Charlotte, NC 8/12/27 William Randolph Hearst may, as he said, have furnished the Spanish- American War, but the anonymous soldiers who furnished this song clearly had the last word. Widely touted as an early "protest song" in the 1960's, it seems actually to be the kind of earthy and satirical comment heard from the soldiers of every war. Caesar's legions probably sang stuff like this about Gaul. Red Patterson (1900-69) was a well-known member of the group of musicians who frequented the cotton-mill towns of the Virginia - Carolina Piedmont between the World Wars. He probably recorded only this once, though rumors persist of a lost recording session with his friend and musical compatriot Charlie Poole.
Red Patterson's Piedmont Log Rollers: John "Red" Patterson, vocal, banjo; Percy Setliff, fiddle; Dick Nolan, tenor banjo; Lee Nolan, guitar.
Victor 20936
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