Murphy 1930s Courtesy of Cherokee Co. Historical Museum
Last Christmas Pap loaned me a book someone had bought him, Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas. He knew I’d find the history of the songs interesting and I did-but I was surprised to learn, one Christmas song originated right here in my back yard.
John Jacob Niles was born in Kentucky on April 28, 1892. He was raised in a musical family and had a strong interest in music himself. By age 17 Niles begin composing original songs. Niles had an interest in folk songs and collected them from his fellow soldiers while serving in the military. He published 2 books from the collected songs Singing Soldiers and Songs My Mother Never Taught Me.
Niles life centered around music-collecting, recording, performing, and composing until his death on March 1, 1980.
1933 found John Jacob Niles in Murphy, NC. As he walked around town he noticed the police trying to evict some folks from the center of town. This is how he remembered the incident:
“I Wonder As I Wander grew out of three lines of music sung for me by a girl who called herself Annie Morgan. The place was Murphy, North Carolina,and the time was July, 1933. The Morgan family, revivalists all, were about to be ejected by the police, after having camped in the town square for some little time, coking, washing, hanging their wash from the Confederate monument and generally conducting themselves in such a way as to be classed a public nuisance. Preacher Morgan and his wife pled poverty; they had to hold one more meeting in order to buy enough gas to get out of town. It was then that Annie Morgan came out–a tousled, unwashed blond, and very lovely. She sang the first three lines of the verse of “I Wonder As I Wander”. At twenty-five cents a performance, I tried to get her to sing all the song. After eight tries, all of which are carefully recorded in my notes, I had only three lines of verse, a garbled fragment of melodic material–and a magnificent idea. With the writing of additional verses and the development of the original melodic material, “I Wonder As I Wander” came into being. I sang it for five years in my concerts before it caught on. Since then, it has been sung by soloists and choral groups wherever the English language is spoken and sung.”
The song, I Wonder as I Wander, is world famous-but until I read about it in Pap’s book-I had never heard of it. Funny how the song came from just down the road-but never found it’s way into my life until last Christmas.
For this Pickin’ & Grinnin’ In the Kitchen Spot-Chitter and Chatter give the song a try.
Like most towns, Murphy is decked out for Christmas. When I drive through town, seeing the tree and the lights, I find myself thinking of a little blond headed girl named Annie Morgan who knew what Christmas meant in 1933.
Have you ever heard the song?
Tipper
Thank you Tipper for directing me to this blog. Loved hearing the girls singing one of my favorites
Beautiful. It’s important to me that Christ honoring songs are written by Christ honoring people. Singing this in my heart, helps me honor that KING who came for to die. I loved how they hung their clothes from the monuments! What characters, like we all tend to be, who love Jesus!
From The Wiki page about this song. “Niles composed the version of “I Wonder as I Wander” that is known today, extending the melody to four lines and the lyrics to three stanzas.[2][3][5] His composition was completed on October 4, 1933.[2] Niles first performed the song on December 19, 1933, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina.[2][6] It was originally published in Songs of the Hill Folk in 1934.[4][6]”” ☺️ I used to listen to Julie Andrews sing this this song and others every Christmas season when my Mama played her album over and over. It and Mary did you Know we’re two of my favorite cuts. she had the voice of an angel in my little girl mind back then. I went to read about the song in Wiki after one edition on YouTube called it an Appalachian song. Couldn’t believe Brasstown was mentioned. Tonight searched your blog to see if you knew and what you would think. Glad to find this post with the girls singing so beautifully
Rooney, would you agree with me that the photo of the street scene in Murphy shows 1940s model automobiles, not 1930s? Old men tend to notice such details. Of course, old men can be wrong.
I have sung this song on many holidays. One of the best American tunes ever written. Also his version of Black is the Color of my True Love’s Hair is fantastic.
This is a wonderful story, about a wonderful song. Good job, girls!
I’ve heard this before, but Chitter and Chatter’s rendition gave me chills up my spine. Their voices blend so well; such high and clear tones. Do they sing in a choir? If they don’t, they should. Just beautiful!
Thanks for sharing the story of how the song came to be. What a great piece of history. xxoo
Tipper, what a great job by Chitter and Chatter! I have loved that song for as long as I can remember and I’m 66 years old. My grandfather (a true Irish gent) used to sing it to us three girls. And we lived far away from Murphy – in a little town called Mineral Wells, Texas! How good music does travel.
How sweet of them to do it; although tell them your open mic chef friend said to SMI:)le, they look like they are being tortured by you… I am not sure if I have heard this song…and of course I praise you for giving me information, feed me all you want!
Oh and btw, you can come drop by my way anytime!
Tipper,
Yes, I have heard the song and I love it. I’m so glad you shared the history of how it came to be.
Blessings,
Mary
I have sung this song as long as I can remember. It has always been one of my favorites. It has such a haunting melody. Loved your girls version of it.
The song is always one of our favorites at Christmastime. We have a large Christmas collection and it is often among the sets. Like most Christmas hymns, I know we should remember them all year ’round. It’s beautiful done by large choirs and equally touching when sung by your girls.
I’m glad you told us the story about the song’s origins.
BTW…think I told you before my granny was a Morgan and a preachers daughter too..All the Morgans from those parts seemed to be preachers.
How Beautiful Tipper…Your girls are just wonderful. I have heard the song before but never such a beautiful rendition.
Annie-Ive read that Niles went back to try to find Annie Morgan later-but never found her.
Blind Pig The Acorn
Music, Giveaways, Mountain Folk
All at http://www.blindpigandtheacorn.com
I have always loved this song and your girls certainly did it well. It’s not an easy song to sing. I wonder what happened to young Annie Morgan.
Great job, Chitter and Chatter! Beautiful voices!
Tipper, I’ve not heard that one either. But I DO like it.
What a neat story! It’s a beautiful song, but a little sad. I have several recordings of it.
I love this song and love hearing your daughters sing it.
Merry Christmas
Tipper: The girls did a great job singing a fairly hard song without music. Congrats on a very nice job on a song that I certainly do remember.
I learned this song as a junior camper at Camp Junalaska back in the mid-fifties. The music counselor — a beautiful young woman named Dolores Dollar — had the voice of an angel and she taught us this haunting melody.
Tipper, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song. Your girls are darling singing for us. It was fun to see the old pictures of Murphy.
Sam
Wow, I’m the only one who hasn’t heard this song! The girls did an awesome job with it!
Hey Tipper,
I love that song. We use to sing it in choir at church.
I didn’t know you lived in Murphy. We use to pass thru there a lot traveling to the Smokeys from GA.
We love that Nanhala gorge area. It’s one of my all time favorite drives. Lucky you!
Oh I love this Christmas tune and always have, long before we ever moved to southern Appalachia. Thank you for this! (Another favorite, but not Christmas, is WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS)
Merry, merry!
Catherine
I heard this song for the first time many years ago when I worked in a clothing store at Christmas time. They had a Christmas album playing by Barbra Streisand and this song was on it. I’ve loved it ever since then, but my favorite version is the one by Vanessa Williams.
Tipper for that one I just had to break my silence!! I first heard that song in the Philippines. I have heard and enjoyed it many times since, but had no idea it was written in/about Murphy!!!
Thank you.
Lonnie
It is one of my favorite songs of Christmas, and I like it even better hearing it sung by your girls! You must be so very proud of them, Tipper – they are so very talented and using it well.
Sarah 😉
Tipper,
I’m sure you probably know this but Jack Niles spent a good bit of time at the Folk School and in Murphy as he accompanied Doris Ulmann on her photographic studies of Appalachia (early 1930’s). Anna can fill you in on the details. We have a good many pctures. Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas.
Rooney
One of my favorites actually and now I know the back story. Thanks Tipper and thanks for sharing your two girls doing such a sweet rendition. Brightened my day it did.