Gold Watch And Chain: A Song History

← Back to Browse By Song

"Gold Watch and Chain" is the plea of a jilted man to a former sweetheart: he offers to part with his valuables, his heart included, if she will love him again, and he asks for the return of the tokens he once gave her.[1] The Traditional Ballad Index, which assigns the song Roud number 16993, gives its earliest date as a 1929 recording by Ephraim Woodie and the Henpecked Husbands, issued by Columbia as "Last Gold Dollar."[1]

Gold pocket watch with a gold dial, Roman numerals and its hinged case open

Robert Roskell, Pocket watch, gold case and dial, 1820–21. A watch without its chain, shown for its subject; it has no connection to the song.

The Carter Family (A. P. Carter, Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter) recorded it for Victor in Camden, New Jersey, on June 17, 1933, with Ralph Peer present at the session.[2] Victor issued it on record 23821, paired with "Give Me Roses While I Live," and the same take also appeared on Montgomery Ward and on Gramophone in India.[2][3] Sources differ on authorship: the Ballad Index lists the author as unknown, Victor's ledgers credited A. P. Carter, and the Discography of American Historical Recordings, citing Meade, says the song is based on Thomas P. Westendorf's "Is There No Kiss for Me Tonight, Love?"[1][2] The Library of Congress holds an 1879 Westendorf song with nearly that title, published by W. F. Shaw.[4]

The New Lost City Ramblers also recorded "Gold Watch and Chain,"[1] and the title heads a 1998 Carter Family release, Gold Watch and Chain: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1933-34).[5] Jim Miller includes it in 15 Tunes In The Public Domain Recorded By The Carter Family, Volume 2, a collection of songs performed by the Carter Family, arranged for mountain dulcimer with tablature, lyrics and chord symbols, published by Fingers Of Steel.[6]

Our book that contains the song "Gold Watch And Chain"

Sources

  1. Traditional Ballad Index: "Gold Watch and Chain (I)".
  2. Discography of American Historical Recordings: "Victor matrix BS-76289. Gold watch and chain / Carter Family".
  3. Discography of American Historical Recordings: "Victor 23821 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced)".
  4. Library of Congress: "Is there no kiss for me tonight".
  5. AllMusic: "Gold Watch and Chain: Their Complete Victor Recordings (1933-34)".
  6. Fingers Of Steel: "Jim Miller, 15 Tunes In The Public Domain Recorded By The Carter Family, Volume 2".
  7. Image: Robert Roskell, Pocket watch, gold case and dial, 1820–21. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

← Back to Browse By Song