Excellent compilation and contrast - thank you!!

It's a Jimmy Rodgers' song, but I'm fascinated how this song weaves through all types of 20th century music

He told me and my brother stories of when he was a young man in Minnesota in the 30s. They would jump trains into the Dakotas to go buy some beer. Apparently, the drinking age was way lower than Minnesota at the time.

Fast forward to the 60s, and he had a couple of Jimmy Rodgers records he would play over and over. He had his record player set up in the back yard and blast out Jimmy Rodgers all the time. Jimmy sang songs about being on trains and being poor, and being a cowboy. And yodeled like a mofo!

When we were way out in the back yard playing we could hear Jimmy singing and yodeling and we knew our Dad was out back listening. You know, as a kid you don’t understand stuff. Now I know he was reminiscing about his good old days.

Thanks...

I am very musically focused with my memories - That is, a snippet of a song or hearing a melody triggers memories of my childhood/events in my past more vividly than any other stimulus does.

So I can certainly relate to that story.

Let the Mermaids Flirt With Me

I never heard this song...

But all the old guys adapted adjusted and modified melodies to fit the songs they wanted to play

ETA - re-listened to Mississippi John Hurt's waiting on a train and Whattayaknow - the interviewer knew - he asked John to play "Mermaids with the original words" and John replied that he couldn't yodel...

Boy is my face red