#bert layne

[brandonraykirk]

In Search of Ed Haley 306

#JohnHartford and #BrandonKirk visit #fiddler #SlimClere in #SouthCharleston, #WestVirginia. #Appalachia #music #history

The next day, after a few hours of sleep at Wilson’s house, Brandon and I drove to see fiddler Slim Clere in South Charleston, West Virginia. Slim was born in Ashland around the time of the First World War and knew a lot about Ed. We were parked behind his two-story house and were unloading our “gear” when he appeared out of a back door and led us inside his house (past some type of home…

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[brandonraykirk]

In Search of Ed Haley 290

#JohnHartford and #CurlyWellman visit Wilson Reeves in #Ashland, #Kentucky. #Appalachia #history #music #amwriting

Curly suggested that we visit Wilson Reeves, a local record collector, for more information about Ed. Wilson was glad to talk to us. He remembered seeing Ed and his family play on the streets of Ashland during World War II.

“This was in the early forties,” Wilson said. “I came up here to take training at the old Ashland Vocational School. I lived on Carter about 17th. There was a house there…

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[collectingroots]

I'm just a poor ex-soldier that's broken down and blue, Fought out in the Great War for the old red, white, and blue. I left my parents and my girl I loved, to France did go And fought out on the battlefield through hunger, sleet, and snow. I saw my buddies dying, and some shellshocked and torn Although we never faltered at the battle of Amarne And we were told when we left home we'd be heroes of the land, So we came back and found no one would lend a helping hand. They promised gold and silver, and bid us all adieu. They said they'd welcome us back home when the terrible war was through. We fought until the war was o'er, they said we'd won the fight, But we have no job or money, no place to sleep at night. They called us wandering boys bums, asking for shelter and bread Although we fought in no man's land and a-many poor boy is dead. So listen to my story and lend a helping hand To the poor forgotten soldier boy who fought to save our land. - Bert Layne