Folk Song Of The Week – Jesse James on Frailing Banjo

February 8, 2011
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I had some questions about the differences between Paddy Kelly’s Brew and Jesse James, so I thought I would make Jesse James the Folk Song Of The Week!

Grab your banjo and start frailing along!

Jesse James [Download]

Jesse James(PDF)

Jesse James

Jesse [G]James we understand has [C]killed many a [G]man

He robbed the union [D7]trains He [G]stole from the rich

And [C]gave to the [G]poor He’d a [C]hammer and a [D7]heart and a [G]brain

CHORUS:

Now [C]Jesse had a wife lived a [G]lady all her life

And children they were [D7]brave but [G]history does record

It was [C]Bob and Charlie ford have [G]laid Jesse [D7]James in his [G]grave

Well it was on Saturday night the stars were shining bright
They robbed the Glendale train and the people they did say
For many miles away it was those outlaws Frank and Jesse James

Well it was bob and Charlie ford those dirty little cowards
I wonder how they feel for they ate of Jesse’s bread
And they slept in Jesse’s bed and they laid poor Jesse in his grave

Well the people held their breath when they heard of Jesse’s death
They wondered how he came to fall well it was Robert ford in fact
Who shot him in the back while he hung a picture on the wall

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Jug Of Punch on Frailing Banjo

February 7, 2011
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The Irish Pub Song Of The Day is Jug Of Punch. This is a great song and I love to play it in the key of D on 5 string banjo in Open G tuning. I don’t know why, but I love the sound of the key of D in G tuning.

Play along and have fun!

Jug Of Punch MP3 [Download]

Jug Of Punch (PDF)

The Jug Of Punch

One [D]pleasant evening in the month of June,
As [A]I was sitting with my [D]glass and spoon,
A small bird sang on an [G]ivy [Em]bunch,
And the [D]song he sang [A7]was the jug of [D]punch.
[Chorus.
Too[D] ra lu ra loo,too ra [G]lu ra,too ra [A]lu ra loo too ra [D]lur a lay,
A small bird sang on an [G]ivy [Em]bunch,
And the [D]song he sang [A7]was the jug of [D]punch.

What more diversion can a man desire,
To be seated by a snug coal fire,
Upon his knee a pretty wench, and on the table a jug of punch.

If I get drunk, well me money’s me own
And them don’t like it they can leave me alone.
I’ll tune me fiddle and I’ll rosin me bow, and I’ll be welcome wherever I go.

When I am dead and in my grave, no costly tombstone will I have,
Lay me down by my native peat, with a jug of punch at my head and feet.

Folk Song Of The Week – Bird On A Wire – Accompaniment for Frailing Banjo

February 4, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFolk Song Of The WeekFrailing Banjo
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I only have the camera audio for The Folk Song Of The Week, but I hope you still enjoy it and play along!

Bird On A Wire is a great song and it’s fun on the banjo!

Grab your instrument and play along!!!

Bird On A Wire MP3 [Download]

Bird On A Wire (PDF)

Bird on the Wire

Like a b[A]ird on the w[E]ire, like a dr[A]unk in a midnight ch[D]oir
I have tr[A]ied in my w[E]ay to be free [A]
Like a w[A]orm on a h[E]ook, like a kn[A]ight from some old-fashioned b[D]ook
I have s[A]aved all my r[E]ibbons for thee [A]
[D] If I, if I have been unk[A]ind
[Bm] I hope that you can just let it go b[E]y
[D] If I, if I have been untr[A]ue,
[Bm] I hope you know it was never to y[E]ou.

Like a baby stillborn, like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song and by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch
He said to me, “You must not ask for so much.”
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, “Hey, why not ask for more?”
Like a b[A]ird on the w[E]ire, like a dr[A]unk in a midnight ch[D]oir
I have tr[A]ied in my w[E]ay to be free[D] [A]

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Paddy Kelly’s Brew – Accompaniment for Frailing Banjo

February 3, 2011
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The Accompaniment for the Irish Pub Song of The Day is Paddy Kelly’s Brew. I love when Joel Simpson joins me on guitar so I can play frailing banjo!

Grab whatever instrument you want and play along!

Paddy Kelly’s Brew MP3 [Download]

Paddy Kelly’s Brew PDF

PADDY KELLY’S BREW

Paddy [G]Kelly is my name, making [C]poteen is my [G]game

And I live away up there behind the [D7]hill

I can [G]make a drop that’s pure and there’s [C]nothing it won’t [G]cure

It surpasses any [D7]medicine or [G]pill

Chorus:

For it [C]tastes as sweet as honey as it [G]trickles down your throat

It looks as clear and pure as morning [D7]dew

It can [G]make a fellow sing though he [C]didn’t have a [G]note

Won’t you try a drop of [D7]Paddy Kelly’s [G]Brew

It can cure your rheumatism, it can cure a wheezy chest
It can cure you of the gout and gallstones too
It cures toothache, headache, backache, falling hair and all the rest
Fallen arches, corns and bunions and the flu

Any summer day you’ll find me poaching salmon in the glen
Or setting snares for rabbits on the hill
But the nicest thing of all is when evening shadows fall
Just to watch those bottles filling from my still

I’ve a pound or two to spend, I’ve a bottle for a friend
I’ve got customers galore who buy my brew
At a wedding or a wake, I supply the stuff they take
And I keep a good supply the whole year through

Now, I know you will confess that the world is in a mess
And the politicians don’t know what to do
I’ll supply them with a plan that will cure the ills of man
Throw away the guns and hand out Kelly’s Brew

Folk Song Of The Day – Bird On A Wire on Frailing Banjo

February 1, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFolk Song Of The WeekFrailing BanjoInstruction
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Playing frailing banjo on Bird On A Wire is great fun! Don’t let the 3/4 time throw you. Just relax and have fun with it. This is probably my most favortie song I’ve done for the Folk Song Of The Week.

Bird On A Wire MP3 [Download]

Bird On A Wire (PDF)

Bird on the Wire

Like a b[A]ird on the w[E]ire, like a dr[A]unk in a midnight ch[D]oir
I have tr[A]ied in my w[E]ay to be free [A]
Like a w[A]orm on a h[E]ook, like a kn[A]ight from some old-fashioned b[D]ook
I have s[A]aved all my r[E]ibbons for thee [A]
[D] If I, if I have been unk[A]ind
[Bm] I hope that you can just let it go b[E]y
[D] If I, if I have been untr[A]ue,
[Bm] I hope you know it was never to y[E]ou.

Like a baby stillborn, like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song and by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch
He said to me, “You must not ask for so much.”
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, “Hey, why not ask for more?”
Like a b[A]ird on the w[E]ire, like a dr[A]unk in a midnight ch[D]oir
I have tr[A]ied in my w[E]ay to be free[D] [A]

Irish Pub Song Of The Day – Paddy Kelly’s Brew on Frailing Banjo

January 31, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFrailing BanjoInstructionIrish Pub Song Of The Day
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The Irish Pub Song Of The Day this time around is Paddy Kelly’s Brew. I really enjoy this song there is a history of this “endeavor” in my family! 🙂

Grab your instrument and play along!

Paddy Kelly’s Brew MP3 [Download]

Paddy Kelly’s Brew PDF

PADDY KELLY’S BREW

Paddy [G]Kelly is my name, making [C]poteen is my [G]game

And I live away up there behind the [D7]hill

I can [G]make a drop that’s pure and there’s [C]nothing it won’t [G]cure

It surpasses any [D7]medicine or [G]pill

Chorus:

For it [C]tastes as sweet as honey as it [G]trickles down your throat

It looks as clear and pure as morning [D7]dew

It can [G]make a fellow sing though he [C]didn’t have a [G]note

Won’t you try a drop of [D7]Paddy Kelly’s [G]Brew

It can cure your rheumatism, it can cure a wheezy chest
It can cure you of the gout and gallstones too
It cures toothache, headache, backache, falling hair and all the rest
Fallen arches, corns and bunions and the flu

Any summer day you’ll find me poaching salmon in the glen
Or setting snares for rabbits on the hill
But the nicest thing of all is when evening shadows fall
Just to watch those bottles filling from my still

I’ve a pound or two to spend, I’ve a bottle for a friend
I’ve got customers galore who buy my brew
At a wedding or a wake, I supply the stuff they take
And I keep a good supply the whole year through

Now, I know you will confess that the world is in a mess
And the politicians don’t know what to do
I’ll supply them with a plan that will cure the ills of man
Throw away the guns and hand out Kelly’s Brew

Playing along with Dad….and Kelly

January 30, 2011
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Wes, Willia & AliceI got this great email from my friend Wes which included this picture. It seems that when his girls Willa and Alice hear my voice when he’s playing along to the Folk Song Of The Week, they come running and join in with their Dad!

I have to say that Willa has song great “air banjo” technique and Alice seems to be singing right along! You gotta start ’em young!!! 🙂

See you all later,

Kelly

a small clawhammer banjo book – free from Mat Martin

January 28, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFrailing BanjoPersonal
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I received an email from Mat Martin in the UK and he has authored a great book on Clawhammer Banjo, a small clawhammer banjo book.

Mat’s done a great job and the book is free as a pdf download. You can find Mat’s work at http://www.matmartin.co.uk/music.html.

I really encourage everyone to check this out!

Folk Song Of The Week – Let The Train Blow The Whistle – Accompaniment for Frailing Banjo

January 28, 2011
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I was blessed to have Joel Simpson join me once again for The Folk Song Of The Week. Playing frailing banjo on Let The Train Blow The Whistle is fun and it’s a great song to sing.

Play along and have fun, fun, fun!

Let The Train Blow The Whistle MP3 [Download]

Let The Train Blow The Whistle (PDF)

Let The Train Blow The Whistle

I don’t [G]want no aggravation

When my train has left the station

If you’re [C]there or not, I may not even [G]know

Have a round and [Bm]remember

Things we [C]did that weren’t so [G]tender

Let the train blow the [D7]whistle when I [G]go

On my guitar sell tickets
So someone can finally pick it
And tell the girls down at the Ritz I said hello
Tell the gossipers and liars I will see them in the fire
Let the train blow the whistle when I go

Let her [C]blow, let her [G]blow

Long and [G]loud and hard and happy

Let her [D7]blow

No [G]regrets, all my [Bm]debts will be [C]paid

When I get [G]laid

Let her blow, let her [D7]blow, let her [G]blow

You’ll be left without excuses
For the evils and abuses
Down to today from years and years ago
And have yourself another toke
From my basket full of smoke
And let the train blow the whistle when I go

Folk Songs For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1!

January 27, 2011
Clawhammer BanjoFolk Songs For The 5-String BanjoFrailing BanjoInstructionUpdate
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I put it on the back burner for too long, so I am happy to announce that Folk Songs For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1 will be released on February 20th! Why on a Sunday? Because that’s my birthday!!

Just like, Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo, Vol 1, this book is the first in a series. Once again you will get 20 great songs with tablature for Open G tuning on frailing banjo on some of the best folk songs in the world.

I will be posting more updates as they become available, so stay tuned and remember that it’s less than a month away!