East Virginia (Clifton Hicks; Thomas Owen)

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2023-12-18に共有
I am playing on an 1891 Bay State 351 made by John Haynes. It is outfitted with Aguila Nylgut strings and a Joel Hooks bridge. I play here using the traditional two-finger style in "Sawmill" tuning (gDGCD).

I learned East Virginia from Clifton Hicks of Copperhill, Tennessee with extensive help from Thomas Owen of Gloucestershire. It is also inspired by Nora Brown, who learned it from Clifton Hicks. Mr. Hicks learned it from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky.

Clifton Hicks references George Gibson's "Last Possum up the Tree" to describe its history:

"Elmer Slone and McKinley Everage were the first people I heard play and sing this banjo song. East Virginia dates back to the migration from east Virginia to the North Carolina frontier, which began in the eighteenth century. This song most likely originated with African Americans. Early settlers in the Knott County area, including my Hammons, Gibson and Adams ancestors, had previously moved to the mountains of North Carolina from east Virginia. This migration included enslaved African Americans, whose ancestors brought the banjo from Africa."

The song is alternatively known as East Virginia Blues, Dark Holler Blues, and Greenback Dollar. This particular set of lyrics is an amalgamation based on Mr. Hicks' set with a few of my own tweaks.

A special thanks to my friends at Banjo Heritage, who have helped me through this classic song every step of the way, with special thanks to Knox Massey (‪@knoxmassey6822‬ ). To hear more of Mr. Hicks and Mr. Owen, see their channels at ‪@CliftonHicksbanjo‬ and ‪@ThomasOwenFolk‬, respectively. For Nora Brown's music, see ‪@norabrown7010‬.

The photo I have is a print of Jonathan Daniels, who is well worth the Google. I keep the photo as a reminder of the kind of person I want to be. For Daniels' story, see:

www.vmi.edu/archives/genealogy-biography-alumni/fe…
コメント (11)
  • @chickenindoubleC
    I am from old east Virginia, North Carolina I did go There I met a fair pretty maiden, though her name I did not know Her hair was gold and curly, her cheeks were rosy red On her breast she wore white linen, there I longed to lay my head Rather be in some dark holler, where the sun don't ever shine Than to see you with some other, and to know you'll never be mine But I must leave old North Carolina, I must leave you all alone Gonna cross those Blue Ridge Mountains, east Kentucky will be my home When I was lost out on that mountain, wild dogs mournin' in the air I miss that gal from North Carolina, with those blue eyes and the golden hair When I'm asleep I dream about her, when I'm awake I see no rest Every moment seems like an hour, many a tear o'er her I've shed I have kept each of your letters, I hold them closely to my heart But this ring that you gave me darling, from my hand shall never part Captain, Captain I am dying, won't you take these words for me? Take 'em back to old east Virginia...tell my darlin' she is free.
  • @tylerjgifford
    Too cool! Sounds awesome. The set is also a perfect for the tune.
  • @d.bakosov9771
    You have a good voice but I can’t hear you. you need to reduce the volume of the instrument. Good luck!!!
  • @kylewood4852
    Sounds great! Just subscribed keep up the good work. 👏🪕