Tune – Sugar in the Gourd

3/8/2013

Below you'll find a transcription of a fiddle tune called Sugar in the Gourd. You'll also find a video of Ben Paley (whose version I transcribed) playing it with Tab Hunter - both phenomenal.

7 Comments

Lambert Daniel

5/13/2020 12:02:23 am

Rowan,

A very nice rendition of Sugar in the Gourd. You are an awesome fiddler! We play that tune here in the states as well of course and occasionally we also sing it. In the early days of the recording industry Fiddling John Carson had a hit with the song using single verse lyrics from your British Isles.

As you know we here in the states tend to modify songs and tunes from the traditional repertoire so I will share with you some other lyrics I got from a band called the Bald Knob Chicken Scratchers. I don’t know where they first heard these lyrics but likely deep in Appalachia. The third verse is often omitted because it might be perceived as somewhat racist. The fourth verse you will notice is similar to the standard version.

I went out in the old cane field
Black snake bit me on the heel
I stood around and I done my best
Stuck my head in a hornet’s nest

Had an old hen. She had a wooden leg
Best old hen that ever laid an egg
Laid more eggs than any hen on the farm
And another little drink wouldn’t do us any harm

I looked over at the chariot wheel
My best people working in the field
Some was black and some was blacker
And some was the color of an old chaw tobacker

Took my jug and laid it on the board
Nothing in it but the sugar in the gourd
Sugar in the gourd and you want to get it out
Way to get the sugar is to roll it all about

I come to town the other night
Heard a little noise and I saw a little fight
Police wathching and jumping all around
‘cause a load of white lightning had come to town

Even if you can sing well, keep playing it as an instrumental. You sounded great!

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This is where I post tunes I've transcribed and bits & pieces I find interesting. A few old articles have been transferred from my old blog, The Daily Orator.

Tune – Sugar in the Gourd

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