Lyr ADD: When I was a boy in Arkansas

Subject: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: GUEST,Aut
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 04:28 PM

Looking for the lyrics to a song I first learned in grade school in the late 50's. First verses are:

When I was a boy in Arkansas
A stranger told this story to my Ma
And often is the time she said to me
I know it is the truth
Sure as can be

There was once in the hills
Quite a music making man
Known far & wide as fiddlin' Dan
He could play every tune
He could holler every call
For circle, square or reel
He could fiddle them all

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 07:02 PM

I've heard the song, many years ago (ca. 1954) and recall that some of the verses on the version a neighbor had might not be considered "politically correct," but can't help with lyrics.

The tune, of course, was "Arkansas Traveller" - at least as I heard it. Lyrics for some of the many variants might be in the DT?

John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: Arkie
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 02:47 PM

This is one I have not heard but can start checking into it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 06:58 PM

Copied from an Arkansas genealogy web site:

Oh, many years ago in Arkansas
A stranger told this story to my ma,
And often was the time she said to me,
"I know it is the truth, certain as can be."
There was once in the hills quite a music-making man
Known far and wide as fiddling Dan.
He could fiddle every tune. He could holler every call
For circle, square, or reel. He could fiddle them all.

One night as Dan was walking out to play,
He met a grizzly standing in the way.
He couldn't climb a tree. He had no gun.
He couldn't fly away. He was scared to run.
Said the bear with a mighty roar as he shook a mighty paw,
"You're fiddling Dan from Arkansas.
I will let you alone if you'll play a little tune
And organize a dance by the light of the moon."

Old Dan he tucked his fiddle under chin.
He drew the bow his music to begin.
From all the country round, the critters ran
To join the party made by old fiddling Dan.
Prancing out went the coon with the little porcupine.
The bear and bobcat stepped her fine.
They danced all the night every reel and every set,
And somewhere in the hills they are dancing yet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: GUEST,joe okie
Date: 03 Apr 23 - 03:13 PM

this last version is almost identical to the one I remember from grade school in northeastern Oklahoma. here are the differences.

He could PLAY every tune (PLAY not fiddle)
Said the bear with a roar (omit first mighty)
He drew HIS bow (not the bow)
party made by fiddling Dan (omit old)
In and out went the coon (replace Prancing)
So they danced all night (add So, omit the)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: cnd
Date: 04 Apr 23 - 09:22 AM

Capital Records evidently recorded an Electrical Transciption disc of Merle Travis (as part of a band called the Coonhunters) where he played a song called Fiddlin' Dan -- whether it was the same song or not, I can't tell. But assuming it was, I'd be surprised if that wasn't, if not the source, at least a common origin of the song.

Only a miner; studies in recorded coal-mining songs by Archie Green, p. 324

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Apr 23 - 10:19 PM

Thanks for posting. I might sing this at the singaround.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: leeneia
Date: 06 Apr 23 - 12:31 PM

I tried to set this to Arkansas Traveler, then realized I had put it to Turkey in the Straw. Oh well.

I. Oh, many years ago it was, right here in Arkansas
A stranger told this fancy story to my ma,
And many was the time that she repeated it to me,
"I know it is the truth, it is as certain as can be."
Oh, once in these parts there was a music-making man
Known to people far and wide as our fiddling Dan.
He could fiddle every dance tune. He could holler every call
oh circle, square, or slip jig he could fiddle them all.
CHOR    [B PART:]

E-A-D-G, fiddlin Dan, tighten up your bowstrings neat as you can
Young folks, old folks, woman and man,
listen to the music of our fiddlin Dan.

II. One evening as our Danny was a-walking out to play,
He found a big old grizzly bear a-standing in his way.
He couldn't climb a tree and he hadn't any gun.
He couldn't fly away and he was scared to run.
The grizzly gave a great big roar and shook a mighty paw
"You are fancy fiddlin Danny from mountain Arkansas.
I will spare your little life if you will play a jolly tune
And organize a square dance by the light of the moon."
CHO


III. Old Dan he tucked the instrument all up against his chin
and with a marked tremolo, the music did begin.
From all the country round about, the woodland critters ran
To join the happy party made by fiddling Dan.
Oh the coon he was a-was prancing with the prickly porcupine,
The bear and the buffalo, they stepped her fine.
They heeded well the calls for every reel and every set,
And somewhere in the mountains there is fiddling yet.
CHO

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: leeneia
Date: 06 Apr 23 - 11:23 PM

I decided to change the next-to-last line to include the animals.

CHO
E-A-D-G, fiddlin Dan, tighten up your bowstrings neat as you can
Small birds, great beasts, woman and man,
listen to the music of our fiddlin Dan.


E,A,D, and G are the notes of the strings on a fiddle. They are the same as the four lowest strings on a guitar. I never knew that.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 07 Apr 23 - 06:49 AM

> E,A,D, and G are the notes of the strings on a fiddle. They are the
> same as the four lowest strings on a guitar.

.... but the other way round, surely? Colour me puzzled :-) .

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Apr 23 - 09:54 AM

Yes, same notes, different order.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: When I was a boy in Arkansas
From: NightWing
Date: 11 Apr 23 - 01:45 AM

Becky Buller has done this song with Jim's lyrics at least twice at Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion. I had never heard it and assumed she had written it. Obviously not :-O

BB,
NightWing