Today is the first of two days at the Fox Valley Folk Festival. It’s great to see so many people that I’ve met through the years. I’ve seen some that were afraid to jam just two years ago and are now getting up on the Open Mic Stage.
I’ll be posting more pics as the Fest goes on.
It was also great to see Ken Pearlman come over and jam with the Plank Road Folk Music Society.
This week Joel Simpson joins me for Wreck Of The Old 97 for the accompaniment for frailing banjo. Once again, check out the slight differences in how I play frailing banjo along with Joel and how I performed it on my own.
They [G]gave him his orders down at [C]Monroe, Virginia,
Saying, [G]”Steve, you’re way behind [D7]time;
This is [G]not 38, but it’s [C]Old 97,
You must [G]set her into [D7]Spencer on [G]time.”
He turned around, saying to his black, greasy fireman,
“Just heave in a little more coal,
And when we reach that White Oak Mountain,
You just watch Old 97 roll.”
It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And Lima’s on a three-mile grade;
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
You can see what a jump he made.
He was going down grade, doing ninety miles an hour,
When his whistle began to scream;
They found him in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle.
He was scalded to death by the steam.
A message arrived at Washington Station,
And this is what it read:
Those two brave men who pulled Old 97
Are lying in Danville, dead.”
Oh, ladies, you must take warning,
From this time on and learn:
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave you and never return.
Change is coming soon for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week.
I am implementing some changes based on your recommendations and I think they will make this a better place.
Stay tuned!
Banjo Stu is back with not one, but two videos. This is great stuff and I wish I could have been there jamming along!
It’s another week and Joel Simpson is back! When you are playing along to Old Black Rum, remember to check out the differences in how I play frailing banjo when I am being accompanied by Joel on guitar and how I played it when I was alone. There are some differences and also, here’s a little secret….you can do it the same or do it differently, it doesn’t matter! 🙂
I drank [G]16 doubles for the [D7]price of [G]one
Tryin to find the [C]courage to [A]talk to [D7]one
I asked her [C]for [D7]a [G]dance, not a [C]sec[D7]ond [G]glance
my night had just [D7]begun
Well I’d [G]drink to the father or the [D7]holy [G]ghost
I’m [C]kneeling at the [G]alter of my [A7]nightly [D7]post
And I’ll [C]raise [D7]a [G]glass, not the [C]first [D7]or [G]last
come join me [D7]in this [G]toast
‘Cause the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me
like a [G]dog wrapped [C]’round my [D7]leg
And the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me.
Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day..[C]hey?
Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day?
The queen of George Street just went walkin’ on by
walkin’ on by with some guy who don’t care
That she stood in line since half past nine
And spent three hours on her hair
Her friend is lookin’ at me with an evil grin
I think a bloody racket might soon begin
I must have said something to the George Street queen
Now the boys are joining in.
So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain
Every day is different, but the nights are all the same
You never see the sun on the old black rum
And I know I’m gonna do it again.
If you would like a personalized copy of Irish Pub Song For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1, just purchase your copy from the Buy It Now Button from PayPal. You will find an option where you can put in your request for the message or type of message you would like inside your copy.
If you wish to order a PDF copy or buy straight from the printer, use the Lulu Storefront link below:
I’ve been asked to do this so many times, that I finally gave in. Starting this week, i will give you the tablature for simple frailing banjo licks. These are the most common licks that I use and you will find them in the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week videos and audios.
This week it is the very, very common D7 turn around lick.
I hope you like it.
I was really happy today when I received a couple of pictures of Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo Volume 1 in a music store!
Speaking of the book, Volume 2 will be out in time for St. Patrick’s Day and Folk Songs For The 5-String Banjo Volume 1 will be ready for Christmas.
This week’s Simple Melody on Frailing Banjo is for Old Black Rum and Wreck Of The Old 97. I really hope that everyone can catch the melody lines and where they are located. Starting later this week, there will be additional posts since I’ve been asked to do a little more. In other words, my life just got busier!
Tomorrow I’ll be back with the accompaniment for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day
This week’s Folk Song Of The Week is The Wreck Of The Old 97. I love this song and it’s fun to play. I’ve gone further up the neck than the first two frets, but I think you can get it.
They [G]gave him his orders down at [C]Monroe, Virginia,
Saying, [G]”Steve, you’re way behind [D7]time;
This is [G]not 38, but it’s [C]Old 97,
You must [G]set her into [D7]Spencer on [G]time.”
He turned around, saying to his black, greasy fireman,
“Just heave in a little more coal,
And when we reach that White Oak Mountain,
You just watch Old 97 roll.”
It’s a mighty rough road from Lynchburg to Danville,
And Lima’s on a three-mile grade;
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
You can see what a jump he made.
He was going down grade, doing ninety miles an hour,
When his whistle began to scream;
They found him in the wreck, with his hand on the throttle.
He was scalded to death by the steam.
A message arrived at Washington Station,
And this is what it read:
Those two brave men who pulled Old 97
Are lying in Danville, dead.”
Oh, ladies, you must take warning,
From this time on and learn:
Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband,
He may leave you and never return.
This week’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is a personal favorite ever since I was turned on to it by Bill Hannigan of Three Men In Kilts. It’s a great song and the best part is that all of the melody notes are inside the chords for frailing banjo players.
I drank [G]16 doubles for the [D7]price of [G]one
Tryin to find the [C]courage to [A]talk to [D7]one
I asked her [C]for [D7]a [G]dance, not a [C]sec[D7]ond [G]glance
my night had just [D7]begun
Well I’d [G]drink to the father or the [D7]holy [G]ghost
I’m [C]kneeling at the [G]alter of my [A7]nightly [D7]post
And I’ll [C]raise [D7]a [G]glass, not the [C]first [D7]or [G]last
come join me [D7]in this [G]toast
‘Cause the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me
like a [G]dog wrapped [C]’round my [D7]leg
And the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me.
Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day..[C]hey?
Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day?
The queen of George Street just went walkin’ on by
walkin’ on by with some guy who don’t care
That she stood in line since half past nine
And spent three hours on her hair
Her friend is lookin’ at me with an evil grin
I think a bloody racket might soon begin
I must have said something to the George Street queen
Now the boys are joining in.
So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain
Every day is different, but the nights are all the same
You never see the sun on the old black rum
And I know I’m gonna do it again.
If you would like a personalized copy of Irish Pub Song For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1, just purchase your copy from the Buy It Now Button from PayPal. You will find an option where you can put in your request for the message or type of message you would like inside your copy.
If you wish to order a PDF copy or buy straight from the printer, use the Lulu Storefront link below: