The Fiddler’s Companion

© 1996-2008 Andrew Kuntz

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Notation Note: The tunes below are recorded in what is called “abc notation.” They can easily be converted to standard musical notation via highlighting with your cursor starting at “X:1” through to the end of the abc’s, then “cutting-and-pasting” the highlighted notation into one of the many abc conversion programs available, or at concertina.net’s incredibly handy “ABC Convert-A-Matic” at

http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html 

 

**Please note that the abc’s in the Fiddler’s Companion work fine in most abc conversion programs. For example, I use abc2win and abcNavigator 2 with no problems whatsoever with direct cut-and-pasting. However, due to an anomaly of the html, pasting the abc’s into the concertina.net converter results in double-spacing. For concertina.net’s conversion program to work you must remove the spaces between all the lines of abc notation, so that they are single-spaced, with no intervening blank lines. This being done, the F/C abc’s will convert to standard notation nicely. Or, get a copy of abcNavigator 2 – its well worth it.   [AK]

 

 

 

GRASACH ABU (Graces to Victory). Irish, Air (3/4 time). G Major. Standard tuning. ABB. "The slogan or war‑cry of the Graces of Courtstown, Co. Kilkenny" (Joyce). Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Songs), 1909; No. 756, pg. 373.

           

GRASSHOPPER POLKA. Polish‑American?, Polka. Gennett 6207 (78 RPM), John Strom and How (fiddle and accordion), c. 1928.

           

GRASSHOPPER SITTING ON A SWEET POTATO VINE. Old‑Time, Breakdown. D Major. Standard tuning. AB (Silberberg): AABB (most versions). Galax, Grayson County, Virginia, area fiddler Luther Davis (1887-1986) is usually credited for most versions of this tune. African-American collector Thomas Talley printed a song by this title in his 1922 work Negro Folk Rhymes (reprinted in 1991, edited by Charles Wolfe). His lyric (which seems to scan with the abc tune below) goes:
***

Grasshopper a settin’ on a sweet tater vine,

‘Long come a Blackbird an’ nab him up behind.

***

Blackbird a-settin’ in a sour apple tree,

Hawk grab him up behind; he “Chee! Chee! Chee!”

***

Big hawk a-settin’ in de top of dat oak,

Start to eat dat Blackbird an’ he git choke.

***

Some see similarities to the Irish melody "(An) Comhra Donn” (The Brown Box/Casket/Coffin). Also melodic similarities in parts of some versions to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Sources for notated versions: Luther Davis (Galax, Va.) via Liz Slade (Yorktown, New York) [Kuntz]; Jere Canote [Phillips]; Greg Canote (Seattle) [Songer]; Stephanie Prausnitz [Silberberg]. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician No. 2: Occasional Collection of Old‑Timey Fiddle Tunes for Hammer Dulcimer, Fiddle, etc.), 1982 (revised 1988 & 2003); pg. 14. Kuntz, Private Collection. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), Vol. 1, 1994; pg. 102. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 55. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 88. Dean Street Music 101, Grand Picnic - “Grand Picnic.” Marimac 9009, Liz Slade ‑ "Old Time Friends" (1987).

See also listing at:

Jane Keefer’s Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources 

X:1

T:Grasshopper Sitting on a Sweet Potato Vine

L:1/8

M:2/4

S:Liz Slade

Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz

K:D

A/(B/A/)D/ FA/(e|f/)e/f/(A/ d/)f(A/|B/)A/B/(D/ G)B|d/B/d/(B/ A2)|

A/(B/A/)D/ FA/(e|f/)e/f/(A/ d/)f/(A/B/|c/)B/c/A/ B/B/c|(d/f)(d/ f||(A|

e/)(A/c/)c/ e (3e/f/g/|a/)e/f/(A/ d/f)(A/|B/)A/B/(D/ G)B|d/B/d/(B/ A2)|

e/)(A/c/)c/ e (3e/f/g/|a/)e/f/(A/ d/f)(A/|c/)B/c/A/ B/B/c|(d/f)(d/ f)||

           

GRASSY CREEK. Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composed by Oscar “Red” Wilson. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 56.

                       


GRASSY FIDDLE BLUES. Bluegrass. County 2705, Kenny Baker - "Master Fiddler."

           

GRASSY GREEN PILLOW, THE (An Ceannaird Feurac-Glas). Irish, Air (4/4 time). D Dorian. Standard tuning. AB. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 463, pg. 81.

X:1

T:Grassy Green Pillow, The

M:C

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 463

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D Minor

d>c|B2 {d}cB A2 DE|F>G A=B f{g/f/}e|dcAG FAcB|A4 z2 dc|B2 AG FDDE|

FGA=B cef{g/f/}e|dcAF GFD>D|D4 z2||A2|d2 de f>g/4f/4 ef|gfed c<A G>F/3G/4|

Adde fdcA|d6 dc|B2 {d}cB A2 DE|FGA=B cef{g/f/}e|dcAF GFD>D|D4 z2||

           

GRASSY TURF, THE (An Feurtan). Irish, Air or Planxty (2/4 time). A Major. Standard tuning. AB. Composition creited to Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) by O’Neill. O'Neill (Krassen), 1976; pg. 228. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 632, pg. 112.

X:1

T:Grassy Turf, The

M:2/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Moderate

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 632

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:A

A/B/|cc d/c/B/A/|ec ag/f/|eA d/c/B/A/|GB BA/B/|cc d/c/B/A/|ec ag/f/|

e/c/B/A/ G/B/c/d/|cA A||A/B/|cd ca|ec d/c/B/A/|cd ca|ec ed/c/|d/e/f/d/ c/d/e/c/|

BB BB/c/|d/e/f/d/ c/d/e/c/|BB BA/B/|cA eA|f/g/a/f/ eA/B/|cA eA|f/g/a/f/ ed/c/|

c/e/f/d/ ca|BB BB/c/|d/e/f/d/ ca|cA A||

           

GRAVE OF WOLFE TONE, THE (Uaim Uolfe Tone). Irish, Air (3/4 time, "plaintive"). G Dorian. Standard tuning. One part. The title refers to the great Irish patriot and martyr Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763-1798) who was buried in Bodenstown, County Kildare, in the grave which had just received the body of his brother Matthew. The grave was unmarked until 1844, however, even when a stone was erected it was slowly dismembered by enthusiastic pilgrims, who sought relics as remembrances. A new slab was erected by the Wolfe Tone Band, but that also shows signs of similar treatment. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903/1979; No. 456, pg. 80.

X:1

T:Grave of Wolfe Tone, The

M:3/4

L:1/8

R:Air

N:”Plaintive

S:O’NeillMusic of Ireland (1903), No. 456

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Minor

d=e|f2g2f2|d2c2F2|A2G2G2|G4 AG|F2G2A2|c2d2c2|c2A2G2|F4 GA|

B2A2G2|A2G2 GA|B2c2d2|g4 fg|a2g2f2|d2c2 FG|A2G2G2|G4||

                       

GRAVEL PIT. Irish, Reel. D Major. Standard tuning. AAB. Treoir.

X: 1

T: Gravel Pit

S: "Treoir"

Z: Transcribed by Bill Black

M: 4/4

L: 1/8

R: reel

K: D

AFDF AFDF | A2 AG EF G2 | AFDF AF D2 | AFEG FD D2 :|

fage d2 (3Bcd | f2 af ge d2 | fage dfec | dcAG EF G2 |

fage d2 (3Bcd | e2 af gede | fage dfec | dcAG EF G2 ||

                       

GRAVEL WALK(S), THE. AKA – “The Gravel Path.” AKA and see “Gravel Walks to Granie,” “The Gravelled Walks to Granny,” “The Cavan Reel,” "The Cottage in the Grove [2]," "Jenny Lace your Tight," “Down with the Mail," "The Faraway Wedding [1]," "Highland Man That Kissed His Grannie [1]," "In and Out (of) the Harbour," "Jenny Tie your Bonnet," “The Jolly Seven,” "Lassie/Lassies tie your Bonnet(s)," "Lizzie's Bonnet," "The Rambler's Rest," “Stenson’s No. 1,” “The Tailor’s Thimble [2],” "Tie the Bonnet," "Upstairs in a Tent [1]." Irish, Reel. Ireland, Donegal. A Dorian (most versions): A Dorian/Mixolydian (Feldman & O’Doherty). Standard tuning. ABCDD’ (Songer): AABCCD (Mulvihill): AABCCDD (Mallinson): ABBCDD (Feldman & O’Doherty): AABCCDD' (Boys of the Lough, Martin & Hughes): AABBCCDD'(Brody): AABB'CCDD' (Alewine). A favorite reel in County Donegal, which has a tradition of adapting Scottish tunes; popularized through the playing of the Byrne brothers of Kilcar and the travelling Doherty family, says Mick Conneely. In this case the root melody is the Scottish reel “Higland Man that Kissed His Grannie [1]” (see also another Irish derivative “The Highlandman [2],” a highland).  "In Donegal, as in Shetland, the fiddle is the favourite instrument and this tune is one of those often played in octaves, that is two fiddles playing the tune an octave apart. This is a tradition that seems to belong mainly to Donegal and Kerry" (Boys of the Lough, 1977; pg. 14). Caoimhin Mac Aoidh explains that Granny (sometimes “Grainne” or “Cranny”) is a remote, uninhabited glen between Ardara and Glencomcille, southwest County Donegal, where locals from the villages of Ardara, Kilcar and Glen used to summer their sheep. When they went to gather them in Autumn they would access Granny by climbing up the gravel paths, thus the name. He states that in Donegal the first two parts are played once, while the latter two are doubled.

***

The Doherty brothers (Mickey and John) of County Donegal, both fiddlers, told versions of a story sometimes associated with “The Gravel Walks.” Mickey’s version can be heard on the cassette set “The Gravel Walks” (Comhairle Bhealoideas Eireann, 1990, produced by Harry Bradshaw). He tells of a man who knew only two tunes before being aided by the fairies, after which he had a vast repertoire; although learning tunes from fairies is a common phenomenon in the folklore of Britain and Ireland.

***

 “Tie the Bonnet” is a related tune. Susan Songer, in The Portland Collection (1997), states “Gravel Walks” is a good change tune for the contra dance Chorus Jig (the first tune played being the four-part “Chorus Jig”). For the dance each part is played only once. Sources for notated versions: the late Donegal fiddler Mickey Docherty [Boys of the Lough]; Jerry Keane [Mulvihill]; Paddy Ryan [Bulmer & Sharpley]; fiddlers Francie and Mickey Byrne (County Donegal) [Feldman & O’Doherty]. Breathnach (CRÉ II), 1976; No. 238 (appears as untitled reel). Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 124. Bulmer & Sharpley (Music from Ireland), 1974, vol. 2, No. 29. Feldman & O’Doherty (The Northern Fiddler), 1979; pg. 161 (appears as “The Gravel Walks to Granie”). Mallinson (Essential), 1995; No. 19, pg. 8. Martin & Hughes (Ho-ro-gheallaidh), 1990; pg. 49. Mulvihill (1st Collection), 1986; No. 102, pg. 27. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 89. Vallely (Play Tin Whistle with the Armagh Pipers Club), vol. 3; 23. Cló Iar-Chonnachta, CICD 148, Mick Conneely – “Selkie” (2001). Gael-Linn CEF060, “Paddy Glackin.” Green Linnet 1009, Patricia Conway and Mick Maloney‑ "Irish Music: The Living Tradition." Nimbus NI5320, Ciaran Tourish & Dermot McLaughlin - “Fiddle Sticks: Irish Traditional Music from Donegal” (1991). Rounder 3006, Boys of the Lough‑ "Second Album" (1974). Shanachie 34014, James Kelly, Paddy O’Brien & Daithi Sproule – “Traditional Music of Ireland” (1995. Appears as “Gravel Path”). Tartan Tapes CDTT1004, Connaillaigh – “Heat the Hoose” (1998. Appears as “Gravel Walks to Grannie”).

X:1

T:Gravel Walk, The

L:1/8

M:4/4

K:A Dorian

A2 eA BA eA|A2 eA BA GB|\

A2 eA Bd ef|ge dc BA GB:|\

A2 aA gA fA|A2 eA BA GB|\

A2 aA gA ef|gf ge dB GB|\

A2 aA gA fA|A2 eA BA GB|\

AB cd ef ga|ge dc BA GB||

cA AG A2 AB|cA (3AAA BG Bd|\

cA AG A2 ef|gf ge dB GB:|\

c2 gc ac gc|c2 gc BA GB|\

c2 gc ac ga|ge dc BA GB|\

c2 gc ac gc|c2 gc BA GB |1\

AB cd eg fa|ge dc BA GB :|2\

Aa (3aaa ag ea|af ge dB GB||

           

GRAVELLED WALKS TO GRANNY, THE. AKA – “The Gravel Walks to Granie.” AKA and see “The Cavan Reel,” "The Cottage in the Grove [2]," "Jenny Lace your Tight," “Down with the Mail," "The Faraway Wedding [1]," "Highland Man That Kissed His Grannie [1]," "In and Out (of) the Harbour," "Jenny Tie your Bonnet," “The Jolly Seven,” "Lassie(s) tie your Bonnet(s)," "Lizzie's Bonnet," "The Rambler's Rest," “Stenson’s No. 1,” “The Tailor’s Thimble [2],” "Tie the Bonnet," "Upstairs in a Tent [1]."

           

GRAVESANDE. AKA and see “Fairest Nymph the Valleys.”

 

GRAY BOB. Scottish. Green Linnett GLCD 1146, The Tannahill Weavers - "Capernaum" (1994).

           

GRAY BUCK [1], THE (Boc Liath Nan Gobhar). AKA and see "Boc Liath Nan Gobhar," "WEDDING_NIGHT">The Wedding Night" (Cape Breton). Scottish, Jig. A Dorian. Standard. AABB. Carlin (Master Collection), 1984; No. 162, pg. 96. Kerr (Merry Melodies), Vol. 4; No. 263, pg. 28 (appears as “The Grey Buck”).

 

GRAY BUCK [2]. AKA and see “The Dragoon [2].”

           

GRAY DAY-LICHT. AKA and see "Stirling Castle," "The Kirn."

           

GRAY DAY LIGHT. AKA and see "Stirling Castle," "The Kirn."

           

GRAY EAGLE [1]. AKA - "Grey Eagle." Unrelated to other versions under the alternate spelling. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Oklahoma, Missouri. A Major. AEae. AABB. The melody has been frequently played at mid-western fiddle contests. A tune whose title was spelled this way was recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph from Ozark Mountain fiddlers in the early 1940's. Source for notated version: Bill Evans (Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma) [Thede]. Thede (The Fiddle Book), 1967; pg. 137.

 

GRAY EAGLE [2]. AKA and see "Grey Eagle [2].” English, Hornpipe.

           

GRAY'S HORNPIPE. Scottish, Hornpipe. D Major. Standard. AABB. Kerr (Merry Melodies), vol. 2; No. 324, pg. 36.

X:1

T:Gray’s Hornpipe

M:C

L:1/8

R:Hornpipe

S:KerrMerry Melodies, vol. 2, No. 324  (c. 1880’s)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:D

D2 | F>GA>A B2A2 | B>cd>B A3G | F>GA>A B>AG>F | E>DG>F (3EA,B, (3CDE | F>GA>A B2A2 |

B>cd>F G2E2 | F>Ad>f (3gec (3ABG | F2E2D2 :: (D>E) | =F2 (E>F) D2 (F>G) | A>A_B>G A3E |

=F>EF^F G>FG>^G | A>Ad>^G A3=G | F>DF>A B2A2 | B>cd>F G2E2 | F>Ad>f (3gec (3ABG | F2E2D2 :|

           


GRAY'S INN MASKE. AKA and see "Poor Tom," "Mad Tom," "New Mad Tom of Bedlam." English, Air and Country Dance Tune (4/4 and 6/4 time). G Dorian. Standard tuning. AABCDEF. Gray’s Inn was one of the four great Inns of the Temple Barr to which lawyers allied themselves in 17th century England. Prior to the Commonwealth, Gray’s Inn, along with Inner Temple, Lincoln’s Inn and Middle Temple, held annual revels which included music and dancing. During the reign of James I the inns, singly or in pairs, presented masques at the royal court. The Gray’s Inn structure was built in 1545 and lasted until World War II, when it became the victim of the Blitz and burned to the ground. Luckily, however, key features of the interior were rescued and the building was rebuilt along original lines. Chappell (1859) remarks that the air was used, as the name implies, as accompaniment to a suite of dances in a Masque, though he admits there is no way of knowing whether it was written for that purpose or rather as a song. He does believe it to be "considerably older" than the 1650 Dancing Master date because one of the ballads was directed to be sung to the tune of "Mad Tom" which was "lately sung at the Curtain, Holywell;" the Curtain Theatre was all but closed by 1625, and "Mr. Collier, in a note to Heber's catalogue, even gives the date of one of the performances of the tune at that theatre as 'about 1610.'" He further states that the air has been ascribed variously to the famous composer Henry Purcell and to Henry Lawes, however, these assertions are speculative and, in fact, the music was in print before Purcell was born. Lawes was said by Sir J. Hawkins to have been mentioned as the composer in Choice Ayres and Antidote against Melancholy, however Chappell finds no reference to him in those works. The air appears in the first edition of John Playford's English Dancing Master (1651), his Antidote against Melancholy (1669), and his Choice Ayres (1675). It also appears in the ballad operas Penelope (1720) and The Bay's Opera (1730). A record exists which reports on a Gray's Inn Christmas celebration in 1594, at which a court of mock royalty was chosen and :

***

…his Highness [the Prince of Purpoole] called for the Master of Revels,

and willed him to pass the time in dancing so his gentlemen-pensioners

and attendants, very gallantly appointed, in thirty couples, danced the old

measures, and then galliards, and other kinds of dances, reveling until it

was very late.

***

Barlow (Compleat Country Dance Tunes from Playford’s Dancing Master), 2005; No. 30, pg. 23. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes, vol. 2), 2005; pg. 53. Chappell (Popular Music of the Olden Times), vol. 1, 1859; pg. 179. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; pg. 47. Familiar Records 59, Pyewackett - "The Man in the Moon Drinks Claret" (1982).

X:1

T:Grays Inn Masque

T:Mad Tom

T:New Mad Tom of Bedlam

M:C

L:1/8

S:ChappellPopular Music of the Olden Times  (1859)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G Dorian

G2 GA B2G2 | d2D2 D4 | D2 DE ^F2 D2 | G2 G,2 G,4 |

B,3B, C3C | DE^FE D3D | E^FGA B2A2 | G2G2 G4 :|

|| GABc d2d2 | c2B2 A4 | G2G2^F2E2 | D2 D6 |

GABc d2d2 | c2B2 A6 | G2G2 ^F2E2 | D2 D4 ||

D2 | =F2D2 A4 | B2G2 d4 | A3B c2c2 | B2 B4 D2 |

F2D2 A4 | B2G2 d4 | A3B c2c2 | B2 B6 ||

B4 A2G2 | ^F4 F4 | d4 c2B2 | A8 | B4 A2G2 | ^F4 F4 |

d4 c2B2 | A6 || A2 | =B2B2B2G2 | =Bc d2 d4 | e2e2d3c |

=B2 B6 || =B2B2B2G2 | =Bc d2 d4 | e2e2d3c | =B2B4 || G2 |

M:6/4

L:1/8

G3A =B2 B3c d2 | D2 D4 z4 D2 | D3E ^F2 F3 G A2 |

C2 C4 z4 C2 |  C3D E2 E3^F G2 | =B,6 G4A2 | =B3c dc B2 A3G | G8 ||

                                   

GRAYS OF TONGSIDE, THE. Scottish, Bagpipe Reel. The tune, written by Andrew Bain, has been popular with dance bands as well as pipers, in versions with different cadences. Topic 12TS381, The Battlefield Band ‑ "At the Front" (1978).

                       

GRAY'S OPERA HOUSE. AKA and see "Belfast Hornpipe [1]," "Millicent's Hornpipe," “Royal Belfast,” "The Sweep's Hornpipe [1]," "Millicen's Favourite." American, Clog. G Major ('A' part) & D Major ('B' part). Standard tuning. AABB. There was a Gray’s Opera House on Main Street, in Romeo, Macomb, Michigan, built in 1869 by three sons of a Scottish physician, Hugh, James and Noah Gray. The theatre served as a venue for travelling plays such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin and East Lynn (and probably minstrel shows as well), later serving as a community center and a Masonic Temple. A Gray’s Opera House also existed in Houston, Texas, finds Don Meade, saved from fire in 1875. Oscar Wilde lectured there in 1882. Most of the tune (save the beginning of the second part) was amalgamated by Francis O’Neill for his “Star (Hornpipe) [1].” Cole (1000 Fiddle Tunes), 1940; pg. 121. Ryan’s Mammoth Collection, 1883; pg. 159.

X:1

T:Gray’s Opera House

M:C|

L:1/8

R:Clog

S:Ryan’s Mammoth Collection (1883)

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

(B>.c) | (d>.^c)d>f g>e=c>A | G>FG>A B>GD>B, | G>FA>G B>Ac>B | d>ce>c A2 B>c |

d>^cd>f g>e=c>A | G>FG>A B>GD>B, | G,>gf>e d>ef>e | d>^c=c>A G2 :|
|: (F>.G) | (A>.B)A>G F>A d>f | e>fe>^c A>ce>g | f>ed>f e>d ^c>e | (3dfe (3dcB A2 F>G |

A>BA>G F>A d>f | e>fe>^c A>ce>g | f>ed>f e>d^c>e | d2f2d2 :|

                       

GRAZIER, THE. AKA and see "Geehan's Reel," "Green Garters [2]," "The Humours of Flip," "Trim the Velvet," "The Potlick," "Sally Kelly [2]."

                       

GREASE THAT WOODEN LEG, SALLY ANN. Old‑Time, Fiddle Tune. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954. It is perhaps a version of "Sally Ann."

                       

GREASY COAT. AKA and see "Old Greasy Coat." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. A Dorian. Standard or AEae (Edden Hammons). ABCC. There are several meanings for the term ‘greasy coat.’ It is an old-time euphemism for a condom, but it has also been suggested the term refers to an unwashed fleece (i.e. still retaining the lanolin), and a Confederate soldiers coat, worn, greasy and dirty from overuse. A verse attached to the tune goes:

***

Well I don't drink and I don't smoke,

And I don't mess with the greasy coat...  (‘wear no’ is sometimes substituted for ‘mess with the’)

***

Source for notated version: Ruthie Dornfeld [Phillips]. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, Vol. 1), 1994; pg. 102. Folkways FTS 31062, "Ship in the Clouds: Old Time Instrumental Music" (1978. Learned from Burl Hammons, Pocahontas County, West Virginia). Edden Hammons Collection I (appears as “Old Greasy Coat”).

                       

GREASY KATE. Old‑Time, Fiddle Tune. The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.

                       


GREASY STRING [1]. AKA and see "Bring Back My Old Coon Dog." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA; Indiana, Virginia. A Major: G Major. AEae or Standard. AABBCC (Kuntz): AAAABB (Phillips). The title “Greasy String” probably refers to a slippery fiddle string. Tommy Jarrell sang a verse with "mash down harder on that greasy string." The high part of the tune is related to "Shoot the/that Turkey Buzzard," while the low part closely resembles "Cripple Creek." The tune was frequently found in the 1970's among older fiddlers in Ashe, Alleghany, Patrick (see Patrcik County natives Taylor and Stella Kimble's privately released record "How Sweet the Sound") and Grayson counties in Virginia. Mt. Airy, North Carolina, fiddler Tommy Jarrell learned the tune from his Uncle Charlie Jarrell, though he was the only one Tommy remembers playing it (Tommy's version is very similar to Taylor Kimble's). Words are sometimes sung to the tune (by Jarrell, among others):

***

Run little feet, stop and sing,

Mash down harder on the greasy string

***

Jay bird whistles and the cat bird sings

Mash down harder on the greasy string.

***

My old lady is mad at m,e

'Cause I won't drink ginger tea;

She is good, she is bad,

She gives me the devil when she gets mad.

***

Sources for notated versions: Tommy Jarrell via  Liz Slade (Yorktown, New York) [Kuntz]; Lotus Dickey (Indiana) [Phillips]. Kuntz, Private Collection. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), vol. 1, 1994; pg. 103. County 756, Tommy Jarrell ‑ "Sail Away Ladies" (1976).

X:1

T:Greasy String [1]

M:2/4

L:1/8

S:Liz Slade

Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion

K:G

|:G,|[G,/D/](D/E/)E/ G/(E/G/)(A/|B/)(B/d/)(A/ c>)(A|B/)A/B/(D/ E/)(D/E/)G/|A>G [GB]:|

|:(e|g)e/d/ (e/g/)(e/d/)|e/(d/B/)(D/ G>)(e|g/a)(g/ a/)g/e/A/|B/c/d/c/ d>(e|g/)(a/b/)a/ g/e/d/e/|

e/d/d/(A/ B>)A|B/A/B/D/ E/D/E/G/|AG [GB]:|

|:c|e2g2|e2 d>(A|B/)A/B/(B/ A/)(D/E/)D/|A/G/G G:|

 

GREASY STRING [2]. Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. G Major. Standard. AABB. A variant of version #1. Burl Hammons of Marlinton, West Virginia, plays this tune in the key of G Major. Source for notated version: Ruthie Dornfeld (Seattle) [Songer]. Songer (Portland Collection), 1997; pg. 90. Victor (78 RPM), the West Virginia Coon Hunters (1927).

                       

GREASY WEBSTER [1]. Shetland, Shetland Reel. Shetland, Unst.

 

GREASY WEBSTER [2]. Scottish, Pipe Tune. Not like version #1.

           

GREAT ATLANTIC BREAKDOWN, THE. Canadian, Reel. Composed by John Durocher. MCA Records MCAD 4037, “The Very Best of Don Messer” (1994).

                       

GREAT BIG YAM POTATOES. AKA and see "Been to the East, Been to the West," "Hell Broke Loose in Georgia." Old‑Time, Breakdown. USA, Mississippi. G Major. Standard. Not related to the similarly titled "Great Big Taters in Sandy Land." A frequently played and recorded tune in Southern old‑time tradition, although known by various titles. Rankin and Stanton (1985) believe this title speaks more to the number of farmers who raised "yam potatoes" in the sandy soil of central Mississippi. Mississippi Department of Archives and History AH‑002, Hardy C. Sharp ‑ "Great Big Yam Potatoes: Anglo‑American Fiddle Music from Mississippi&