The girls learned the traditional fiddle tune “Johnny Johnny Don’t Get Drunk” in a class they took years ago. It’s a fun peppy little tune that is often played for contra dances.
Traditional Tune Archive has this to say about the tune:
JOHNNY, DON’T COME HOME DRUNK. AKA – “John John Don’t You Come Home Drunk,” “Johnny Don’t Get Drunk,” “Johnny Johnny Don’t Get Drunk,” “Don’t Come Home Drunk Johnny,” “Jimmy Don’t Come Home Drunk.” American, Reel (cut time). USA; Kentucky, Virginia, Missouri, Nebraska. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AABB (most versions). The melody is known as a Missouri tune and is one of ‘100 essential Missouri tunes’ listed by Missouri fiddler Charlie Walden. However, it is widely disseminated throughout the ‘greater Appalachian’ and Mid-west regions. Some see similarities between this tune and the Irish reel “Miss Monahan/Miss Monaghan’s Reel.” Jeff Titon (2001) believes the tune may have been derived from a temperance song. Source Owen “Snake” Chapman (b. 1919, Kentucky) said he thought he might have learned it after hearing it played on the radio. See also the related “My Wife Died on Saturday Night.”
I hope you enjoyed the tune! I just love knowing it was being played way back in 1919 and that it is still being played in 2022 🙂
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I like this peppy tune! They play so well!
I truly enjoyed the upbeat tune and as always the girls did it well! Thank you for sharing.
Left a post earlier but it seems to have disappeared. Love the tune. Thanks for sharing it. Interesting how it goes from D to G halfway through.
Great tune! Looks like they switch from D to G half way through. Thank you!
What a lively tune and the girls always make it even more enjoyable to hear!! Love the creek in the background. So pretty!!
Enjoyed this tune!!! Makes you want to tap your feet. The girls are so talented and fun!! Take care and God bless ❣️
I love listening to the girl play their instruments. I especially loved the background sound of the water flowing over the rocks and the beautiful scenery.
Catchy tune all right, but then seems to me all the fiddle tunes are. Who was it had the slogan ‘the music of our lives’? Or did I just make that up? Anyway, to me the fiddle seems the front runner as the instrument that plays the music of Appalachian life. I know others though would say the dulcimer, the guitar or the banjo and probably even some the bagpipes. Whichever instrument, add a story as folk ballads typically have and it’s real life and its struggles. That is a big part of what makes it enduring.
Anytime hearing the girls play old fiddle tunes is a great start to a day.
Great playing girls ❤
Lovely tune I like how peppy it is and the creek plays a pretty tune too!
Beautifully done, Pressley girls!
I enjoyed reading about this song! Thank you for the information. It is a lively tune, and the girls did really great playing it! I love hearing them play reels. And I love seeing them have fun while they make music!
Donna. : )