After yesterday’s post about being lonesome I thought I’d share a song about being lonesome with you today. I posted about the song several years ago, so parts of this post were originally published here on the Blind Pig in 2008.
Paul and Pap’s repertoire includes many songs written by the The Delmore Brothers, they are among Pap’s favorite musicians. He enjoys their playing and singing, but as a songwriter himself he is totally blown away by their song writing skills.
The Delmore Brothers were farm boys from Alabama. Their heyday was in the 1930s and 40s but their songs are still popular today-especially in bluegrass/old time circles.
The Delmores played radio shows, were members of the Grand Ole Opry, and were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Even though I’ve been familiar with The Delmore Brothers my entire life, as I began to research their songs I was amazed at how many famous standards they wrote.
A few I have on the radio player; Blow Your Whistle, Southern Moon, , Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar and Blues Stay Away from Me. Others include Browns Ferry Blues, When It’s Time For The Whipporwill, I Won’t Be Worried Long, Sandmountain Blues, She Left Me Standing On The Mountain, Happy On The Mississippi Shore, Put Me On The Trail To Carolina, I’ve Got The Big River Blues, and tons more!
John Delmore, a great nephew of the brothers, requested Pap and Paul do the Delmore’s Weary Lonesome Blues for this week’s Pickin’ and Grinnin’ in the Kitchen Spot.
Hope you enjoyed the video! Hearing their smooth harmony, Paul’s flat-top picking, and Pap’s tapping foot make it pretty hard to be lonesome while listening even if that’s what the song is about.
Tipper
Maybe y’all could do tribute albums to both the Louvins and the Delmores – it would be deee-lightful!
I’m late posting today, as I didn’t “get around to it” early morning before going to church (to teach Sunday School today!). But here at mid-afternoon I was heartened by hearing Paul and Pap sing and play (along with the accompaniment by your nephew (?) of the Delmore Brothers’ “Weary, Lonesome Blues.” Your review of their music made me want to look up a biography of the brothers and research others of their songs! We owe so much to country and blue grass stars who compose music and sing about “down home” and “real people” conditions and moods! Surely, we all are well-acquainted with “lonesome,” and it helps us to hear it voiced in song and music, words of poems, and even our own sighs of longing! We all, I think, have a common denominator in emotions, and that is lonesome!
Tipper,
I may be a bit prejudice but I think Paul and Pap and Ben and Tipper can do as good a job singing and playing as anybody, including the Delmore Brothers. When I play my bookmark songs, Jim and Jesse McReynolds are at the top of the list. But Paul and Pap and The Gang have that “thing” that just grabs me and I want to hear more…Ken
Tipper,
You and Pap are so “right on” about The Delmore Brothers song writing abilities and the many songs they penned and sung….Why, it seems that every time I go looking for lyrics and songs….there they are in the list…ha
Loved the rendition! That sweet looking feller playing the guitar sitting on the couch, seems to be enjoying his addition to the music…Miss him…When does he graduate from college and is he keeping up with his music on campus?
Thanks Tipper,
Jerry and Paul do a wonderful job on that song. I, too, am a fan of the Delmore Brothers. The tribute album that the Louvin Brothers did of Delmore Brothers songs is one of my favorites. I read that Ira and Charlie visited Alton to get his opinion and approval of the songs they had chosen for the album. Alton brought out Rabon’s dusty old guitar case containing the famous four-string, tenor guitar that Rabon used to play lead, and asked them to use it on their recording. Ira was so impressed that he took the strings off and soaked them in kerosene so that they could use the strings that Rabon had put on the guitar.
Boy, Paul can really burn up a guitar. I’m sure you, Paul and your Dad have listened to the Louvin’s version of Weary Lonesome Blues many times. Paul’s playing is easily on par with The Louvins. In fact, they sound very much like the Louvins. I mean that as a sincere compliment. Thank you for the excellent video.
Great “get going” music today! I have to find Sandmountain Blues — my Dad was born “on Sandmountain Have a blessed Sunday.
Wow! That was wonderful! Masterful lead guitar and tenor singing. It doesn’t get any better!
Yep, Alabama has had some really nice talent over the years, we were watching a documentary on the Muscle Shoals Sound on Public Television not long ago and learned even more about the area,, Nice job on the song as always…