Home
Walkin' Boss
Composer: Traditional

Walkin' Boss was performed by Jerry Garcia and David Grisman in the 1990's. Also played by Garcia, solo, at the College of San Mateo in San Mateo on November 10th 1962, a show that circulates on tape. Garcia introduces the song by saying that it was recorded by Clarence Ashley back in the 20's.

On some recordings the title is given as Walking Boss.



Jerry Garcia recordings

info Garcia/Grisman, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, 1991
info Acoustic Disc 100% Handmade Music, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Garcia / Grisman), 1993
info Garcia/Grisman Alternate, Garcia/Grisman, 2012

Jerry Garcia lyrics

The lyrics used by Garcia in 1962 are fairly difficult to hear on the tape but approximate to the following;

Walking boss, walking boss, walking boss,
Oh, I don't belong to you,

I belong, I belong, I belong,
To the steel driving crew.

(Work?) one day, work one day, work one day,
Then lay in the shanty (too?).

Asked that boss for a job, for a job,
He said, "Son, what can you do?"

(inaudible line)
And pick and shovel too.

Walking boss, walking boss, walking boss,
Oh, I don't belong to you,

I belong, I belong, I belong,
To the steel driving crew.

 
Other recordings

no info Clarence Ashley, 192?
info Old-Time Music at Clarence Ashley's, Vol 2, Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson , 1962
info Memories, Doc Watson, 1975
info On The Great Divide, The New Lost City Ramblers, 1975
no info Days Of Forty Nine, Jeff Warner and Jeff Davis, 1977
info Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets, 1982
info Original Folkways Recordings of Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley, 1960-1962, Clarence Ashley and Doc Watson , 1994
no info Light In August, The Hitmen, 1997
no info The Grillbillies Album Band Volume One, The Grillbillies Album Band, 1998
no info Pure Diamond Gold, The Sadies, 1999
no info H-Om, Bingo, 1999
no info Live, Scrüj MacDuhk, 19??
no info Favorite Folk Songs: Guitar, Judy Roderick, 19??
no info The Weary Boys, The Weary Boys, 2002
no info A Slight Remove, Doug B. Smith, 2003
no info Classic Puppets, Meat Puppets, 2004
no info See You in Hell, Puerto Muerto, 2004
no info Crimson Beauty (Single), Puerto Muerto, 2004
no info Give It Back, The Hackensaw Boys, 2004
info In Sacred Trust: The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes, Hobart Smith, 2005
no info Cornbread Nation, Tim O'Brien, 2005
info 50 Years: Where Do You Come from, Where Do You Go?, Various Artists (Clarence Ashley), 2009
info Muddy Roads, David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, 2013

  album cover

album cover

album cover

album cover