one enquiry

louisa   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 03:20 GMT
In the song named "Five Hundred Miles". There is a sentence. It sounds like "Lord, I can¡¯t go back home this away." Am I right? I am not sure if it should be "this away" or not, since I don't think "this away" means anything.
Julian   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 04:42 GMT
"Five Hundred Miles" is an old southern (US) folk song. "Lord, I can't go back home this a-way."

People from the rural South have a tendancy to add an "a-" before certain words:

"He went that a-way."
"That ol' truck needs a-fixin'."
"They all came by a-hootin' and a-hollerin' somethin' fierce!"
louisa   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 05:29 GMT
"Lord, I can't go back home this a-way." means: I can't go back home like this. Right?
Julian   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 06:20 GMT
Correct. I can't go back home in this condition (not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name).
mjd   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 07:30 GMT
Another good example of this phenomenon is Bob Dylan's "...and the times they are a'changin'."
Damian   Saturday, August 28, 2004, 07:36 GMT
When someone asks you something like: "Which way did Paul go?" it's not uncommon to reply: "I think he went that a'way". As you say that you, indicate the direction with your hand.
Sanja   Sunday, August 29, 2004, 15:58 GMT
That's weird.
Mi5 Mick   Monday, August 30, 2004, 07:18 GMT
Did this form originate from the American South or Britain? Where I live, this is only used in jest and in music.
Damian   Monday, August 30, 2004, 07:35 GMT
<<That's weird>>

It sure is, but interesting.....like life itself