Death of Floyd Collins

Death of Floyd Collins

Words and music by Rev. Andrew Jenkins, 1925.


O’ come all you young people, and listen while I tell.
The fate of Floyd Collins, a lad we all knew well.

His face was fair and handsome; his heart was true and brave.
His body now lies sleeping in a lonely sandstone cave.

How sad, how sad the story, it fills our eyes with tears.
The mem’ry to linger for many many years.

A brokenhearted father who tried his boy to save.
Will now weep tears of sorrow at the door of Floyd’s Cave.

Oh Mother don’t you worry; dear Father don’t be sad.
I’ll tell you all my story in an awful dream I had.

I dreamed I was a pris’ner; my life I could not save.
I cried, “Oh must I perish within this silent cave.”

The rescue party labored; they worked both night and day.
To move the mighty barrier that stood within the way.

“To rescue Floyd Collins,”  This was their battle cry.
We’ll never, no we’ll never let Floyd Collins die.

But on that fatal morning the sun rose in the sky.
The workers still were busy, “We’ll save him by-and-by.”

But oh how sad the ending; his life could not be saved.
His body then was sleeping in the lonely sandstone cave.

Young people all take warning from Floyd Collins fate.
And get right with your maker before it is too late.

It may not be a sand cave in which we find our tomb.
But at the bar of judgement we too will meet our doom.


Collected from Victor 19779, as sung by Vernon Dalhart, recorded September 9, 1925.


Hello World Song
(Set to the tune of “Death of Floyd Collins”)

Words and music by Rev. Andrew Jenkins, 1930.


Down in Shreveport, Lou’siana, there lives a famous man.
From north to south, from east to west, he’s known throughout the land.

If you’ll tune in on his station, each night you’ll hear him say.
“Hello old world, doggone ya, now don’t you go away.”

Down in the town of Shreveport, out on the radio,
He’s tellin’ all the people just what they ought to know.

Now he’s a friend to the people, Henderson’s his name.
Throughout the entire nation he’s surely winnin’ fame.

He’s handin’ out some heavy blows; he’s a-punchin’ right and left.
There’s a lot of folks who’d like to change to put him on the shelf.

Each night he gives his warning to his friends in ev’ry state:
If you send your money to Wall Street you’ll surely meet your fate.

You independent merchants, you’re in an awful fix.
Just join the good old MMM, like the boys of ’76.

Now wash your windows, paint your stores, and clean up around the place.
And [?] the chain stores, we’ll have them on the chase.

Now let us write to congress, my good friends ev’rywhere,
To the Radio Commission, tell them to clear the air.

Friend Henderson has a message that ev’ryone should know.
There’s no better way to tell the world than by old radio.

Now let us give you warning, don’t let us plead in vain.
Don’t send your money to Wall Street, and bind yourselves in chain.

So let us all be kind and true, and meet this issue straight;
And trade with the hometown merchants before it is too late.


Collected from Hello World Dog Gone 001, as sung by Blind Andy (Jenkins) recorded March 5, 1930.