Big Footed Man In The Sandy Lot is a West Alabama tune with a ton of great versions floating around.
It has the somewhat unique feature of often being played with a hymn, "Sweet Bye and Bye," inserted into the middle of it. It's my understanding that Charlie Stripling, a contest fiddler, started playing it that way to impress judges — much to the ire of his family, who thought doing so was unspeakably sacrilegious
It has a handful of alternate titles, including one terrible one that won’t be further acknowledged here. Other titles you’ll find it under are Bigfoot, Big Footed Man, Sandy Lot, Big Footed Man In The Sandy Land, and The Virginia Reel (in North Carolina, apparently).
First recorded by the Stripling Brothers as their own first recorded tune in 1928.
My favorite version, from Bob Carlin and Bruce Molsky.
Bobby Britt, featuring the inimitable Allison De Groot on banjo.
A terrific version from local Old Time group Red Mountain.
Here's one from Jim Pankey, who I believe also has a lesson on it.
I haven't had time to sit down and write a good tab for it yet, but I'll see about doing so tonight and will share it in the comments below if I can.
In the meantime, here's one that looks like it's for 3-finger. It'll give you an idea of how it's played, at least.
I look forward to hearing some new versions!
Thanks, Porter, for another Alabama tune. You're able to zip through that one as fast as the Stripling Brothers. I was familiar with the Bob Carlin and Bruce Molsky version, and Lukas Pool's was unexpectedly lovely using double C tuning. Here's the link for the Stripling Brothers on Slippery Hill. They use an AAB pattern, so I did, too, but didn't insert the hymn (which was a nice touch IMO).
Here's my attempt, very similar to JanetB 's choice of notes and fretting, though a bit less melodic.
Would be nice to have spent time learning the hymn section, maybe later!
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