ADD: Give the Fiddler a Dram

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,Mike Whittle
Date: 18 Aug 23 - 02:00 AM

The CBC "Touch the Earth" program had Stan Rogers' version as follows
Give The Fiddler A Dram
traditional Appalachian sung by Stan Rogers

In this dirty old pool hall
There's no tune that hasn't been played
Everything else Lord you've seen it all
Except for the dreams you've betrayed
You're living way too hard
You know you're dying inside
So as you play your last card
And go reeling into the night

(Chorus)
You know winter's coming soon, you can tell by the moon
And you've seen me before as I passed by your door
And you know who I am so give the fiddler a dram

Me and this old time fiddle
We've been around for a while
And there have been songbirds that whistled
And pine trees that went on for miles
And I've played to the white-tails,
I played to the wild flowers
To the white rose ghostly and pale
And to the forests uncounted aisles

Now the hills are all bare
The old dog lies still in his sleep
Waiting to hear the songs in the air
But instead hears the earth as she weeps
And I'll write you a song
I'll call it "The Drunkards Reel"
So as you go drifting along
The four winds will know how you feel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Mark Ross
Date: 25 Sep 19 - 07:33 AM

John Townley, Two different songs, same title.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,John Townley
Date: 24 Sep 19 - 05:15 PM

If this was composed in the 1970s, how did the Holy Modal Rounders, the Byrds, and the Apostolic Family manage to record it in the mid-through-late 1960s...? Please...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,Dakota Dave Hull
Date: 12 May 18 - 03:51 AM

Jerry Clark is correct. I'm not sure if I've ever met Jerry Holland, but I am sure he had nothing to do with that song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,Jerome Clark
Date: 11 May 18 - 08:24 PM

Let's clear this up right now. "Give the Fiddler a Dram" was written by Dakota Dave Hull, a to-this-day close friend whom I met in my late teens, and me. Dave is responsible for the melody, and I wrote the lyrics, taking the title from the old fiddle tune. Jerry Holland, the Canadian fiddler, had nothing to do with it. I believe that falsehood started with Garnet Rogers's cover of the song. Aside from that Jim Ringer, who would have done it marvelously, was going to record the song but died first. Dave cut it on an early album with the late Sean Blackburn.

The inspiration for the song, composed in the mid-1970s, was a story two friends passed on about an experience while living on a remote, poverty-stricken Indian reservation in Dunseith, North Dakota, not far from the Canadian border. Audrey, the female half of the couple, taught at the school there. She and her husband Vic had many tales to tell. One was about an old man who regularly wandered through the town playing his fiddle while under the influence. As I heard that story, I immediately thought "Give the Fiddler a Dram," and later Dave and I collaborated on the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 11 May 18 - 05:41 AM

Well Jody Kruskal - Give The Fiddler A Dram definitely has jawbones! (Try the verse starting at around 2:04)

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: GUEST,Dillbilly
Date: 10 May 18 - 03:26 PM

That "sitting on a fence" line sounded awfully familiar, so I checked it out, and found it in versions of Jawbone, especially Old Joe Bone, from the Carter Bros & Son. It goes like this:

"Hung my jawbone on the fence
Haven't seen my jawbone since"

The jawbone comes from the singer's wife:

"My wife died in Tennessee
Sent that jawbone back to me"

When I listen to Fiddler a Dram on Mountain Music of Kentucky, I can definitely hear "jawbone", and not "dog" or "job"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 01:35 AM

Cluin's version is very similar to one that Brian Bowers recorded back in the 70's. I believe he also recorded it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 08:02 PM

You mean "At a High Window"?

Are you a distributor for Garnet's CDs now, Clinton? I know Garnet was getting used to your mug at his concerts, but did he bring you into the family business too?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: breezy
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 07:31 PM

Cheers Jim
summer lightening thats it some bugger's nicked it, well at least they have taste, but I'm missing 'Row of small Trees' is that it?
Can you post me a CD please,Clinton good buddy?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Jim Colbert
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 02:52 PM

Dang, every time I'm about to contribute a Garnet Rogers (or James Keelaghan) related answer, Clinton beats me to it!

It's a great opener on Garnet's live summer lightning, in my opinion.

jim colbert

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 02:15 PM

Drams for the fiddler... drams for the piper...

When does anybody ever call for a dram for the guitar player, I'd like to know!

Especially when he's also the lead singer. There ain't no justice, I tells ya!

...and don't even start about the bodhrán player. He/She can drop out and grab a drink anytime he/she likes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: breezy
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 07:36 AM

Thank you Clint

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:39 PM

Obviously two different songs by the same title here. Masato's link, Cluin's post and my post are variations of lyrics to an old-time fiddle tune. Clinton's post seems to be a more modern folk song, the author of which probably borrowed the line "Give the fiddler a dram" from the old fiddle tune.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 09:25 PM

I have a cassette recording of a radio program that was taped at a festival in Indiana in the 70's. Indiana fiddler Dan Gellert does "Give the Fiddler a Dram" on it. Here are the lyrics he uses:


Dance all night with a bottle in my hand
Good God almighty give the fiddler a dram

Who's been here since I've been gone
Pretty little girl with a red dress on

My name is Sam and I don't give a damn
I can get to Hell just as quick as you can



That's it.

Bruce

Subject: Lyr Add: FIDDLER A DRAM (from Rothfield & Carr)
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 08:01 PM

From the album "Atlantic Bridge" by Jane Rothfield & Allan Carr (with Martin Hadden), 1987 Green Linnet Records

FIDDLER A DRAM
(Trad. Arr. Rothfield & Carr)

My dog gone, Jimmy come along
Here comes Sammy with the red shoes on
He took `em off and I put `em on
Here comes Tommy with the big boots on
He took `em off and I put `em on
Here comes Sammy with the red dress on
He took it off, I put it on
Twenty long years since he's been gone

Got me a job, sittin' on a fence
Haven't seen a damn thing since
Worked all night with a bottle in my hand
Come on give the fiddler a dram

Fiddler a dram, Fiddler a dram
Come on give the fiddler a dram
Fiddler a dram, Fiddler a dram
Come on give the fiddler a dram

Some drink wine, some drink water
Come on give the fiddler a quarter
I drink whisky; it makes me holler
Come on give the fiddler a swaller
Got me a job, sittin' on a fence
Haven't done a damn thing since
Work all night with a fiddle in my hand
Come on give the fiddler a dram

Fiddler a dram, Fiddler a dram
Come on give the fiddler a dram
Fiddler a dram, Fiddler a dram
Come on give the fiddler a dram


No, I don't know what the hell it means...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Cluin
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 07:24 PM

I had another version around here on vinyl, recorded by Jane Rothfield and Alan Carr. It was labelled as trad, IIRC.

I'll try and dig up the album for I b'lieve it had a lyric sheet. If so I'll post lyrics later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 05:01 PM

Calm down breezey, I'm just ribbin ya...

What's MY input?? I posted the lyrics...

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: breezy
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 05:00 PM

Only cos sum bastrds lost me copy of the Cd!
probably me.
So I was trying to be helpful, so what,s your input?
It was cold busking today,but the people were warm.
They say it'll snow again tonight.
How long was this then?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:43 PM

Took ya 4 minutes to type that line breezey?

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: breezy
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:39 PM

Try Garnett Rogers it will be in the inlay sleave

Subject: ADD: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:35 PM

This one's from Dakota Dave Hull and Jerry Holland... I got it off Garnet Rogers CD "Summer Lightning"

Give The Fiddler A Dram

In this dirty old pool hall
There's no tune that hasn't been played
Everything else Lord you've seen it all
Except for the dreams you've betrayed
You're living way too hard
You know you're dying inside
So as you play your last card
You'll go reeling into the night

(Chorus)
You know winter's coming soon, you can tell by the moon
And you've seen me before as I passed by your door
And you know who I am so give the fiddler a dram

Me and this old time fiddle
We've been around for a while
And there were songbirds that whistled
And pine trees that went on for miles
And I've played to the white-tails,
I played to the wild flowers
To the white rose ghostly and pale
And to the forests uncounted aisles

Now the hills are all bare
The old dog lies still in his sleep
Waiting to hear the songs in the air
But instead hear the earth as she weeps
And I'll write you a song
I'll call it "The Drunkards Reel"
So as you go drifting along
The four winds will know how you feel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: masato sakurai
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:30 PM

And The Fiddler's Companion: Result of search for "give the fiddler a dram".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: MMario
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:21 PM

see The Folk Index

and try a google on the title

Subject: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From:
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 04:17 PM

I have heard two versions of this Irish/Appalachian song:one on the new Chieftains album and the other on the first Holy Modal Rounders album. Someone please send me lyrics to any version that exists.PEACE.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Oct 99 - 10:14 PM

A version of this traditional song from Kentucky was recorded on the Holy Modal Rounders double album on Prestige which was reissued this year on CD: Holy Modal Rounders '1 & 2' Big Beat CDWIKD 176. Big Beat is a subsidiary of Ace. As usual, Steve Weber was very free with the lyrics. However, their source was James Crase from Kentucky. Crase's performance of 'Fiddler a Dram' is also now available on an excellent double CD: Various Artists 'Mountain Music of Kentucky' Smithsonian/Folkways SF CD 40077.

Cheers, Stewie.

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Give the Fiddler a Dram
From: Clifton53
Date: 16 Oct 99 - 12:24 PM

Anyone ever heard this song? I had a version by The Youngbloods which I half-remember. Can anyone give me some lyrics and info on it's origin?