The album was re-released on Smithsonian Folkways on CD in 1990 with additional tracks from the 1970s.
The Triplett Tragedy
The Doc Watson Family Lyrics
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On Yadkin Elk it did take place,
On Christmas morning at nine o'clock,
The people met an awful shock.
At Marshall Triplett's this begun.
The brothers met, it seemed in fun.
They drank together all as one,
And then the trouble it begun.
and struck Columbus with the chair,
"There is one thing that I do know,
You drink only to save your own."
They met in combat near the barn.
Mrs. Triplett went to stop this wrong.
Columbus stabbed Marshall in the thigh,
And left him on the ground to die.
Then Marshall's wife in great distress
Stayed by her husband while in death.
The children's screams was heard around,
Which did produce a solemn sound.
Then Lum went off at to go away
And met Gran Triplett on his way.
At Leroy Triplett's this was said,
Lum said to Gran, "Your father's dead."
Lum said to Gran, "I'll let you know,
I've killed your father at his home.
I'll now surrender up to thee.
You treat me kindly if you please."
Gran said to Lum, "One thing I'll do.
If you killed father I'll kill you."
He then beat Lum at a dreadful rate
And made bad bruises on his face.
Gran then took Lum to Wautauga jail.
He went behind the bars to stay.
Those beats and bruises they inflamed,
Which brought Columbus to his grave.
Those brothers sleep in the same graveyard,
Their wives and children troubled hard,
Their resting place there sure must be,
Till they shall rise at Judgement Day.
At Judgement Day we hope they'll rise
To meet their Savior in the skies.
To sing God's praises o'er and o'er,
And be with Christ forever more.
The sheriff then went on the round.
To see if Granville could be found.
There at his home he did abound,
And at that place he was then found.
Sheriff Webb held court up in our town
And sent him on to the chain gang.
For eighteen months he there must stay,
Except the governor hear him pray.
Young men, take warning by this case,
Don't use strong drink while in life's race.
Leave all such stuff then far behind,
And your kind parents you should mind.
The Triplett Tragedy, written and performed by The Doc Watson Family, tells a haunting story of a deadly family feud between two brothers, Columbus and Marshall Triplett, that eventually involves their families and friends. The song is set on Christmas morning and begins with a description of how the tragedy started at Marshall's house, where the brothers were drinking together. The lyrics suggest that Marshall was trying to provoke Columbus by accusing him of drinking just to save himself, which led to a fight that ended with Columbus stabbing Marshall in the thigh and leaving him to die, while Marshall's wife and children witnessed the gruesome scene.
The narrative then shifts to Columbus fleeing from the scene and encountering Gran Triplett, a relative of the deceased, and confessing to killing Marshall. Gran becomes enraged and beats Columbus brutally before turning him in to the authorities. The song ends with a reflection on the futility of violence and the hope for redemption in the afterlife, as the Triplett brothers and their families are laid to rest in the same graveyard.
Line by Line Meaning
A horrible sight I'll now relate,
I am going to tell a terrible story.
On Yadkin Elk it did take place,
This happened at Yadkin Elk.
On Christmas morning at nine o'clock,
The terrible event took place at nine o'clock on Christmas morning.
The people met an awful shock.
Everyone was very surprised and shocked by what had happened.
At Marshall Triplett's this begun.
It started at Marshall Triplett's house.
The brothers met, it seemed in fun.
The two brothers seemed to be having a good time together.
They drank together all as one,
They were all drinking together.
And then the trouble it begun.
The trouble began after they started drinking.
Then Marshall seemed to stand in the rear,
Marshall was standing at the back of the group.
and struck Columbus with the chair,
He hit Columbus with a chair.
"There is one thing that I do know,
Marshall said, "There's one thing I know.
You drink only to save your own."
He accused Columbus of only drinking to protect himself.
They met in combat near the barn.
They fought near the barn.
Mrs. Triplett went to stop this wrong.
Marshall’s wife tried to intervene to stop the fight.
Columbus stabbed Marshall in the thigh,
Columbus stabbed Marshall in the leg.
And left him on the ground to die.
Columbus left Marshall on the ground to die after stabbing him.
Then Marshall's wife in great distress
Marshall's wife was very upset and distressed.
Stayed by her husband while in death.
She stayed with her husband until he died.
The children's screams was heard around,
The children were screaming and everyone could hear them.
Which did produce a solemn sound.
The screaming children made the situation very sad and serious.
Then Lum went off at to go away
Lum left to go away.
And met Gran Triplett on his way.
He met Gran Triplett on his way.
At Leroy Triplett's this was said,
This was said at Leroy Triplett's house.
Lum said to Gran, "Your father's dead."
Lum told Gran that his father was dead.
Lum said to Gran, "I'll let you know,
Lum told Gran that he was the one who killed his father.
I've killed your father at his home.
He told Gran that he killed his father at home.
I'll now surrender up to thee.
He said that he would surrender himself to Gran.
You treat me kindly if you please."
He asked Gran to treat him kindly.
Gran said to Lum, "One thing I'll do.
Gran told Lum that he would do one thing.
If you killed father I'll kill you."
He threatened to kill Lum if he killed his father.
He then beat Lum at a dreadful rate
Gran badly beat up Lum.
And made bad bruises on his face.
He gave Lum many bruises on his face.
Gran then took Lum to Wautauga jail.
Gran took Lum to Wautauga jail.
He went behind the bars to stay.
Lum went to jail and stayed there.
Those beats and bruises they inflamed,
The bruises that Lum received became infected.
Which brought Columbus to his grave.
The infection ended up killing Columbus.
Those brothers sleep in the same graveyard,
The brothers are buried in the same graveyard.
Their wives and children troubled hard,
Their wives and children were very upset about what had happened.
Their resting place there sure must be,
They will be buried there forever.
Till they shall rise at Judgement Day.
They will stay there until judgement day.
At Judgement Day we hope they'll rise
It is hoped that they will rise at judgement day.
To meet their Savior in the skies.
They will meet their savior in heaven.
To sing God's praises o'er and o'er,
They will sing praises to God.
And be with Christ forever more.
They will be with Christ forever.
The sheriff then went on the round.
The sheriff began his investigation.
To see if Granville could be found.
He went to see if he could find Granville.
There at his home he did abound,
He found him at home.
And at that place he was then found.
The sheriff found him there.
Sheriff Webb held court up in our town
Sheriff Webb held court in town.
And sent him on to the chain gang.
Granville was sent to the chain gang.
For eighteen months he there must stay,
He had to stay there for eighteen months.
Except the governor hear him pray.
Unless the governor intervened and allowed him to leave earlier.
Young men, take warning by this case,
Young men should learn from this story.
Don't use strong drink while in life's race.
They should not drink alcohol.
Leave all such stuff then far behind,
They should stay away from alcohol entirely.
And your kind parents you should mind.
They should also respect and listen to their parents.
Contributed by Michael D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.