Cas Wallin: Pretty Saro (1982)

Cas Wallin at the home of his sister-in-law, Dellie Chandler Norton, in the Burton Cove, Sodom Laurel, Madison County, North Carolina. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew, September 1982. For more information about the American Patchwork filmwork, Alan Lomax, and his collections, visit culturalequity.org. [03.16.08]

[@ItsTheCream_]

im a 33yr old chicano in cali. and this is some of my favorite music to listen to. its so fucking real!

[@freestonew]

I understand, when I lived there, that *this* is the original mountain music. wails, single instrument, keening vocals. goes right to the heart.

[@sandramorey2529]

Cas Wallin: thank you for singing this very old song. I know 4 verses as that was all I could find in the library at SF State back in the day. But this draws out the story and makes it that much more heartfelt. Oakland CA

[@weekendmom]

Madison County, North Carolina, was where my great grandfather was born. Proud to have roots from there.

[@stephaniesmith4560]

This music is true America (at least I feel). Nothing today can beat this simple, heartfelt music...

[@Nazareth434]

agreed ibikedallas - hope this music survives and becomes more popular- Cherck out Roscoe Holcolm too- He's an awesome Appalachian folk singer- His voice was deemed "THE high lonesome sound" Cas Wallin has a great voice too-

[@Tommy1977777]

This is how Appalachian Mountain music is supposed to sound

[@appalachiancookingwithbren1411]

i miss the old folks i once knowed god bless us all in the 2021.

[@anyways661]

Yes ma'am 🙏

[@bhickman0174]

Beautiful in a way I can't put in to words. Thank you for posting.

[@kellymathews6615]

It's strange, I've never heard this song before that I recall, yet it seemed since the moment he started singing it, I knew it from long, long ago.

[@docsavage98]

Absolutely kick ass singing....would love to sit on that porch in the evening and just listen.

[@gentleeyes]

this is the way the song should be sung

[@dannyvaulter5889]

Pretty Saro is an English folk ballad originating in the early 1700s. The industrial revolution in England destroyed much of the English tradition, had it not we would see clearly where much of the still existing songs of the British Archipelago originated.

[@JohnyG29]

Don't worry old chap, there's still a pretty strong folk scene in England, and in most places round the world.

[@marthacain1468]

beautiful pretty saro, song from home,thanks

[@WhitMcMo]

great wailin, makes me proud to be a Scots-Irish Appalachian gal

[@SgtDragan]

When first to this country a stranger I came, I placed my affection on a handsome young dame. I looked all around me, and I was alone And a poor stranger and a long way from home. Down in some lonely valley, in some lonesome place, Where the small birds are singing and the notes to increase The thoughts of pretty Saro, so neat and complete, I want no better pastime than to be with my sweet. Oh I wish I was a poet and could write some fine hand; I would write my love a letter that she might understand And send it by the waters where the island overflows, And think of pretty Saro wherever I go. My love she don't love me, as I understand, She wants some freeholder, and I have no land. But I can maintain her with the silver and gold And all the pretty fine things that my love's house can hold. Oh Saro, pretty Saro, I must let you know How truly I love you - I never can, though; No tongue can express it, no poet can tell How truly I love you, I love you so well. It's not the long journey I'm dreading to go Nor leaving of this country for the debts that I owe; There is but one thing that troubles my mind, That's a-leaving pretty Saro, my true love, behind. Farewell my dear father, likewise my mother too, I'm a-going to ramble this country all through. And when I get tired, I'll sit down and weep And think of pretty Saro wherever she be. Oh I wish I was a little dove, had wings and could fly, Straight to my love's bosom this night I'd draw nigh And in her little small arms all night I would lay And think of pretty Saro till the dawning of day. I love you, pretty Saro, I love you, I know. I love you, pretty Saro, wherever I go. On the banks of the ocean and the mountain's sad brow I love you then dearly, and I love you still now.

[@chris7662]

Thanks for this, Kurtis.

[@oldchickenlady]

what a beautiful place to live...I hope Heaven looks like that!

[@swamppossumo]

It's Irish Scotish with a bit of African mixed in... atleast bluegrass is.. here in the hills all I gotta do is go down the mountain every other sunday to hear the old timers sing and pick for hours out side an old gas station er inside according to weather... every year there's less of 'em and fewer young folks to take up their place... it's sad.. hollywood can make fun of us all they like but I assure you we'll be missed when we're gone.

[@blllllllllllllllllllrlrlrl7059]

No it's english and Scottish. Little Irish.

[@penninepiper]

Biggest group of Appalachian settlers were English and earlier tidewater settlers of English origin. The next biggest groups were German speakers from various parts of central Europe and the "scotch Irish" (a term which tended to cover both Ulster Scots and Anglo-Irish). There were also smaller numbers of French, Scandinavians, Welsh.....and many more Africans than often realized. Not to mention the intermarriage of all groups with each other and the native Americans. This Appalachian =Irish and Scottish or "Celtic" is modern myth, well past it's sell by date

[@MrNU998]

Preserve this at all costs. Keep the songs your parents and grandparents taught you. Learn new ones and pass them on to your own children.

[@juanitodelacruz100]

Delightful - the very definition of authentic. Many of us in Europe are horrified at seeing the USA get deeper into the slime, but we know there is another "America" - may it stay strong and overcome.

[@srs7593]

in a way, this channel is it. and the entire field of musicology.

[@The4truthSEARCH]

FTW this song makes me break down and cry.

[@squeakystool]

That high lonesome sound, a lot like Roscoe Holcomb.

[@DanielJoseph2028]

This is really amazing, thanks for posting!

[@inyobill]

75 likes, 0 dislikes, fairly resounding. Making music for the love of it, not to be a star or get rich.

[@sccakb6]

inyobill Amen!!

[@mdb60]

Real . . haunting...a time passed into antiquity...

[@rolandscales9380]

French country people used to have an expression, "Dire une chanson": "to tell a song", and that's exactly what Cal Wallin is doing here.

[@vincentmoore9891]

Makes me cry every time

[@melodymal3446]

this is one of my favorites

[@Eastoner420]

dont need no radio for music in them parts.

[@freestonew]

I once lived very near this hollow. near Trust, though, on the other side of the French river. This area of the country probably is an epi-center of legends. There is a Ghost true story that happened in Laural Valley that might be the greatest ghost true event in all of history!

[@aliciamarie9704]

I’m intrigued, can you tell it?

[@freestonew]

@@aliciamarie9704 maybe I might could someday write you this story. will be a very long article. there maybe might not be any ghost story like this one! freestone

[@slatedump]

Gorgeous.

[@SirCoughsalot]

I'm not gonna say something pretentious, I will simply say that this is good, and I like it a lot.

[@TheCursedCrab]

I am speachless

[@The4truthSEARCH]

I want more.

[@joannehack7588]

❤️

[@digitaldemocracyai-rob]

What a view.

[@PhiloAmericana]

Lovely.

[@joshchlebus]

He done sang her that song many times.

[@coy0te9]

Yeah, bunches of them. This one was Alan Lomax.

[@keithharvey7478]

If you notice in the background it looks like they're still growing corn in the 18th-19th Century checkered pattern.

[@snortworld]

as you get caught up in it you start to hear the bones of george jones, hank williams and young bob dylan

[@terrimoore8433]

Oh how I love this

[@yekdeli]

High lonesome...

[@anyways661]

Saints🙏

[@The4truthSEARCH]

is there a real life songcatcher?

[@sandramorey2529]

There are lots of them.

[@zyxwut321]

@SirCoughsalot: It's good because it's real.

[@NickleJ]

Is that Sheila Kay Adams with the baby?

[@Manic721]

Keep it going yourself then.

[@squareonere-run1583]

The elders and younger to the youngest. .all ae a recording of the God of all creation.

[@Brough1111]

Is that Scotch or Irish?

[@Themes4Voice]

English

[@stephensemp8634]

A patient’s uncle