The tune goes back at least to “Smitty” Wine and was in Jack McElwain’s repertory. Melvin calls this a “way back yonder tune,” perhaps because of its pensive, soulful quality. His father used to let out a yell on the long, drawn out E note, but Melvin, who says he “traded voices with the bullfrog,” cannot. He generally prefers to play it alone and varies the length of certain parts. For his recording in 1989 he had to standardize it for Gerry Milnes and Ron Mullennex who played guitar and banjo with him. (Beisswenger) We have followed their lead.