Sourwood Mountain
Encyclopedia
"Sourwood Mountain" is a traditional American
folk song
. Like many folk songs, there are numerous lyrical versions extant, however there are certain commonalities. The song's theme is a lament
over the narrator's true love, from whom he is separated. The title comes from the opening line, which is invariably "Chicken's (a) crowing on Sourwood Mountain". Each verse of the song consists of a rhyming couplet
interspersed with a nonsense refrain, for example:
"Sourwood Mountain" is most closely associated with the music of Appalachia
, however there are versions native to New England as well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk song
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Like many folk songs, there are numerous lyrical versions extant, however there are certain commonalities. The song's theme is a lament
Lament
A lament or lamentation is a song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief, regret, or mourning.-History:Many of the oldest and most lasting poems in human history have been laments. Laments are present in both the Iliad and the Odyssey, and laments continued to be sung in elegiacs accompanied by...
over the narrator's true love, from whom he is separated. The title comes from the opening line, which is invariably "Chicken's (a) crowing on Sourwood Mountain". Each verse of the song consists of a rhyming couplet
Couplet
A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic...
interspersed with a nonsense refrain, for example:
- Chicken's a-crowing on Sourwood Mountain
- Hey-ho diddle-um day
- So many pretty girls I can't count them
- Hey-ho diddle-um day
"Sourwood Mountain" is most closely associated with the music of Appalachia
Appalachian music
Appalachian music is the traditional music of the region of Appalachia in the Eastern United States. It is derived from various European and African influences, including English ballads, Irish and Scottish traditional music , religious hymns, and African-American blues...
, however there are versions native to New England as well.