Darlin' Corey

Greetings,

Today we'll look at the bluegrass song, Darlin' Corey. My painting from my Bluegrass Series is above (click to enlarge).

Darlin’ Corey 30" by 40" Acrylic on canvas. C 2008. The song Darlin’ Corey has been recorded by most of the top bluegrass pickers and was a crossover hit for Bruce Hornsby. The song is similar in form and chord structure to Little Maggie though they are distinctly different songs. In some versions some of the lyrics have floated between the songs.

The painting is a series of four scenes:

1) Darlin’ Corey sitting by the sea with a forty-four around her body and a banjo on her knee.

2) Darlin’ Corey sleeping after drinking too much corn liquor. A possum tries to wake her and warn her the revenuers are coming.

3) Two revenuers spot Darlin’ Corey’s still.

4) A man digs a hole in the meadow (her grave) to lay Darlin’ Corey down. A bluebird sings on an overhead branch.

Darlin’ Corey is modeled loosely on the L’il Abner character Daisy Mae. The blond hair and outfit a striking appearance. The first scene (Darlin' Corey with banjo) is based on an actual cover of a L'il Abner comic strip. The challenge was to make a painting that included all these elements but still focused on the "Wake up wake up" verse. Here are the lyrics:

Darlin’ Corey

Wake up wake up darlin' Corey,
What makes you sleep so sound?
The revenue officers are coming,
They're gonna tear your still-house down.

Well the first time I seen Darlin' Corey,
She was sitting on the banks of the sea.
Had a forty-four around her body,
And a banjo on her knee.

Go away go away Darlin' Corey
Quit hanging around my bed.
Your liquor has ruined my body,
Pretty women gone to my head.

Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground.
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow,
Gonna lay Darlin' Corey down.

Can't you hear those bluebirds a-singing,
Don't you hear that mournful sound.
They're preaching Darlin' Corey's funeral
In some lonesome graveyard ground.

My lyrics are essentially those found in the early recordings done in the 1920's. The last verse is largely attributed to Bill Monroe, but who knows where he got it. Here's a version from the 1920s by Buell Kazee with solo banjo accompaniment:

http://www.juneberry78s.com/otmsampler/otmsampat53.html

The song has evolved since then but it still has that modal quality. It uses a dorian mode with a b7 and b3. I play it in the key of G with a capo on the 2nd fret (sometimes higher). Many people play the same chords as Little Maggie.

Next blog we'll look at some details from my painting. If you are interested in obtaining a print of this painting let me know: richiematt@aol.com

Richard

Upcoming Events

Hi,

After a busy weekend playing twice in Iowa and Illinois I have some bluegrass events coming up:

This Sat. Oct 4, 7:00-9:00 will feature Talentfest 2008 at the Clifton Center on 2117 Payne Street, Louisville KY 40206. The free concert is a benefit for SevenCounties a non-profit mental health provider. A reincarnation of the Bluegrass Messengers will appear featuring bluegrass prodigy Murrell Thixton- Banjo Vocals; Dennis Talley- Bass; John Dwyer- Mandolin Vocals and Richard Matteson- Guitar Vocals.

We are playing two short sets one at around 8:00 and one around 8:45. Come on out. I want to thank Murrell for his help playing!

THE HIGGINS MAXWELL GALLERY on 1200 Payne Street, Louisville, Ky 40204 will present American artist Richard L. Matteson Jr. from Oct. 10 until Nov 1. The show will open with a reception 6:00- 9:00 PM on Oct. 10. Matteson, who is nationally recognized musician, author and artist, will also present two musical performances at the gallery Oct. 11, 7:00 PM and Nov. 1, 7:00 PM. Admission is free. The Higgins-Maxwell gallery is open Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm. For information call Bob Higgins 502-584-7001.

If you want to see my Bluegrass Series paintings in person now is your chance. I'll also have most of my other artwork there (over 30 paintings). I'll also have some special guests performing with me on Oct. 11 and Nov. 1. We'll be playing the bluegrass painting songs.

Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum presents Richard L. Matteson Jr. in a performance/lecture Oct. 18 at 11:00 AM at Kentucky Music: Hall of Fame & Museum 2590 Richmond Road, Renfro Valley, Kentucky 40473. The show, featuring Matteson’s paintings of bluegrass songs, will include songs from Kentucky musicians such as Bill Monroe, Jean Ritchie, and Lilly May Ledford of the Coon Creek Girls.

Matteson has written 10 nationally released books for Mel Bay publications including his latest, "Bluegrass Picker's Tunebook" containing over 200 bluegrass songs. Matteson has performed or shared the stage nationally known stars Roy Clark, Chet Atkins and Doc Watson.

Thanks,

Richard

Bury Me Beneath the Willow- Songnotes

Hi,

This blog will give you some info about the song, "Bury Me Beneath the Willow." The song is also titled as "Under the Willow" (not Stephen Foster's song) and "Weeping Willow Tree." To see a painting of the song see my last blog below (click on picture to make large).

This ballad was popularized mainly by the Carter Family who recorded it on Victor 21074 in 1927; and later on Bluebird B-6053 in 1935. They also recorded a remake of the song, "Answer to Weeping Willow," on Decca 5234 in 1936. Here's a recording done by The Carter Family:

http://honkingduck.com/78s/listen.php?s=20404A

The first recording was done by Henry Whitter, "The Weeping Willow Tree" on OKeh 40187, 1924 (rec. 1923). Possibly from Whitter's recording followed Ernest V. Stoneman's, "Bury Me Beneath the Weeping Willow" (CYL: Edison [BA] 5187, 1927) (Edison 51909, 1927) and Ernest Thompson, "Weeping Willow Tree" (Columbia 15001-D, 1924).

The Carter Family may have heard Whitter's version since they also recorded for Ralph Peer and Victor. From the song notes by Charles K. Wolfe in the book included with the Bear Family Box Set: "Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow was a song both Sara and Maybelle had known since childhood. Like many mountain songs, it was probably based on a 19th century parlor song though nobody has yet been able to identify an exact source."

Since essentially the same lyrics were collected in Missouri by Belden in 1909 we can assume there is a single source for the song that hasn't been found. Here are two sets of lyric from Belden:


UNDER THE WILLOW TREE (Belden A)

MS Ballad book of Ada Belle Cowden, Boone Co., Belden version A, p. 483, H. M. Belden, Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society.


My heart is broken, I am in sorrow
For the only one I love.
I ne'er shall see his face again
Unless we meet in heaven above.

Chorus:Then bury me beneath the willow,
Beneath the weeping willow tree,
And when he knows that I am sleeping
Then perhaps he'll come and weep for me.

They told me that he did not love me;
But how could I believe them true
Until an angel came and whispered,
'He will prove untrue'?

Tomorrow was to be my wedding day;
But gone! oh, gone! oh, where is he?
He's gone to wed another bride
And all alone he has left me.

UNDER THE WILLOW TREE (Belden B)

Secured in 1909. Role of sexes reversed.Version B, H. M. Belden, Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society, p. 483.


My heart is broken, I am sorry,
Over the one that I love.
I know that I shall never see her
Unless we meet in heaven above.

Chorus:Bury me beneath the willow,
Beneath the weeping willow tree,
And when she knows that I am sleeping
Perhaps she'll sometimes think of me.

Once she told me that she loved me;
How could I think her untrue
Until an angel whispered softly,
'Oh, she does not care for you'?

Tomorrow is our wedding day.
Where, oh, where is she?
She's gone to love another fellow.
Oh, she does not care for me.

The song was recorded by many of the early country artists including Burnett & Rutherford; Riley Puckett; Delmore Brothers; Lily Brothers and the Monroe Brothers in 1937. Since then it's remained popular in bluegrass circles being covered by Kingston Trio and later Skaggs and Rice.

You can hear it played by Tony Rice, Alison Krauss, David Grisman, JD Crowe, and Mark Schatz on UTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzA68Ohwke4

Maybe the source song from the 1800s will be found, but for now we don't know where the song originated.

Thanks,

Richard

Bury Me Beneath The Willow

Hi,

Today we'll look at another song painting from my Bluegrass Series, "Bury Me Beneath the Willow."

My painting on the left depicts the elements of the song from the lyrics which appear on the grave headstone (left bottom corner).

Here are the lyrics:

Bury Me Beneath the Willow

Bury me beneath the willow,

Under the weeping willow tree.

When she hears that I am sleeping,

Maybe then she’ll weep for me.

My heart is sad and I'm in sorrow,

For the only one I love.

When will I see her, no, no, never,

Till we meet in heav’n above.

Tomorrow was to be our wedding,

But, Lord, where can she be?

She’s gone, she’s gone to court another,

She no longer cares for me.

She told me that she dearly loved me,

How could she be untrue.

Until an angel softly whispered,

She no longer cares for you.

Place on my grave a snow-white lily,

And on my tomb a turtle dove,

So if she sometimes comes to see me,

She will know I died for love.

The painting is 30" by 40" and even on 12" by 16" prints you can clearly see the details (this image is not very clear). His love is weeping and kneels at his grave. She is holding the leaves of the snow-white lily and on the tomb is a white turtle dove. Above in the clouds on the left is the angel whispering and in the clouds on the right the lovers meet in Heaven above.

In the next blog I will go into the details of the history of the song.

Till next time,

Richard Matteson

Banjo Pickin Girl

Hi,

This Blog will show detailed images from the painting, Banjo Pinckin' Girl that I showed in my first Blog.

The Coon Creek Girls actual song can be heard here:

http://honkingduck.com/78s/listen.php?s=20474A

There are other additional lyrics that I didn't include in my picture. The great thing about this song is that you can write your own lyrics. All you have to do is pick a destination (or a state) and rhyme it at the end of the third line.

In the first close-up as an added touch of humor I painted a possum in a persimmon tree watching a raccoon pump the water in the ocean. Without the raccoon the ship would have no ocean to sail on!

The next close-up shows Lily May and the doorway that opens to the world. The next close-up shows the lyrics.

The Banjo Pickin’ Girl lyrics offer the image: Goin’ ‘cross the ocean, baby mine. The sky from the previous image (Goin’ To Tennessee) turns into the rocks and the ocean froth. Crossing the ocean is a small sailing vessel.

The last close-up shows her riding to Tennessee. The lake is in the shape of that state.

Hope you like the images and the painting. If you want more info please e-mail me.

Thanks,

Richard

A New Beginning

Hi! Welcome to my first blog.




I will be featuring comments about bluegrass music and my new series of bluegrass paintings that I call The Bluegrass Series.

Above is my painting, Banjo Pickin' Girl.

Banjo Pickin’ Girl: 30" by 40" Acrylic on canvas. C 2008. Banjo Pickin’ Girl is based a song from the Kentucky all girl band popular in the 1930’s: The Coon Creek Girls- Lily May Ledford, vocal and banjo; Rosie Ledford, guitar; Violet Koehler, bass and vocal. The song was recorded May 30, 1938, in Chicago. Originally issued on Vocalion 04413 and Okeh 04413. The song originated from the "Baby Mine" songs-words Charles Mackay and music Achibald Johnson in 1874.

The painting of the banjo pickin’ girl is loosely based on an actual photo of Lily May Ledford. In a persimmons tree a possum watches a raccoon pump the water into the ocean. The shape of the state of Tennessee is found as a blue lake.

The Banjo Pickin’ Girl lyrics offer the images: Goin’ ‘round the world; Goin’ to Tennessee; and Goin’ ‘cross the ocean. The lyrics appear on a piece of parchment in the bottom left corner of the painting.

You can hear the Coon Creek Girls version on-line at Honking Duck. I've give the link at some point. There are several Coon Creek Girl songs I play such as Jim Along Josie. I'll also give more information about the history of this song or you can look on my web-site:

bluegrassmessengers.com

Recently I've made prints of my song paintings that are excellent quality and affordable. If you're interested in this or any of my artwork please e-mail me and I can give you details.

Take care,

Richard