Charles Guiteau (song) explained
| Charles Guiteau |
| Written: | Unknown |
"Charles Guiteau" (LAWS E11) Roud 444 is a traditional song about the assassination of US President James A. Garfield by Charles J. Guiteau. It is based on another old ballad, "James A. Rogers".[1] [2] The song is told from the point of view of the assassin himself.
For a while, it was believed that Guiteau wrote the song himself, possibly because of the poem "I am Going to the Lordy", which Guiteau actually did write on the day of his execution.[3]
It is not to be confused with another ballad about the assassination, "Mr. Garfield," which was popularized by Johnny Cash.[4] Bascom Lamar Lunsford recorded both songs in 1949 for the Library of Congress.
Recordings
- Norman Blake
- Bascom Lamar Lunsford on Songs and Ballads of American History and the Assassination of Presidents recorded 1949, released by Library of Congress 1952, re-released by Rounder 1998
- Kelly Harrell 1927 on Anthology of American Folk Music, Smithsonian Folkways 1997
- Ramblin' Jack Elliot circa 1955 on compilation Badmen, Heroes and Pirates, mono LP release (out of print)
- Dave Fredrickson and Crabgrass, circa 1960, on Arhoolie LP 4001, reissued on CD 518-B in conjunction with book Hear Me Howling! Blues, Ballads & Beyond, recorded by Chris Strachwitz with text by Adam Machado (El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Productions, 2010).
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Waltz . Bob . Remembering Old Songs: Charles Guiteau . web reprint of Inside Bluegrass July 1997 . 2008-03-08.
- Web site: Charles Guiteau . 2008-03-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080517192853/http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/guit1.html . 2008-05-17 . dead .
- Book: Vowell, Sarah . Sarah Vowell . Assassination Vacation . 28 June 2013 . 2006 . Simon & Schuster Paperbacks . New York . 978-0-7432-6004-6 . 177.
- Web site: Mr. Garfield and Charles Guiteau. Field Trip South. 30 June 2010 . UNC Blogs. 4 May 2018.
