Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'

Subject: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: Western Trails
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 09:45 PM

I was listening to a Doc Watson recording of "Tom Dooley," that has a noticeably different tune from the usual one. I feel like I'd heard it somewhere else before. Was he using a tune from a different song, or did I hear his version before? Or is it actually the same tune, but in a different key?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: gillymor
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 10:17 PM

Doc uses a different tune from the Frank Proffit-inspired one that the Kingston Trio recorded. There is a fellow, I think his name is Richard Brooks, I'll check tomorrow, who sells an ebook on Amazon of Doc and Merle banjo tabs that includes Doc's Tom Dooley, which is a pretty easy piece. I love Doc's rendition.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: Mark Ross
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 10:17 PM

It's a slightly different version, handed down through his family. Doc plays it in the key of G.

Here it is;


Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 10:39 PM

A Google of

Doc Watson, 'Tom Dooley', melody

will take you to a page. Look for

The Legacy of Doc Watson - Page 145 - Google Books Result

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: cnd
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 11:12 PM

Here it is Just scroll down a bit

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 09 Dec 15 - 11:32 PM

Thank you, cnd. Much appreciated. (I never did learn how to do that.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: cnd
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 06:21 AM

Just click "Make a link ("blue clicky")" and it does it for you! Spit one link in the top and whatever you want to call it in the bottom one. I think at once point you had to hand do it, but it's been automated since I got on here.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: GUEST,#
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 08:22 AM

Well, I will be dipped in it. I just followed your instructions and voila. So it works even with Google books. Live and learn. Thank you very much, cnd. I knew how to do the clicky thing but for some reason didn't think it was the same with pdf stuff. Merci bien beaucoup. Neat way to start the day :-)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: bubblyrat
Date: 11 Dec 15 - 06:24 AM

If I had a gold watch and chain ,
I would pawn them any day;
I'd walk across the Blue Ridge mountains
to hear Doc Watson play,
just to hear Doc Watson play.

Sorry ; I could not resist that !!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: voyager
Date: 02 Sep 19 - 08:50 AM

With a fine tribute to Doc Watson in this clip -

Doc Watson and David Holt - Tom Dooley

voyager

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Sep 19 - 10:03 AM

Brilliant version, thanks for posting.

From a film featuring AL Lloyd visiting Doc it was clear that the local people believed Ann Melton killed Laura Foster and Tom Dula took the rap because he loved her.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Doc Watson's 'Tom Dooley'
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Sep 19 - 03:27 PM

Doc Watson singing Wabash Cannonball: there's a fellow from North Carolina, he's long and he's tall, he came down to pick us a tune... Sorry creep. My Tom Dooley by Doc has the usual tune. What recording?