Hoosen Johnny
Channel: Stephen Griffith
Date: 2020-06-26

Day 102 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series

Sandburg writes: "Lawyers sat around the wood stoves of the taverns and hotels of the Eighth Circuit in Illinois and sang this on many a winter night. Lincoln heard it often. It was a favorite of his singing  friend with the banjo, Ward Hill Lamon. Col. Clark E. Carr, who came to Illinois in 1852 and was  a first settler of Galesburg, tells us in his book "The Illini" of these verses, "The improvisor would  go on singing as long as he could. The solo is a sort of droning chant; but the chorus, when sung  by good voices, is superb."

"The song became a favorite with lawyers traveling the circuit in those  days, and was often ung on convivial occasions. It is said that at one time, at Knoxville in our  county, when some good news that caused universal rejoicing had been received, the court was adjourned, and judge, lawyers, jury, spectators, paraded around the public square singing, 'The ol'  black bull came down the meadow.' It must be remembered that this was before the days of brass  bands and other artificial contrivances for giving expression to tumultuous feeling."