Songs

1.Let them come (Elissa Pogue)

Lead vocal: Elissa Pogue

Vocals: Gus Kew, Louise Whiteman, Lucia Pastoriza, Mike Henson, Doug Johnstone, Jerry Bullmaster, Jeff Trauth

Autoharp: Elissa Pogue

Guitar: Mike Henson

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

This original gospel song was inspired by the story in Matthew 19. When the disciples tried to shoo the children away, Jesus said, “Suffer the little children, forbid them not,” (verse 14). For this recording, we invited a chorus of children to join in.

2.West Virginia My Home

(Hazel Dickens)

Lead Vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Elissa Pogue, Jerry Bullmaster

Autoharp: Elissa Pogue

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster (played using an old fiddle that spent some time in West Virginia in the 1940’s)

Guitar: Mike Henson

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

I was once privileged to join Hazel Dickens herself in a jam session at the home of Roscoe and Susie Morgan. This classic was among the songs we sang that night. –MH

3.Daniel Prayed

(G.T. Speer)

Lead vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Jerry Bullmaster, Doug Johnstone, Elissa Pogue, Jeff Trauth

Guitar: Mike Henson

Bass: Jeff Trauth

A gospel standard.

4.I’ve endured

(David and Ola Belle Reed)

Lead vocal: Elissa Pogue

Backup vocals: Mike Henson, Doug Johnstone, Jerry Bullmaster, Jeff Trauth

Autoharp: Elissa Pogue

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Mike Henson

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

Ola Belle Reed is one of the great mountain originals. Her words are as relevant now as the day she wrote them.

5.Meth lab blues

(Michael Henson)

Lead vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Jerry Bullmaster, Doug Johnstone, Elissa Pogue, Jeff Trauth

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Mike Henson, Doug Johnstone

Mandolin: Jeff Trauth

I spent most of my working career as a drug and alcohol counselor. This is just one of the stories I heard. –MH

6.You are my flower

(A.P. Carter)

Lead vocal: Jeff Trauth

Backup Vocal: Mike Henson, Doug Johnstone, Jerry Bullmaster

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Jeff Trauth (lead), Mike Henson (rhythm)

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

A Carter Family original, featuring Jeff’s guitar work.

7.Cold winter rain

(Michael Henson)

Lead vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Elissa Pogue, Jerry Bullmaster

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Jeff Trauth (lead), Mike Henson (rhythm)

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

There are so many songs about going home to the mountains. But what if the mountains are gone?

8. Bear Creek Blues

(A.P. Carter)

Vocal: Elissa Pogue

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Mike Henson, Doug Johnstone

Mandolin: Jeff Trauth

The Carter Family’s debt to African-American music is not always recognized. This song from the Carter’s back pages probably comes from the collaboration between A.P. and Lesley Riddle as they traveled the back roads searching for songs.

9.Looking for the Stone

(Nimrod Workman)

Lead vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Elissa Pogue, Jerry Bullmaster, Doug Johnstone

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Guitar: Mike Henson

I got to meet Nimrod Workman back in the 70s when he came to perform for the Appalachian Festival in Cincinnati. He took one look at my two-year-old daughter, immediately forgot everyone else, and started to duck-walk for her. -MH

10. Midnight Moonlight

(Jerry Garcia)

Lead Vocal: Doug Johnstone

Backup vocals: Jerry Bullmaster, Jeff Trauth, Elissa Pogue, Mike Henson

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: jeff Trauth (lead), Mike Henson (rhythm)

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

Doug takes the lead as the Carter “bridge” stretches all the way to San Francisco for this one. 

11.Will My Mother Know Me

(A.P. Carter)

Lead vocal: Elissa Pogue

Backup vocals: Mike Henson

Autoharp: Elissa Pogue

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Mike Henson

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

This is another gospel song from deeper in the Carter Family songbook.

12.Poor Orphan Child

(A.P. Carter)

Vocals: Mike Henson and Elissa Pogue

Autoharp: Elissa Pogue

Bass: Jeff Trauth

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Mike Henson

Mandolin: Doug Johnstone

This song was recorded in that famous first recording session in Bristol, Tennessee that boosted the Carter Family to country music fame. Elissa and I began singing this as a duet many years ago and now we’re privileged to sing it with this great group of musicians. -MH

13.Young Graves

(Michael Henson)

Lead vocal: Mike Henson

Backup vocals: Elissa Pogue, Jerry Bullmaster

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Fiddle: Jerry Bullmaster

Guitar: Doug Johnstone (lead), Mike Henson (rhythm)

Mandolin: Jeff Trauth

We’ve all lost friends or relatives to the opioid epidemic. Do the people who made the money from it even care? –MH

14.What Would You Give?

(words: F. J. Berry, music: J. H. Carr)

Lead vocal: Jerry Bullmaster

Backup vocal: Mike Henson

Bass: Elissa Pogue

Guitar: Mike Henson

Mandolins: Doug Johnstone, Jeff Trauth

This version was recorded by the Monroe Brothers in the 30s, then reprised by Bill Monroe and Doc Watson, and re-reprised right here with Jerry on lead vocals.

Album cover

Photograph (front): Jeff Trauth; (back): Jerry Bullmaster

Design (front and back): Jessie Henson