American Songcatcher

Season 1, Episode 1 // If She Heard My Guineas Clink

Featured in this Episode:

Traditional - "Peggy O" (:28)

Jimmie Rodgers - "Waiting For a Train" (8:01)

Elizabeth Cotten - "Shake Sugaree" (15:23)

Dave Van Ronk - "Green, Green Rocky Road" (25:40)

Gillian Welch - "Everything is Free" (35:26)

Teaser:

A traditional Scottish song survives over 300 years, traveling thousands of miles before filtering through the Appalachian Mountains and becoming a folk "pass along" tune. "The Singing Brakeman" comes alive after witnessing the yodeling of Swiss emissaries, creating the original country music sound. A woman in her 60's falls into a household worker position for the Seeger Family, and they discover a talent left behind 30 years ago that would inspire generations of guitar players. A man who was bigger in person than the myths that followed him, personifying emotion through old songs. And a living legend, who punctures holes in hearts with her incomparable songwriting, transformed by The Stanley Brothers.

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Source Credits:

#1: WhiteGum | Weeping Willow Guitar | The Jovial Crew

#2: Bluegrass Today | Official Website

#3: Folkways | Rainbow Quest

#4: The Vinyl District | Folkways | Elijah Wald | Guitar Workshop

#5: The Guardian | The New Yorker | Rolling Stone

Tracing the roots of American music from its cultured past to artists playing it forward, join folk musician Nicholas Edward Williams in the audio documentary-style podcast series, American Songcatcher. Each episode uncovers the lesser-known journey behind one traditional song, followed by four stories of musicians in American roots music, up to someone carrying tradition today. From European and British isles immigrants who brought their music to Appalachia, to songs of the South: Gospel, Ragtime, Blues, Country, and the Folk music derived from it all. We'll go behind the curtain of legends, and shine the limelight on many integral lesser-known artists who have influenced generations, such as Bessie Smith, Ola Belle Reed, Blind Blake, Odetta and Dave Van Ronk. Here's to the songs of old, may they live on forever. Find American Songcatcher, available wherever you get your podcasts.