Blind Pig & The Acorn

We Brought Killy Kranky Home With Us - Well Sort Of

Photo courtesy of Al, Alice and Ruth website

I've got one more story about Killy Kranky to share with you-if you missed the first 2 stories click here and here.

We always have such a good time at Mountain Folk Festival-if you've been a Blind Pig reader for any length of time I'm sure you've figured that out by the way I go on about the festival every year.

The festival is fun because we see old friends and make new ones. There's outstanding live music every day-all day long and there's dancing dancing and dancing-what's not to like? But Mountain Folk Festival does something else for us-it inspires us.

Each year when we climb in the car and head for home we take part of the music-part of the dance-part of the heritage with us. The feeling I'm thinking of is hard to describe-maybe affirmation is the right word. Being in Berea with all those folks who are like minded when it comes to the music traditions of Appalachia somehow encourages us to continue doing the things we do. We go home with a greater desire to dance; a greater desire to make music; a greater desire to ensure these traditions last another 100 years and beyond.

On the long ride home we discuss every part of the entire weekend and go over and over our favorite parts. As you already know-this year one of our favorite parts of the festival was learning the Killy Kranky song and dance. 

Al and Alice White are fixtures of the Mountain Folk Festival, I'm not sure they could even hold the festival without them two. The Whites along with a few other talented musicians provide all the music for the festival. I'm talking about 12 hour days of nothing but making music in Seabury Gym for a group of kids to dance to-and amazing music it is.

Recently Al, his wife Alice and her sister Ruth put out a cd, Let The Mountains Roll. We were lucky enough to leave Berea with a copy of the cd. Bob Dalsemer told me it was really really good-but his words didn't even come close to describing how wonderful the cd sounds.

The music is superb the close harmonies rival any I've ever heard-and remember I listen to Pap and Paul on a weekly-if not daily basis. You'll find everything from gospel to dance tunes on the cd. 

Let the Mountains Roll is one of those cds that make it hard to choose a favorite from the line up. Polly Put The Kettle On will make you tap your toes and leave your ears smiling from the lovely harmony; Cool of the Day is a moving spiritual that will stick with you and make you think; and Let the Mountains Roll is a beautiful anthem for anyone concerned with mountain top removal.

After we got settled in on the long drive home we popped the cd in and continued our discussion of this year's festival. Our conversation was peppered with Killy Kranky phrases like: Broke my arm Broke my arm swinging pretty Nancy Broke my leg Broke my leg dancing Killy Kranky; and Killy Krankys coming you better watch it He'll break your legs and your arms arh.

All the sudden I heard the faint strains of Killy Kranky coming from the speakers-I started screaming and almost scared the girls to death. Once I turned up the volume we all started laughing hysterically. I said "How cool is that! We brought Killy Kranky home with us and didn't even know it!" It was one of those neat coinkydinks of life. We had been talking nonstop about Kentucky Running Set dancing and the song Killy Kranky-and there it was: Killy Kranky was going home to Brasstown with us in more than one way. We had no idea the song was on Al, Alice, and Ruth's cd until we heard it playing. 

Love good traditional music? I know you do. Purchasing Al, Alice, and Ruth's cd is a must for anyone who loves traditional music. To find out more about them-visit their website: Al, Alice, and Ruth. To purchase their cd, Let the Mountains Roll, by either download or cd click here (you can even preview the songs-and hear the great sound for yourself).

If I had to describe the cd in one word I'd say: Home. The cd sounds like the songs I grew up hearing played in Granny and Pap's kitchen; the cd sounds like the home I live in now with-dance tunes-gospel tunes-bluegrass tunes-all being played by the whole Blind Pig Gang and by The Pressley Girls along with the various characters they bring around. An Appalachian home-it's all there packaged in one outstanding cd: Let the Mountains Roll.

Tipper

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Love Of The Mountains

 

 

Love of the Mountains written by Allen Mills

Two trees on the hillside of a mountain
Always looking up toward the sky
Remind me of my Papa and my Moma
Who lived there 80 years before they died

Now the bright moon is shining in the valley
That old wagon leans against a stack of hay
Two graves on a hillside by a cabin
My Mom and Dad are resting there today

The sizzle of the green wood on a fireplace
The falling snow around the redbud tree
The branches of the laurels by the creekside
And the rippling waters of a gentle stream

Now the bright moon is shining in the valley 
That old wagon leans against a stack of hay
Two graves on a hillside by a cabin
My Mom and Dad are resting there today

Papa used to talk about the young days
When he and Moma first were settled there
He spoke about the love of the mountains
That he and Moma shared together there

Now the bright moon is shining in the valley 
That old wagon leans against a stack of hay
Two graves on a hillside by a cabin
My Mom and Dad are resting there today 

written by Allen Mills

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(*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here. 

If you missed the Blind Pig yesterday-it missed you too! I've been having internet troubles. I'm very envious of you folks who have high speed internet delivered via your telephone line or by fiber optic line-or even by a strong cell signal. None of those options are available to me. So if you were trying to access the Blind Pig on Sunday-I was trying my best to send something your way but the rain and clouds forced me to hold it right here until today.  

Hope you enjoyed the song!

Tipper

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Herman Davenport, A Champion Patter

Today's guest post was written by Ethelene Dyer Jones.

Herman Davenport, A Champion Patter written by Ethelene Dyer Jones

I’m not sure if the old mountain art of hand-patting to music is vanishing from our hills. Herman Davenport (March 10, 1881- November 5, 1964), sixth of eleven children of Adam and Margaret Ashworth Davenport, was a “patter,” and was named Georgia’s Champion Patter in 1924. I am grateful to the late Susie Hunt Davenport, a wonderful friend and a daughter of the Champion Patter, who shared the story of her father’s award and techniques in “patting” in our Facets of Fannin history book. I give you some highlights of his techniques here, and the story of how his talent earned him fame.

The Atlanta Journal newspaper of October 19, 1924 published a feature article written by G. G. Ward on Herman Davenport and his abilities as a Patter. The article tells of how Ward and others went to the farm home of Herman Davenport in the fall of 1924 where “his little house overlooked a dim gulf of cornfields and woods rolling away to great distant mountians.” The guests waited, picked up ripe red plums, and then when Davenport had cleaned up, shaved and dressed to go to the “big auditorium in the city” they took him where he was to pat for quite a large audience, and join in competition with other patters. There many heard and saw this unusual and talented man.

Mr. Ward described Herman Davenport as “preparing to pat.” He sat on the stage through some other music, in a straight chair, “knees straight forward, legs parallel, looking soberly ahead, sleeves rolled up, collar off”. Then when it was his time to perform, there were about four rhythmic pops, as hands hit knees, over his head, anywhere, and he had caught this rhythm. Then he proceeded to pat, on his head, his hands, his knees, his feet, all in very rhythmic syncopation, not missing a beat.

He was a sensation to watch, even more so to hear as he kept up the pace and rhythm of the song. His skill was described partly as gift, for he came through a long line of musicians. His father wrote words and composed music for hymns and songs. His brothers played guitar and fiddle and his brother Sebastian was known as a good dancer. When Herman was a child, he saw an old neighbor, Thad Herron, pat, and the lad yearned to learn from him the rhythm of “patting” so that he could make music with it. Then began the hard part: the constant practicing to perfect his art. He had long slender fingers, supple and bendable, that were described by Mr. Ward as “fluttering about like string banners on a mast.”

Mr. Davenport, in explaining his art to the writer, told him: “I concentrate. But I can’t follow all the separate licks I make. I just flow from one kind of stroke to another. I am conscious of the change only.” It was said of him that “his fingers in their flying never closed awkwardly, but slapped together precisely all the time. He sometimes held his left palm out front and beat it rhythmically with his right. Or he swept one hand across his thigh as if strumming a banjo, while patting his knee with the other hand. With all this talent, he never agreed to become a stage professional, nor did he take any remuneration for his “patting” concerts.

He could make the sound of a galloping horse, and in “The Battle of Manilla” he sounded out the rattle of small arms in battle as well as the roar of cannon. He often patted to the music of the mountain fiddle as “Turkey in the Straw,” “Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain” or other familiar tunes were played. Of this old skill of patting, Herman Davenport was a master.

His daughter, Susie Davenport Hunt, wrote of him: “He kept up his rhythmical patting entertaining young and old with the gift, until his death.”

This sixth child of Adam Davenport spent his entire life in Fannin County. He married Minnie Lee Daves, of another early-settlers Fannin family, on September 6, 1915, with J. A. Ammons, justice of the peace, performing their marriage. Their children were Frank, Luther Reid, twins Joe and Jim, and daughter Susie. Both he and his wife were teachers until Minnie Daves Davenport stopped teaching after marriage. They had a farm and raised most of their food on the farm.

Is there anyone in the reading audience who can do the Herman Davenport style of rhythmical patting? Or do you know if the art is still carried on? If so, please let me know. I fear this skill may be passing from our Appalachian lifestyle. 

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Ethelene's article made me think of folks I've seen perform Hambone acts-it also made me think of the style of folk dancing-Kentucky Running Set-that the girls learned at the Mountain Folk Festival.

I hope you enjoyed Ethelene's interesting guest post as much as I did-and please share any information you may have about patters with me and Ethelene!

Tipper 

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Killy Kranky

Killy Kranky is a song me and the girls learned at this year's Mountain Folk Festival in Berea, KY. We had never heard the song before, but the girls immediately fell in love with the quirky lyrics and have pretty much drove me crazy making Killy Kranky jokes ever since. 

Killy Kranky

Killy Kranky is my song sing and dance it all day long. 
From my elbow to my wrist. Now we do the double twist.

Broke my arm, broke my arm
Swinging pretty Nancy
Broke my leg, broke my leg
Dancing Killy Kranky!

Killy Kranky is my song sing and dance it all day long.
From my wrist down to my knee we'll do the grapevine twist.

Broke my arm, broke my arm
Swinging pretty Nancy
Broke my leg, broke my leg
Dancing Killy Kranky!

Killy Kranky is my song, sing and dance it all day long.
From my knee down to my toe. How much farther can you go?

Broke my arm, broke my arm
Swinging pretty Nancy
Broke my leg, broke my leg
Dancing Killy Kranky! 

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In the book edited by Jean Ritchie, Folk Songs of the Southern Appalahcians as Sung by Jeanine Ritchie, this description of the song is given:

Uncle Jason calls this one a play ditty, because according to his description of it, it was both a game and a song, and not much of either one. The players sang the song while they "wound the grapevine," using different variations, all of which Uncle Jason avowed was just a good excuse to get their arms around one another. He thought that the words, "Killy Kranky" were just nonsense syllables, and so did I until my husband and I found the town of Killy Kranky (by accident when we lost the main road) in Scotland!

Like Richie and Uncle Jason I assumed Killy Kranky was a made up name-too but after we got home from Berea I decided to do some googling around just in case. Like Ritchie, I discovered Killy Kranky, actually spelled Killiecrankie is indeed a place in Scotland. 

Pass of Killiecrankie, Scotland

The website Killiecrankie Undiscovered Scotland: The Ultimate Online Guide has this to say about the area:

The Pass of Killiecrankie lies about midway between Pitlochry and Blair Atholl. A little under a mile and a half long, it is a narrow, steep sided glen cut by the River Garry through the surrounding high ground, and forms the most constricted part of what has throughout history been the main route between the Highlands and the Lowlands.

It is probably best to say up front that the paths that descend from the visitor centre into the lower reaches of the pass are steep in places, are mainly of compacted earth, and many sections have steps. This is a place you are most likely to enjoy in sensible shoes.

Throughout history, the Pass of Killiecrankie was travelled by most overland visitors to the Highlands. It is interesting to consider that our own response to it, as a place of beauty, is a relatively recent development. Thomas Pennant, in writing about his tour of Scotland in 1769 said of Killiecrankie: "The pass is extremely narrow between high mountains, with the Garry running beneath in a deep dark foam, and a rocky channel, overhung by trees, forming a scene of horrible grandeur."

In 1844, Queen Victoria took a very different view when writing in her journal: "We came to the Pass of Killiecrankie, which is quite magnificent: the road winds along it, and you look down a great height, all wooded on both sides, the Garry rolling below it. I cannot describe how beautiful it is. Albert was in perfect ecstasies."

The pass was probably not a welcome sight to another group of visitors who travelled through it on 27 July 1689: 4,000 government troops on their way to defeat at the hands of the Jacobites in the Battle of Killiecrankie.

You can jump over to the website by clicking here and read more about the battle of Killiecrankie. 

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After reading all of that-if I was making a guess-I'd say the song originated because of the rough terrain of Killiecrankie. 

The warning to wear sensible shoes and the quote from Thomas Pennant make the lines: Broke my arm, broke my arm Broke my leg, broke my leg seem believable. 

Maybe the song started out as a battle cry for the Jacobites or maybe it was a song sung by travelers who had to traverse the rugged terrain of Killiecrankie. Who knows how it started?

Knowing a version of the song-even one that has been maligned and morphed into a dance tune-is still alive and well in Appalachia is beyond cool to me in fact I think it's downright AWESOME.

Drop back by in a day or so to see the dance and to hear more of our Killy Kranky story.

Tipper

p.s. Go here to hear a version of Killy Kranky that is similar to the one we learned in Berea. (you many need to stop the music on this page before viewing the video-or just close this page out)

*Source for Killiecrankie photo: Old UK Photos.

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Can't Say I've Ever Been More Lonesome

 

Almost every Sunday afternoon we meet up down at Paul's for some pickin and grinnin. There's much music during those weekly sessions-but there's lots of other stuff too.

Things like fixing button issues with pocket knives;

most Sunday's there's sunshine-and its always in Pap's face; 

there's always silliness;

sometimes there's really cool beards;

and there's always texting-if all 4 young pickers and grinners are there-then there's 4 phones texting out their annoying beat as fast as they can go in between songs.

Along with all that-there's good conversation too.

And some Sundays I leave with a new favorite song. Or in the case of last Sunday it was a old new favorite song or something like that. Paul wrote the toe tapper Can't Say I've Ever Been More Lonesome when he was in high school. He pulled it out for us to play last week and I've had it going around in my head ever since. 

(*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

Hope you enjoyed the song-now you'll have it running around in your head! 

Tipper

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Choices

If you haven't heard, George Jones passed away on Friday, he was 81 years old. Most country music fans loved him-but I've known a few who didn't. Either way-no one can deny the impact he had on the genre of country music. 

Pap isn't what you'd call a George Jones fan-oh he liked a lot of George's earliest recordings-just not the drinking and carousing songs that came later. But Pap said he knew why George Jones was such a super star-it was because he had 'it'. Pap went on to say he had no idea what 'it' was-other than to describe 'it' as an innate appeal to the masses that some people have. 

Unlike Pap, I do like the songs George did later in his career-ones like The Grand Tour, Yesterday's Wine, and He Stopped Loving Her Today. They all remind me of riding the back roads of Haywood County with The Deer Hunter in a jacked up Scottsdale Chevrolet Truck.

Chatter and Chitter made a go at one of George's songs in honor of his musical career-Choices. (*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

I hope you enjoyed the song. 

Tipper

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Tis A Song That Should Linger - And It Has

Portions of this post were originally published here on the Blind Pig in February of 2010.

Hard Times Come Again No More was written by Stephen Foster in 1855. Since Foster was a songwriter by trade I'm sure the song was composed with monetary gain in mind-however-I've read it was also penned cause the words directly related to events that were taking place in Foster's own private life-in other words Foster had fallen on hard times himself.

The Blind Pig Gang has been doing the song for a good long while. I'm always amazed at the longevity of songs like this one-how it was written all those years ago-well over a 100-and still resonates in today's modern world. Foster was a masterful writer-more than a few of his songs are still popular today.

Hard Times Come Again No More written by Stephen Foster

Let us pause in life's pleasures to count its many tears For we all share sorrow with the poor Tis a song that should linger forever in our ears Oh hard times come again no more 

Tis a song a sigh of the weary Hard times hard times come again no more Many days you have lingered around our cabin door Oh hard times come again no more

While we seek mirth and beauty and music bright and gay There are frail forms fainting at the door Though their voices be silent their pleading looks still say Oh hard times come again no more

Tis a song a sigh of the weary Hard times hard times come again no more Many days you have lingered around our cabin door Oh hard times come again no more

Its a song that is wafted across the troubled waves its a wave that is heard upon the shore It's a dirge that is murmured around a lonely grave Oh hard times come again no more

Tis a song a sigh of the weary Hard times hard times come again no more Many days you have lingered around our cabin door Oh hard times come again no more

There's a pale drooping maiden who toils her life away With a heart that has seen its better days Though her voice should be merry tis sighing all the day Oh hard times come again no more

Tis a song a sigh of the weary Hard times hard times come again no more Many days you have lingered around our cabin door Oh hard times come again no more

I believe Hard Times Come Again No More has hung around all these years-because who hasn't had hard times? The song's first lines indicate just that "Let us Pause in Life's pleasures to count its many tears for we all share sorrow with the poor". The song goes on to discuss how as humans it's natural for us to seek mirth and beauty-even though frail folks at the door are experiencing hard times and some of those hard times may be waiting for us across the troubled waves or upon the shore.

This Pickin' and Grinnin' In The Kitchen Spot features Foster's song-Hard Times Come Again No More.  (*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

I hope you enjoyed the song-and I hope hard times come around your cabin door no more. 

Tipper

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Memphis

Way back when I first started the Blind Pig I did a post about how The Deer Hunter uses alternate names for various items. You know like calling little kids ankle biters or crumb crunchers or

calling small dogs like Ruby Sue yappers.

He calls wild turkeys thunder chickens and eggs cackle berries. And when he's out deer hunting-he's always looking for old mossy which to him means a big buck.

Chuck Berry has a unique way of describing tears in his famous song-Memphis Tennessee. He describes them as "hurry home drops on her cheeks that trickled from her eyes." Seems The Deer Hunter and Chuck Berry have something in common-now if I could only get The Deer Hunter to do Chuck Berry's famous duck walk while the Blind Pig Gang does the song.

We've been doing the song, Memphis Tennessee, for years-but we always depended on Guitar Man to do the breaks. Since he went off to college we rarely do the song anymore. But when he was visiting during spring break we got a good video of the song.

I like really like the song. It has great words, great music, and its one of those songs that surprise you. All along you think he's talking about his girlfriend or wife, in the end you find out he's talking about his 6 yr old daughter Marie.

 (*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

Hope you enjoyed the song! 

Tipper

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There Is A Time

 

There is a time for love and laughter
The days will pass like summer storms
The winter wind will follow after
But there is love and love is warm

There is a time for us to wander 
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free 

There is a time when leaves are falling
The woods are grey the paths are old
The snow will come when geese are calling
We need a fire against the cold

There is a time for us to wander 
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free 

There is a time for us to wander 
When time is young and so are we
The woods are greener over yonder
The path is new the world is free 
The path is new the world is free

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The words above are to an old Dillard's song, There Is A Time. I tried to figure out if they wrote it-or if it was a traditional song-but I had no luck finding the answer to my question. The song is most often associated with the Andy Griffith Show where the Dillards played the part of the family of Darlings who were known for their music making among other things.

The girls have been doing There Is A Time since they first started singing. Recently they've added a slight twist to the song with Chitter chiming in with a mandolin for the breaks.

My ears always pick out a 'sweet spot' in songs. In this one its in the line We need a fire against the cold. Every time I hear Chatter's voice on the word cold I get chills.

 (*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

I hope you enjoyed the song. The other day when I was eating lunch at work I was listening to it on my phone. A lady at the next table said "Hey they were just singing that song on the Andy Griffith Show yesterday." I told her I knew it was from the show-and that the version she was hearing was my girls. Silly I know-but the whole little back and forth made me feel like I had a secret-and a very good secret at that. 

Do you remember Charlene from the Darlings singing it on the Andy Griffith Show?

Tipper

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The Mountain Burned With Fire

Everyone from the Blind Pig & The Acorn wishes you a very blessed Easter! Take a quick listen to one of Pap's songs and go enjoy the rest of the day with your family.

The Mountain Burned With Fire written by Jerry Wilson

Oh the mountain burned with fire Smoke was everywhere The trumpet sounded long and loud God’s holy word all the people heard His voice speaking from the cloud Great was the fear they could not endure God’s righteous law and man would fail

God’s holy son the perfect sinless one Oh he came to seek and save the lost Sent from above with the father’s love To die for all upon the cross Now you need not fear Jesus Christ is near Call on his name and you’ll be saved

A man named Saul God changed his name to Paul Oh he made it plain in all the land If you’ll believe grace you shall receive So plain a child could understand Jesus is the way come to him today Through faith by grace you  must be saved

Graham the name message yet the same And published now to all the Earth The father’s plan free to every man With power to give to all new birth Now the way is made all the price is paid Come to the Lord just as I am Jesus is the way you don’t have to pay Call on his name and you’ll be saved

The song is a real toe tapper-and has a different sound than any of Pap's other songs.(*Before you watch the video you need to stop the music player-the music controls are along the top of this page on the far left side-just under the Blind Pig logo. Click the center round button to stop the player.) *For those of you who have trouble viewing the video-go straight to youtube to see it by clicking here.

 

Tipper

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