Give the Fiddler a Dram
Notation:
Standard Notation
ABC Notation
Mandolin Tablature
Violin Tablature
traditional
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Violin Tablature - wide
American
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
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Lyrics:
Dance All Night with a bottle in my hand,
Bottle in my hand, bottle in my hand;
Dance All Night with a bottle in my hand,
Just before day give the fiddler a dram.
"Give the Fiddler a Dram" also known as "Fiddler a Dram" and "Fiddler's Dram"
is an old-time American breakdown widespread in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi,
North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. It is usually played in G Mixolydian
although this version has more F#s than naturals in it so I'm calling it G Major.
The title appears in a list of traditional Ozark Mountain fiddle tunes compiled
by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph, published in 1954.
It was printed in Brody's Fiddler's Fakebook (1983),
Phillips' Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1 (1994),
Silberberg's Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern (2002),
Slater's Clawhammer Banjo Solos (1979),
Chase's American Folk Tales and Songs (1956) and other sources.
The tune of the B part brings to mind "The Sailor's Hornpipe".
It was recorded by Gid Tanner & Riley Puckett (78 RPM) (1924),
Tennessee Ramblers (78 RPM) (1929),
Carter Bros. & Son (78 RPM) (1929),
Carter Brothers and Son on Echoes of the Ozarks, vol. 1 (1970),
Holy Modal Rounders on Holy Modal Rounders (1964),
New Lost City Ramblers on Remembrance of Things to Come (1966),
Red Clay Ramblers on Hard Times (1981),
Frank Ferrel on Yankee Dreams: Wicked Good Fiddling from New England (1990),
Mark Graham on Natural Selections (1987),
Dan Gellert & Brad Leftwich on A Moment in Time (1993),
Dan Gellert & Brad Leftwich on The Marimac Anthology: Deep in Old-Time Music (1996),
Country Cooking on Country Cooking (1971),
Gerry Milnes & Lorraine Lee Hammond on Hell Up Coal Holler (1999) and
Jim Herd on Old Time Ozark Fiddling (1991).
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