Bibliography of Pre-1910 Idaho Songs (as of 12/31/2007)

Pickle's Butte Music

Annotated Bibliography

of Pre-1910 Idaho Songs

(as of March 3, 2008)

This annotated bibliography contains about eighty songs written before 1910 that are related at least nominally to Idaho , and many are historically based. Needless to say, for songs this old there can be considerable uncertainty about the identity of the songwriter and the date the song was written. Best judgment based on available information was used to make this list.

The compiler of this list (Gary Eller) is very interested in learning about corrections, clarifications andadditions to this list that others may know about. Please contact him at pgaryeller@aol.com . The pre-1910 Idaho song list will be updated annually. During 2008, similar lists will be made for the periods 1910-1939 and 1940-1969. Songs also are being gathered for songs after 1969 for possible future compilations.

This map is from the CD Songs of the Snake River Country

Are They Going to Hang My Daddy (Owen Spendthrift, 1907). Sheet music cover sheet and lyrics are found on page 115 of the book “Sagebrush Post Offices” by Mildretta Adams (1986). The original sheet music is in the EMU Museum in Grandview. The cover shows a photograph of Big Bill Haywood’s daughter “little Henrietta”, who was born when Haywood was mining in Silver City in 1897 and formulating ideas for the radical Western Federation of Miners union. Adams states that this “sob” song was written and prominently posted all over Boise to arouse sympathy for Haywood during his trial for the assassination of former Governor Frank Steunenberg.

Ballad of the Bear Lake Boys Drowning (Thomas Stevens, late 1860’s). This classic event ballad is tells the story of the drowning of six Bear Lake boys in 1868 in the swollen Green River as they attempted to cross it while responding to a call to assist stranded emigrants in Council Bluffs. The songwriter is one of the survivors. Lyrics appear in the book “Treasured Tidbits of Time – An informal History of Mormon Conquest and Settlement of the Bear Lake Valle”. The melody is given as that of “Oh Mother is the Battle Over”. It is said that the song was a favorite song around campfires of the the Bear Lake Valley for several years after it was written.

Bear, Idaho, Ditty (Songwriter unknown, ca. 1900). This short ditty appears to a children’s ditty about every day life in Bear Idaho in the Hells's Canyon area from about 100 years ago.

Bear Lake Monster (Songwriter unknown, late 1870s). This song is found in June 2007 in the book “Ballads and Songs from Utah” by Lester A. Hubbard (1961). The song was collected by George S. Taggart of Salt Lake City in 1948 but probably dates to the late 1870s since the name of Utah Territory Supreme Court Judge J. B. McKean is mentioned. Although putatively about the Bear Lake Monster of Native American and pioneer legends, the song is a terrific political parody which uses the monster as an allegory for the federal government (or Mormonism). The song technically is not in the Snake River region, but is included because it is a rare example of an Idaho-specific Mormon folk song.

Belle of Idaho (Frank O. Rosenberg, 1910). This light hearted song is in the typical western cowboy song style of the eary 1900s and is only nominally related to Idaho. Sheet music is in the University of Indiana digital sheet music collection.

Boys and Girls of Idaho (songwriter and date unknown). Lyrics for this children’s song are listed on page 165 of WOII. The melody is given as that of “Oh Tannenbaum”. The song was collected by Rosalie Sorrels around 1988 from the Stella Hendren folk song collection and is item 1025 in the Fife Hendren Collection at Utah State University.. The song also appears in the books “Songs of the Saddle and Trails into Lonesome Land” by E. A. Brubacher in the Boise city library.

Challis Girls (Clarence E. Eddy, ca. 1900). Lyrics for this song were found in September 2007 in “The Pinnacle o Parnassus”, a book of poetry and songs written by Clarence E. Eddy published in 1902 that was reprinted in 2005 by the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. The melody is given as that of “Last Rose of Summer”, which in turn was taken from the Irish air “The Groves of Blarney”. Eddy was a very colorful prospector and poet who later was a prospector and songwriter in Nevada.

Cold Springs Waltz (Carl J. Erickson and Minnie Erickson Parkins, ca.1900). The handwritten melody line for this instrumental was found in October 2007 at the Ilo-Vollmer Historical Museum in Craigmont. The song was donated to the museum by Major Parkins, a nephew of the songwriters, in June, 1996. Carl Erickson was a logger who came to the Cold Springs area near Cottonwood in the mid to late 1890’s and died in 1901.

Cowboy Square Dance (songwriter and date unknown). See discussion for Frozen Dog Quadrille.

Coxey's Army Song (songwriter unknown, ca. 1894). This song relates to the experiences of S. L. Scheffler's branch of Coxey's Army in Idaho as it attempted to travel from Portland to join the main force in the East. The melody is that of the well known gospel tune Pharaoh's Army.

Dainty Flo from Idaho (Florence L. Burson and W. Harrison Barber, © 1905). This light turn of the century love song is only nominally related to Idaho. Sheet music is in the University of Colorado Digital Sheet Music Collection.

Dear Old Idaho (Olive I. Thompson, 1905). Sheet music for this sentimental song are in the Idaho State Historical Society archives.

Dig Me a Grave in the Owyhees (Bud Baltazor, early 1900s). This song was written by the legendary mustanger and jerk-line skinner Bud Baltazor of southwest Idaho. Lyrics are presented on page 168 of WOII and in the book “Last of the Mustangs and Jerkline Skinners”, cowritten and published in 1976 by Bud and his grandson Jerry Baltazor of Shoshone. This is a delightful tongue-in-cheek song with lyrics in the classic range cowboy style. The original melody of this song is unknown, but most likely was a simple cowboy melody befitting the probable purpose of the song –just for fun in the saddle or around the evening campfire. Gary Eller and the noted western singer Carolyn Larson (Patterson) of Grandview applied a plausible traditional melody and, with permission of Jerry Baltazor recorded the song for the CD “Ballads of the Owyhee Country”, issued in April 2007 by the Owyhee County Historical Society.

Discoveries of Captain Lewis (John Quincy Adams, 1806). When Meriwether Lewis returned to the East Coast in the fall of 1806 after the conclusion of the Corp of Discovery expedition, he was exuberantly feted. Skeptics, however, had doubts about that significance of Lewis’ accomplishments. A stingingly sarcastic poem by John Quincy Adams was immediately issued. Because pre-1910 songs related directly in any way to Lewis and Clarke are almost unknown and Adam’s poem is so illustrative of some thought at the time, Gary Eller set the verse to the melody of the Revolutionary War Song Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Dowdle Bill (song writer unknown, 1877). Two verses for this song are given in the book “Vigilante Days and Ways” by Nathaniel Pitt Langford (1890). The melody is given as that of the popular California mining song “The Days of Forty Nine”. According to Langford’s book, the song was composed in the Rock Creek area in 1877 by the pall bearers carrying the body of Dowdle Bill. Bill had recently been released from prison for stealing horses and was seeking revenge on the man who had turned him in. Instead, he was shot dead after getting drunk, shooting up the town and killing a passerby.

Eagle Rock (songwriter and date unknown). Three verses of this sentimental tribute to the location now known as Idaho Falls are contained in Vardis Fisher’s book (1939) Idaho Lore. No melody is given.

Fair Time (songwriter and date unknown). Five verses and a chorus for this song were found in October 2007 in the book “Pioneer Families of Cedar Creek Ridge” by Anna Smith Mitchell in the Nez Perce County Historical Society. The lyrics suggest that the fair is the Idaho County Fair. The chorus consists of classic “nonsense” lyrics.

Fallen Leaf (songwriter unknown, late 1880s). A melody line and lyrics for this well known song about an Indian maiden of the Snake River region are found on page 22 of WOII and many other places. The WOII variant was collected by Rosalie Sorrels from the folk song collection of Stella Hendren of northwest Idaho. Hendren stated that the lyrics were written by a cowboy riding into the Two Bar Seventy Ranch in 1887 or 1888. A second variation of this song from Marvin Sparks is given on page 23 of WOII.

Fort Limhi Camp Song (Israel Justus Clark, 1855-1858). This rare Mormon related and very early Idaho song was written by one of the original pioneers at the attempted Mormon colony near present day Salmon. Partial lyrics for this song were initially found in September 2007 in the book “Fort Limhi, The Mormon Adventure in Oregon Territory, 1855-1858” by David L. Bigler (2004). Full lyrics (but no melody) then were found as document MS 1219 in the special collections of Brigham Young University.. The song also is referred to as the Indian Mission Song.

Frozen Dog Quadrille (Col. Wm. C. Hunter, 1905). This song appears in the book "Frozen Dog Tales and Other Things", a book of parody poems and songs about the mythical town of Frozen Dog, Idaho published in 1905 by Col. Wm. C. Hunter of Emmett. The melody is given as that of the well known northeastern old time fiddle and dance tune "Money Musk". Very similar lyrics appear in numerous later publications (e.g., song books by the Lomax'es) under names such as "Cowboy's Dance" and "Idaho Cowboy's Dance". Lyrics are available that could be used by a square dance caller to almost any standard square dance tune. The songwriter and date are unknown, and the song does not specifically refer to the Idaho region but it appears to have been well known in Idaho . The song appears in many other places, at least as early as the John A. Lomax book “Songs of the Cattle Trail and Cowcamp (1919). The lyrics appear under the title “Old Dad’s Scrapbook” on page 219, where Rosalie Sorrels states that she found it in a newspaper clipping under that title. This song also was performed in the stage production “Light on the Mountains – The Idaho Pageant” by Talbot Jennings (University of Idaho, 1923) where credit for the lyrics are given to James Barton Adams.

Gem of the Mountains (Clarence E. Eddy and John J. McClellan, early 1900s). This song is subtitled “Idaho State Anthem” and may have been considered by some as Idaho’s state song prior to the adoption of “Here We Have Idaho” for this purpose by action of the state legislature in 1932. Sheet music dated 1917 was obtained from Garth Gibbs of Mountain Home in November 2007, although the song may well have been written earlier. Eddy was colorful Idaho prospector, poet, songster and philosopher who wrote numerous interesting songs that borrowed melodies from popular songs around 1900. McClellan is listed on the sheet music of this song as “Tabernacle Organist, Salt Lake City, Utah”. The song was dedicated to C. E. (Christian Endeavor) Union, and interfaith group.

Gem of the Mountains (songwriter and date unknown). This song was found in October 2007 in the book “Round Valley – My Home in Covered Wagon Days” by Gratia Bacon Matthews (1981) in the Emmett Public Library. The song likely predates 1900 from the title of the book where the lyrics are listed: A cassette recording by the same name by J. J. Dion also is in the Boise city library.

Get Out Yellowskins (songwriter unknown, late 1800’s). This song is an emotional and racist diatribe on the murder of thirty Chinese placer miners at Douglas Bar in Hells Canyon in July, 1885 for their gold. Seven cowboys were suspected to be responsible, but there were no convictions. The song was collected in the summer of 1950 by Olive Woolley Burt in Lewiston from “Old Cap” who said “there ain’t no use diggin’into those past troubles now”. A melody line and lyrics are given in “American Murder Murder Ballads”. Songwriter and date of origin unknown, but the song probably was composed soon after the incident. This song is noteworthy for it’s racist tone, reflecting common sentiment of the time against Chinese.

Grave of Lizzie King (Clarence E. Eddy, 1902). This song is about one of the three individuals involved in the legendary love triangle and their violent deaths in 1878 at Bonanza. Lyrics were found in September 2007 in “The Pinnacle of Parnassus” by Clarence E. Eddy, a book of poems and songs published in 1902 and reprinted in 2004 by the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. The melody is given as that of “Green Fields of Virginia”.

Harry Orchard Song (songwriter unknown, ca. 1907). This song relates to one of Idaho’s most important legal cases–the prosecution about bombing assassination of former Governor Steuenberg. Orchard was the confessed trigger man for the bombing, but a sensational trial of Western Federation of Miners leaders Big Bill Haywood and two other union leaders, who were kidnapped from Denver, captured the nations attention. The legendary Clarence Darrow served for the defense and Idaho’s two most beloved attorneys, James Hawley and William Borah, prosecuted in this momentous trial. An acapella recording of this song by Utah Phillips appears on the CD “The Long Memory”, RFR CD83 (1996). Lyrics and melody line appear on page 136 of WOII and earlier in Wooley Burt’s book “American Murder Ballads and other stories” (1958).

Idaho (Frank French, 1864). This well known song is a classic parody on how “easy” gold could be found in Idaho. The history of this song is one of the most interesting of all Idaho songs. Sheet music and lyrics were first published in Chicago by Frank French in 1864 and are available from the national American sheet music consortium. It is considered unlikely that French ever visited Idaho. Nevertheless, it took little time for the song to get to Idaho and enter the folk music tradition, with many variants on melody and lyrics, and few could have imagined that it originated as a commercial piece of music from the midwest. An interesting variation called “Way Out in Idyho” is found in the book “Singing Cowboy – a Book of Western Songs”, collected and edited by Margaret Larkin (1931, 1963) found in the Lemhi County Historical Museum. An example of another variant, referred to as “Way Up in Idaho” indicates the words are “traditional” and “ca. 1865” appear in the “Old Time Cowboy Songbook” by Will McCain Clauson (1996). The song is more commonly known variously as “Way Out in Idaho”, “Oh Wait Idaho”, or “We’re Coming Idaho”. A recorded version by Charley Cockey appears on the 1963 LP “Sing We of Idaho” and earlier by Frank Warren on the 1958 Elektra album “Our Singing Heritage”.

Idaho (H. C. Thompson, 1880s). This song was written by the Boise area musician H. C. "Hank" Thompson and published in the April 13, 1886 issue of the Idaho Semi Weekly World newspaper. The song became very popular and eventually was published in 1918 in sheet music form by the Idaho Pocahontas Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriotic and Historic Society and dedicated to the deceased song writer. The music notation and arrangment in the sheet music was provided by College of Idaho music professor Frederic Fleming Beale.

Idaho -a Cowboy Love Song, (James O’Dea and Anna Caldwell, 1906). This sentimental love song is available in sheet music with lyrics. Jos. W. Stern and Co. held a British copyright to the song, with rights reserved by the English Theatre and Music Hall reserved, suggesting it was performed as part of a stage show in England.

Idaho-Indian Love Song (Louis Arden Schuch, 1904). Sheet music for this song are available electronically from the Lester S. Levy Collection at the Johns Hopkins University.

Idaho Idaho Fruitful and Fair (W. R. Sprecher, 1908). Sheet music for this sentimental is available from the U. S. Library of Congress. The online entry indicates the music is “from old catalog” and is “song for medium voice”. The music was published in Twin Falls.

Idaho Panhandle Song (George C. Murphy, ca. 1913). This march and two step is said to have been played by the Coer d'Alene city band during the July Regatta in 1913. The songwriter was from Coer d'Alene. Sheet music is in the Museum of Northern Idaho.

Idaho State Song (Miss Abby F. Hull, pre 1900). This melody is given as that of the well known gospel song "Beulah Land". The song is in the sheet music collection of the Idaho State Historical Society.

Idaho Two Step March (Erma M. Hedrin? Heckman?, 1890). Sheet music for this instrumental is in the sheet music collection of the Idaho State Historical Society.

Idaho Waltz, (H. Schirner, 1864). This is one of the two earliest songs known in sheet music forma that is related to Idaho.This formal instrumental waltz was published by the H. M. Higgins company of Chicago.

I’m Off to Boise City (songwriter unknown, 1863). The lyrics and music for this song are given on page 39 of WOI. The song was collected in the 1960s or 1970s by Barre Toelken, who conjectures in WOII that the song is related to the Emancipation Proclamation and was brought to Idaho by blacks working silver and gold mines in central Idaho. Toelken recorded the song as “Hey Jerusalem” on the LP album Prestige International Records PR-INT-13023, “A Garland of American Folk Songs”.

In Good Old Idaho (writer unknown, 1905). Lyrics for this tribute to Idaho in general, and the Meadows area in particular, are in the book “Ballads of Idaho – Its Scenes and Citizens” by Orianna Hubbard Martin of Weiser (1952). The book states the song was “written in 1905 and sung since at many school, club and pioneer programs”. No melody is given.

I Want to Go to Idaho (Mellor, Lawrance and Gifford, 1908). This fun cowboy-cowgirl song is only nominally about Idaho. The song was published in Australia for “William Anderson’s Pantomime “Babes in the Wood” “Sheet music is available over the internet from the National Library of Australia.

John Harty (songwriter and date unknown) – This song is a local adaptation of the well known Appalachian folk ballad “John Hardy”. The lyrics and melody line are given in “American Ballads and Folk Songs” by John A. Lomax and Allen Lomax (1934). It is stated in the book that the song was given to J. A. Lomax by J. H. Strickland of Idaho, who got it from Jeff Hamilton of Virginia in 1909.

Kamiah Springs (songwriter and date unknown). Lyrics for this ballad are given on page 26 of WOII and appeared earlier in Vardis Fisher’s book “Idaho Lore” (1939). The song tells about a fight with Nez Perce Indians at Kamiah Springs on October 22, 1879.

Legend of Molly B’Dam (songwriter and date unknown). This song is about the life of Maggie Hall, a “beautiful harlot” more commonly known as Molly B’Dam, at the Murray and Eagle diggings on Pritchard Creek. The story of this interesting woman, known for her kind and noble deeds, is given on WOII pages 185-187. Llyrics and melody were collected by Rosalie Sorrels from Opal Brooten at Wallace. The song likely was written shortly after Molly’s death in January, 1888. Over 5000 people are said to have paid their respects at her funeral.

Lewis and Clark e Centennial March (E. A. Barnes, 1902). This instrumental in the John Phillips Sousa march style with martial band is the earliest known composition and recording pertaining to the Corps of Discovery Expedition. Sheet music is available through the American sheet music consortium. The music was published in 1902 and was available as a disc record at the Lewis and Clarke Exposition in Portland in October, 1905. A downloadable recording was obtained from www.tinfoil.com, an internet site devoted to pre-vinyl recordings.

Lewis and Clarke Salute (songwriter unknown, 1807). One verse remains of a song supposed to have been sung in French to the Corps of Discovery when it reached St. Louis in the early summer of 1807 on its return to the east.

Lewiston Two Step (Sisters of the Visitation, ©1902). This instrumental song was composed in Lewiston at a school for girls operated by the Sisters of the Visitation, a group of nuns associated with St. Joseph’s Academy. Sheet music for this song is found at the Ilo-Vollmer Historical Society in Craigmont.

Little Bear Song (songwriter and date unknown). One verse of a song about the residents around the Little Bear area near Troy, Oregon is given in the book “Little Bear Revisited”, found in the Lewiston city library.

Little Dolly Daydream - Pride of Idaho (Stuart Leslie ©1897). Sheet music for this song are available via internet at the National Library of Australia in Melbourne. The music and lyrics were written by Thomas Augustine Barrett, a popular British performer who used the stage name Stuart Leslie. The song was performed in black-face stage productions with banjo and piano accompaniment. A “piano bar” version by Sun Valley pianist/singer Johnny Lister is found on the 1963 LP “We Sing of Idaho”.

Little Miss Ida of Idaho (Arthur Trevelyan, ©1898). Lyrics and music for this sentimental love song is available in sheet music form. The song is only nominally related to Idaho.

Lost River Desert (songwriter and date unknown). Six verses of this song about the Lost River region of Idaho are found in the collection of Fife and Fife (1969). The structure, lyrics and song style suggest that it was composed prior to 1910, as a takeoff on Red River Valley.

Love-Lorn Lament (Clarence E. Eddy, ca. 1898). This light hearted song expresses the sentiment of the stay-at-home young men at the University of Idaho during the Spanish American War (1898), when a returning cadet was kissed by forty girls.” . Lyrics are found in Eddy’s book of poems and songs “The Pinnacle of Parnassus” (1902), reprinted in 2005 by the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. The melody is given as that of “Sweet Jenny Dear”.

Mid the Hills of Idaho (William H. Seekins, ©1908). Sheet music and lyrics are available from the American sheet music consortium for this sentimental “homesick” song that mentions the Salmon River.

Miners and Muckers Together (songwriter and date unknown) This light hearted drinking/mining song was collected by Rosalie Sorrels from Maidell Cleets of Osburn. Lyrics are found on page 90 of WOII. The song was sung to the melody of “Sidewalks of New York”, which was written in the 1890s. The song probably was written not long afterwards.

Mining Camp Instrumentals (various composers, 1860s-1880s). The archives of the Idaho State Historical Society and Rob McIntyre's masters thesis contain a number of handwritten instrumental scores from the 1860s-1880s that were collected and played in Idaho mining camps. Many of the scores are attributable to the musician Peter Beemer in the 1860s, who apparently asked individuals to whistle, hum or sing their favorite melodies and then he would write the music on ruled paper. Other songs were collected in the following two decades. Examples of songs from this historically significant set of scores that are particularly pertinent to the present project are the following:

Pierce City Schottisch (Charles E. Jones, 1874)

Sanburn Schottisch (Charles E. Jones, 1874)

Polka from Charles Bernard (Peter Beemer, 1864)

Waltz from John Kelly (Edward Maloy, 1883)

Dixie (Peter Beemer, 1864)

Schottisch from J. Strangberg (Peter Beemer, 1864) – “ Camp Washington , Idaho -Warren Diggings"

Missionary Farewell (Sameul F. Smith, 1832). This song, as known as "Far in Heathen Lands to Dwell", was written by baptist preacher Sameul Smith and quickly became very popular in the wave of evangelical zeal that sweep the eastern United States in the 1830s. The song is said to have been sung by Narcissa in her Angelica, New York church as she and her new husband Marcus were about to travel west to become missionaries in present-day eastern Washington state. Narcissa was the first white woman known to have pass through Idaho, along the trail that later would become known as the Oregon Trail. Lyrics and melody are found in numerous early hymals, including the Southern Harmony (1835) and the first Mormon hymnbook (also 1835).

My Indian Queen (Sacajawea) (H. W. Hayes and Fred Brownold, 1904). This song is a good example of the romanticized depiction of the American Indian in sheet music of the Gilded Age. The cover suggests that this piece might have been part of a larger production called "Louisiana" , perhaps in connection with the Lewis and Clark Centennial Celebration in Portland in 1905, as also suggested by a logo referencing the celebration and the following sentence. "The story of this song pertains to Sacajawea, the Indian girl, who showed Lewis and Clark the way to the Pacific Coast in the year 1805." Sheet music is available electronically from the Frances G. Spencer Collection of American Popular Sheet Music, Crouch Fine Arts Library, Baylor University.

Native American Songs. As stated in the narrative, the scope of this study was restricted to English-language songs. A large body of Idaho-related songs in other languages, of course, exists. In particular, many historically-based songs are to be found in Native American tongues. Indeed, the earliest known “Idaho” recordings are of some Nez Perce songs. The Nez Perce “Song for Yutsinmaligkin”, which mentions the Sabbath Book and therefore is connected with the early Presbyterian missions in the Clearwater region, is reported on page 14 of WOII with some narrative background by Robert McCarl.

Old Deserted Claim (Clarence E. Eddy, ca. 1900). This is a plaintive song about the old deserted Charles Dickens mining claim near Bonanza. Lyrics are given in the songwriter’s book of poems and songs “The Pinnacle of Parnassus” (1902), reprinted in 2005 by the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center. The melody is given as that of “Sunny Tennessee”.

Old Judge Duffy(Songwriter and date unknown) This song tells the story heard numerous places around Idaho about an unfortunate Chinese man who was hung as a surrogate for the only blacksmith in town (white, of course). The melody line and lyrics are given on page 34 of WOII, together with some background by folklorist Barre Toelken of Utah State University. Toelken indicated that he got the song from retired logger Henry Tams of Moscow and that, whether or not the event actually happened, the song illustrates attitudes towards Chinese in the 1800s. The lyrics were reported earlier in Jan Brunvand’s article “Folk Song Studies in Idaho” in the journal Western Folklore, Volume 24, pages 2321-248 (1965).

Old Prospector’s Crime (songwriter and date unknown). This song is found in Olive Woolley Burt’s book “American Murder Ballads and Their Stories” (1958), where she reported that he collected the song in Moore, Idaho from E. H. Hardy. The song is an event ballad about a prospector who murdered his partner and blamed it on a bear, and then spent the rest of his life in remorse. Nothing specifically ties this song to Idaho except for the general flavor of the song and the place where it was located. Woolley Burt suggests a date of the late 1800s for the song.

On the Trail to Idaho (pre 1900?). This song is about driving herds of cattle to Idaho and thus likely dates to the late 1860s or 1970s, because the completion of the Oregon Shortline ended major cattle drives in Idaho. The song was collected by Rosalie Sorrels from the massive song collection of Stella Hendren and reported on page 165 of WOII. No melody is known for this song.

On the Trail with Old Blue (Ike Bear, date unknown). This is a classic early cowboy outlaw song that mentions Snake River . Lyrics (but no melody) appear in the Ph. D. Thesis (University of Denver, 1961) of Louie Attebery, a Weiser area native who was an English and folklore professor at the College of Idaho. Attebery obtained the song from Blaine Stubblefield, who got it from his father. The song is attributed to Ike Bear, was was “an old cowboy around the Imnaha River” in the Hells Canyon country. The song probably predates 1910.

Oregon Trail Zeke (songwriter and date unknown) This rare song about the portion of the Oregon Trail in Idaho is found in Charles O’Brien Kennedy’s songbook “A Treasury of American Ballads” (1954). This humorous song is about “Zeke” and his family life in the “Wahee Mountains”, and probably postdates 1860 since little settlement of the Owyhees occurred before then. No melody is known, but the song has been performed by Gary Eller using the melody of “Turkey in the Straw”, a popular song of the mid 1800’s.

Our Darling Idaho, or The Miner’s Love-letter (Mary Cleopatra Robinson, 1909). Sheet music for this song is in the U.S. Library of Congress sheet music collection.

Owyhee Miner's Lament (Pay Rock, 1876). This fun miner's song was found by Rob McIntyre during his masters thesis research on early Idaho mining camp songs. The song was published in the Feb. 25, 1898 issue of the Idaho Semi Weekly World newspaper.

Pay Streak that Went off into the Wall (H. C. Thompson, 1886). This is another song found by Rob McIntyre in an early Idaho newspaper during his thesis work.

Pioneer Song (songwriter and date unknown). One verse of this song is given on page 233 of Vardis Fisher’s book “Idaho Lore” (1939).

Prospector’s Song (songwriter and date unknown). One verse of this song is presented in the article “Folksongs Studies of Idaho” by Jan Brunvand in the journal Western Folklore (1965). The song was collected in 1963 from a seventy eight year old resident of Lewiston. Nothing specifically ties the song to Idaho, but the reference to “John Chinaman” is consistent with the attitudes of the region and a pre-1900 date.

Sacajawea (George A. Perley, 1905). This song about Sacajawea, a Lemhi Shoshone born in the vicinity of present day Salmon, is subtitled "The Lewis and Clark Guide: The Cazarwea of the Shoshones". Sheet music for this tribute to Sacajawea is in the Meriwether Lewis collection at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville.

Sacajawea Lullaby (Ziporah Harris, 1903). This lullaby sings of of Sacajawea's papoose, referred to by the Lewis and Clark company as "Pomp" and was dedicated to "Major William Hancock Clark" . The song was published in Portland, Oregon by Carl L. Nelson and Wright's Music House. Sheet music is available from the digital sheet music collection at the University of Oregon.

Sacajawea's Papoose (Carrie McKee, 1905). This instrumental tribute to Sacajawea's infant son is availble from the digital sheet music collection at the University of Oregon.

Salmon River Dixie (traditional). This song was collected by Rob McIntyre during research for his University of Idaho master’s thesis on 1860’s Idaho mining songs. McIntyre found Salmon River in an edition of the Lewiston Golden Age newspaper of 1862, making its one of the earliest known surviving songs of the region. The song is a classic working/drinking style song that humorously speaks of the many problems that miners of that era faced every day. The song was performed to the tune of “Dixie”.

Salmon River Song (A. C. Edmunds, 1862). This song is found in Rob McIntyre’s University of Idaho master’s thesis on 1860’s Idaho mining songs. It originally was published in February, 1862 in the Oregonian newspaper. The melody is not given by the structure, lyrics and meter of the song strongly indicate the melody was that of Oh Susannah, a popular song of the time.

Seven Devils Song (Hannibal F. Johnson, early 1890s). This song was written by the colorful Hannibal F. (“Seven Devils”) Johnson, who lived in the Hells Canyon region between the early 1890s and mid 1910s. In 1895, Johnson published the lyrics to this song and numerous other songs and poems. The song can be found many other publications, including Johnny Carey’s book “Salmon River Poetry and Prose” and page 91 of WOII. The Seven Devil’s Song is a classic miner’s folk song, with light hearted complaints about a miner’s life at that time. . The melody is given as that of Oh Susanna.

Snake River Massacre (Nicholas Lee, ca 1854). This classic event ballad tells about the August 1854 massacre when several hundred native Americans attacked the Alexander Ward wagon train of twenty one Missourians near present day Middleton, Idaho. Lyrics are presented in Olive Woolleyn Burt’s book “American Murder Ballads and Other Stories” (1958), where she states it was collected by David C. Duniway, Oregon State archivist, from the November 28, 1954 issue of Salem, Oregon Statesman. This is the earliest known song of Idaho. Authorship is attributed to Nicholas Lee, Pole County, Oregon Territory. A melody is not known for this song, but it could very plausibly have been sung as a dirge. (Note, a subsequent search of that newspaper issue failed to find the song.)

Star Valley Rose (songwriter and date unknown). This ballad was collected by Rosalie Sorrels from Julie Glenn in Rexburg. Lyrics but no melody are reported on page 188 of WOII. The song was written about Rose Morgan, who unwittingly married a compatriot of Butch Cassidy living one winter in Star Valley to avoid the law.

That's Good (Harry Williams and Egbert Van Alstyne, 1910). Sheet music for this popular song, only nominally related to Idaho, was found in an internet search of the sheet music consortium.

Thunder Mountain Melody (Clarence E. Eddy, 2000). Lyrics for this fascinating song are given in Clarence E. Eddy’s book of poems of songs “The Pinnacles of Parnassus” (1902), reissued in 2004 by the Yankee Fork Interpretive Center in Challis. The song’s subtitle states “Apropos of a mining boom. Music: Kipling’s “Absent minded Beggar” “. The “Absent Minded Beggar” reference is to an 1899 poem that Rudyard Kipling wrote, and the noted fellow Englishman Arthur Sullivan set to music, to raise money for dependents of soldiers of the second Boer War (1899-1902). The song (copyrighted in 1899) is a complicated, stiff song typical of British music of the Victorian era. Somehow, the song found its way from the British Isles to the most remote mining camp in Idaho, in time for a local variation to be composed and published in a book within a few years. Lyrics about dynamite blasts, braying mules and drunken miners in a wild Idaho mining camp set to a formal Victorian song add a wonderful element of absurdity to the song. Sheet music with lyrics is available from the Australian National Museum in Melbourne.

To Be a Buckaroo (songwriter and date unknown). Lyrics (but no melody) for this song about a bucking horse and cowboy rider around Victor and Pine Creek Canyon was published in the University of Idaho masters thesis (1936) of Thomas Cheney (later a noted folklorist at Brigham Young University). Cheney was obtained from Cornelius Campbell of Swan Valley.

Trail to Idaho. Lyrics (but no melody) for this song about driving a herd of cattle in 1883 to Idaho , perhaps from Texas, are found in book Vardis Fisher “Idaho Lore” (1939).

Trip to Rapid River (Hannibal F. Johnson,early 1890s) This song appears in the book of poems and songs that “Seven Devils” Johnson published in 1895. The song appears in numerous later publications. Johnson was a colorful character who lived many years in the Seven Devils region. The song waxes poetically about travel around the Rapid River region.

Twin Falls Home Song (songwriter unknown, 1905). This song is referenced in the book “Tales of the Tract: the Beginnings of Twin Falls, Idaho and the “Magic Valley” “by James F. Varley.

Utah Northern Ditty (songwriter unknown, early 1880’s). Two verses for this humorous ditty about the Utah and Northern railroad are found on page 501 of “The History of Idaho”, Merrill D. Beal and Merle W. Wells (1959). The U&N was completed from Salt Lake City to Idaho Falls in the 1870s and extended to Butte by the close of 1881. The reference to “Grand Trunk” may be to the major railroad in the eastern U.S. and Canada, which may have been involved in funding the latter part of the Utah Northern construction. Later in the chapter, two verses similar in form and tone are found, and perhaps they are part of the same song. While the melody is not given, the lyrics and meter strongly suggest that the melody of Wabash Cannonball (traceable to sheet music in 1882) was used.

Wagoners’ Curse on the Railroad (songwriter unknown, 1880s). This song was found in the book “Sagebrush and Axle Grease” by Mike Handley with Omer Stanford (1976). It is a song possibly to the melody of Way Out in Idaho detailing the negative impact the new railroads will have on the life of Conestoga freighters using horses.

Wallowa Ditty (Wallowa pioneers, 1873). One verse of a ditty survives from the May 31, 1873 issue of the Mountain Sentinel newspaper of La Grande, Oregon, as reported on page 458 of “The Nez Perce Indians – and the Opening of the Northwest” by Alvin M. Josephy, Jr. (1965, with a 1997 edition). This song is said to have been sung as seven to eight wagons hurriedly left Wallowa with men, families, stock, dogs and cats for safety in Grande Ronde, fearing raids by old Chief Joseph’s band.

Waves of Coeur d'Alene (Irene Whitney, ca. 1903). Sheet music is in the Museum of Northern Idaho.

Way Out in Idaho (songwriter unknown, early 1880’s). This song well known song – arguably Idaho ’s greatest folk song - is notable in many regards. In 1938, Alan Lomax at the U. S. Library of Congress recorded eight verses sung by Blaine Stubblefield accompanied by his guitar (AFS 1634 B1). This is the earliest known English-language recording of Idaho songs (some Nez Perce recordings predate the Stubblefield recording). Stubblefield was the son of a Hell’s Canyon fiddler and founder of the famous Weiser fiddle contest in 1952. Way Out in Idaho lightheartedly tells of the trials and tribulations of laborers pushing the Oregon Short Line railroad from Pocatello to Ontario , Oregon in 1882. Stubblefield’s track originally was released in the series “Folk Music of the United States ”, Library of Congress Recording Laboratory, AFS L6, 1968. The track also is found on the 1997 Rounder CD 1508, “Railroad Songs and Ballads”, The Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture. A version by Rosalie Sorrels also has been issued. Most versions use a melody similar to that of the well known cowboy ballad “Sam Bass”. Lyrics and melody line can be found many places, including page 70 of WOII.

Weiser Cowboy’s Song (Charlie Barbour, ca. 1891). Nine verses plus a chorus for this song are given in the book “ Indian Valley and Surrounding Hills” by Geneva Bibbs Barry and Jewell Moore Woods, found in the Emmett Public Library in October 2007. This book extracted the song from the April 3, 1891 issue of the Weiser Leader but obviously could have been written early. The song is a takeoff of the well known cowboy song “The Girl I Left Behind Me”, which in turn is an American adaptation of the classic Irish song of the same name. The lyrics are not specifically adapted to Idaho but the song is included because it was published in the Weiser paper and the Barbour ranched lived in the area.

What Happened on That Wednesday Night (Ota Ellis, 1905). This light hearted song tells of a man who traveled from his home in Idaho to unsuccessfully woo a Crestline, Kansas girl. Sheet music is available electronically from the LesterS. Levy Collection at the Johns Hopkins University.

When the Mill Went up the Stack (Arthur Sargent, early ca. 1900). Lyrics for this song about the dynamiting of the Bunker Hill mine near Wallace in 1899 are found on page 134 of WOII. The story is told from the perspective of the laborers who were rounded up and placed in the infamous “bullpens”. The melody is given as that of the Irish protest song “The Wearing of the Green”. Rosalie Sorrels collected the song from Maidell Clemets of Wallace, who said she got it from the songwriter, a mining engineer.

This page was last revised on April 18, 2008.