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schlange - Posted - 03/14/2014: 13:25:18
This week's tune is the Carter Family classic, "Wildwood Flower." This is a hugely popular song with a catchy melody that sounds great on bluegrass/folk instruments--it's most commonly heard on guitar (in fact, the only recorded versions I could find from Earl had him picking on guitar). In my humble opinion it's the melody that keeps this song popular--the lyrics themselves, although poetic, aren't especially memorable (in fact they're a bit strange in spots) which explains why some artists play it as an instrumental.
It's been done by just about every folk and country star in the last 50 years I would guess (including Merle Travis, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Iris DeMent, and Roger McGuinn) and has been on the billboard charts multiple times.
My search on Grooveshark to make a playlist came up with over 100 versions of the tune--more than another other TOTW so far! (Don't worry, I narrowed the playlist to 14.)
According to Wikipedia, Wildwood Flower is actually "a variant of the song I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets, published in 1860 by composer Joseph Philbrick Webster, who wrote the music, with lyrics attributed to Maud Irving. Other versions of the song have evolved, including The Pale Amaranthus (collected in Kentucky and North Carolina, reported in 1911), Raven Black Hair and The Pale Wildwood Flower (collected 1915-1919), and The Frail Wildwood Flower."
Joseph Philbrick Webster had a knack for memorable melodies: he also wrote the music for two other enduring tunes: the ballad "Lorena" (considered by some to be the most popular Civil War song, on both sides), and the well-known hymn "In the Sweet By and By".
The Carter Family first recorded Wildwood Flower in 1928 on the Victor label. It's interesting to read the lyrics of the original 1860 song and compare them to what the Carter Family sang... there are lots of changes, some which are mondegreens (a mis-hearing of a near-homophonic phrase), others which just make it sound more folky, and others... well, who knows?
I've heard this tune done in C, D, and G most commonly. The video lessons this week teach it in G.
Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and waving black hair
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
And the myrtle so bright with the emerald dew
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue
I will dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idols were clay
All portion of love had all flown away
Oh he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wondering no misery can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flower
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flower
I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!
stanleytone - Posted - 03/14/2014: 14:44:35
This is really great stuff!I
If I may be be allowed, I'd like to thrown in The Stanley Brothers' version ,with tab to both of Ralph's breaks along with the audio.
 Wildwood Flower / Stanley Brothers (1st break) |  STANLEY BROTHERS / WILDWOOD FLOWER /UP THE NECK |
Jack Baker - Posted - 03/16/2014: 07:05:13
Ha! Overhere,
This happens to anyone who posts. Don't beat yourself up about it...Jack
Originally posted by overhere
pickNgrin - Posted - 03/19/2014: 06:34:13
quote:
Originally posted by schlangeThis morning as I worked my way through Casey and John's lessons I realized that the backing tracks I made were a bit off, due to how BIAB does beat changes in measures.
Anyway--I just uploaded new versions that are correct, so if you downloaded the old ones you'll want to replace them. Otherwise it's really funky trying to play along!
I tried playing along with one of the tracks yesterday morning and found that they were "crooked" (extra space put in). Crooked tunes are fine, but Wildwood Flower is not one of them. I am glad that it was a mistake. 
The new ones are much better! Thanks for the hard work of putting all this together. The backing tracks plus supporting materials are a great resource!
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