schlange - Posted - 02/17/2015:  10:51:50

Lester and Earl, pickin' this tune on a plane

This week's tune is our funniest yet--"Pearl, Pearl, Pearl" written by Flatt & Scruggs for The Beverly Hillbillies TV show.

The song is Lester and Earl's ode to the beauty and charm of Miss Pearl Bodine, Jed Clampett's cousin (and Jethro Bodine's mother). It features Lester and Earl going back and forth trying to convince Pearl to stay away from the other guy. My favorite verse is this one Lester sings: 

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, you'll get no love from Earl

This here man is such a sap, he won't hold you on his lap

Unless you are an old 5-string banjo

It made its first appearance on the show at the same time as Lester and Earl made their first appearance--in the first season, episode 20 titled "“Jed Throws a Wingding." I've included the entire episode below... they don't actually sing the full song at one time, but sing most of it on the plane ride, then we hear the chorus when they see Pearl in California.

This song reached #8 on the charts in 1963 and was on the charts for eleven weeks.

Flatt & Scruggs recorded the tune in D, but on the TV show they play it in C.

Lyrics:

Chorus:

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, come let us see our girl

Are you still our valentine? Do you still look so divine?

Come and let us see our darlin' Pearl

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, don't give your love to Earl

I have got a horse and mule, forty acres near a school

And we'll be happy as two bugs

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, come be my loving girl

Don't you marry Lester Flatt, he slicks his hair with possum fat

Change your name to Mrs. Earl Scruggs

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, you'll get no love from Earl

This here man is such a sap, he won't hold you on his lap

Unless you are an old 5-string banjo

Pearl, Pearl, Pearl, he's nutty as a squirrel

If you'll be Mrs. Scruggs, we will live on kisses and hugs

Like Juliet and Romeo

Learn the Tune:

• Hear it using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.


• We have a lesson video teaching you the lead break plus backup rolls from Casey Henry. Only $6 thru 1/19! Get it here >


• Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.


• Tabs: here's a good one from Jack Baker

Share!

I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!

VIDEO: Carters Blues - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)	VIDEO: Full "Jed Throws A WingDing" Episode (click to view)	VIDEO: Flatt & Scruggs - Pearl Pearl Pearl Excerpt (click to view)	VIDEO: Pearl Pearl Peal - Excerpt from the Custom Banjo Lesson from The Murphy Method (click to view)
Pearl, Pearl, Pearl Chords

Mike Greylak - Posted - 02/17/2015:  11:35:05

youtube.com/watch?v=igsSn7RD3l4

Mike Greylak - Posted - 02/17/2015:  11:38:29

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Greylak

youtube.com/watch?v=igsSn7RD3l4

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KR Bluegrass at East Troy WI festival

Jack Baker - Posted - 02/17/2015:  11:46:00

Earl, as Eric posted, played this song in C and in D but sometimes he  played it in C#...no apparent reasons, just a few guesses. I tabbed the one in C# so just take off the capo at the 1st fret and and lower the 5th string to g and put the banjo in Dropped C tuning: g,c,g,b,d if you like...fun tune...Jack

Edited by - Jack Baker on 02/17/2015 11:48:36