moran Lee "Dock" Boggs (February 7, 1898–February 7, 1971) was an influential old-time singer, songwriter and banjo player. His style of play, as well as his singing, is considered a unique combination of old-time Appalachian mountain music and the blues. Boggs is deemed by contemporary old-time musicians and performers as a seminal figure in old-time music, at least in part because of the appearance of two of his recordings from the 1920s, "Sugar Baby" and "Country Blues", on the influential Anthology of American Folk Music collection.
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.
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.
John Henry
Dock Boggs Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'John Henry' by these artists:
"22" & Group He took a bullet in a Georgia field When an argument…
'Little' Jimmy Dickens John Henry was a little bitty boy sittin' on his…
Alan Lomax John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Arvella Gray Well the foreman said to John Henry, he said what…
Belafonte John Henry he could hammer, He could whistle, he could sing …
Big Bill Broonzy When John Henry was a little baby boy, sitting on…
Big Bill Broonzy John Henry said to his captain A man ain't nothin' but…
Bill Monroe John Henry was a little colored boy You could hold him…
Bill Wood When John Henry was a little baby boy, sitting on…
Booker T. Sapps John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Bruce Springsteen Well, John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his dady's…
Bruce Springsteen & Pete Seeger John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Bruce Springsteen & Seeger Session Band Well, John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his dady's…
Burl Ives John Henry he could hammer, He could whistle, he could sing…
Buster Brown Yeah! Johnny told his old Captain 'Man, a-when you go downto…
Caamp These days aint so easy mama gotta watch your back I…
Cisco Houston & Woody Guthrie John Henry, when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's…
Cows I'm not going home I'm going on I'm getting some I'm winn…
Dave Dudley When John Henry was just a little bitty boy no…
Dave Van Ronk John Henry when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's…
Dog Faced Hermans John Henry when he was a baby Sitting on his mothers…
Earl Scruggs & Hylo Brown & The Timberliners John Henry was a little baby boy You could hold him…
Earl Scruggs Hylo Brown and The Timberliners John Henry was a little baby boy You could hold him…
Earl Scruggs;Hylo Brown and The Timberliners John Henry was a little baby boy You could hold him…
Furry Lewis John Henry was a little baby boy, settin' at home…
Hall Tom T (The Storytellers and I were doing a show down in…
Hank Thompson John Henry was just a little bitty boy No bigger than…
Harry Belafonte John Henry he could hammer, He could whistle, he could sing …
Hugh Laurie John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Hylo Brown John Henry was a little baby boy You could hold him…
Hylo Brown and The Timberliners With Earl Scruggs John Henry was a little baby boy You could hold him…
Jane Sapp; Kahn; Pete Seeger; Sapp; Si Kahn John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Jerry Lee Lewis When John Henry was a little bitty boy He picked up…
Jerry Reed When John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his mama's…
Joe And Odell Thompson Who killed John Henry, In the battle of sinners and…
John Jackson Hush, don't talk now It won't change anything anyhow Just ho…
Johnny Cash Anybody got any special requests for us to do John Henry? Le…
Laura Veirs Hear the whistle blow far off in the still night…
Laurie Hugh John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Lead Belly John Henry, when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's…
Leadbelly John Henry was a li'l baby, uh-huh, Sittin' on his mama's…
Leadbelly & Sonny Terry John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Leadbelly (Children's) John Henry was a li'l baby, uh-huh Sittin' on his mama's…
Leadbelly Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Lesley Riddle John Henry was a baby boy, sittin' on his Mama's…
Lightnin' Hopkins Yeah! Johnny told his old Captain 'Man, a-when you go downto…
Little Jimmy Dickens John Henry was a little bitty boy sittin' on his…
Lonnie Donegan John Henry told his little woman Honey cook my supper soon…
Merle Travis When John Henry was just a little bitty boy Settin' on…
Mississippi Fred McDowell John Henry was a steel-drivin' John Henry was a steel-drivi…
Mississippi Fred McDowell & Johnny Woods This song is by Mississippi Fred McDowell and appears on the…
Odetta John Henry was a little baby, Sittin; on his momma's…
Odetta and Larry When I look into your blue eyes, I trust that fire…
Perssons Pack -Jag tänkte berätta en historia om en man som hette…
Pete Seeger John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Pete Seeger Jane Sapp & Si Kahn John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Pete Seeger Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly John Henry, when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's…
PHABO Henry gon' cut that wood By any means, on bro by…
Porter Wagoner JOHN HENRY (Traditional) « © '52 Silvehill Music » John …
Reese Crenshaw John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Rev. Gary Davis & Pink Anderson Through the long, long day of this troublous life Support us…
Sid Hemphill John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee When John Henry was a little baby Sitting on his daddy's…
Sonny Terry/Brownie McGhee John Henry was about three days old, Sittin' on his papa's…
Tennessee Ernie Ford When John Henry was a little baby No bigger than the…
Trail West John Henry was a little baby Sitting on his daddy′s knee He'…
Two Poor Boys John Henry was a little baby boy, settin' on his…
Van Morrison When John Henry was a little baby Sittin' on his mama's…
Willie Dixon feat. Memphis Slim John Henry had a little woman And the dress she wore…
Woody Guthrie John Henry, when he was a baby Settin' on his mammy's…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Dock Boggs:
Bright Sunny South In the bright sunny south in peace and content, The…
Cole Younger I am a noted bandit, Cole Younger is my name,…
Country Blues Come all you good time people, While I have money to…
Country_Blues Come all you good time people, While I have money to…
Cuba Take me over to Cuba, I'll cross the waters o'er;…
Danville Girl Oh, I went down to Danville, Got struck on a…
Down Home Blues I'm going to the station Going to catch the fastest train…
Drunkard's Lone Child I'm alone, all alone, my friends all have fled.My father,…
False Hearted Lover's Blues False hearts have been my downfall, Pretty women have been…
Glory Land If you have friends in Glory Land Who left because of…
Little Black Train God sent to Hezekiah A message from on high "You better set…
Oh Death What is this that I can't see, with icy hands taking…
Pretty Polly I used to be a rambler, I stayed around this…
Roses While I'm Living What care I for the purest white rose Placed in my…
Rowan County Crew Come all you fathers and mothers And brothers, sisters, too …
Sugar Baby Oh I've got no sugar baby now All I can do…
The Country Blues Come all you good time people, While I have money to…
The Death of Jerry Damron In the head of Marrowbone Holler, Where the crystal waters…
Wild Bill Jones I was out a-walking around one night And I met with…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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