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schlange - Posted - 06/09/2015: 11:22:14
This week's tune is one of those oldies where every recorded version is different from the next, and nobody can pinpoint who wrote it first! "East Virginia Blues #1" was recorded by the Carter Family around 1933, and that seems to be the first popular recorded version--but they didn't write the song. (They also recorded "East Virginia Blues #2" about a year later, with different lyrics.)
Charles Wolfe says in his notes to the Carters' #2 version in an accompanying book to In The Shadow of Clinch Mountain (Bear Family):
"East Virginia Blues No. 2 was a follow-up to the Victor version the Carters recorded just a year before; it is similar, but revised enough to merit the No. 2 on the title. Though some of the lines here date back to 17th-century England, others were familiar throughout the Appalachians, often in lyrics called Dark Hollow Blues or Greenback Dollar. It sounds like A.P. strung together a series of familiar stanzas, thoug some of them ("I am dying, captain, dying") seem less relevant than others."
The Carter's version is in a major key, whereas some older versions are in minor keys. Nowadays you rarely hear the minor version.
Usually sung somewhere between the keys of G and B, although the Carters did it in D.
The Stanley Brothers were fond of this tune, and J.D. Crowe also performed it frequently (see video below).
I was born in East Virginia
North Carolina I did go
There I courted a fair young maiden
But her age I did not know
Oh her hair was dark and curly
And her cheeks were rosy red
On her breast she wore a lilly
Where I longed to lay my head
Molly dear, go ask your mother
If you my bride might ever be
If she says no, come back and tell me
And I'll run away with thee
No I'll not go ask my mother
Where she lies on her bed of rest
In her hand she holds a dagger
To kill the man that I love best
The ocean's deep and I can't wade it
And I have no wings to fly
I'll just get some blue-eyed boatman
For to row me o'er the tide
I'll go back to East Virginia
North Carolina ain't my home
I'll go back to East Virginia
Leave old North Carolina alone
I don't want your green back dollar
I don't want your watch and chain
All I want is you my darling
Say you'll take me back again
For you know I'd like to see you
At my door you're welcome in
At my gate I'll always greet you
For you're the girl I tried to win
(From Stanley Bros version)
I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!
Jack Baker - Posted - 06/12/2015: 16:55:58
Eric,
You didn't ask for this one. I have Alan Munde's version if you want to post it...I tabbed it out years ago in 2003...Jack p.s. just saw a very similar version in the archives done by Jim and Jesse. I remember Alan Munde's version, not Jim and Jesse's...
Originally posted by schlange
The Carter Family
Edited by - Jack Baker on 06/12/2015 17:05:27
Jack Baker - Posted - 06/12/2015: 17:17:15
Here's the midi part...Jack
East Virginia Blues as played by Alan Munde
Originally posted by Jack Baker
Eric,
You didn't ask for this one. I have Alan Munde's version if you want to post it...I tabbed it out years ago in 2003...Jack p.s. just saw a very similar version in the archives done by Jim and Jesse. I remember Alan Munde's version, not Jim and Jesse's...
Originally posted by schlange
The Carter Family
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