I’ve long been fascinated by where songs come from. Often the answer is quite surprising. I always thought the “father of bluegrass music” was an genuine American original. Turns out, he was just copying an old banjo player from 1926 who was copying an old song from the 1800’s! Naturally, it was a banjo player who was on the cutting edge!
"Where Did That Song Come From?"
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Well, it didn’t come from Monroe or Leadbelly. They were just 2 of the over 100 artists who have covered the song. No one knows who wrote it, but it appears to have first appeared around 1870. Like many folk songs, it has many variations on the lyrics.
I am fascinated with primitive banjo rolls ol’ Dock is doing.