Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals

Subject: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 09:41 PM

Has anyone got the staff notation for this. I was told it was a US Civil War song, but any info on the background would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Scoville
Date: 02 Jun 05 - 09:56 PM

The way I learned it, the tune is "Seneca Square Dance" (usually played in G but I guess it can be changed to whatever the singer needs). I've heard it said that "Seneca" is named for Seneca, Missouri, but I can't swear to that.

This is one recording I know of: Johnny Whistletrigger. I'm sure there are others. It is not sung on here; I can't find lyrics on my search engine but it wouldn't surprise me at all if there are some.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 10:11 AM

Here is the melody line for Seneca Square Dance. This is a nice tune. I've heard it by a number of fiddlers.   I've also heard the tune played as Waiting For The Federals, though less frequently.

Seneca Square Dance

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 11:30 AM

The only lyrics I've heard is a version where the tune is speeded up slightly and and it becomes "The Higher Up The Monkey Climbs". As I remember it:

The Higher up the monkey climbs
The higher up the monkey climbs
The higher up the monkey climbs
The more he shows his da la de la de la da

I'm not among my collection at present but I believe you will find both this and "Seneca Square Dance" by Fiddling Bob Larkan on County's
Echoes of the Ozarks CDs.
The tune is of the same family as "Shoot That Turkey Buzzard" so you could always substitute those lyrics, it's probably already been done. I've certainly done it myself for relief at one of those sessions where the fiddle player goes on and on and on.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GLoux
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 03:06 PM

My collection is handy...

"Seneca Square Dance" on County's Echoes of the Ozarks CD Volume 1 is by Fiddling Sam Long, backed up by Roy Kastner on guitar, recorded ca. January/February 1926. "Higher Up The Monkey Climbs" is on Volume 2 and is by Fiddlin' Bob Larkan & His Music Makers, recorded 2/22/28.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Compton
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 03:21 PM

Good Version by Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 03 Jun 05 - 05:40 PM

Thre have been a couple of discussions on Seneca Square Dance / Waiting for the Federals. They have provided a couple of external links, one containing ABC versions of the tunes :-
The Fiddler's Companion   - a huge encyclopedia of fiddle tunes, created by Andrew Kuntz.
The other linking to a connection with a song called Shelby's Mule http://www.bartonpara.com/civilwar/jw/shelby.htm.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 04:05 PM

The "Federal" titles - "Waiting for the Federals," "Getting Away from the Federals" seem to be pretty recent (after mid-20th century).

Conceivably they refer to the moonshine-busting "Federals" (or "Feds") and have nothing to do with the Civil War.

Just a suggestion.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 06:37 PM

I always used to mix it up with Bonaparte's Retreat as it has similar start. John Spiers uses WFTF as a workpiece on his melodeon tutor with Lucy Huzzard - http://brightyoungfolk.com/records/john-spiers-melodeon---mastering-the-art

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 07:17 PM

we use a set comprising   Little Diamond/ Waiting for the Federals/Bad Moon Rising always seems to go down well

Gerry

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: gillymor
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 09:10 AM

I first learned this fun tune on clawhammer banjo and our group does it followed by an uptempo "Gypsy Princess". I always imagined that "Waiting for the Federals" was a tune some Billy Reb was fiddling to steady the boys while they were waiting in a trench, or behind a fence or wall, for a Union advance.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 10:45 AM

Johnny Reb.

Billy Yank.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 10:56 AM

Throughout the generations our family has always hedged their bets.
Seriously though, thanks for correcting my embarrassing faux pas, Lighter.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 11:38 AM

Banjo Hangout has a nice thread.

https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/194325

The hammered dulcimer story ( Posted - 12/19/2010) is interesting.o

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

There does not appear to be any words for a square dance caller.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: terrier
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 11:32 AM

So to make an old thread a bit longer, just came across this:
Shelby's Mule

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 12:20 PM

Relevant:


http://bartonpara.com/bp/wp-content/audio/jw/shelby.htm

Here's the 19th century song, "Gal from the South" (1850?). Some of the words are also sung to "Get Along Home, Cindy, Cindy," and (in one case) "Can't You Dance the Polka?" So it must have been popular.

Unfortunately I can't fit the words easily to the tune of "Waiting for the Federals/ Seneca Square Dance." "Shelby's Mule" doesn't seem to fit well either.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 12:45 PM

These YouTube performances of "Shelby's Mule" don't sound anything like "Waiting for the Federals":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u13PPbL7iA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxUf5iLQflg

The tune of "Shelby's Mule" on YouTube is essentially that accompanying the words in the Kansas City Star (Aug. 9, 1908) (as "Joe Shelby's Mule"). The song is are attributed to "The Dixie Minstrels at Arrow Rock, Mo."

Though not identical, the tune reminds me of a better known Civil War song, "Here's Your Mule."

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 04:01 PM

Here's a tune called "Shelby's Mule" frailed on the banjo by an old-timer in Kansas.

Nothing like "Waiting for the Federals."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xqMfnvGuNk

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: gillymor
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 04:23 PM

From your bartonpara.com link above, Lighter:

" Leddy put his words to the tune of the minstrel song “Gal from the South” written by L.V.H. Crosby in 1850, and located for us by Joe Hickerson at the Archive of Folk Culture in the Library of Congress. The song is followed by a fiddle tune known to some Missouri fiddlers as “Shelby's Mule,” but more commonly as "Waiting for the Federals," "Seneca Square Dance," "Gettin' upstairs the Monkey," or "Federal Hornpipe."

That paragraph might explain any present day confusion.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Lighter
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 09:11 PM

Here's a snippet of the "Shelby's Mule" tune (one version anyway)- a whole stanza and the refrain in fact:


http://bartonpara.com/bp/index.php/music/johnny-whistletrigger/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Waiting for the Federals
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 22 Feb 18 - 08:47 PM

If you go to harmonica.co.uk, click on "music" and scroll to Feb/March 2013, you can hear me and my somewhat inebriated mates playing The Barren Rocks Of Aden followed by Waiting For The Federals. That's me on the mouth organ. Plenty more embarrassing stuff by me on that website!