Ol' Mule, I Say

Audio file
Date recorded: September 26, 1961
Contributor(s): Performer: Jones, Bessie; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: dance tune, reel
Culture: African American, Southern U.S.
Setting: Alan Lomax's apartment, 3rd Street
Location: New York City, New York, United States
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T977
Track Number: 6
Archive ID: T977R06
Note: A dance song from slavery times whose text deals with color distinctions. Different fates are alloted to the yellow girl, the brown girl, and the black girl, who generally fares worst, though in the end it's "just the same." Recorded in many variants on race records in the 1920s and '30s.
Belongs to: New York City 9/61
About the session: The fourth of 21 recording sessions with Bessie Jones.
Rights: The rights to the audio, photographic, and video materials contained within the Lomax Digital Archive are administered by various publishers, record labels, collectors, estates, and other rights holders. Any uses, commercial or not, must be cleared by the specific rights holders. For questions regarding the use of any material on the LDA, please contact Permissions.
Do you have something to add, or do you see an error in this record? We'd love to hear from you.