Some of my earliest memories revolve around the art of making music. I was blessed to grow up in a musical family where it seemed someone was always pickin and grinnin in the kitchen. I often fell asleep to the sounds of guitars, mandolins, and high lonesome harmonies.
As an adult I treasure the tradition of music handed down through the generations of my family and as you already know, I share my family’s music here on the Blind Pig & the Acorn.
- Every Sunday I share a Picking and Grinning in the Kitchen Spot which features a video of our music.
- You can find us on Youtube here: Blind Pig and The Acorn and here: The Pressley Girls.
- And you can listen to the playlist of songs I have over on the right side of the page while you read or leave it up on your computer to enjoy as you go about your day.
You may have already noticed that I changed out the spooky songs at the top of the playlist.
I’ve written about most of the songs on the playlist, here’s the links to posts about the first five songs-you can go read the posts to see what I had to say about each one:
It’d be hard for me to pick a favorite from those 5.
- Fallen Leaves reminds me of my great uncle Henry Truett-he was famous for singing the song. Not long ago I overheard two ladies I’ve never met talking about the old man who used to sing Fallen Leaves in the west part of the county. I’m positive they were remembering Uncle Henry but I was too backward to ask them.
- The Blackest Crow, sometimes called My Dearest Dear, is one of the most beautiful songs of love that I’ve ever heard. The song has deep meaning behind the lovely lyrics.
- Old Gray Cat is one of my favorite songs to play! It is pure fun and boy can Chitter make her fiddle sound good on it. She’s always teasing she’s going to write her own song and call it Old Gray Dog.
- Maggie will forever remind me of Pap and Granny. I wrote about the song reminding me of them not long before Pap died. I said “They’re both feeble, grey, and old – yet their love for one another is still as strong as when their daisies first sprung and they were young.”
- Stephen Foster wrote Hard Times way back in 1855 and the words are just as fitting today as they were then.
So whats my favorite? Well at 8:10 p.m. tonight its Fallen Leaves. Ask me tomorrow morning and I might tell you something different.
It’s been a long long time since I gave away any music from our playlist. Tell me what your favorite song from the list of 5 is and I’ll enter you in a giveaway for a cd of 10 songs from the playlist-your choice of songs. *Giveaway ends Saturday November 5, 2016.
Be on the lookout for more Thankful November Giveaways.
Tipper
Being the cat lover that I am, I’ll pick Old Gray Cat. They are all great though!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Goodness, it is hard to pick! I love “Maggie”…as I find myself and my husband are “here”. lol
However, I remember my Dad singing i and also playing the Old Gray Cat…so I will say The Old Gray Cat! Thank you for these posts!
If, somehow, Steven Foster could be a contemporary, with us, here, now … he would be an equal to Paul Simon, whom I consider to be one of the greatest songwriters ever. Steven Foster would be a success and probably very wealthy from the publication of his songs. Alas, the world didn’t recognize his genius until long after he was in his grave. As it was, he died penniless, with no recognition. Browsing the Internet and listening to the many singings of “Hard Times Come Again No More”, I have to choose it as my favorite among the several great choices you offer here.
Yes, it is hard to decide which tune is a favorite, but I must pick “Old Gray Cat”. It stays in my head- in a good way- and has such a Celtic flavor.
It’s a very hard decision since they are all very good. But I like the “Old Gray Cat” best.
missed this post yesterday. Love the old time music.
I love all the old songs, but at this moment it’s “Maggie”.
Tipper, To pick just one is a mighty tall order! I love the title and the song “Crazy Arms”. I could truly list the entire play list though 🙂
Thank you for all you do!
I thought I posted, but must have just hit preview. Better late than never! I love Maggie. I love the name and the song. Some of the old fashioned names are timeless in their beauty. OOps Midnight on the Water just came on, and even though not on the list is my new favorite. Thanks so much to your family for keeping this beautiful music going.
I’m gonna have to vote for Maggie, 35yrs ago Nov the 6th God blessed me with the most wonderful Wife, Mother, and best friend a Guy could ever ask or pray for.. We both are getting Older and are not able to do the things we use to enjoy..
Maggie touches my lonely heart and Hard Times is so poignant.
The Blackest Crow for me. Hands down.
Maggie is my favorite as my Mother sang it often.
Maggie is my favorite also as my Mother sang and played it often on the piano. She was born and reared in Dillsboro and went to school in Cullowee
She taught school in Cashiers for a year and then worked in Sylva until marriage
Love them all but I’m choosing Maggie.
Maggie has been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember, it could be genetic since we Burnetts are a sect of the Campbell Clan and “Maggie” has always reminded me of the Auld Country.
I will vote for Old Gray Cat.
Tipper,
If I had to pick one of the first 5, it would be “Fallen Leaves”. But I like Grandpa Jones” version also. It seems Paul and Pap have mastered the harmonic duo like the Louvin Brothers did.
I use to have Donna Lynn play “You Ought to be Here With Me”, but it ain’t Gospel Music. There are lots of others that are. …Ken
The Blackest Crow
The old grey cat has my ear. I love the zip and zigger of the music, especially the fiddle. It just made me want to dance around the room. It also made me think of some merry gypsies and elves doing their magic dance. Gosh! I have to admit that I had to listen to all the songs. Memory refreshing was a real treat!
Maggie is my pick. My husband and I have been together for 58 years, and we are grey and slowing down, but still holding hands and talking sweet.
Boy!! what a tough list to pick from, they are all such great tunes, but my favorite would be Fallen Leaves, also I have heard Maggie done many times as an instrumental, maybe some folks can’t remember all of the verses., still all great selections, and many thank’s.. Will
I love the chord progression of the Blackest Crow followed closely by Old Gray Cat
I like all those songs but my favorite isn’t among those listed. My favorite from the playlist is a toss up between “Twenty Years” with Chatter & Paul and “You Ought to be Here With Me” with Chitter and Paul. My real favorite has to be “Simple Gifts” with Chitter & Chatter. It’s World Class! I don’t even see it on the playlist but I can see the video on the tube whenever I want at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTeDISYpq4s
Since I have to pick from the five choices it’s eenie, meenie, minie, moe, Maggie!
I like all of them but Hard Times Come Again No More seems to portray old Appalachia better. Everyone lived a hard life but always had hopes of a better time.
When we compare those times to today with all the crime and hate going on – those may have the better times.
Fallen Leaves is certainly timely for me. On the Hallowed hill above town stand six large white oaks, two large sugar maples, three dogwoods, and two Bradford pears.
The sugar maple leaves are mostly gone; I cleaned up half last week and another 45% this. The oak leaves are still a work early in progress.
Susan and I ate lunch with some friends up there last week and were struck by the number of bluebirds around us. We could see a dozen at a time. I suppose they were part of a migratory group, but it was as if they’d been there before, and were lingering a bit to remember.
Hard Times. Had a copy of this when my house burned 6 years ago.I didn’t know I had so much until I lost everything.The LORD didn’t promise I wouldn’t have hard times,but that HE would never leave or forsake me.How true!Things are much better now.
LG
Hard Times Come Again No More.
Thanks Tipper for all you do!
I can’t make up my mind. Hard Times Come Again No More is somewhere at the top of the list. As of now, I’ll go with that.
Tipper,
Actually this morning, at 8:55 AM, my favorite songs are number 1 thru number 147, so that about says them all. Well, you asked! ha
Thank you to all the Blind Pig Gang for all the wonderful music you have shared with us thru the years.
I wonder if you ever considered taking requests for songs? I would love to hear all of you sing and play “Whispering Hope” and “It is No Secret”.
These two songs take me back to the memorable visits with my Aunt in NC during the forties and fifties. I couldn’t sing well, but she always wanted me to sing those two songs for her when I would visit.
Thanks Tipper,
Musical I am not. It is a complete mystery to me. You all have more music in your little finger than I do in my whole body. Of the songs you list, I am familiar only with “Hard Times”. I am only a plowboy level singer but I would like to be able to sing Hard Times. It haunts me in a way I can’t explain. Maybe it is because it twines together that for all pleasures in life there are also sorrows and there is no escaping that dual bittersweet nature.
Hard Times Come Again No More.
Fallen Leaves is a favorite of mine.
Hard Times come again no more.
Great song for clogging.
Hi Tipper, hard to decide, but since I’m allergic to cats, I pick Fallen Leaves. Beautiful, talented family ! Happy Veterans Day !
I vote for The Old Gray Cat. Wonderful.
The old grey cat is mine. What a joy to be raised in such a happy atmosphere.
I sure enjoyed listening to these this morning. I liked them all, but Old Gray Cat was my favorite. I loved the minor key melody. Your daughters are both so talented. I hope to hear them in person someday! You are blessed to have grown up surrounded by beautiful music, especially when it’s your family. Keep the tradition going!
Fallen Leaves