From the mid-1950s until 1975, Estil Cortez Ball performed with his wife Orna and their Friendly Gospel Singers in churches and on the radio, especially on WKSK (AM) in West Jefferson, North Carolina and WBOB (AM) in Galax, Virginia. Ball's first recordings were made by John A. Lomax on behalf of the Library of Congress at the 1937 Galax Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Virginia, where E.C. performed with his Rugby Gully Jumpers string band (named after Paul Warmack's Gully Jumpers). Lomax recorded the string band and several duets by E.C. and Orna. John's son Alan Lomax recorded Ball three years later, in 1941, at E.C.'s home in Rugby, Virginia, and there again in 1959.
County Records released Ball's first LP in 1967, as E.C. Ball and the Friendly Gospel Singers. Two more LPs followed in the 1970s on Rounder Records: E.C. Ball and Fathers Have A Home Sweet Home. Ball was also recorded by John Cohen for his 1975 compilation album High Atmosphere: Ballads and Banjo Tunes from Virginia and North Carolina.
E.C. Ball's most famous composition was a piece he called "Tribulations," based, as he told Alan Lomax in 1959, "on the last book in the Bible: Revelations." It has been frequently covered by other musicians as "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations."
Ball died in 1978 in Grassy Creek, North Carolina, and is buried at Corinth Baptist Church in Rugby, Grayson County, Virginia.
In December 2009, a tribute album was released entitled Face A Frowning World: An E.C. Ball Memorial Album, on the Tompkins Square label, produced by Nathan Salsburg. Singers interpreting songs from E.C.'s repertoire include Jolie Holland, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Jon Langford, the Handsome Family, Rayna Gellert, and Catherine Irwin, among others.
The Old Tar River
E.C. Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far, far away
That's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay
Way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam
I'm a still a-longin' for the old plantation,
Oh, for the old folks at home
Ah-oh-oh!
Oh, my my!
Well, way down upon the Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey.
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
Home where the old folks stay.
All up and down the whole creation,
Sadly I roam.
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
And for the old folks at home.
All the world is sad and dreary,
Ev'rywhere I roam
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
Far from the old folks at home
"The Old Tar River" is a song that touches upon themes of longing, nostalgia, and the yearning for home. It references the Swanee River, a real river in the southern United States, as a symbolic representation of the singer's desired destination. The opening line, "Way down upon the Swanee River, far, far away," immediately sets the tone of distance and separation from a place that holds sentimental value. The repetition of the phrase "home where the old folks stay" emphasizes the yearning for familiarity and the desire to be among loved ones.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses a sense of displacement and restlessness, with the line, "All up and down the whole creation, sadly I roam." The use of the word "roam" suggests a lack of rootedness and a constant search for something that is missing. The mention of the "old plantation" evokes a sense of nostalgia for a past way of life, which may hint at a longing for simpler times or a sense of belonging.
The chorus, with its repetition of the phrase "far from the old folks at home," underscores the central theme of longing. The world is described as "sad and dreary," and the singer's heart grows weary, emphasizing the emotional toll of being far from home and loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Way down upon the Swanee River,
Deep in the distant Swanee River,
Far, far away
In a place very far away
That's where my heart is yearning ever,
That is where my heart longs unceasingly
Home where the old folks stay
Home where the elderly reside
All up and down the whole creation,
Throughout the entire world,
Sadly I roam
I wander with sorrow in my heart
I'm a still a-longin' for the old plantation,
I still yearn for the former plantation
Oh, for the old folks at home
Oh, for the elderly residents of home
Ah-oh-oh!
Ah, the pain!
Oh, my my!
Oh, my!
Well, way down upon the Swanee River,
Well, deep in the distant Swanee River,
Far, far away-hey.
In a place very far away - hey.
Whoa, that's where my heart is yearning ever,
Whoa, that is where my heart longs unceasingly
Home where the old folks stay.
Home where the elderly reside.
All up and down the whole creation,
Throughout the entire world,
Sadly I roam.
I wander with sorrow in my heart.
I'm still a-longin' for the old plantation,
I still yearn for the former plantation
And for the old folks at home.
And for the elderly residents of home.
All the world is sad and dreary,
The entire world is sorrowful and bleak,
Ev'rywhere I roam
Wherever I wander
Oh, darkies, how my heart grows weary,
Oh, individuals of African descent, how my heart becomes tired
Far from the old folks at home
Far away from the elderly residents of home
Far from the old folks at home
Far away from the elderly residents of home
Far from the old folks at home
Far away from the elderly residents of home
Far from the old folks at home
Far away from the elderly residents of home
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CECIL MILNER, STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@moodylicious
Hmm, Ellen has space set up for her show guests to walk through room which has free gifts offered so each person goes home with a few goodies but a security camera catches a grown woman in the act of stealing. Then Ellen shows this to the viewers.
So, an audience guest ignores the rules; thinks she deserves more gifts than the others who were taking their gifts on the good faith system of honesty, and this woman thinks she is special and entitled to more.
You think Ellen, the host gift-giver is in the wrong for humorously but effectively shaming the chick who thought she was entitled to more than the rest? Interesting.
Ellen D is one of the most kind-hearted most generous people on the planet and generously gives a large portion of what her life's work has afforded her. Are you one of the hater crowd who think actors and musicians do not work hard & don't deserve their wealth?
Many of us really don't get this weird new anti-Hollywood, ant-TV, anti-music mentality. Where did that come from?
The snide and nasty insult on "MZ. Ellen" said all anyone needed to get your drift. You imply she "enjoys demeaning", "enjoys hurting others". You are bigoted, prejudiced and incorrect.
Her philanthropic endeavors include donating millions of dollars to help fight hunger, fight cancer and ending bullying. She launched the Small Change Campaign with Ben Affleck that contributes to fighting hunger throughout the United States. (taken off the internet as is)
One of Ellen's biggest charitable endeavors is the Campus for Rwanda, the community is building that will help educate young people, highlight the life's work of scientist naturalist Dian Fossey in saving the endangered mountain gorilla.
Building the campus is giving thousands of jobs to an impoverished community once under the ruin of violent Poachers. Do you have any idea of the billions Ellen has given to help the poor, the needy and endangered species she care for? Same goes for hundreds of other wealthy actors & musicians who give demonstrably to the disadvantaged. Or those providing musical instruments & theatrical equipment for our kids now deprived of Culture & the Arts due to Republican cuts on Education & Social Programs.
Hm.
Are you among the newly hatched entitled class of people of the anti-social mindset who think anybody should do whatever they damn well please, if they can get away with it!
Society can only succeeds when each person comprehends boundaries, knows the difference between right & wrong, obeys the laws put in place to keep civil order, don't you?
Or do you believe people can take law into their own hands and act as law enforcement, judge & jury by anointing him/herself vigilante?
@MrRJPE
You're right, I never would have believed a man could fall over a weak fence if it wasn't recorded. What would my life have been like without this video showing me such a profound event.
@jason_kenner
I was thinking the exact same thing. I am blown away by what took place. I did not know that such a phenomenon was possible. Thank goodness for camera's.
@Aesthetic_sweets
Lol oml I laughed so hard at this comment 😂
@pykapuka
Youre so gullible, this didnt really happen! He was actually repairing the fence and they just played the video backwards
@syme9925
@@pykapuka Nah dude. CGI. Its all CGI now.
@obscurelyvague
@@jason_kenner :\
@kevintucker8803
What's unbelievable is I watched the whole video.
@johndonahue3509
No way...unreal...THE WHOLE VIDEO!!!!!???.. Holy FCKN SHIT?!!!!!
@mahbuba1011991
Thanks for the comment which saved me from even playing the video 😂
@dmaster20ify
I was really looking towards seeing that up skirt