The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #98802   Message #1961634
Posted By: Azizi
08-Feb-07 - 04:51 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Do Wah Diddy-Military Chant
The refrain "Do Wah Diddy" reminds me of the Diddley bow.

Here's some information on that instrument which is of African origin.

"Back when the Blues was young, many musicians either couldn't afford or couldn't find a guitar or piano to play their music. Instead, they had to make due with whatever they could find or make themselves. One of these traditional instruments is known as the Diddley Bow.

A Diddley bow was usually made by unravelling the wire that fastens the straw to a broom and stretching it across a wall or barn door. The player would then take a knife, a bottle or pipe (slide) and ride it up and down the "string" while plucking with the other hand. This action changes the pitch of the note and makes the music. It is a very simple Instrument to play and is great fun."

-snip-

Here are names from that website of Blues musicians who have played the diddley bow:

"Robert Johnson; Roy Buchanan; Jimmy Reed

Elmore James; John Lee Hooker; Luther Allison

Muddy Waters; Son House; Lonnie Pitchford

Pinetop Perkins; Big Bill Broonzy;Jesse Mae Hemphil      

Lightnin' Hopkins; Mississippi John Hurt; Albert King

B.B. King; Rusty Barkley; Scott Ainslee

Charlie Patton; John O'Gorman; And scores of others..."


Source:
http://hometown.aol.com/ujaxmanmike/diddleys.html