A 1946 article in the California Folklore Quarterly features a collection of folks sayings from a pioneer family in Western Oregon, including this phrase to describe the one person in town who seems to know everybody’s business: He knew everybody and why they left Missouri. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Knows Everybody”
There’s a 1946 article in California Folklore Quarterly that’s titled Folk Sayings in a Pioneer Family of Western Oregon. And I’ve had a lot of fun going through this and seeing some of the sayings that were popular as people were starting to settle the state.
And there’s one saying in this collection that, Grant, I know you’re really going to appreciate. It describes somebody, the guy in town who knows everybody, knows everybody’s business. The saying goes, he knew everybody and why they left Missouri.
Yes, because I am from Missouri and I did leave it.
Oh, that’s good. Yeah, but well, Missouri was a jumping off point for the settlement of the West.
Exactly.
Oregon Trail, ring a bell, anyone?
Yes, yes, exactly. And the article makes note of that.
I just think it’s a wonderful phrase that we should revive anyway, you know, no matter where you are. He knows everybody and why they left Missouri.
By the way, that reminds me of a wonderful TV show that you should be watching. It stars Steve Buscemi and Daniel Radcliffe called The Miracle Workers.
Each season has the same, more or less the same cast of actors in a completely different environment.
And this season has them heading westward to Oregon.
It’s a comedy show with modern viewpoints set in historical settings.
It’s very good.
Ooh, two of my favorites.
I’ll have to put that on the list.
