May 2008 Song of the Month

St. Anne's Reel

Key: D

Chords:

Part A
D---|D---|G---|D---|D---|D---|G-A-|D---:||

Part B
D---|G---|A---|D---|D---|G---|A---|D---:||

Video

Audio:

April 2008 Song of the Month

Fox on the Run

This is a classic that presents its challenges in regard to arrangement. For the sake of simplification, the following approach has worked well for the jam:

Intro on Chorus
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Solo over Verse
Solo over Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Solo over Verse
Solo over Chorus
Chorus

Chords and Lyrics:

G D Am C
She walks through the corn leading down to the river
Am D C G
Her hair shone like gold in the hot mornin' sun
G D Am C
She took all the love that a poor boy could give her
Am D C G
And left me to die like a fox on the run
C G
Like a fox, (like a fox, like a fox) on the run


C G D G
Out here everybody knows the reason for the fall
C G A7 D
When woman tempted me down in paradise hall
C G D G
This woman tempted me then she took me for a ride
C G D G
But like a lonely fox, boys I need a place to hide


(repeat chorus)


C G D G
We'll drink a glass of wine boys to fortify our souls
C G A7 D
We'll talk about the world and friends we used to know
C G D G
I see a string of girls who have put me on the floor
C G D G
The game is nearly over and the hounds are at my door

(repeat chorus)


Audio:

March 2008 Song of the Month

Clinch Mountain Backstep
This is a classic Ralph Stanley banjo tune played in the key of A. It is a modal song that only involves the I and V chords.

The A part is repeated twice and the B part is repeated twice.

Watch out, this song has an extra count on the V chord in the B part! (You will notice the funky extra E in the chords below). As you learn to keep track of this change, count it out, you should have 7 counts on the I chord, and then the V chord comes on the 8th and (strangely enough) 9th count.

Chords:
A Part:
A / A / A / E / A / A / A E / A //
B Part:
A / A / A / A E E / A / A / A E / A //

Videos:
Guitar rhythm
Guitar lead
Ralph Stanly
Banjo Lead

Audio:
Here is a version where the funky V chord in the B part is accentuated with stop time so it is easy to hear (this is the way it is often done in jams as well).

February 2008 Song of the Month

Little Maggie



Little Maggie (Ricky Skaggs)
Traditional
Key of G

I VII
Over yonder stands little Maggie
I V I
With a dram glass in her hand
VII
She's drinking away her troubles
I V I
And courting another man

Last time I saw little Maggie
She was sittin' on the banks of the sea
With a forty-four all around her
And a banjo on her knee

Pretty flowers were made for bloomin'
Pretty stars were made to shine
Pretty women were made for lovin'
Little Maggie was made for mine

Lay down your last gold dollar
Lay down your gold watch and chain
Little Maggie's gonna dance for daddy
Listen to that ol' banjo ring

Go away, go away, little Maggie
Go and do the best you can
I'll get me another woman
You can get you another man




Little Maggie - Bill Monroe
(Traditional)

Oh yonder stands little Maggie
With a dram glass in her hands
She's drinking away her troubles
She's a courtin' some other man

Oh how can I ever stand it
Just to see them two blue eyes
A shinin in the moonlight
Like two diamonds in the sky

Last time a saw little Maggie
She was standin' on the banks of the sea
With a forty-four strapped around her
And a banjo on her knee

Lay down your last gold dollar
Lay down your gold watch and chain
Little Maggie's gonna dance for daddy
Listen to that old banjo ring

Pretty flowers were made for blooming
Pretty stars were made to shine
Pretty girls were made for lovin'
Little Maggie was made for mine

January 2008 Song of the Month

John Hardy




John Hardy Lyrics:
(Tony Rice Version from Cold on the Shoulder)
Key of G

IV I
Now John Hardy was a desperate little man
IV I
Strapped on his guns every day
IV I
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
V
You ought a seen John Hardy gettin’ away
V I
You ought to seen John Hardy gettin’ away

Well, he run up to Virgina around the East Stone Bridge
Thought he would surely be free
And along came a marshall with a gun in his hand
Said, Johnny, come along with me
Johnny, come along with me.

Now John Hardy had him self a little woman
The dress she wore was blue
And she hollered out to Johnny as he rolled out of town
Johnny, I'll be true to you
Johnny, I'll be true to you

Now’s Legend’s traveled from the East to the West
From the north to the south end of town.
But when the sun comes up tomorrow, they’ll take John Hardy down,
And show him to his hanging grounds
They’re going to let John Hardy swing down.

John Hardy was a desperate little man
He strapped on his guns every day
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
You ought a seen John Hardy gettin’ away
You ought to seen John Hardy gettin’ away

2005/2006 Song of the Month Archive

Songs of the Month Prior to January 2008:

Big Mon
Nellie Kane
On and On
Blue Ridge Mountain Home
Hot Corn, Cold Corn
Salty Dog
Bury Me Beneath the Willow