mojo_monk - Posted - 02/05/2010:  06:59:54

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Down in the Willow Garden has been recorded countless times – from the Everly Brothers to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The initial recording was done by fiddle/guitar duo G.B. Grayson and Henry Whitter in 1927 under its “original” title of Rose Conley. According to the “Bluegrass Messengers” website, it was collected by Edward Bunting from an unknown source in Coleraine Co. Derry, Northern Ireland in 1811. John Herrington Cox, in "Folksongs of the South," gives two "Rose Connoley" versions, one from Wetzel County WV in 1895, and another in Wood County in 1917. There are also at least three documented versions in the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks with minor variations on the melody and its presentation (such as no “B” part).

Here are the lyrics as sung by Grayson and Whitter:

Down in the willow garden, where me and my love did meet,
Oh, there we sit a-courting, my love dropped off to sleep.
I had a bottle of the burg(a)lar's wine, which my true love did not know,
And there I poisoned my own true love down under the banks below.

I drew my sabre through her, which was a bloody knife,
I threw her in the river, which was a dreadful sight.
My father always told me that money would set me free
If I'd murder that pretty little miss whose name is Rose Connoley.

He's sitting now in his own cottage door, a-wiping his weeping eyes,
A-looking at his own dear son upon the scaffold high.
My race is run beneath the sun, low hell is now waiting for me,
I did murder that pretty little miss whose name is Rose Connoley.

Gotta love those murder ballads! People have thoroughly dug into the content of the lyrics and have explored things like "burglar's wine" and "low hell" - I'm gonna avoid this type of analysis and leave it up to the scholars out there.

Instead, I’d like to focus on four recorded versions of the song which I think present just how great it is, as well how flexible it is in the context of its presentation:

Wade Mainer w/Zeke Morris (Bluebird 7298/Victor 27497) 8/2/1937: http://www.box.net/shared/prbnq918v4

This is the second known recording of the song and doesn’t really deviate too much from Grayson and Whitter’s version. I include it here as an example of an early string band interpretation that has received a heavy rotation around the house for a long while. Side note: Mainer and Morris were invited to the White House in 1942 by Eleanor Roosevelt and played "Willow Garden" for FDR upon their visit. It apparently was one of his favorites! For more from this group, go here: http://tinyurl.com/y9mmncg.

Ward Jarvis banjo version (date and collector unknown): http://www.box.net/shared/s1cxkiqlet

[From the Field Recorders' Collective]: James Ward Jarvis, born in 1894, moved to Athens County, Ohio from Calhoun County, West Virginia in the late 1940s to work in the timber industry. Ward's repertoire reflects his West Virginia origin, with many archaic open- tuned pieces, as well as several more melodic pieces popular in the 1920s and 30s, including his wonderful rendition of the 1950s Tommy Jackson composition, Tomahawk.

I include Mr. Jarvis' version because it is played "straight," or as a "hoedown" in an even time signature - instead of its traditional meter. I'm always interested when a ballad (typically sung in 3/4 time) is adapted into 2/4 and made danceable - or as Garry Harrison puts it: is "run through the Hoedown-izer." The Ward Jarvis version tune is one such tune that always put a smile on my face.

Red Mules version from the out of print cassette “Old Time Music” (Marimac 9056) 1992: http://www.box.net/shared/76gmduvsuv

The late great fiddler and collector Jeff Goehring credited Ward Jarvis as one of his biggest influences and spent countless hours learning from him. This recording takes Jarvis' version to the "next level" and when compared to Mainer and Morris' "early" string band version illustrates just how adaptable the tune is. I wish there were more recordings of this band - they were phenomenal!

Last, and probably least, is my own humble attempt at a two-finger thumb lead version of the song: http://www.box.net/shared/ao33y2o2x4

I don't sing, so fill in the words with your imagination if you'd like. Feel free to click the little envelope icon at the top of this box and send me an email if you'd like a tab of my arrangement.

Finally, just for the heckuvit I'm including the link to what started my infatuation with this song many years ago: its the performance by Holly Hunter in the 1987 Coen Brothers classic Raising Arizona: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYvDsyfqnI


Sean

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Edited by - mojo_monk on 02/05/2010 11:59:04

chip arnold - Posted - 02/05/2010:  07:17:53

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I have it as Old Rosin the Beau in 2-finger style on my BHO music page here: http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...58&archived=
Not exactly the same but close. I played it with a fiddler as Willow Garden the other night and had to change just a little here and there to make it fit.

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/05/2010:  07:41:50

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quote:

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Originally posted by chip arnold

I have it as Old Rosin the Beau in 2-finger style on my BHO music page here: http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...58&archived=
Not exactly the same but close. I played it with a fiddler as Willow Garden the other night and had to change just a little here and there to make it fit.

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Good pickin' as usual Chip.
The tunes are very closely related. The melody now known as "Rosin the Beau" is believed to be the prototype of a handful of English/Irish songs, having been located as far back as the 17th century - and "Rose Connelly" (Down in the Willow Garden) is most definitely in the family.

Thanks for the connection.

Sean

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Edited by - mojo_monk on 02/05/2010 07:46:46

Chammer - Posted - 02/05/2010:  08:38:53

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I have always heard the wine referred to as "burgundy" wine, which makes more sense.

ramjo - Posted - 02/05/2010:  10:05:23

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Nice playing Sean and Chip. Thanks for this one. As you mentioned, Sean, the tune has been fit to many lyrics. I knew it first as "Down by the Salley Gardens," W.B. Yeats' setting of his poem to the tune. If I had ever known, I'd forgotten about the fact that "salley" (or "sally") comes from the Irish word for willow. Interesting that while Yeats' version isn't about murder, it's still about lost love. Lyrics here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_b...lley_Gardens

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Edited by - ramjo on 02/05/2010 10:06:24

banjered - Posted - 02/05/2010:  10:15:51

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"Last, and probably least, is my own humble attempt..."

Sorry, Mojo, but I just can't go along/agree with your "least" evaluation...I like yours the best! Fine playing! TC

omiimii - Posted - 02/05/2010:  10:41:16

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I love this song and really want to learn it.
Here is an amazing clawhammer version from youtube
that I have watched many times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iYqor-6IBc
She really owns it!

The first time I heard this song was when Holly Hunter sang
it. I thought that it sounded like an old ballad, so I looked it
up and lo and behold.....
such a great movie!

Your version is awesome Sean. People are always so humble on here.

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Edited by - omiimii on 02/05/2010 10:58:24

French - Posted - 02/05/2010:  10:52:58

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thanks for all these great versions, mojo and chip! i think the coen's nailed it with this song in the movie. so many of these old tunes are so beautiful it takes you a second to realize what the lyrics are all about! but even then, who's gonna stop singing them? not me, that's for sure!

this has been a fun one to try my hand at, thanks!

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/05/2010:  11:51:34

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quote:

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Originally posted by banjered

"Last, and probably least, is my own humble attempt..."

Sorry, Mojo, but I just can't go along/agree with your "least" evaluation...I like yours the best! Fine playing! TC

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Well shucks

thanks.

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/05/2010:  12:03:01

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quote:

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Originally posted by omiimii

I love this song and really want to learn it.
Here is an amazing clawhammer version from youtube
that I have watched many times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iYqor-6IBc
She really owns it!

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Right on!! Looks/sounds like she's playing that out of gCGCD. I did my thumb-lead version in gDGBD. Different strokes for different folks I guess...

Thanks for posting this link Allan!

French - Posted - 02/05/2010:  12:06:53

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"Right on!! Looks/sounds like she's playing that out of gCGCD. I did my thumb-lead version in gDGBD. Different strokes for different folks I guess... "

I could be wrong, but her fingering led me to think she's playing in gCGBD? a nice sound to it, for sure. thanks for sharing omiimii.

banjered - Posted - 02/05/2010:  13:30:57

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Well Geeze! I took up the happy banjo because I thought I had learned just too many sad ballads on the guitar. About a month or so back I accidently on purpose learned "Willie Moore" and now here is
"Down in the Willow Garden" looming in front of me. How many "happy" songs does it take to cancel out "I poisoned her and then I stabbed her with my sabre and then I threw her in the river, and.." Oh well, it's a banjo so it is all fun! TC

WGE - Posted - 02/05/2010:  13:42:30

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A very nice tune. I watched Laurel Bloomery's performance and worked out a simple version. I agree with Mojo Monk, she seems to play it in C out of gCGCD tuning. I tuned down my second string to a B to give it a try and it just didn't work for me.

Oops, let me revise this to say "I watched Ms. Bailey Cooke's Laurel Bloomery performance .... " Mea culpa, Ms. Cooke, I did really like your performance and sorry about the name confusion.

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Edited by - WGE on 02/05/2010 15:18:10

Kitt - Posted - 02/05/2010:  13:57:57

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quote:

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Originally posted by WGE

A very nice tune. I watched Laurel Bloomery's performance...

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Her name is Bailey Cooke. The location of the fiddle convention where she played the tune was Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee.

I looked around on the internet and found her Snodrop played there also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3W_itB3GWw

omiimii - Posted - 02/05/2010:  14:08:59

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quote:

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Originally posted by WGE

A very nice tune. I watched Laurel Bloomery's performance and worked out a simple version. I agree with Mojo Monk, she seems to play it in C out of gCGCD tuning. I tuned down my second string to a B to give it a try and it just didn't work for me.

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i emailed her awhile back to ask this very question and i'm pretty sure that double c is right.

kitt, she also has a myspace page which you can find by googling her name.
i think she's one to watch. i really like her playing and singing alot and
am sure we will hear more of her in the future!

bagunhe - Posted - 02/05/2010:  16:22:07

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quote:

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Originally posted by mojo_monk
Finally, just for the heckuvit I'm including the link to what started my infatuation with this song many years ago: its the performance by Holly Hunter in the 1987 Coen Brothers classic Raising Arizona: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYvDsyfqnI

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I like the Chinese subtitle there. Yeah, the image of the words (not the song)"Willow Garden" reminds me China.

And I totally agree with you about Red Mules.
Bosco

derwood400 - Posted - 02/05/2010:  18:13:42

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I love this song. I was first introduced to it back in the days when I was listening to alot of bluegrass. Lonesome River Band does a really nice version. It was also one of the first 3/4 time songs I learned to play using clawhammer.

Chammer said

quote:

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I have always heard the wine referred to as "burgundy" wine, which makes more sense.

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Most modern versions say 'burgundy', but I read an article about this one time, and the original words were most likely 'burglar's' wine. Apparently burglars wine was wine spiked with poison. The wine would cause the unsuspecting people to become unconscious, allowing the burglars to do their job of robbing the person blind. I can't remember where I read this, but burgundy made more sense to me as well, until I discovered what burglar's wine was.

Thanks Sean for a great contribution to TOTW.

Darren

Kitt - Posted - 02/05/2010:  19:05:59

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I'm doing a little research on the wine question. I've found what I think is more likely what the original word used in the lyric was -- burgaloo wine. See below for part of the explanation. Check out the link for more.

"What is burgaloo wine? It is a type of pear wine that was commonly made in central Virginia in the late 1700’s into the early 1800’s. If you follow migration patterns of people of that day, many families came from central Virginia, into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and then into north-central West Virginia."

http://appalachianlifestyles.blogsp...conelly.html

omiimii - Posted - 02/05/2010:  20:20:19

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quote:

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Originally posted by Kitt

I'm doing a little research on the wine question. I've found what I think is more likely what the original word used in the lyric was -- burgaloo wine. See below for part of the explanation. Check out the link for more.

"What is burgaloo wine? It is a type of pear wine that was commonly made in central Virginia in the late 1700’s into the early 1800’s. If you follow migration patterns of people of that day, many families came from central Virginia, into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and then into north-central West Virginia."

http://appalachianlifestyles.blogsp...conelly.html

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the thing that would be confusing about that though, is that apparently the song has celtic origins.
i'm guessing that maybe you found that reference on this page? http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmO...oseConn.html it seems like it might be a contradiction to assume that both the song came from ireland
and also that it referenced a liquor made in virginia. who knows? i love these old time mysteries!

Kitt - Posted - 02/05/2010:  20:38:02

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No, I guess you overlooked the link that I left, which is where I found the information. I'll leave the link again:

http://appalachianlifestyles.blogsp...conelly.html

The article goes into the discussion about what you've asked about, and I've included an excerpt of it here:

quote:

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So we are left with the question, did the ballad come from Ireland to America, or did the ballad originate in America and make its way back to Ireland?

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mojo_monk - Posted - 02/06/2010:  04:59:27

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quote:

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Originally posted by derwood400

Thanks Sean for a great contribution to TOTW.

Darren

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My pleasure! I'm enjoying everyone's insights very much...not even 24 hours old and already 20 replies. I'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

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Edited by - mojo_monk on 02/06/2010 05:00:18

derwood400 - Posted - 02/06/2010:  05:44:15

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There is some discussion on the burgundy-burgaloo-burglar (wow, say that 3 times fast) wine topic at this link as well:

http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmO...oseConn.html

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Edited by - derwood400 on 02/06/2010 05:45:19

BRUNO25 - Posted - 02/06/2010:  06:18:50

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I can't believe no one mentions Roscoe Holcomb's version! His is the best! I definitely like the straighter versions. Not that I don't like a good waltz, but... Bailey's version is one of my favorites, too. I have watched it many times as well.

I always had trouble understanding some of Roscoe's lyrics. Then I found lyrics on line and they said 'burgundy.' It didn't sound to me like that was it. It sounds much more like he says 'burgular's.' Just based on the story of the song and Darren's reference there with the spiked wine, that makes the most sense to me.

I'll try and get a version uploaded sometime today. Our band has been doing this one for about the last year.

tfaux - Posted - 02/06/2010:  06:37:28

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I like Zeke Morris's E major chord.
Man what a great song. Thanks for posting this.

Tom

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/06/2010:  06:52:05

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quote:

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Originally posted by BRUNO25

I can't believe no one mentions Roscoe Holcomb's version!

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DANG! How did I miss that one!?!?

Here's a link to a sound clip of Mr. Holcomb's "Willow Garden" on Amazon's Mp3 downloads section: http://www.amazon.com/Willow-Garden/dp/B000SEZDH8

Thanks for the reminder.

Sean

NeilTurner - Posted - 02/06/2010:  06:59:21

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I've always loved this song, and those are all great versions of it! Thanks for posting it!
Here is one done by Jimmy Costa, Mac Traynham, Chris Via and Myself just a few weeks ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU-zrhdOA8w

chip arnold - Posted - 02/06/2010:  08:14:26

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Neil, that was fun to watch. Would have been more fun to be there! I like that Jimmy keps playing while singing.

ELWOOD - Posted - 02/06/2010:  08:17:44

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Bailey Cooke, down stroked that tune into my must do tunes, It is good when the player sings the melody,,,,She really seemed to "Know the song" I liked the hat too......Steve................

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Edited by - ELWOOD on 02/06/2010 10:38:42

Bisbonian - Posted - 02/06/2010:  08:19:26

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I don't play many waltzes...can't seem to get my brain around 3/4 time...but have been playing this one that way for a while, and it works just fine. My next door neighbor is a bluegrass guitar player, and he suggested we try it at one of our evening jams. I was surprised at how well it worked out. We polished it up a bit and even played it at a small festival in Merced, CA last summer. Fortunately, he took over the singing duties, and let me do a couple banjo solos between verses.

Sean, I have to say, of all the versions you posted, I like yours the best. That thumb-lead two-finger really makes it.

quote:

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I'd forgotten about the fact that "salley" (or "sally") comes from the Irish word for willow.

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Ramjo, what a great find! Yes, the genus for willow trees is salix. I am sure Yeat's poem could be incorporated as a couple of verses...maybe as the first two.

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;
She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;
But I, being young and foolish, with her did not agree.

In a field down by the river my love and I did stand,
And on my leaning shoulder she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

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Edited by - Bisbonian on 02/06/2010 10:29:57

ELWOOD - Posted - 02/06/2010:  10:39:58

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Bisbonian, Post it sos we can appreciate how well it works,...................Steve

strokestyle - Posted - 02/06/2010:  10:51:45

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quote:

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Sean, I have to say, of all the versions you posted, I like yours the best. That thumb-lead two-finger really makes it.

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Ditto!

ramjo - Posted - 02/06/2010:  11:31:46

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I agree with Elwood, Bisbonian; it'd be great to hear your version!

(YouTubing for Salley Gardens turns up a bunch of hits, and most performances zero in on the sadness in Yeats' telling with syrup-y arrangements. Oddly, it seems to be the favorite of college glee clubs, and you can find at least two vids of those ensembles. Here's the closest configuration of "our" instruments I could find [although no banjo]. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhZj...ture=related )

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Edited by - ramjo on 02/06/2010 12:00:46

omiimii - Posted - 02/06/2010:  12:59:06

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in the version by mr. holcomb, it definitely sounds like he says burglar's wine.
the mystery continues.

banjo_brad - Posted - 02/06/2010:  15:13:29

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Just for fun, I went hunting for information on "burglar's wine" and came up with this informative link about the song's history:

http://www.lizlyle.lofgrens.org/RmO...oseConn.html

A couple of references to burglar's wine - I've always felt it was a poisoned or drugged wine, myself.

-Brad

witty banjo related username - Posted - 02/06/2010:  22:51:39

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Here's another version by Roscoe which I like infinitely more than the one on the "Untamed Sense of Control" disc:
http://www.aca-dla.org/cgi-bin/view...CISOTITLE=10

witty banjo related username - Posted - 02/06/2010:  22:54:12

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Here's another version by Roscoe which I like infinitely more than the one on the "Untamed Sense of Control" disc:
http://www.aca-dla.org/cgi-bin/view...CISOTITLE=10

omiimii - Posted - 02/07/2010:  01:13:27

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quote:

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Originally posted by witty banjo related username

Here's another version by Roscoe which I like infinitely more than the one on the "Untamed Sense of Control" disc:
http://www.aca-dla.org/cgi-bin/view...CISOTITLE=10

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can someone please explain to me how you play or download songs from the digital library of appalachia site?
i can never figure it ou!

derwood400 - Posted - 02/07/2010:  04:14:48

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Hi Omiimii,

If you click on the link, the page in the DL of A will open, and near the top in the middle of the screen (above the information about the item) there is a link that says "click here to display the item". That usually works for me. Hope this helps.

Darren

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Edited by - derwood400 on 02/07/2010 04:15:54

omiimii - Posted - 02/07/2010:  09:36:47

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quote:

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Originally posted by derwood400

Hi Omiimii,

If you click on the link, the page in the DL of A will open, and near the top in the middle of the screen (above the information about the item) there is a link that says "click here to display the item". That usually works for me. Hope this helps.

Darren

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thanks, i have spent a bit of time frustrated clicking around on everything on that page.
thanks for the pointer1

LyleK - Posted - 02/07/2010:  12:10:37

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Great pick mojo! And it reminded me of how poor my powers of observation are. Somehow, I never noticed that this was in "Raising Arizona."

banjoholic - Posted - 02/07/2010:  14:10:23

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We (we being "the sedentary ramblers") recorded this on our debut album. Not knowing how to resolve the wine controversy, we created our own variety. The lyrics in one of the versions of willow garden I have sounded like "hoover's" wine, or something like that. Our guitarist's name is Joel Groover (aka "delusionsobanjer" on the BHO) and so we gave Rose "Groover's wine" in our version. It is our hope than in 150 years folks will be heatedly debating the origin of "Groover's wine".

See the attached file for our attempt at this great tune.

WIllow Garden

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/07/2010:  14:55:57

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Good stuff Josh! Thanks for sharing the link. I think you should talk Joel into making a batch of wine just in case somebody in the future goes digging for "historical evidence" of Groover's wine . Its a win/win best as I can tell: you get the "fruits" and the musicologists get their "artifact" (i.e. an empty bottle)!

And I have to give a HUGE thanks to the folks who've complimented my playing...it means a lot to me

Sean

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Edited by - mojo_monk on 02/07/2010 14:56:33

Kitt - Posted - 02/07/2010:  15:14:01

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Mojo Munk:

Thanks for putting this post up. It has been a blast. I much enjoyed your playing. I should have said that sooner. Blame it on OhmeOhme. He or she posted the Ms. Cooke video. Ms. Cooke distracted my attention. You should have posted yourself wearing a cool hat and blonde pigtails. That works danged near every time. Especially if you're playing some kick as* banjo and singing with some heart.

g-hog - Posted - 02/07/2010:  15:35:01

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Neil... that one sounds great!

grackle - Posted - 02/08/2010:  12:14:43

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There's also a nice version on Rayna Gellert and Suzie Goehring's album "Starch & Iron." Not only are there some nice tunes on that disc, it's fun to play along since there's no banjo player on the recording. The mp3 of "Willow Garden" is available on their webpage:

http://starchandiron.utopiandesign.com/index.html

omiimii - Posted - 02/08/2010:  12:33:16

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quote:

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Originally posted by Kitt

Mojo Munk:

Thanks for putting this post up. It has been a blast. I much enjoyed your playing. I should have said that sooner. Blame it on OhmeOhme. He or she posted the Ms. Cooke video. Ms. Cooke distracted my attention. You should have posted yourself wearing a cool hat and blonde pigtails. That works danged near every time. Especially if you're playing some kick as* banjo and singing with some heart.

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sorry 'bout that. i know what you mean. i have an admitted weakness for attractive musicians, even more
so if they are super talented, play the banjo and sing murder ballads with such conviction.

mojo_monk - Posted - 02/08/2010:  14:45:32

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quote:

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Originally posted by grackle

There's also a nice version on Rayna Gellert and Susie Goehring's album "Starch & Iron." Not only are there some nice tunes on that disc, it's fun to play along since there's no banjo player on the recording. The mp3 of "Willow Garden" is available on their webpage:

http://starchandiron.utopiandesign.com/index.html

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Thanks for the link Grackle! Can't say that I've ever heard that version. It's a good'n.

For those who might not know, Susie Goerhing was the guitar player in the Red Mules (whose version of "Willow Garden" is included in the opening post, in case anybody out there missed it) and was married to the late Jeff Goerhing, fiddler for the group. I know Rayna has more than a few tunes from Ohio (home of the Red Mules and Ward Jarvis) in her bag, which might give some insight into her own great arrangement of "Willow Garden."

Anybody else out there worked this one up yet? Post a link...I'd like to hear it!

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Edited by - mojo_monk on 02/08/2010 14:47:46

RPM - Posted - 02/08/2010:  17:28:45

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I haven't listened to all the links, but it seems like most folks play it as a waltz and Ms. Cooke is doing it in 4/4...

banjoholic - Posted - 02/08/2010:  17:48:33

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The version I have of Roscoe Holcomb playing willow garden is also in 4/4. Perhaps that was her source?