Lyr Req: Black Muddy River (R Hunter, J Garcia)

Subject: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 29 May 00 - 03:39 AM

Following on from the Eliza Carthy thread..

A couple of years ago I remember Norma Waterson being nominated for a music award ( mercury music prize?). Who? I thought at the time and it has taken me a while to realise the error of my ways. The first Radio play of 'Black Muddy River' and I was hooked what a beautiful voice! I have been spreading the word and that has its drawbacks as one of my friends is often to be found singing black muddy river very badly!

Anyway the whole point of this is where can I find other versions of Black Muddy river? I have just realised I could try the search!!! If anyone else has any ideas?

I hope you will have a listen to Norma Waterson and or waterson:carthy there my be some samples available but I haven't looked yet. Record companies are Hannibal/Rykodisc and Topic My own other favourites are Ragle Taggle Gipsies, Solid Air, On Fridays He's Fred Astaire

RS

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: jayohjo
Date: 29 May 00 - 10:33 AM

The first time i heard norma and liza sing that together, it brought tears to my eyes. There's always something about family voices, the way they can link in and catch in the most beautiful way.

Cant remember who it was that did Black Muddy River, but one of those well-known less trad groups - steeleye span and suchlike?

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 29 May 00 - 11:56 AM

It was The Grateful Dead (words Hunter, music Garcia)!  You can see an early draft of the lyrics at the  Robert Hunter Archive.  There is an annotated version  here.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 29 May 00 - 01:24 PM

Thanks Malcolm Only I was kind of hoping it would be a soft and fluffy group like Steeleye Span. Grateful Dead I have heard of and when I read the name Jerry Garcia on the CD cover it did ring a bell. Only problem is I now need to hear The 'Dead' version to compare. Where is your fiddle anyhow??

Roger

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:47 PM

OK where do I get hold of written music? I thought this tune was out of my system until the other day when I found myself playing the first part. Then I get stuck and need some music to look at to get me ovet the blind spot. I have searched for music and there is a book for piano and voice but I have a flute(no chords then) and don't sing. any ideas?

Roger

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Pene Azul
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 02:12 PM

Here's a page with chords, TAB, and a MIDI file that you could notate with MidiNotate.

PA

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Gypsy
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 11:42 PM

Roger, you can also use the piano music. Skip the bottom clef, and try using just the top notes on the upper staff. I can't (okay, i DON'T) play chords on hammer dulcimer, but can utilize piano music in this fashion. That should give you the basic melody. Then you can fool with it, and improve the sound.

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: GUEST,KingBrilliant
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 04:28 AM

This is one of my current very favouritest songs. I've only heard the Norma Waterson version, but it is one that really gets to you. My daughter & I are learning it at the moment, with chords as retrieved from Harmony Central site. Wants a lot of breath though doesn't it? That annotated reference from Malcom's posting is brilliant.

Kris

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: GUEST,ruby
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 01:53 AM

a beautiful song indeed!

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 04:54 PM

Thanks for all the help. This is the first time that I have heard a tune and been able to play most of it without seeing the written music. As this is my first taste of 'playing by ear' I am going to persevere without written music for now. I really should pay more attention to Malcolm's pointers though, how did I miss the key given below the lyrics? Thanks evryone for all the ideas I will get around to tying them all I am sure.

Roger

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 12:40 PM

My Ears have deceived me! I was playing the tune in G – haven't tried it in A yet. Dulcimer? I have heard of that. What does one look like, how do you play one? Sorry for my ignorance. I would love to hear one.

Roger

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: The Shambles
Date: 09 Jun 00 - 07:01 PM

Does this song really contain the line?

"an eagle on the fly".

I think it does and it spoils the whole song for me.

Subject: RE: Black Muddy River
From: Roger in Sheffield
Date: 11 Jun 00 - 04:25 AM

It does, that doesn't spoil it for me though. The overall sound (N.Waterson) more than makes up for it. I also love 'Ride On' sung by Christy Moore and the fact that some of the words don't make sense to me doesn't spoil that song either. Though in that case it would be Jimmy McCarthy who wrote the song

Roger

Subject: Lyr Add: BLACK MUDDY RIVER (R Hunter, J Garcia)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 08:18 PM

BLACK MUDDY RIVER
Words by Robert Hunter; music by Jerry Garcia.
Copyright Ice Nine Publishing.

When the last rose of summer pricks my finger
And the hot sun chills me to the bone,
When I can't hear the song for the singer,
And I can't tell my pillow from a stone,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own.
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And sing me a song of my own.

When the last bolt of sunshine hits the mountain,
And the stars start to splatter in the sky,
When the moon splits the southwest horizon,
With the scream of an eagle on the fly,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And listen to the ripples as they moan.
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own.

Black muddy river,
Roll on forever.
I don't care how deep or wide.
If you got another side,
Roll, muddy river.
Roll, muddy river.
Black muddy river, roll.

When it seems like the night will last forever,
And there's nothing left to do but count the years,
When the strings of my heart start to sever,
And stones fall from my eyes instead of tears,
I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And dream me a dream of my own.
I will walk alone by the black muddy river,
And sing me a song of my own,
And sing me a song of my own.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Black Muddy River (R Hunter, J Garcia)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 12 - 10:41 AM

Thank you!
~black walnut