I don’t remember when I first got attracted to this tune, since I don’t own the re-issue LP (Nashville Early String Bands, Vol. 1, County 541, LP (1976)) which contains the Brunswick Br 271 (78 RPM), Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters (1928) recording (note that there are a number of sites, on the internet, in which he is misnamed Bates). This lively tune works very well for square dances and plays fairly easily on the banjo in double D (aDAde), and works well on the fiddle.
https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:My_Wife_Died_on_Saturday_Night
Dr. Humphrey Bate [1] (1875-1936), a bona-fide physician with a medical degree from Vanderbilt, recorded this song with his band The Possum Hunters in Atlanta in December, 1928. Bate lived in Castillian Springs, Tennessee, and sang and played harmonica along with some guitar, and his was one of the most popular bands in the Nashville area for many years. Oscar Stone and Bill Barret played the fiddle with the group. They were the first string band to air on Nashville radio and the first to tour from the Grand Ole Opry. The good Dr. led the Possum Hunters until his death in the 1940's, and the band continued in various forms until the 1960's. The harmonica was not an uncommon instrument in early American string bands.
https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/my-wife-died-saturday-night-0
My wife died on Saturday night, and Sunday she was buried,
Monday was my courtin' day and Tuesday I got married.
Round and round, up and down, every day I wander,
Round and round, up and down, lookin' for my honey.
These lyrics can be found in some other songs. Sometimes other versions start with other days of the week. The Crook Brothers recorded “My Wife Died Friday Night” (Victor 40020 (78 RPM), The Crook Brothers (1929)).
https://www.slippery-hill.com/content/my-wife-died-friday-night
Another title is “Monday was My Courting Day” (Webb, Ellen. Sharp & Karpeles / English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians II, Oxford, Bk (1932/1917), p277/# 202 [1918/10/06]).
Wiki has a long article on Humphrey Bate
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Bate
A couple of newer versions online are:
The New Lost City Ramblers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oLPoQTDzYI
Walt Koken and Clare Milliner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zspujIv_0nU
While I no longer write tablature, I’ve recorded an instructive audio banjo version which explains where the drop thumbs are, not only the way I play it, but alternatives for the 2nd phrase in the 2nd part. I love the redundancy of the way to play certain notes and phrases in double D. My choice is based on how I want the emphasis a note or two, but I do try and explain the alternatives.
Please add your takes on the tune
You should change the title of you post. It sounds like BHO member had a great tragedy last night.
ken
Crazy title, indeed! The second wife hasn't gotten a good catch, I'm afraid.
Your video tab is useful for learners who benefit from explanations. I might take a listen for the sake of putting it in tab form, too. Then more learners have access. I like your slides and clucks, Carl. You get a nice old-timey sound.
I found the harmonica as played by Humphrey Bates was easy to follow, as the fiddle, when it's slowed down. It's not hard to play my arrangement.
Dr. Humphrey Bates and the Possum Hunters were covered in at least one other TOTW back in 2013: Going Up Town.
Edited by - JanetB on 02/08/2026 14:36:34
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