In August 2012, Mary Z. Cox posted “The Possum’s Tail Is Bare” as the Tune of the Week in the Clawhammer and Old Time Styles forum.  She also posted her tab for the tune along with links to versions by Melvin Wine and other artists. (TOTW: Possum's Tail Is Bare :) August 3, 2012 - Discussion Forums - Banjo Hangout)  Mary posted her tab in the forum itself but did not post a copy in the Tab Library on the Hangout.  Since that discussion thread has been archived, Mary’s tab for the tune is no longer available.

I am repeating “The Possum’s Tail Is Bare” as TOTW and posting a tab and MP3 in the Tab Library as well as in this post to once again call attention to this fine tune.  It is one we play regularly at our weekly contra dances in Louisville.  I am also reposting some of Mary’s links, as well as some more recent ones, to versions available on the web.

But first, a little history.  Here’s the entry from the Traditional Tune Archive with some history and notation for the tune.

POSSUM’S TAIL IS BARE, THE. American, Reel and Song. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. This version of the tune is most often sourced to Braxton County, West Virginia, fiddler Melvin Wine (1909-2003), albeit from field recordings and personal tutelage, as he never recorded the tune on his commercially released issues. There is a general resemblance (as with a number of old-time tunes) to the prototypical "Bile Them Cabbage Down" and perhaps a cognate relationship. Despite the fact that most modern versions have been highly influenced by Wine's singing and playing, the tune appears to have been in circulation among West Virginia musicians prior to him; however, specific citations are wanting.

Verses sung to this tune are numerous, and many are "floating" (i.e. appearing in other songs), including songs in both black and white folk repertory, and in minstrel repertory. 

Squirrel’s got a bushy tail, rabbit’s got the hair,
The old coon’s tail has rings all around, but the possum’s tail is bare.

Oh the possum’s tail is bare, oh, the possum’s tail is bare,
The old coon’s tail has rings all around, but the possum’s tail is bare.

Take an old possum by the tail, then we’ll skin him on a rail,
Never ever more will he be seen, grinning at the moon.

Grinnnin’ at the moon, grinning at the moon,
Never ever more will he be seen, grinning at the moon. ...

The above and notation can be found here - Annotation:Possum's Tail is Bare (The) - The Traditional Tune Archive

There are quite a few versions on the web, mostly fiddle versions.  Some play the low part first; others start with the high part (including Melvin Wine).

Here's Melvin Wine’s version - Possum's Tail Is Bare, The | Slippery-Hill

Fiddle duet - Possum's Tail is Bare ~ Old Time West Virginia Fiddle Tune

Rachel Eddy on banjo - Possum Tail is Bare

Tim Rowell on banjo - Possum's Tail is Bare

Don Borchelt and Ed Britt - The Possum's Tail Is Bare

Louisville Contra Dance - Possums Tail D

For those who work from standard notation:

Standard notation from Taterjoes  - Possum's Tail Is Bare

Standard notation from Pete Showman - https://www.showman.org/Tunes/PossumsTailIsBare.pdf

Here's a link to my tab in the Tab Library - Possum's Tail is Bare Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

Here's my tab posted below.

David

Possum's Tail Is Bare

 

Edited by - Don Borchelt on 05/11/2025 04:32:49