Watts was a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Tabor City, North Carolina. This song has circulated widely as Duncan and Brady, performed by folks from Leadbelly to Dylan. The Leadbelly and Dylan versions lack the ‘Been on the Job Too Long’ refrain, which, for me, makes the song. It transforms the song from being just another ‘killed him just to watch him die’ song to a song about a disgruntled worker going postal when he loses his job. Duncan is a sheriff, and he informs Brady that his services will no longer be required:

Brady was a worker on the telephone wire
Along comes Duncan with a shining star
Looked old Brady right through the specs
Said ‘no use talking, Brady, just get your check’

The rolling banjo style is a hallmark of North Carolina players, distinctly different from the frailing style of other old-timey banjo players. I don’t know much about the recording, which means it’s time for me to shell out for Tony Russell’s pre-war country music discography. The surface noise makes me think it’s a Paramont.

Been on the Job Too Long (MP3) http://juneberry78s.com/sounds/ma6003-10.mp3
Courtesy of Juneberry78s.com. Please consider purchasing one of their CD-R or DVD-R compilations of old-time 78s and radio shows.