Annotation:Lost Goose (1) (The)
LOST GOOSE [1], THE. American, Waltz (3/4 time). USA; Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AA'BB. In the repertory of Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner, who identified it as an "old Texas tune," and said the "harmonics in the second part emulate the sound of the wild goose, which prompts the name" (Shumway). Texas fiddler Eck Robertson played this tune close to the tune of the same name heard in southwestern Virginia. The melody was one of the tunes of the Ozark Mountain Collins family, represented especially by fiddler Earl Collins (other members of the Collins family contributed to Marion Thede's Fiddle Book, 1967).
Life Magazine (Nov. 3, 1947) printed an article and photo spread called "Old Pioneers' Home: Retired to state home oldsters spit, cuss, and fight with canes", by Claude Stanush, about an establishment near Prescott, Arizona. One of the residents was Texas Bob Hayden," 72 years old [and] still the home's hottest fiddler." Musing about the presence of women residents in the home, Hayden said:
Most of us ole cowboys like fast numbers, like 'The Drunkard's Hiccough' or 'Snow Bird on the Ashbank'. But these calf-eyed 'uns--they're always wanting sentimental tunes like 'The Lost Goose Waltz'. Ah don't undertan' it. In the old days cowmen had their wimmin folks, but the nivver got mushy 'bout em.
