Today’s post was written by Paul.
I’ve liked the song I’m sharing today since I was a kid. “Red River Valley” was the first song I could note out on the guitar. My cousin, Allen, who is a little older than I am showed me how to play it.
The lyrics to this song go all the way back to the late 1800s. Originally it was about different valleys. There was the Sherman Valley and I think the Mohawk Valley. You can visit secondhandsongs.com for more information about the song and to see a list of performers who have recorded it over the years.
The first recording was from Bascom Lamar Lunsford and his brother Blackwell Lunsford back in 1925. They called the song “Sherman Valley.” Then in 1926 Carl Sprague had a recording and he called it “Cowboy Love Song” which is a fitting description of the lyrics.
Also in 1926 Luther B. Clark and the Blue Ridge Highballers released it and they called it “Bright Sherman Valley.” And then in 1927 there was another recording “Bright Sherman Valley” by Kelly Harrell.
There were other recordings with the title “Bright Sherman Valley.”
It wasn’t titled “Red River Valley”as a recording until 1928 when Hugh Cross and Riley Puckett recorded the song.
My favorite version of “Red River Valley’ was done by Riders in the Sky.
Ranger Doug sang the verses so beautifully! He had a little thing he’d do on his arch top guitar in between lines. I borrowed the technique and used it in the video I’m sharing today.
Woody Paul played a beautiful fiddle break. He played a high sustaining, piercing note way down on the neck of the bottom string. It almost sounds operatic.
I thought the language of the verses they used sounded a little more modern and assumed they came up with the verses on their own, but in doing a little research I found the verses go all the way back to the original lyrics in the late 1800s.
“Red River Valley”
From this valley they say you’ll be going, I will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you’ll be taking the sunshine, that has brightened our pathway awhile.
(CHORUS) Come and sit by my side ere you leave me, do not hasten to bid me a-dieu,
just remember the Red River Valley, and the cowboy who loved you so true.
Do you think of this valley you’re leaving? Oh, how lonely and dreary twill be! Do you
think of the fond heart you’re breaking, and the pain that you are causing to me?
For I promised you, darlin’, that never, would a word from my lips cause you pain;
Yes I promise to be yours forever If you only would love me again.
I have waited a long time, my darlin’, For those sweet words you never would say,
now, alas, all my fond hopes have vanished. For you say you’ll be going away.
There never could be such a longing, In the heart of a pure maiden’s breast as the love in the heart you are breaking, As I wait in my home in the west. Repeat Chorus: Come and sit by my side if you love me, do not hasten to bid me a-dieu, just remember the Red River Valley, and the cowboy who loved you so true.
Hope you enjoyed the old song!
Paul
Original singles released on Spotify.
Very beautiful. I love Paul’s version of this song! 🙂
So lovely! – so well done!
I have always been fascinated by history & the cultural adaptations of songs. i’ve often thought songs & music should be used to teach history as well as the diaspora of many ethnicities & cultures – the changes in songs beautifully, sometimes hauntingly illustrate changes over time.
Keep up the good work both musically & historically.
Beautiful rendition of the familiar old song, Paul!
I liked this song. I am not very familiar with a lot of songs and certainly not the background/history. It is interesting to hear you tell all the different things that you do about the songs and artists and then sing and play the songs so well too.
I, too, like the Riders in the Sky version.
I happened to be at the GOO on the night that they debuted there. I say happened because I’ve only ever been there 3 or 4 times. They sang their set and were so well received that the emcee that night (whose name I don’t recall) asked them to do another number. That set them back for just a second but only a second and they came up with another crowd pleaser.
I saw them most every time they played in Raleigh or the area. My daughter was young then and loved going on stage when they called the kiddies up for a number.
I ran into Woody Paul in an Italian restaurant in Raleigh before one of their gigs. He was having dinner with his wife and family. All of them were very gracious when a fan interrupted to welcome them to his hometown.
Paul, I enjoyed your version of this song. Red River Valley is one of my favorites. You have a beautiful voice.
That was a lovely rendition of RED RIVER VALLEY, thank you. I always associate that song with Texas and my maternal grandmother whose people came down from southern Pennsylvania and homesteaded in Texas when it still belonged to Mexico.
Woke up to ice covered cars and ice covered driveway here in SC PA. Church services canceled due to weather. Actually, I think that’s the first time that has happened.
After enjoying Paul’s singing, I watched a day in the life with Corie and really enjoyed the recipes she used and her singing “Because He Lives,” one of my favs. Then I enjoyed going to town with Katie to the thrift stores:) God bless you all and keep you safe.
Years ago, I saw something on the internet (don’t remember exactly where)
which suggested this song might not even have had its origin in the US but
in Canada. Given the similarities in the English-speaking cultures of the two
countries and ubiquity of titles such as “Red”, “Black”, Little”, “Broad”, etc. in relation
to rivers, this is not surprising. What is surprising is that sometimes we know
the origin of a modern tune, know its composer, and it will actually become a “folk tune.”
This actually happened with “Whiskey Before Breakfast”. When I was living in
the Asheville area back in the 1970s, this tune was being played by fiddlers such
as Mack Snodderly and Tommy Hunter. I don’t believe any knowledgeable person then
claimed the tune was indigenous to the USA or to Appalachia, yet there are probably many
people now who think it is a native Appalachian tune. When the internet came along, I learned that it was composed by a Canadian fiddler (his name currently escapes my memory) who recorded numerous fiddle albums in the 1960s. In like manner, Canadians have claimed that “Red River Valley” comes from their country. Whether or not this is actually true is probably lost forever in the mists of time.
another great oldie, Paul, thank you for sharing. 🙂
Beautiful job, Paul. This sure brought back memories for me. Thanks so much for sharing and have a blessed Sunday!
Bless your heart Paul, you sang it beautifully and gave the history too. I remember my Mother singing that song but I remember the verse exactly like Kelley mentioned. Mother had a beautiful voice and I loved to hear her sing that song too.
We sang this in elementary school.
It was either “Red River Valley” or “Wildwood Flower” that I first noted out on a guitar. I never did justice to either.
Great job, Paul. I particularly liked how the embedded emotion of your vocals matched the message of the song.
Kinda strange you post this today, Paul. I had a long, involved and (as usual) confusing dream last night. And in two words, it was about a “long goodbye”. Woke up wondering “Why?” and then you post this…. Anyway, I think part of the charm of this song is that it includes the whole valley, as in “brightened our pathway awhile”. Whoever the one leaving is, they have endeared themselves to everyone. There are special people like that who combine so many good qualities in themselves they are a blessing to know. The Lord makes many of that kind and He was the supreme example himself. Thanks for the song and the history.
Paul, I enjoyed your singing “Red River Valley.” It brought back memories of singing this song as a youngster. Thanks for the memorable songs you bring to this blog. God bless you and your family. Prayers for Granny.
Such a sad but beautiful song. Thank you for sharing your musical gifts with us.
My Mama and I used to sing this but the only verse you posted that I recognized was the first verse. It’s been many years but I remember a second verse as being “From this valley they say you are leaving, we shall miss your bright eyes and sweet smile, and they say you are taking the sunshine that has brightened our pathway a while” I haven’t thought of this song in years and my Mama passed away last month. Thank you for bringing back a wonderful memory for me. Mama always loved to hear you, Pap, and Granny sing.
God bless you Paul, you’re a great musician and singer, and you’re also a historian, thank you for the history God bless you Paul, God bless Granny Wilson