Annotation:Hot Corn Cold Corn

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HOT CORN, COLD CORN. AKA - "Hot Corn." AKA and see "Green Corn." Old-Time, Song Tune. A Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. A nonsense song popular with both blacks and whites, according to Charles Wolfe. It is attributed by a least one source to singer and guitarist Asa Martin of Estill County, Ky., a sometimes accompanist of fiddler Doc Roberts, although Talley's version seems to be from tradition. The famous bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs performed it under this title.

Hot corn, cold corn, bring along a demi-john (x3)
Hey pretty darlin,' see you in the mornin.'

African-American collector Thomas Talley, in his book Negro Folk Rhymes (reprinted in 1991, edited by Charles Wolfe), published a version under the title "Bring on Your Hot Corn," apparently the first time it appeared in print, although Randolf (2:342-343) has a version called "I'll Meet You in the Evening." Wolfe points out it was recorded by Leadbelly as "Green Corn, Come Along Charlie." Talley's version goes:

Bring along yo hot co'n,
Bring along yo hot co'n;
But I say bring along,
Bring along yo Jimmy-John (i.e. whiskey jug)

Some loves de hot co'n,
Some loves de cold co'n,
But I loves, I loves,
I loves dat Jimmy-John.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: New Lost City Ramblers Songbook, 1964; pp. 180-181. Winner (New American School for the Banjo), 1883; p. 36.

Recorded sources: Champion 45065 (78 RPM), Asa Martin & Roberts (1932). June Appal JA 028, Wry Straw - "From Earth to Heaven" (1978). Perfect 6-03-52, Doc Roberts (Ky.).

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]
The Folklorist [2]

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