I’m Old but I’m Awfully Tough

I’m Old But I'm Awfully Tough: Traditional Music of the Ozark Region is a collection of field recordings made in southern Missouri and in northern Arkansas over the period of 1975–76 by members of the Missouri Friends of the Folk Arts. The singers, instrumentalists, and storytellers who appear on these records reveal the variety and richness of the folk traditions in the Ozark region. Many of these tunes and songs are unique and none of these performers had appeared on record before its original release in 1977. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings acquired this album in 2023, making it available for streaming for the first time in 2025.

The album’s production was made possible by the Missouri Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Producers Julia Olin and Barry Bergey offer special thanks to Alan Jabbour, American Folklife Center; Joe Hickerson, Archive of Folksong of the Library of Congress; Joe Wilson, National Council for the Traditional Arts; R.P. Christenson; Leroy Pierson; Gary Watson; and Joe Pfeffer.

Track Listing

1	I'm Old but I'm Awfully Tough Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney	01:23
2	Lighthouse Emmanuel Wood and Family	01:42
3	Story (1) Emmanuel Wood and Family	01:10
4	Dixie Blossom Emmanuel Wood and Family	02:00
5	Walk along John Emmanuel Wood and Family	02:13
6	Spokane Waltz Emmanuel Wood and Family	02:25
7	Bear Creek Sally Goodin Emmanuel Wood and Family	02:32
8	Rattlesnake and the Texas Pony Green Berry Horton	01:28
9	Story (2) Green Berry Horton	01:11
10	Over the Woods and through the Snow Green Berry Horton	00:37
11	Bunker Hill Green Berry Horton	01:33
12	Mignight Shuffle Green Berry Horton	00:42
13	Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	02:37
14	Old Fort Smith Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	02:03
15	Unnamed Schottische Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	01:42
16	Durang's Hornpipe Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	02:02
17	Whiskey before Breakfast Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	03:08
18	Kentucky Waltz Troy Lee, Rex and Ray Offutt	01:38
19	Gone to View That Land Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney	02:59
20	Gypson Davy Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney	04:07
21	Wandering Boy Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney	04:07
22	Heaven Bells Are Ringing Lee Finis Cameron "Tip" McKinney	01:23
23	Dance around Molly Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard	01:56
24	Coming Down from Denver Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard	01:51
25	Marmaduke's Hornpipe Jake Hockemeyer and Russ Orchard	01:47
26	The Death of the Old Sow Lawrence Baker	01:16
27	The Old Man Who Lived in the West Lawrence Baker	02:28
28	She Oughta Been a Lady Vesta Johnson and Don Womack	00:58
29	Story (3) Vesta Johnson and Don Womack	01:19
30	Fat Meat and Dumplings Vesta Johnson and Don Womack	01:27
31	Middlegrove Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren	01:15
32	Stoney Point Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren	01:21
33	Massa Bill Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren	01:22
34	Fox Chase Frank Reed and Alva Lee Hendren	01:26
35	Story of La Guignolee Rose Pratt	00:37
36	La Guignolee Rose Pratt	01:49
37	Story (4) Rose Pratt	01:01
38	La Guignolee (instrumental) Charlie Pashia and Joe Politte	01:39
39	Rustic Dance Charlie Pashia	01:28
40	Father's Schottische Charlie Pashia	02:13
41	Jenny Put the Kettle On Joe Politte	00:54
42	Story and Unnamed Tune Joe Politte	02:34
43	Molly Musk Joe Politte	02:00
44	Mule Stories Joe Politte	03:46
45	The Old Rock Road Joe Politte	01:40
46	Old Man Portell's Tune Joe Politte	01:10
47	Grand Picnic Joe Politte	01:50