Poorhouse Ramble: A Song History

← Back to Browse By Song

"Poorhouse Ramble" is an original tune by John Keane, credited to him as composer in the song list of 15 Originals, his book of fifteen mountain dulcimer pieces published by Fingers Of Steel.[1] It is the tenth title in that list and the last of the three DGD-tuned tunes, following "Cypress Knee Surrender" and "Armadillo Parade"; the download contains a 43-page PDF of the whole book plus a separate file for each tune.[1] John and Karen Keane, who hail from Shreveport, Louisiana, play a wide range of styles, among them Louisiana traditional music, bluegrass, Delta blues and humorous novelties, and both hold music education degrees from Northeast Louisiana University, today the University of Louisiana-Monroe.[2] The sources consulted here give no date of composition, no recording and no explanation of the title.[1][2]

Painted bird's-eye view of a county almshouse with red brick buildings, barns, fields and fenced yards, framed by small vignettes and an eagle

John Rasmussen, Berks County Almshouse, 1880, oil and gold paint on zinc, 1880. A county poorhouse, shown for the title; it has no connection to the tune.

Our book that contains the song "Poorhouse Ramble"

Sources

  1. Fingers Of Steel: "John Keane, 15 Originals".
  2. DulcimerDownloads: "John Keane".
  3. Image: John Rasmussen, Berks County Almshouse, 1880, oil and gold paint on zinc, 1880. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

← Back to Browse By Song