Origins: Black Eyed Sally

14 Feb 08 - 01:15 AM (#2261975)
Subject: Origins: Black Eyed Sally
From: pgdoyle

I am looking for information about a song I learned back in the 1960s, probably called Black Eyed Sally. I remember it as a moderately fast bluegrass tune. I have no idea what the band was. The chords here match the way I sing it, which could be wrong.

  BLACK EYED SALLY
  
  CHORUS:
  D
  Goin to the barn dance down in the valley
  G
  Takin a chance on black-eyed Sally
  C                  A              D
  Wildcat liquor and old time music too
           G
  We'll be dancin, singin, goin strong
  C                  A
  Hills'll be ringin all night long
  D                                            G
  Come along Sally gonna step out tonight with you
  
  
  G
  Now where's that man from down the holler?
  E
  Buyin moonshine with his last dollar
  A
  Today he's livin on women and wine
  D                               G
  Tomorrow he'll live on down the line
  
  
  CHORUS
  
  G
  Now where's that girl named Betty Ann Lee?
  E
  Starin at the moon through the old pine tree
  A
  She's been out tonight with three or four
  D                                            G
  But she's come back looking for two or three more
  
  CHORUS
  

---

14 Feb 08 - 02:23 PM (#2262460)
Subject: RE: Origins: Black Eyed Sally
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

A version of Black-Eyed Susie? See Bluegrass Messengers:
www.bluegrassmessengers.com/fiddle.html

---

17 Feb 08 - 03:14 PM (#2264725)
Subject: RE: Origins: Black Eyed Sally
From: pgdoyle

Black-eyed Susie (or Suzie) is a great tune, though not related to the tune Black Eyed Sally that I'm trying to track down here.

Uncle Earl has a lively instrumental version of Black-eyed Susie. But the version I love best is by the Holy Modal Rounders, which includes the attached verses. I particularly like the last verse.

Cheers,

Peter


BLACK-EYED SUZIE
Holy Modal Rounders version

My pretty little Suzie's just half-grown
Jumps on a man like a dog on a bone

CHORUS:
Hey black-eyed Suzie
Hey pretty little black-eyed Suzie
Hey

If your mommy knew she'd tan your hide
Your daddy would hunt me dead or alive

I gave your little brother a big silver dollar
If he sees your daddy coming he'll let out a holler

The only thing I like to do better than my doodlin
Is blow my head with turtle eggs and do a little yodlin

---

22 Mar 08 - 01:30 AM (#2294983)
Subject: RE: Origins: Black Eyed Sally
From: GUEST

I finally found a working reel-to-reel tape recorder and tracked down this song. It's actually `Dark Eyed Sally', an original song by The Lonesome River Boys from their 1961 album `Raise a Ruckus'. A great recording of a great song.

Cheers,

Peter Doyle
---------------------

  Dark Eyed Sally
  
  INTRO: verse chords |G|Em|A|D G|
  
  CHORUS:
  D
  Goin to the barn dance down in the valley
  G
  Takin a chance on dark eyed Sally
  Em                 A              D
  Wildcat liquor and old time music too
           G
  We'll be dancin, singin, goin strong
      Em                 A
  The hills'll be ringin all night long
  D                                            G
  Come along Sally gonna step out tonight with you
  
  
      G       
  Now who's that man from down the holler?
  Em
  Buyin moonshine with his last dollar
    A
  Today he's livin on women and wine
    D                           G
  Tomorrow may live on down the line
  
  CHORUS
  
      G
  Now where's that gal named Betty Ann Lee?
  Em
  Looking at the moon in the old pine tree
        A
  She's been outside for three or four
            D                                  G
  But she's come back looking for two or three more
  
  CHORUS
  

---