Notes on the Tunes

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18. Young Edward

In 1977 Bruce Greene recorded Hiram Stamper playing this tune in cross-tuning, down two steps.  It is the old song, “The Drunkard’s Dream,” turned into a fiddle tune. Hiram sang a verse: “I dreamed I staggered home one night, through dark and dismal gloom. I missed my wife where could she be? And strangers filled the room.”(Greene)  It is very similar to John Salyer’s “Lonesome John,” but with extra bowing patterns between melody lines. According to Hiram, this tune was borrowed by his son, Art, renamed “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” and taught to Ralph Stanley. (Greene)

Chris’ Smith EBEB (GDGD)