White House Blues

General Information
Performer: Charlie Poole and The North Carolina Ramblers

Instrumentation: Banjo-Charlie Poole, Fiddle-Posey Rorer, Guitar-Roy Harvey

Date of recording: 1926

Record label: Columbia

Serial #: 15099D (W142658)

Summary
(As summarized by Harry Smith, The Anthology Of American Folk Music) "McKINLEY SWEARS, MOURNS, DIES. ROOSEVELT GETS WHITE HOUSE AND SILVER CUP" (5).

Information On This Song
This Ballad tells the story of the assassination of president William McKinley on Sept. 6, 1901.

Variations
Poole's rendition is an amalgamation of this ballad and Cannonball Blues. The line "Drinking out of a silver cup" is also found in some variations of Delia

Albums Featuring This Song

 * The Anthology Of American Folk Music
 * You Ain't Talkin' To Me! (album)
 * Old-Time Songs
 * The Very Best Of Charlie Poole
 * Roots 'n' Blues
 * With The North Carolina Ramblers And The Highlanders
 * The Roots Of Bob Dylan
 * Can't You Hear Me Callin'? (album)
 * Old Time