Cumberland Gap

Cumberland Gap

Folk songs

This is a hand-transcribed version of the folk song, "Cumberland Gap." A note on the reverse credits this version to Wade Gilbert and gives the date 1965.

Bobby McMillon

Bobby McMillon Collection, Southern Appalachian Archives, Mars Hill University

Southern Appalachian Archives, Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies, Mars Hill University

1965

Wade Gilbert

This item may be viewed, downloaded, and printed for personal and educational use, but any commercial use is prohibited without permission from the Southern Appalachian Archives, Mars Hill University. Questions may be directed to the Archivist at (828) 689-1262 or archives@mhu.edu.

English

Cumberland Gap

It's Cumberland said before he died
One more road he wanted to ride
'S the road should that be beside
the sunny road to Tennessee

Says its Cumberland Gaps a
fine old place
Can't get water to wash your face
Can't get water to wash your face.

Me and my wife n her old grandpap
Made a good living on the Cumberland gap
Made a good living on the Cumberland gap.

Says It's Cumberland gaps a gettin' mighty grand
I want to go to meetin' a gamblin' man
I want to go to meetin' a gamblin' man
I want to go t'meetin' a gamblin man.

So long boys don't you know
I'm gettin' drunk n' I'm bound to go
I'm gettin' drunk n' I'm bound to go

[verso]:
Wade Gilbert
1965

It's when I die I wanta make a will
I wanta be buryed on the
Cumberland hill
I wanta be buryed on the
Cumberland hill.

Pull on carriage you better go back
Forty one miles to the Cumberland gap
Forty one miles to the Cumberland gap.

Says its lay down boys be rite still
Goin' a raise trouble on the
Cumberland hill
We're goin' a raise trouble on the
Cumberland hill.

Handwritten text on pages 53 and 54 of small red ledger.