janolov - Posted - 05/03/2019:  11:16:16

I have chosen Lonesome Road Blues a.k.a. Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad to this week’s TOTW.

I learnt it almost 50 years ago in some kind of Seeger’s “basic strum”. I learnt it as a folk song “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” and then I played in the key of C in drop C tuning (gCGBD), but today I prefer the G tuning.

I once heard a discussion on a recording (probably on The Digital Library of Appalachia dla.acaweb.org/digital/search/...d%20blues that the song is  Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad and the instrumental tune is Lonesome Road Blues.

Early recordings

The earliest source of the tune/song is a recording by the guitar player Henry Whitter in 1923 (released in 1924): youtu.be/8L0RUcnbpqI . Henry Whitter (April 6, 1892 - November 17, 1941) later joined  the fiddler  G. B. Grayson (November 11, 1887 – August 16, 1930)  and they a lot of unforgettable Old-Time music recordings: discogs.com/artist/516948-Grayson-Whitter

Another early recording of the song was by the Hill Billies in 1926: youtu.be/ulOI3wGvmng. There is a nice banjo break at about 1:37.

Da Costa Woltz’s Southern Broadcasterns: youtube.com/watch?v=pvKTFu-csJg

Another pre-WWII recording is by Kahle Brewer which is included in the Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes: slippery-hill.com/recording/lo...oad-blues

Here is another early versions with tenor banjo (?) and piano and brass instruments  by H. M. Barnes Blue Ridge Ramblers: youtube.com/watch?v=kkPPoYGuqjU

Folk music

From the beginning I associated the song with “folk music” rather than “old-time music” (I still don’t know the difference between the two genres).Some of the recordings I heard when I was young was:

Woodie Guthrie: youtube.com/watch?v=sBso-UG8R_E

Woodie Guthrie (“Blowin’ Down The Road Feeeling Bad”): youtube.com/watch?v=7qquzBFJdVw

Pete Seeger and Big Bill Bronzy: youtube.com/watch?v=fwdFhWNL0_M

The Weavers (with Pete Seeger): youtube.com/watch?v=GDEhsi_X3GM

Guitar instrumentals

Even if this is a banjo forum I cannot resist to present to nice guitar versions of the instrumental version:

Chet Atkins: youtube.com/watch?v=4nHJPd0ZF_w

Elisabeth Cotton (1958): youtu.be/fwdFhWNL0_M  or youtube.com/watch?v=fwdFhWNL0_M

Bluegrass versions

I think the instrumental version (Lonesome Road Blues) became popular by Bluegrass musicians. I think everybody have heard this version: youtu.be/HPc7lTdJAEo

Another nice three-finger version (with a little taste of Old-Time) is Snuffy Jenkins: youtube.com/watch?v=JAYN0dFvHUQ

There are tons of other Bluegrass instrumental versions but they should  be posted in the Bluegrass (Scruggs style) section rather than here .

Contemporary Old-Time recordings

There are also a lot of more contemporary recordings that are worth to mention, for example:

Frailing banjo - Folk Song of the week: youtube.com/watch?v=8nVInrjLbWE

Carolina Choclate Drops & Joe Thompson: youtube.com/watch?v=_6lxSwX-5-0

Carolina Choclate Drops live with Joe Thompson: youtube.com/watch?v=M4NHbu4njbA

Doc Watson (who plays the banobanjo?): youtube.com/watch?v=2Q0jr67wZLQ

Woodchuckers : youtube.com/watch?v=roTPIe_YnLY

Stringbean: youtube.com/watch?v=f8uVvrhiAXQ                                                                                                

Tommy Jarrell (at the Edwards-Franklin House during the annual Sonker Festival, Mount Airy, North Carolina, July 23, 1983. Jarrell (fiddle); Chester McMillian (guitar); Frank Bodie (guitar and vocal); Ray Chatfield (five-string banjo): youtube.com/watch?v=aCZjDTr10jk

youtube.com/watch?v=_W73wnLEVRE

Etta Baker: youtube.com/watch?v=Eii3i3u7AbA

Michael Moteley: youtube.com/watch?v=gNWevWzZ4uU

Five banjos at Acoustic Music Camp 2011 (watch Dan Levenson at 2:00 and 3:20!): youtube.com/watch?v=yjrVa2-ZOzM

Boone Estap:  youtube.com/watch?v=2_lQPzOeapk

Cousin Emmy: youtube.com/watch?v=Hh2m2dw_bAs

Camp Creek Blues: youtube.com/watch?v=F07RhwLX4xk

Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley (but who plays the banjo?): youtube.com/watch?v=TG-ZdWYNG0s

J.C. Sutphin, Vernon Sutphin, and J.J. Neese (and Stoneman Family, Folkways 1957   youtube.com/watch?v=xoCwuo9d4qM

Clifton Hicks: youtube.com/watch?v=-M_NQUbIoKU

There are also a lot of nice versions in The Digital Library of Appalchia: dla.acaweb.org/digital/search/...d%20blues

Wade Ward

Wade Ward is my banjo hero, so he is worth a special section in this TOTW.

WW made a recording for Alan Lomax  in August 1941 with WW on banjo and Jim Pinion singing. I have found no video or audio of this, and I will be forever thankful if someone can give a hint of where to find this version.

Wade Ward later recorded Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad with Charlie Higgns and Dale Poe in 1971 (I think): 'The Field Recorders' Collective - Recordings from the collection of Peter Hoover' FRC-501-CD

fieldrecorder.bandcamp.com/alb...er-hoover

Lyrics

I think the lyrics varies a lot, and there are a lot of different versions. Here are two versions

Grateful Dead:

[Chorus]

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad, yeah, yeah

I don't want to be treated this a-way

[Verse 1]

Going where the climate suits my clothes

I'm going where the climate suits my clothes

Going where the climate suits my clothes

I don't want to be treated this a-way

[Chorus]

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Well I'm goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

I don't want to be treated this a-way

[Verse 2]

Going where the water tastes like wine

Well I'm going where the water tastes like wine

Going where the water tastes like wine

I don't want to be treated this a-way

[Chorus]

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

I don't want to be treated this a-way

[Outro]

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

I don't want to be treated this a-way

Well I'm goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

Goin' down the road feeling bad

I don't want to be treated this a-way

And Woodie Guthrie’s “Blowing Down The Road..”

I'm blowin' down this old dusty road

I'm a-blowin' down this old dusty road

I'm a-blowin' down this old dusty road, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this a-way

I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine

I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine

I'm a-goin' where the water taste like wine, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

I'm a-goin' where the dust storms never blow

I'm a-goin' where them dust storms never blow

I'm a-goin' where them dust storms never blow, blow, blow

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

They say I'm a dust bowl refugee

Yes, they say I'm a dust bowl refugee

They say I'm a dust bowl refugee, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

I'm a-lookin' for a job at honest pay

I'm a-lookin' for a job at honest pay

I'm a-lookin' for a job at honest pay, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

My children need three square meals a day

Now, my children need three square meals a day

My children need three square meals a day, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet

It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet

It takes a ten-dollar shoe to fit my feet, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

Your a-two-dollar shoe hurts my feet

Your two-dollar shoe hurts my feet

Yes, your two-dollar shoe hurts my feet, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

I'm a-goin' down this old dusty road

I'm blowin' down this old dusty road

I'm a-blowin' down this old dusty road, Lord, Lord

An' I ain't a-gonna be treated this way

Tabs

It is an rather easy basic melody and the chord progression is a typical 16 bar blues:

• I I I I   IV IV I I    IV IV I I    V  V(7) I I (for example G G G G    C C G G    C C G G     D D7 G G)

However both the melody and chord progression can be developed and elaborated by your own choice.

Several years ago I put some mediocre tabs in the Tab archive: a clawhammer version (banjohangout.org/tab/browse.as...p;v=13856 ) and a two-finger thumb-lead version (banjohangout.org/tab/browse.as...p;v=16216 ).

There are also some interesting tabs in published books:

• Wade Ward’s version based on the Library of Congress recordings can be found in Bob Carlin’s and Dan Levenson’s book Wade Ward Clawhammer Banjo Master : melbay.com/Products/22243M/wad...ster.aspx


• A Round Peak version can be found in Brad Leftwich’s book Round Peak Style Clawhammer  Banjo: melbay.com/Products/96660M/rou...anjo.aspx

I am currently working on a more “bluesy” clawhammer version with chokes/bends and minor thirds and minor seventh. I hope I will be able to post it during the week.

dbrooks - Posted - 05/03/2019:  12:25:03

janolov , what a masterful TOTW. You put us Yankees to shame with your knowledge and understanding of our folk music. Thanks for all you do.

David

RG - Posted - 05/03/2019:  14:04:35

Jan, that's such a great tune and great presentation, I always play this tune in a blues scale, can't wait to hear your take!  I'll try to post a version this weekend, maybe not in blues scale!

Edited by - RG on 05/03/2019 14:05:39

Bill H - Posted - 05/04/2019:  02:44:19

Some great versions of the tune. Hearing Woody with Brownie and Sonny doing was a treat. This is one of the first folk songs I learned on the banjo, but it's one of those familiar songs it seems like I have always known. I believe that is the essence of folk music, an easy to sing tune and lyrics that are universal and timeless.

MacCruiskeen - Posted - 05/04/2019:  05:10:58

"From the beginning I associated the song with “folk music” rather than “old-time music” (I still don’t know the difference between the two genres)."

I think of old-time as a subgenre of folk music. Folk music can be any traditional music of any culture, 'old-time' is a particular American form, generally (though not exclusively) associated with the Appalachians. A New England sea-chantey, for instance, I would not call 'old timey'.

rudy - Posted - 05/04/2019:  06:23:05

Excellent TOTW selection, and VERY nicely done!

The version from "The Essential Doc Watson" has both Don Stover and Merle Watson listed as banjoists, so it's one of the two...

Since the Grateful Dead lyrics are posted, here's a very recent version by Dead and Company.  It's hard to say anything about the Dead that doesn't raise an eyebrow, but I really enjoy the newest Dead and Company lineup.  If you're an old Dead affecionado you REALLY need to spend some time with the many, many high quality HD videos of this band performing live.  Here's "Going Down The Road":

Dead and Company: "Going Down The Road" Alpine Valley, June 22, 2018

Edited by - rudy on 05/04/2019 06:25:40

JanetB - Posted - 05/04/2019:  13:44:53

You did mighty well, Jan, an A+ presentation. Here's my humble contribution with a couple of verses. This is one we still sing with my old band-mates. For me it's a heartfelt song, not depressing, though if you were depressed, singing it would make you feel better.

Lonesome Road Blues (TOTW)

Lonesome Road Blues (CH) tab

Emiel - Posted - 05/05/2019:  06:43:26

Very nice, Janet!

Alright, here is my take; clawhammer with a 3-finger-picking intro. Banjo: Iida from the 1970s; open back, deep pot, 20-hole flathead tonering. Tuning: gCGCD.

By the way, I have a hair cut scheduled next week!

VIDEO: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
(click to view)

 

rudy - Posted - 05/05/2019:  14:57:48

My take on "Going Down The Long Lonesome Road":

Bob in CT - Posted - 05/05/2019:  17:23:18

This song was also sung in the “Grapes of Wrath” movie in 1940 by one of the drifters in the camp.

janolov - Posted - 05/06/2019:  23:08:05

Thank you all for your contributions. I think Lonesome Road Blues / Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad is interesting because it can be played and sung in a lot of different ways and different tuning, but it is still the the same tune/song.

@JanetB's version is, as always, very illustrative and shows how a relative easy melody can elaborated.

@Emiel, It is a very nice take. I really ike your three-finger intro!

@rudy. Thanks for a nice song. What kind of banjo do you play . I cannot see any fifth string but I can hear it?

Emiel - Posted - 05/06/2019:  23:28:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by janolov

Thank you all for your contributions. I think Lonesome Road Blues / Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad is interesting because it can be played and sung in a lot of different ways and different tuning, but it is still the the same tune/song.

@JanetB's version is, as always, very illustrative and shows how a relative easy melody can elaborated.

@Emiel, It is a very nice take. I really ike your three-finger intro!

@rudy. Thanks for a nice song. What kind of banjo do you play . I cannot see any fifth string but I can hear it?

---

Jan, I can see a tunneled 5th string on Rudy's banjo…

rudy - Posted - 05/07/2019:  06:35:52

quote:

---

Originally posted by janolov

Thank you all for your contributions. I think Lonesome Road Blues / Goin' Down The Road Feelin' Bad is interesting because it can be played and sung in a lot of different ways and different tuning, but it is still the the same tune/song.

@JanetB's version is, as always, very illustrative and shows how a relative easy melody can elaborated.

@Emiel, It is a very nice take. I really ike your three-finger intro!

@rudy. Thanks for a nice song. What kind of banjo do you play . I cannot see any fifth string but I can hear it?

---

Emiel is correct; it's a tunneled fifth string neck.  I make my own banjos, the one in the video is "in the white" and awaiting tear down for final finishing.  The weather is starting to turn for the better and there's other things that have to take priority to banjo work (at least that's how my wife sees it...) 

I've posted info about them in the past (HERE), and the newer ones are pretty much the same with the only difference being the odd number of equally spaced hooks with a hook located at the neck center.  The center hook is visable in the video above.

Edited by - rudy on 05/07/2019 06:40:06

bobscene - Posted - 05/08/2019:  03:07:53

I'm a little late and I didn't want to put any more videos on the net until I was no longer a beginner, but I couldn't resist this Tune of the Week!

So here's my warts and all submission:

youtu.be/cGt8SchhXco

Emiel - Posted - 05/08/2019:  03:51:04

Nicely done, Bobby…!

rudy - Posted - 05/08/2019:  06:05:42

quote:

---

Originally posted by bobscene

I'm a little late and I didn't want to put any more videos on the net until I was no longer a beginner, but I couldn't resist this Tune of the Week!



So here's my warts and all submission:



youtu.be/cGt8SchhXco

---

Good job!  You're officially no longer a beginner now.  

bobscene - Posted - 05/08/2019:  12:09:02

Thanks guys, this is my favourite song to play! I wish I could sing it like you lot, I recorded me singing it but I sound truly awful. 

I cut my own hair, Emiel. Can ya tell? 

I'm still a beginner Rudy, this was a one-off!

Edited by - bobscene on 05/08/2019 12:12:54

egretflats - Posted - 05/08/2019:  19:42:37

egretflats Bobby, I'm a beginner too, but that rendition was excellent, just as nice as Rudy's and on oldtime banjo that gives different sound. My wife plays this song on an autoharp and you both give me incentive to learn it and play it as you both do.