University Museum

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RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES - WHEN MAMA GOES TO QUARRELING

Listen to this song in one of three formats.

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1907 map of Clay County, Illinois with Flora highlighted This song was written in 1950 by Mr. L. M. Sutherland, and was recorded May 1, 1952 by Professor McIntosh in Flora, Illinois. Sung by Sutherland himself at the age of 75, the lyrics reveal the composer's take on the characteristics of a number of different religious denominations that can be found in the Southern Illinois region. Sutherland accompanies himself in this recording on the 5-string banjo, an instrument he reveals he had played since the age of eight. His clean, rolling style of chording in this song is the result of 67 years of practice.