JOHN HENRY AND SOME OTHER STUFF
Avon Park, Florida: Dash Moore, June 1965. First Edition. Wraps. Limited to 500 copies. Unpaginated (20 pages), bound with two staples in printed white paper wrappers (5 ½” x 8 ½”). Some minor wear and soiling; otherwise very good. Not found in OCLC or commerce. This scarce piece was published by Walter Nicholas “Dash” Moore – “Singer of Songs” – a Florida folk icon best known for his signature song, “The Florida Swampman.” Moore (1936-2007) entertained locals and tourists on the streets of historic St. Augustine for nearly forty years and was a musical associate of the legendary Florida folk singer Will McLean. The songbook contains the lyrics for eleven of Moore’s songs, along with an introduction to his music in which he confesses “I feel that my mouth hath been too long closed.” He writes: “No, I don’t think the colored should, or will, take over the U.S.A., at least not until the day when they outnumber the white. I do think, or rather know, that they should, and must if we are to hold up our head as a nation, be allowed to help run the country, and be given their share of the freedom we hold so high.” Several of Moore’s songs deal with issues of racial equality, including “If You Don’t Watch Out,” with the refrain “but the Klan will get you if you don’t watch out.” He also offers his own version of the song about legendary African American folk hero John Henry. Very good. Item #71751
Price: $250.00