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Old-time fiddle tune originally called "Run, Nigger, Run" but renamed to "Run, Johnny, Run" for obvious reasons. West Virginian fiddlers had also renamed their rendition to "One River to Cross" because of the same racist conotations. Reputed to have been played in an 1899 Gallatin, TN fiddle contest, and was played by Fiddlin' John Carson in a 1913 Atlanta, GA fiddle contest. First recorded by Carson in 1924. The original lyrics are never performed now and almost always recorded now as an instrumental.