“Duncan” was first recorded by the white string band Wilmer Watts & the Lonely Eagles in 1929 as “Been on the Job Too Long.” The song was uncovered and recorded several times in the pre-WWII African American community by Library of Congress field recording teams. Perhaps the best known version of “Duncan & Brady” was recorded twice by Leadbelly in 1947, once with guitar and once a capella. It is believed to be based on an actual incident in St. Louis in 1893. Here, TFC pays homage to the 1959 Dave Van Ronk version that was covered by the New Riders of the Purple Sage in 1972.
