Red Wing (song)

Covers

The song has been recorded numerous times in many different styles. It was sung by John Wayne in the 1943 film In Old Oklahoma and again by John Wayne and Lee Marvin in the 1961 film The Comancheros and finally by John Wayne and Lauren Bacall in the 1976 film The Shootist. In 1950 Oscar Brand recorded a bawdy version in his Bawdy Songs & Backroom Ballads, Volume 3.

The song was connected with and often performed by actress Princess Red Wing. It "achieved a folk song-like popularity" and became a standard for"Native American fiddlers". Its name may also be associated with Red Wing, Minnesota, which is eponymously named for Mdewakanton Dakota Chief Red Wing.

Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys recorded a Western swing cover of Red Wing in the 1940s.

George Lewis helped make it a standard of the traditional jazz revival era.

An instrumental version, with Chet Atkins on guitar, was released by Asleep at the Wheel in 1993.

American roots music group The Steel Wheels recorded a version with new lyrics in 2011.

Gary Lee [Fiddle]

"Union Maid" by Woody Guthrie

In 1940 Woody Guthrie wrote new lyrics to the tune, retitled "Union Maid". Guthrie's are perhaps the most famous of alternative words for the song; his song begins:

There once was a union maid, she never was afraidOf goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,And when the Legion boys come 'roundShe always stood her ground.Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,I'm sticking to the union 'til the day I die.

British school parody

Red Wing was parodied, in a version perpetuated among British schoolchildren, which begins with the line, "The moon's shining down on Charlie Chaplin." (See Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren.) This variant was popular among British troops during the First World War in response to the comedian's refusal to enlist, and was featured in the movie Oh! What A Lovely War. During the 1970s, Harry Boardman and the Oldham Tinkers folk group recorded a version incorporating all of the verses that they remembered from their childhood.

Now the moon shines bright on Charlie ChaplinHe's going barmy to join the armyBut his old baggy trousers they'll need mendingBefore they send him to the DardanellesCharlie Chaplin meek and mildStole a sausage from a childBut when the child began to cryCharlie socked him in the eyeCharlie Chaplin had no senseHe bought a flute for 18 penceBut the only tune that he could playWas ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ayNow the moon shines bright on Charlie ChaplinHis shoes are cracking, for want of blackingAnd his baggy khaki trousers still need mendingBefore they send him to the Dardanelles.Charlie Chaplin went to FranceTo teach the ladies how to danceFirst you heel, and then you toeLife your skirts and up you goCharlie Chaplin Chuck-Chuck-ChuckWent to bed with three white ducksOne died and Charlie criedCharlie Chaplin Chuck-Chuck-ChuckNow the moon shines bright on Charlie ChaplinHis shoes are cracking, for want of blackingAnd his old fusty coat will need a mendingBefore they send him to the Dardanelles.In 2016 Harp and a monkey recorded a song called 'Charlie Chaplin' based on 'red wing' on their album 'War Stories' which uses the chorus:'And the moon shines bright on Charlie ChaplinHis boots are cracking, for the want of blackingAnd his old great coat's in need of mendinguntil they send him to the Dardanelles'The verses deal with the soldiers recreation time behind the lines and their longing for home. The song is based on the story of the Daily Mail's ill conceived attack on Charlie Chaplin and the response by the school children and troops.