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Saturday night, the gang was supposed to go to the Jug Band Competition in Chicago to just sit around and enjoy the music. We decided to all go together and meet up at Eric Bushman’s place. The problem was that we met too early, started drinking Eric’s Trader Joe Vintage Ale, pulled out our instruments and a few from his stash of a 100 instruments.

Needless to say we all got a bit drunk and I decided that since I was planning on recording the Jug Bands, I might as well record us since we were in no shape to go anywhere.

We had a lot of fun, but the hangover on Sunday is the ONLY reason I didn’t get any videos done this week. I have to say that it wasl one of the best nights of fun we have had in a while. If the video wasn’t edited, you would see one song, a lot of drinking and story telling and then another song.

Next time I have to remember to play first, then start drinking!

I had my first encounter with an external ear infection this week and I have to say that it is not pleasant. I would rather have the much more common inner ear infection. It’s a very strange condition and I’m on three different kinds of antibiotics and steroids. My poor old ear swelled up to twice it’s size and it bruised every time I moved my ear.

I saw that Mandy and Tim over at BanjoBandits.com had made the song of the month, New River Train. Since I couldn’t record any videos, I thought I would re-mix my old New River Train video with the simple melody tabbed out. You can either play it the way in the video with the slide on the 2nd string or like the tab and just play the notes on the 1st string.

I hope to be back soon and I’ll keep you posted.

New River Train MP3

New River Train (PDF)

New River Train

Chorus:
I’m [G]riding on that new river train
Riding on that new river [D]train
[G]Same old train that [C]brought me here
Gonna [G]take me [D]away [G]again

Darling, you can’t love one
Darling, you can’t love one
You can’t love one and have any fun
Darling, you can’t love one

Chorus

Darling, you can’t love two
Darling, you can’t love two
You can’t love two and still be true
Darling, you can’t love two

Chorus

This time the Folk Song Of The Week is Army Life. This was requested and I have to say that it brought back memories of my childhood and Desert Storm. Both of them were good memories, but now I realize that I only keep in touch with one of my buddies from my military days. I think I am going to have to search some of the others out and see how life has treated them.

Have fun with this song and add your favorite lyrics to it because there are plenty out there.

Army Life MP3

Army Life (PDF)

ARMY LIFE

The [G]coffee that they give you, they [D7]said was mighty fine

Good for cuts and bruises and [G]tastes like iodine ooh

[C]I don’t want no more of [G]army life

Gee bud, I [D7]want to go [G]home

The chicken that they give you, they said was mighty fine
One rolled off the table and started marking time ooh

The biscuits that they give you, they said was mighty fine
One jumped off the table, boys, and it knocked down a pal of mine ooh

The women in the PX, they said were mighty fine
Most are over 90 and the rest are under 9 ooh

The money that they give you, they said was mighty fine
Ask for fifty dollars, boy, and they’ll take back forty-nine ooh

I’m back after the longest break from making these videos that I have ever taken. I have never been so busy in my entire life. It was fun having some projects to work on, but I’m glad that everything has slowed down enough for me to get back to my first love.

The song is a request and as always, I am happy to oblige.

Have fun with Black Velvet Band and remember that the frailing banjo strum is “strike, bush-thumb, brush-thumb.”

Black Velvet Band MP3

Black Velvet Band (PDF)

BLACK VELVET BAND

In a [G]neat little [C]town they call [G]Belfast, apprenticed to [C]trade I was [D7]bound,

And [G]many an hour’s sweet [Em]happiness, have I [C]spent in that [D7]neat little [G]town.

A sad [C]misfortune came [G]over me, which caused me to [C]stray from the [D7]land,

Far [G]away from me friends and [Em]relations, [C]betrayed by the [D7]black velvet [G]band.

Her eyes they [C]shone like [G]diamonds, you’d think she was [C]queen of the [D7]land,

And her [G]hair hung over her [Em]shoulders, tied [C]up with a [D7]black velvet [G]band.

As I went strolling down Broadway not meaning to go very far
When I met with a fickle some damsel she was selling her trades at the bar
When a watch she took from her pocket and placed it right into my hand
And the law came in put me in prison, bad luck to her black velvet band.

Chorus

Next morning before judge and the jury, for trial I had to appear
The judge he says “Young fellow the case against you is quite clear.
And seven long years is your sentence, you’re going to Van Damien’s land
Far away from your friends and relations, Betrayed by the black velvet band.”

Chorus

So come all you jolly young fellows, a warning take by me,
When you are out on the liquor, me lads, beware of the pretty colleens.
They’ll feed you with strong drink, me lads,’till you are unable to stand,
And the very first thing that you know me lads, you’ve landed in Van Diemen’s Land.

Folks,

I am really sorry to have been out for so long. I’ve been working on a lot of projects that don’t involve music and they have eaten up all the free time that I have. Today was the first time I’ve picked up a banjo to just play for three weeks except for giving lessons. I really miss just sitting around and playing and figuring out what songs to do for the video lessons.

I should be back next week since everything should wrap up this week. I’ve been having fun, but I miss the music. I’ve been trying to keep up with everyone’s uploads on YouTube and everything happening over at BanjoBandits, but it’s been hard finding the time.

The one thing I would like to share are the videos that Mandy did for beginners to clawhammer banjo. She did a very good job of breaking everything down and it has that knee to knee quality that I like.

I’ll see you all next week or if I’m lucky I’ll try to make a video this week.

I’m sorry for the silence this week. I had a bad chest cold on Sunday and it’s almost completely gone which is a record-breaking time for me. Usually when I get one it lingers for a week or more. I wasn’t able to sing and I didn’t want to do anything halfheartedly.

The other problem that I have is not really a problem at all. My number one helper, Amber got her first job at Home Run Inn Pizza and I have lost her great help in making the videos and moving things around so that I can get them done.

My little girl is growing up and it’s bittersweet. I’ll be back next week and there may be a change or two in what I am doing from now on!

Keep picking!

Kelly

I was able to move a couple of lessons around so I could get at least one video workshop up this week. I am still going through the requests for the Folk Song Of The Week and taking the songs in the order they came in. This time around it’s Wabash Cannonball. It’s a fun song and one we do at our monthly jams. Have fun with it and remember that having fun is 99% of learning to play frailing / clawhammer banjo.

Wabash Cannonball MP3

Wabash Cannonball (PDF)

WABASH CANNONBALL

From the [G]great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific [C]shore

From the [D7]green New Hampshire mountains to the southland’s cajun [G]lore

She’s mighty tall and handsome and loved by one and [C]all

[D7]She’s the combination called the Wabash Cannon[G]ball

Chorus:

Oh listen to the jingle the rumble and the [C]roar

As she [D7]glides along the woodlands through the hills and by the [G]shore

Hear the mighty rush of the engine, hear that lonesome hobo’s [C]call

We’re [D7]traveling through the jungles on the Wabash Cannon[G]ball

Your eastern states are dandies so the people always say
From New York to St. Louis and Chicago by the way
Through the hills of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall
No changes can be taken on the Wabash Cannonball

Chorus

Here’s to Daddy Klaxton may his name forever stand
And alwyas be remembered through the courts of Alabam’
His earthly race is over, the curtains ’round him fall
We’ll carry him on to Glory on the Wabash Cannonball

Chorus

She pulled in to the station one cold December day
As she rolled up to the platform you could hear all the people say
There’s a gal from Tennessee; she’s long and she’s tall
She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball

Chorus

I started out the weekend thinking that I would get some prep-work for the workshops done and get a jump on a bunch of projects that I am supposed to be finishing up, but that didn’t happen….

My wife asked if I would like to go to Brookfield Zoo where she, Amber, Lisa and Dmitry were going to run in the 5K Zoo Run Run and then get brunch at a pancake house. I rarely eat breakfast or brunch, but the thought of pancakes was too much temptation. I had a great time at the zoo while they were running and had an even better brunch. Amber had a better time as she ended up on the webpage for the run!

When we got home, Sandy asked if I wanted to go to see Blue Man Group. I knew then that I wasn’t going to get anything done over the weekend. The good part was that Amber got to meet one of the Blue Men after the show and I snapped a picture.

I might be able to move around some lessons and get a workshop out this week, but we’ll see.

Until then, take care!

Kelly

I was asked to go back and revisit this song and I was happy to do so. The change I made this time was to sing it in the key that I like!

Lolly Too Dum is a great song on frailing banjo. Don’t let the key of D hold you back from trying it out. It’s fun to do and you’ll enjoy it!

Lolly Too Dum

Lolly Too Dum(PDF)

Lolly Too Dum

[D]As I Went Out One Morning To Take The Pleasant Air,
Lolly Too Dum, Too Dum, [A7]Lolly Too Dum[D] Day.
As I Went Out One Morning To [G]Take The Pleasant Air,
I [D]Overheard A Mother A-Scolding Her Daughter Fair,
Lolly Too Dum, Too Dum, [A7]Lolly Too Dum [D]Day.

You Better Go Wash Them Dishes, And Hush That Flattering Tongue
You Know You Want To Get Married And That You Are Too Young.

Oh, Pity My Condition Just As You Would Your Own.
For Fourteen Long Years, I’ve Been Living All Alone.

Supposing I Was Willing, Where Would You Get Your Man?
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mammy, I’d Marry That Handsome Sam.

Supposing He Should Slight You Like You Done Him Before?
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mama, I’d Marry Forty More

There’s Doctors And Lawyers And Boys From The Plow.
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mammy, I’m Gettin’ That Feelin’ now

Now, My Daughter?s Married And Well For To Do.
Come All Ye Ladies, I’m On The Market, Too!