I was reminded of Pap and Paul’s wonderful version of the old song “Kentucky” this week when the following comment was left on the video.
“I loved listening to your version of this song. My father, Karl Davis, wrote it to honor the state he was born and grew up in. He would have enjoyed your rendition of it. By the way, Daddy and his partner, Harty (professionally known as Karl and Harty) recorded this in 1941. It was probably the earliest recording. You might be able to hear them on YouTube!”
—Karleen Tyksinski
It’s such a wonderful song! Here’s a short quote about it from Charles Wolfe’s,” Kentucky Country: Folk and Country Music of Kentucky.”
“Karl [Davis] and Harty [Taylor] recorded the song [“Kentucky”] first in January 1941 for the Columbia label, and the record was especially popular with lonely southern servicemen who found themsleves thousands of miles from the land they loved. But in 1947 the Blue Sky Boys (the Bolick Brothers) recorded the song, and it really became a bestseller, reportedly running up sales of almost half a million copies; it has since been recorded by dozens of country singers, including later Kentucky groups like the Osborne Brothers and the Everly Brothers. On the strength of its beauty, and its popularity, Karl Davis [who wrote the song] was made a Kentucky Colonel in 1970. It was one of the few tokens of recognition he received in later life for his immense contributions to country music.”
I’ve never heard a version of the song that I didn’t like, but I am especially partial to Pap and Paul’s.
I hope you enjoyed the lovely harmony as much as I do.
I’ve also been thinking about Kentucky because long time Blind Pig reader Larry Griffith (AWGRIFF) hasn’t commented in several weeks. He hails from Kentucky and I’m sure hoping he’s okay. I’ve reached out to him but haven’t heard back.
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That’s better pickin and singin than most of what comes out Nashville. Fantastic, really loved it.
Beautiful!! Love this!
Kentucky, what a wonderful old song! Your father and brother played and sung it so well!
Larry (Awgriff), if you’re reading this I want you to know that I’m praying for you daily and I hope you’re feeling better. I’ve been missing your comments here on the blog. Much love and prayers to you and your family.
I really enjoyed the song today, Tipper. I love Kentucky, but I might be a bit impartial because I’ve lived here all of my life other than a short time spent in Tennessee. I guess everybody feels that way about their home state. There’s no place like home! 🙂
Please continue to remember all those affected by the floods here in eastern Kentucky.
Always a favorite song; and on my Own playlist. Pap and Paul did it proud; love the acoustic pickin’ and their harmony. This song speaks volumes to me; those “Kentucky hills and holler’s” will forever call my name. My thanks for a great share of Pap and Paul’s music.
It is a beautiful rendition, that puts me in mind of a song Skeeter Davis used to sing.
its been a very long time since i heard this song awesome version love it
I have a recording by The Blue Sky Boys about North Carolina. It was written by EC Moore’s brother of Murphy. Can’t recall his name without looking.
Tipper or anyone else the song Build My Mansion (Next Door To Jesus) is easy to find if you google it. A lot of artist sing it. I like Gene Watson’s version. Around here the song is often sung at funerals. After her mother’s health began to fail, Kathy would break down and not be able finish when she reached the verse about her mother. They wouldn’t be a dry eye in the crowd after she finished this song.
Beautiful Harmony and Words!
Excellent,
Tipper, I just love videos of Pap and Paul singing!! Pap comes across as a loving, caring, positive man and you can see from interactions with his son and grandsons how much he truly loves them. I’d like to have him in my family, too! Oh, and I loved the song, also!!
What a beautiful song! The harmony and playing is just perfection. Pap and Paul, it’s always a joy to hear and watch them playing, so grateful you have all these songs for us to enjoy. I am praying for Mr. Larry. I sure hope he’s ok and you hear from him soon. Have a blessed Sunday everyone!!
Love how Pap and Paul’s voices blend together. I guess it is a family thing. The girls are the same.
I can’t think of a more wonderful time spent with family than playing music and signing together. What a joy for you to have these recordings and memories and what a lovely family time. So happy for you, this was beautiful and their playing is joy for me to listen to.
Pap and Paul’s version of the song offers the best harmony of any performer I have ever heard. Karl and Harty’s version must have been great to attract the attention of singers for so many years. I plan to search for it on YouTube. It’s no wonder the song was popular among servicemen.
Loved that song. Well done! I grew up in the NC mountains but graduated from Berea College in Kentucky.
Sure do hope AW is OK. I rely on him in the vocabulary tests as it seems he and I are a tad bit more likely to have heard and used Appalachian the same, a Kentucky variation maybe. And he has visited the country I grew up in.
I had never heard, or heard of, this song today even though Kentucky “born and raised” (as the song “Man of Constant Sorrows” has it.) Actually, that isn’t saying much since I have confessed before here that I am not now, nor have I ever been, a bit musical either by talent or inclination. None of my ‘raising’ inclined me that way; no radio playing at our house, no TV and no music at church unless just unaccompanied harmony singing be so considered. Because of that background I don’t feel capable of very meaningful appreciation of music. I only know what I like but can give no details.
A bit off the subject but last week I was in Lexington, KY for 6 days in the UKMedCenter (no, not me, sitting up with my fil). I had to smile a few times hearing someone say an Appalachianism there in the heart of the Bluegrass. One I recall was about somebody “taking on”. We are all over the place, liable to run into.one of us most anywhere.
I thought the song Kentucky is a very pretty song indeed! Watching Pap’s and Paul’s fingers dancing all over their guitars reminds me of raindrops running down. They harmonized and played so well together and it’s a wonderful thing for you to share such moments with us and I feel blessed and humbled so thank you for that! I pray AWGRIFF is fine. Hopefully he’s on a trip or not too sick. Things change so fast, I must say. Even a month ago, I’d have denied it took about 3 days to drop me like a sack of potatoes health wise. I’m having problems catching my breath and I’m totally committed to maybe this taking months to get over IF I get over this… my house and yard have fallen by the wayside and it’s hard to care much when you can’t breathe… one day at a time , Lord, that’s all I’m asking of you… show me the way… if I live or die, it’s ok cause I’m saved… I’m a winner winner chicken dinner!!!
There’s so much about this song to get a Sunday started right–the harmony, the moving words, Paul’s incredible picking, and the general sentiments. The lyrics are incredible.
There’s another “state” song I’m mighty fond of, “Arkansas.” Since perhaps the most popular version of it was done by the Wilburn Brothers, I wonder if Jerry and Paul ever performed it.
Real good. Watching Pap and Paul singing while sitting with kitchen in the background reminds me so much of my father in law (Curtis) and a young man (Bill)) playing and singing in the den. Although Curtis never sung professionally, he was a good musician in his own right. Bill is also real good – another RandyTravis. I spend a lot of my time on you tube listening to the BP&A gang singing . I especially love the old hymns. My favorite is Pap & Paul singing Until Then while sitting the kitchen . I play it and cry. Curtis grew up with Mac McGaha one of the highlights of his life was playing on stage with Mac on one his sidewalk shows in Nashville.
Tipper, did Pap thumb pick or use a pick. Another question has the Gang ever sang or recorded these two songs, Build My Mansion and Where The Roses Never Fade?? Me and a lot of of others have said you have never heard these songs sung until my sister in law sung them. She started singing with her daddy when she was 3 years old.she would put all of her heart and soul into these songs. Sorry if this is a mess, my eyes are watering pretty bad this morning.
Randy-Pap always used a pick until he got to where he couldn’t hold onto one. I’m familiar with the roses song and Pap might have sung it at some point, but I don’t think I know the other one. I’ll have to look it up. Hope your eyes are continuing to improve 🙂
I am praying that you hear from Mr. Larry Griffith soon, and that he is ok! I have always enjoyed reading his comments. I have been listening to this song all this past week, too. I love it! I love your Dad and Paul’s version. I have listened to every version I can find on you tube, and their’s is still my favorite. How exciting that you heard from the son of the man who wrote it!!! Thank you for sharing that with us. It was so very interesting to hear the history on this song. It definitely is one of my many favorites that you guys do.
Donna. : )
I look forward to some individual comments almost as much as the blog. Hope AWGRIFF is OK and just busy living the good life.
WHAT a great song! Love LOVE that harmony on it by Pap and Paul, and gotta say, Paul’s an absolute virtuoso on the guitar. I think the composer of KENTUCKY – and his family – would love the fact that his catchy song is still being enjoyed by new listeners! Talk about a smiley way to start my day. Thanks, ALL!
Of all the songs I’ve listened to by Pap and Paul this is by far my favorite. Their harmony was wonderful ❤
That was wonderful, Tipper, beautiful harmony. I’m so thankful to have been born and raised in the South,
North Carolina in particular, and there is a spot on I95 near Hilton Head Island and Savannah where it
crosses over the salt marshes and every time we travel that way, I thank God for its beauty and for making
me a Southern gal! All parts of our country are lovely, of course, but we are so blessed in NC to have both
mountains and seashore accessible. My heart belongs in the mountains, but who doesn’t love sitting on
the beach with a good book in hand?
It’s a great song that I enjoy listening to. The same feelings I have when listening to My Home’s In Alabama by the group Alabama. Songs about the State’s we live in a special.
Beautiful rendition and the harmony is soooo beyond words. Just listening to them brings back memories and THAT is real country. Thanks Tipper
Beautiful!!! A great start to Sunday!!!