Songs about musical Instruments

Subject: Lyr Add: I PLAYED MY CONCERTINA (W David/H Lovell)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Jan 23 - 09:17 AM

Lyrics for "I Played My Concertina" from monologues.co.uk     https://monologues.co.uk/musichall/Songs-I/I-Played-My-Concertina.htm


I PLAYED MY CONCERTINA
Words by Worton David, music by H. C. Lovell, ©1909.

This concertina you must know I take with me where'er I go
While I was sailing out abroad, my poor wife she fell overboard
I cried, 'I am a selfish clown, I can't stand here and see her drown.'
So I shut my eyes and sat me down and played my concertina.

One day whilst bathing in the sea, some ladies had a game with me.
Those naughty ladies, sad to say, they pinched my clothes and ran away.
"Give me my clothes," I had to screech but they stuck to them just like a leech,
So I walked home along the beach and played my concertina.

Once in a pantomime in Crewe I played the Prince of Ranjipoo
One night my wife popped on the scene and saw me kiss the fairy queen
When I got home she glared at me 'You'll play that part no more,' said she
'Tomorrow night you'll stay with me and play your concertina.'

My wife was taken ill one night, I rushed at once to Doctor White
When I got there I rang the bell, the doctor came and shouted, 'Well?'
Said he, 'My boy, what brings you here, at twelve o'clock at night? It's queer.'
I said, 'I thought you'd like to hear me play my concertina.'

At the Grand Hotel my wife one night she went downstairs without a light
She said, 'Play your concertina, Joe, and then our room I'm sure to know.'
I played for quite three hours or more then she rushed in and cried, 'Oh
I didn't know the man next door could play the concertina.'

Last year to see the Lord Mayor's Show I took a little girl named Flo
'Now let me keep my hand,' I said, 'Upon your purse,' but she blushed red
Said she, 'You can't do that I fear, then she cried with a saucy leer
'My purse is in my stocking, dear.' so I played my concertina.

For a donkey ride I went one day and in my usual careless way,
I pinned my concertina to the donkey's tail, and off we flew.
I gave a shout as we set sail, he jumped me up till I felt pale,
And every time he wagged his tail, it played my concertina.

I recently saw a peculiar thing, a lady she sat upon a swing
A little girl was placed on high, to ring the bell she had to try
She hit the bell and it did ring and it did play God save the King
and I sat underneath the swing and played me concertina.


Performed by Arthur Osmond - recorded in 1909
Also performed by Sam Mayo (1875-1938)

Subject: RE: Songs about musical Instruments
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 02 Jan 23 - 09:06 AM

"I Played My Concertina" Arthur Osmond (really Arthur Gilbert = British music hall) 1909 cylinder    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L12JP1CdwD0

Subject: RE: Songs about musical Instruments
From: DaveJohnson
Date: 29 Dec 22 - 01:56 AM

I Played Me Concertina
Sung by Arthur Osmond on an Edison Standard Record 1909
Recording from University of California, Santa Barbara Library
Available under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 License
Unearthed by Rob Willis; transcribed by Dave Johnson

Here is my abc version
X:1
T:I Played Me Concertina
C:Arthur Osmond on and Edison Standard Record 1909
C:Recording from University of California, Santa Barbara Library
C:Available under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 2.5 License
C:Unearthed by Rob Willis; transcribed by Dave Johnson
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:Am
E/-E/|"Am"A2A A2A|"Dm"F2 D D2 D|"G"G2G G2 G|"Am"E2C C2
w:1.This* con-cer-tin-a you must know I take with me where e're I go.
w:2.One* day whilst bath-ing in the sea some lad-ies had a game with me.
w:3.At* twelve o'-clock the oth-er night I rushed a-round to Doc-tor White.
w:4.For a don-key ride I went one day and in my us-ual care-less way,
D|"C"E2E E2D|C2D E2 E|"E7"E2A B2c|B2A "Am"A2
w:While I was sail-ing once a-broad my poor wife she fell o-ver board.
w:Those naught-y lad-ies sad to say they pinched my clothes and ran a-way.
w:When I got there and rang the bell, the doc-tor came and shout-ed "Well
w:I pinned my con-cer-tin-a to the don-key's tail and off we flew.
E|"Am"A2G A2B|c2B A2D/D/|"G"G2G G2A|B2A G2
w:I said "I am a sel-fish clown, I* can't stand here and see her drown"
w:"Give me my clothes I am dis-creet" but they stuck to them just like a leech.
w:please tell me sir what brings you here at* twelve o'-clock it's ver-y queer?"
w:I gave a shout as we set sail. He* jumped me up till I felt pale,
A/2B/2|"Am"c2 cA2A|"C"G2E C2D|"Am"E2 D "G"C2B,|"Am"A,3A,2|]
w:So I shut my eyes and sat me down and played my con-cer-tin-a.
w:So_ I walked down a-long the beach and played my con-cer-tin-a.
w:I_ said I thought you'd like to hear me play my con-cer-tin-a.
w:And_ ev-ery time he wagged his tail he played my con-cer-tin-a.

Subject: RE: Songs about musical Instruments
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 09:32 AM

I can't see this having been mentioned yet:

(Mama's got a) Squeezebox, by The Who, from this thread

There's much discussion of it in other threads, too.

Subject: RE: Songs about musical Instruments
From: Planetluvver
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 07:38 PM

I did not see

"Six String Orchestra" by Harry Chapin.

It deserves a ukulele parody (assuming one has not been written yet.)

Since I am already posting, he also wrote "Dance Band on the Titanic" though this isn't strictly about a musical instrument.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MUSIC GOES ROUND AND ROUND
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 07:21 PM

Gargoyle mentioned this song on 24-Aug above. You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive. This is my transcription:


THE MUSIC GOES 'ROUND AND ‘ROUND
Words by Red Hodgson, music by Edward Farley and Mike Riley, ©1935.
As recorded by Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven, with vocalist Edyth Wright, on Victor 25201, 1935.

[I am omitting some patter.]

Oh, you blow through here,
The music goes down and around,
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-ho-ho,
And it comes out here.

Now, push the first valve down,
The music goes down and around,
Whoa-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho,
And it comes out here.

Now, push the middle valve down,
Hear that music go down and around
Below, below, below-ho-ho,
Listen to the jazz come out.

Push that other valve down,
Hear the music go down and around,
Whoa-oh-oh, ho-ho-ho,
And it comes out here.

[More patter, with some instrumental solos, then repeat the above lyrics.]

[This recording was the biggest hit, but there were lots of others. Most were published under the title THE MUSIC GOES 'ROUND AND AROUND.]

Subject: Lyr Add: ON MY LITTLE CONCERTINA (Jim Garrett)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 09:15 AM

This song was mentioned by The Sandman on 23-Aug above. I normally like to get lyrics as close to the original as possible, but this is the only recording I could find.


ON MY LITTLE CONCERTINA
Written by Jim Garrett
As sung by Ian Page on YouTube.

Now, when I was a little boy and at my father’s knee,
He gave me such a wondrous toy, it filled my heart with glee,
With buttons at each end of it and bellows in between.
My father taught me how to play, and when I was sixteen,
I played “Rule, Britannia” and other songs less cleaner
While fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on my little concertina,
While fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on my little concertina.

I met a pretty little girl; she lived just down our road.
Her concertina she would play in hypophrygian mode.
She taught me third inversion and positions one to six.
She taught me each progression as she squeezed her box of tricks.
She played “Wolfgang Mozart Amadeus Ex Machina”
While fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina,
While fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina.

The Wedding March was on her mind and this soon led to strife.
I told her I was not inclined to play duets for life.
Her passions roused, she flew at me, then on the floor she sprawled.
She fractured her cadenza and straightway with one A chord,
She cried: “I’ll Tell Me Ma;” she sent me a subpoena
For fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina,
For fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina.

Now, when I came to quarter bench, the judge said: “This won’t do.
You cannot finger instruments that don’t belong to you.”
I said: “M’lud, now don’t be harsh; she’s played this tune before.
She learned her obbligato from the organist next door.
They played “Roll Me Over,” so excuse my misdemeanor
For fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina,
For fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on her little concertina.”

The judge he was a kindly bloke and let me off scot-free,
So now I’m playing folk and blues as happy as can be,
So if you own an instrument, don’t keep it on the shelf.
Be proud to give performances and finger it yourself.
Just play “Twankydillo;” you’ll find it nothing keener
Than fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on your little concertina,
Than fingering the buttons and squeezing the box on your little concertina.

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUR GUITAR (Richard Shindell)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Nov 22 - 11:09 PM

Backwoodsman mentioned this song back on 23-Aug.


YOUR GUITAR
As recorded by Richard Shindell on “Careless” (2016).

Your guitar has traveled far,
All the way from California
In a big brown box on an airplane
Way down to Patagonia.
So far south she's never been—
A change of season and a cold desert wind.
She must be wondering what kind of trouble she's in.

Just look at her; she's beautiful.
Her face shines with its own light.
No longer young, she's seen her years,
And I can see that you loved her truly.
She loved you and stayed by your side,
A constant voice all through your life.
All her sweet spots making you sigh.

My stranger's touch—she’s skittish still,
So I start out taking it slowly—
The familiar tunes to take her back.
First up: the Red River Valley,
To let her know she's not alone,
That I know something about leaving a home.
We settle down [on] Shenandoah.

And the wide Missouri flows out of your guitar.

And the wide Missouri flows out of your guitar.

Your guitar has traveled far,
All the way from California.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOT A UKULELE (Loudon Wainwright III)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Nov 22 - 01:15 PM

I think this must be the song PHJim had in mind when he mentioned “The Ukulele Song” at the top of this thread. I don’t think it has been posted at Mudcat before.


GOT A UKULELE
Words and music by Loudon Wainwright III
As recorded by Loudon Wainwright III on “10 Songs for the New Depression” (2010)

Got a ukulele; now I’m not a ’fraidy-
Cat, in case I get a bout o’ blues.
Any event I get ’em, there’s no way that I’ll let ’em
Bring me down, no way! I’ll just refuse. (Believe me.)

’Cause a ukulele’s like a little baby:
You cradle it in your arms and you sing
A lullaby or ditty when you’re feeling shitty.
It will cheer you up; it’s just the thing.

Life should be bright and breezy; when it’s good, be light and easy.
There’s nothin’ hard or heavy ’bout a uke.
I don’t play bull fiddle; no mystery, no riddle.
Schleppin’ that thing, you look like a kook. (Believe me.)

Four strings made o’ nylon always put a smile on
Anybody’s face who’s feelin’ blue. (Yeah!)
When your mind starts slummin’, start a little strummin’
On your uke; you’re gonna feel brand new. (You gotta believe me.)

[scat verse]

Even though it’s raining, quit a little complaining.
Our roof’s not leakin’; nothin’s gettin’ in.
Yeah, this axe is a hatchet; there’s magic; you can catch it.
On your uke, you can’t lose; you just win.

Life should be bright and breezy; when it’s good, be light and easy.
There’s nothin’ hard or heavy ’bout a uke.
I don’t play the tuba; tubas do it to ya.
Just the thought of tubas makes me puke.

Kind sirs and gentle ladies, grab your ukuleles.
I suspect by now you know my song. (Yeah!)
And the next time that I do it, get down and get into it.
I trust you’ll always sing and strum along. (Gotta believe.)

I got a ukulele; now I’m not a ’fraidy-
Cat, in case I get a bout o’ blues. (Yeah!)
In any event I get ’em, there’s no way that I’ll let ’em
Bring me down; no way! I’ll just refuse. (Believe me, yeah!)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN PAPA PLAYED THE DOBRO (Johnny Cash)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Nov 22 - 12:43 AM

This was mentioned by PHJim on 23-Aug-22, but it hasn’t been posted at Mudcat before now.


WHEN PAPA PLAYED THE DOBRO
As recorded by Johnny Cash on “Ride This Train” (1960)

My papa was a hobo when they delivered me.
We didn’t have a doctor ’cause he couldn’t pay the fee,
But when the goin’ got too bad, he’d ease his misery.
Papa played the dobro this-a-way:
And he’d go … [instrumental]

When company would come around, he kept the dobro hid.
He knew he couldn’t play the way the other players did.
Well, the guitar’s resonator was a gallon bucket lid,
But Papa played the dobro this-a-way:
And he’d go … [instrumental]

Though now that Papa’s gone away, it’s hangin’ by the flue.
The top of it’s busted and the strings are rusted too.
It won’t ever sound the way that it did when it was new,
When Papa played the dobro this-a-way:
And he’d go … [instrumental]

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Oct 22 - 07:58 PM

Glasgow Dan, the old melodeon man, sung by Gaberlunzie, written by Gordon Menzies of said duo
This song is perhaps more about the life history of the man, than his instrument however.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GerryM
Date: 29 Oct 22 - 02:48 AM

Songs of the Bush, by Chloe & Jason Roweth, has a chorus that starts, "But I never learned how to play concertina." It's on the Us Not Them CD, One Man's Weeds – Another Man's Flowers. There is a recording in concert at https://youtu.be/nxl20ZkTOps

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GerryM
Date: 29 Oct 22 - 02:32 AM

The Old Accordion, by Effi Netzer and Haim Keinan. The chorus, in Hebrew, goes

Nagein, nagein akordeon yashan,
Shirim shelo shamanu k'var mizman;
Nagein mikol haleiv –
Im tip-tipat k'eiv –
Nagein, nagein li et hashir!

In translation,

Play, play Old Accordion,
Songs we haven't heard in ages;
Play from the bottom of your heart –
With a bit of an ache –
Oh, play me that song!

Recorded on CD, The Spirit of Jewish World Music / The Spirit Series Volume 9 by Hazzan Vadim Yucht.

There is a recording at https://youtu.be/adyFHrJMC5s where the song is preceded by two minutes of dance instruction.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Acorn4
Date: 28 Oct 22 - 03:53 AM

Sorry last one was me with cookie gone awol:-
https://davetaylor1.bandcamp.com/track/when-grandpa-played-the-banjo

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 22 - 03:50 AM

https://davetaylor1.bandcamp.com/track/when-grandpa-played-the-banjo

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 27 Oct 22 - 02:53 PM

Tubby the Tuba took two sides of a 78RPM disc, with the first side (if fading memory serves) ending just after the frog has said "Hello (gung), Hello (gung), Helloooo ...." All these decades later, and I find I can reproduce the sound of a frog swallowing his tonsils.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Oct 22 - 02:05 PM

Yes, the Roseville (sp) Fair song is hilarious! And just shows that June didn't restrict herself to serious songs! But already mentioned by Steve Shaw back in August.

And another concertina song: Popo Picolina:
"All over Italy they play the concertina....."

Have we had "76 trombones" yet?? Or "Tubby the Tuba"?

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: DaveRo
Date: 22 Oct 22 - 01:02 PM

Les Barker did a parody of Rosedale Fair which is unkind to banjos - or perhaps to banjo players. June Tabor sings it. Words here:
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=26153#313006

Les also wrote "He was an armadillo, she was a concertina." - but that's not a song.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST,Jo-Jo
Date: 22 Oct 22 - 12:34 PM

A Battered Old Guitar"
by Dennis Homes

Subject: Lyr Add: SQUEEZE BOX (Pete Townshend/The Who)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 21 Oct 22 - 05:39 PM

SQUEEZE BOX
Words and music by Pete Townshend
As recorded by The Who on “The Who By Numbers” (1975)

Mama's got a squeeze box she wears on her chest,
But when Daddy comes home, he never gets no rest

CHORUS: 'Cause she's playin’ all night, and the music's all right.
Mama's got a squeeze box; Daddy never sleeps at night.

Well, the kids don't eat and the dog can't sleep.
There's no escape from the music in the whole damn street. CHORUS

She goes in and out and in and out
And in and out and in and out. CHORUS

She goes, “Squeeze me, come on and squeeze me!
Come on and tease me like you do.
I'm so in love with you!”
Mama's got a squeeze box; Daddy never sleeps at night.

She goes in and out and in and out
And in and out and in and out. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: PHJim
Date: 06 Sep 22 - 04:39 PM

All of the songs that mention musical instruments are useful to me. I am hosting a week of ukulele songs on the Ukulele Underground website and I get to choose the topic. In order to avoid repeating a topic from the previous 551 weeks, I have chosen songs about musical instruments, but any song that mentions an instrument will be acceptable. Since I am the host, I get to make the rules.
Many thanks for all of the suggestions.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 Sep 22 - 07:49 PM

Don’t play me your concertina: Les Barker: to the tune of “Don’t cry for me Argentina”.
And a couple of songs by my good friend George Machray:
There’s No Fiddlers Like Folk Fiddlers - to a well-known tune from a musical, and
Charlotte’s Violin

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 22 - 04:50 AM

Maybe confusion could have been avoided if the original poster had indicated the reason for asking.

But point taken; me bad. I shall away to some place of isolation and self-flagellate with a stick of organically grown celery.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Reinhard
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 01:37 PM

It's the same with all these senseless "songs about ..." threads. When someone accidentally farted in one month, they'll be added to the songs about that month's thread.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 11:41 AM

There seems to be a confusion between songs that mention musical instruments and songs about musical instruments, which is what the thread title asked for.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 08:20 AM

and a couple more....

John Kirkpatrick's "Here's Your Harp, Welcome to Heaven; Here's Your Accordion, Welcome to Hell"

Pete Coe's "The Sound of Hohner"

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 07:56 AM

He Played his Ukulele as the Ship Went Down

The old accordion playing a sentimental tune
Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon

And just about every known instrument on Bonzo Dog's "Intro...Outro".

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: gillymor
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 05:02 AM

A lot of folks have covered Mama Don't Allow.
Pokey LaFarge

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 04:33 AM

Concertina Consciousness by Dave Goulder

My Old Gibson Guitar by Alex Campbell.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: gillymor
Date: 30 Aug 22 - 07:10 PM

Banjo Picking Girl by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard

Guitars,Cadillacs by Dwight Yoakum

Guitar Town by Steve Earle

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST,Nac Mac Feagle
Date: 30 Aug 22 - 05:46 PM

https://youtu.be/xml36QFS7i8 [A Guitar Is Like a Woman - Otis Lee Crenshaw (Rich Hall)]

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 29 Aug 22 - 11:09 AM

About piano playing,maybe not The Old German Musicianer · Harry Cox    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQXX_YGhPc

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: David C. Carter
Date: 29 Aug 22 - 10:37 AM

"Daniel And The Sacred Harp"

The Band

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: David C. Carter
Date: 29 Aug 22 - 09:16 AM

"The Piano Has Been Drinking".

Tom Waits

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: JennieG
Date: 29 Aug 22 - 06:53 AM

One that comes to mind: "I love a piano" by Irving Berlin.

A couple of seasonal songs: "Santa never brings me a banjo" by David Myles, and "I want a ukulele for Christmas" by John Meola Lindhorst.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Aug 22 - 12:16 AM

"Ukulele Lady" by Gus Kahn and Richard A. Whiting.
"Something So Feminine About a Mandolin" by Jimmy Buffett

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Stringsinger
Date: 28 Aug 22 - 03:20 PM

Don't know if this was mentioned but Pat Donahue's parody on "Swinging on a Star"
entitled, "Would You Like to Play the Guitar" is a fun spoof. And true.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 28 Aug 22 - 10:31 AM

Dylan references many instruments in one tune, the title escapes me, but the refrain
Is “Lay Down Your Weary Tune”. Yeah, that’s probably the name. Organ, banjo, cymbals, bugle, drums …

Tennessee Flat-Top Box
My green tambourine

Keep pickin’
Dennis

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Aug 22 - 11:05 AM

"Would You Like to Play the Guitar?" - Pat Donohue's parody of "Swinging on a Star" - not so much about guitars as about the hardships of being a musician.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: gillymor
Date: 26 Aug 22 - 05:42 AM

Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar by the Delmore Bros.

The D-18 Song by Norman Blake

Me and My Guitar, I think James Taylor wrote it and Tony Rice did a great cover.

Mandolin Wind by Rod Stewart, though I'm not sure it was about a musical instrument.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: keberoxu
Date: 26 Aug 22 - 05:01 AM

"Fiddle in the Sky",
by Seals & Crofts

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Aug 22 - 04:39 AM

The Old Fiddler [by Benny Hill - lyrics]

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: rich-joy
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 08:03 AM

"This Old Guitar" (taught me to sing a love song) - John Denver

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 07:15 AM

(Dance to my) Ten Guitars (Engelbert Humperdinck)   :-)

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: David C. Carter
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 05:27 AM

"That Old Beat-Up Guitar".

Jerry Jeff Walker.

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 05:20 AM

The Concertina Man · Paul O' Reilly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4QthgQRRsk

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 05:16 AM

Concertina Man · Ray Bradfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02QmwjY0gwk

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: BobL
Date: 25 Aug 22 - 03:17 AM

George Formby: "With My Little Ukulele In My Hand"

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 24 Aug 22 - 08:36 PM

Play me a fiddle tune, sing me a song
Banish misfortune, my time is not long
Midnight on the water, so steady and slow.
The lark in the morning, one more for the road.
Midnight on the water, so steady and slow
Pour me a last drink
Set 'em up Joe.

Well, I've done all my dancing down in those bar-rooms.
Drinking and dancing, they go hand in glove.
Buy a beer for the fiddler, and request that old song
So I can dance closer to the one that I love

(Raise a glass to the mighty Ron Kavana, who is not in the best of health these days...)

Subject: RE: Songs about Musical Instruments
From: Zhenya
Date: 24 Aug 22 - 07:57 PM

The Carved Wood Box - Cal Scott, recorded with the Trail Band - about a mandolin.

Fiddler’s Hymn - Pete Sutherland, on a recording by Metamora

The Fiddler of Dooney - from a Yeats poem, various recordings around. One nice one is by Sean Doyle (father of John Doyle)

Blind Fiddler - Joe Hickerson

Champion at driving ‘em crazy - Ian Robb - mentions several instruments used in Irish music

Dulcimer - song by David Mallett

The Touch of the Master’s Hand - Sally Rogers - about a violin