Negro Folk Music of Alabama, Vol. 6: Ring Game Songs and Others

American folklorist Harold Courlander compiled this series (Negro Folk Music of Alabama) from recordings he made in rural Alabama in 1950. The album is an attempt to counter the stereotypes of black music that were popular in America during the middle of the 20th century. This sixth volume begins with ring and line games which were recorded at various rural Alabama schools. Ring games are played with children standing in a circle, often holding hands; the leader stands outside the circle performing some action. To get the idea, imagine “Duck, Duck, Goose.” (The identical ring game recordings are found on FW07004.) They are followed by miscellaneous children's songs, work songs, blues, hymns, and relatively modern gospel songs.

Liner notes written by Harold Courlander include directions on how to play various ring games.

Track Listing

101	Mary Mack	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	02:00
102	Bob a Needle	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	00:54
103	Watch That Lady	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	01:20
104	Old Lady Sally Wants to Jump	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	00:51
105	Loop de Loop	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	01:47
106	Green Green Rocky Road	Children at Lilly's Chapel School, Alabama	01:29
107	Rosie Darling Rosie	Children at Brown's Chapel School, Alabama	01:37
108	I Must See	Children at Brown's Chapel School, Alabama	01:37
109	Bluebird Bluebird	Children at Pilgrim Church School, Alabama	01:13
110	May Go 'Round the Needle	Children at East York School, Alabama	02:35
111	Stooping on the Window	Children at East York School, Alabama	01:10
112	Charlie Over the Ocean	Children at East York School, Alabama	00:55
201	Session with Celina Lewis, (a) Catch That Squirrel, (b) Sangar ee, (c) Whoa Mule, Can't Get the Saddle On ...	Celina Lewis	05:14
202	Water on the Wheel	Annie Grace Horn Dodson	00:48
203	Go Pray Ye	Annie Grace Horn Dodson	02:37
204	Captain Holler Hurry	Willie Turner	01:27
205	John Henry	Willie Turner	02:16
206	Going to Have a Talk with the Chief of Police	Peelee Hatchee (Emanuel Jones)	01:48
207	Meet Me in the Bottoms	Davie Lee	01:36
208	When the Role Is Called in Heaven	Joe Brown, Harrison Ross, and Willie John Strong	02:40
209	I Moaned and I Moaned	Joe Brown, Harrison Ross, and Willie John Strong	01:21
210	I'm Standing in a Safety Zone	Rosie N. Winston	02:53