Charcoal Man @StephenGriffith-FolkSongIndex

Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

Day 286 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series

First published in Carl Sandburg's 1927 American Songbag

Sandburg writes: "Once the comment was heard on this, “It is a delicate imprint on a field of silence.” . . , An old man selling charcoal used to proclaim himself to the residents of Springfield, Missouri, with this morning cry. ... I notated it, hazardously, from the singing of a faculty member of the state teachers’ college at Greeley, Colorado. She came from Missouri."

$Colorado Trail Day 288 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series Sandburg writes: A hoss wrangler brought a car of ponies to Duluth, Minnesota. The next day, after brave stunt riding, he was laid in a hospital bed with “ruptures on both sides.” He told the surgeon Dr. T. L. Chapman, in a soft, forgiving voice, “That was a terribly bad hoss—not only throwed me, but he trampled me.” Out of past years this rider had, Dr. Chapman’s examination disclosed, “bones of both upper and lower legs broken, fractures of collar bone on both sides, numerous fractures of both arms and wrists, and many scars from lacerations and tramplings, the bones knit any way that God and Nature let them heal.” As his strength came back he sang across the hospital ward in a mellowed tenor voice. And they always called for more. One song was The Colorado Trail remembered by Dr. Chapman as here set down. ADDITIONAL NOTE: Lee Hays (If I Had a Hammer and Weavers fame) added several verses to this beautiful little tune, and many singers have recorded them, or added others of their own. The only traditional lyrics, however, are those given above, taken from a horse wrangler who was hospitalized in Duluth, Minnesota and printed by Sandburg. (from the Traditional Ballad Index)$

What Kind of Pants Does the Gambler Wear?