Hi Sarah. Terry Bell here. You bring out the best in that gal. In 1977 I met a guy who showed me clawhammer and that night I got drunk on banjos forever. We became friends, added another friend with a guitar and my brother on washtub bass. We played around Michigan til the mid 80's. Years later, my banjo bug never went away and I started making them, and here you are playing one. My banjo friend Clyde has passed away. He was a sensitive soulful player like you. It makes me so happy to watch your clips.
Terry, I've been spotty on youtube the last few years and am just seeing this now. Thank you so much for sharing this history. It's so funny, I knew nothing about banjos, besides bluegrassy cliche, before someone demonstrated clawhammer for me one time. The story is that I was taking fiddle lessons and was itching to learn a new instrument, and thought I'd try the mandolin since the fingerings are the same, but all the mandolins in my local music shop (this was before internet shopping, ha) were way above my budget. My oldschool cowboy fiddle teacher said, "Hey, I know a guy selling a banjo for a hundred bucks!" (Side note, ten years later: don't buy a hundred dollar banjo unless you have gun to your head. But, it was an okay place to start, I suppose.) "Banjo??" I said, skeptical. But then he grabbed his own openback and played me an oldtime tune, and showed me clawhammer: "Look, it's a whole band in one intstrument", he said. "This is the drone, and this fingernail plays the melody, and these fingers play the harmony, and then there's the percussion, like this." I was floored. I wanted in. I bought that banjo, and then another, and then another, and another. Thank god. I'm so glad I did.
@@mesarah011 Hey, my first banjo was 40 bucks. It was a Sears Silvertone and I have a vague memory that it was a decent enough banjo to start on, after it was stolen (along with my pickup truck), I got another one, but it wasn't as decent...the action was a mile high. I've since upgraded to a much more playable model :-)
Great work, Sarah. I learned this song from George Gibson and he learned it from his father, Mal Gibson. I'm sure they'd both like your version as much as I do.
@@chrisjames5979 As far as I know, the earliest recording would be by a Benjamin Frank Shelton at the Bristol TN sessions in 1927. It's quite similar to both this recording, Clifton's, and and Holcomb's, but not the same. He also did a recording of Pretty Polly. Excellent playing here, though!
@Nic North absolutely love this, love what your doing. Have you not set up merch sites ? Bandcamp etc? Would love to purchase even a cdr. For now I'll just learn.
Amazing! That is one well-loved banjo, as evidenced by the worn finger marks along the neck. I'm astounded how you can play without frets, it takes real talent to "feel" an instrument in that way. Great tune and singing too, thanks so much for sharing!
been coming back to this over the years. I been playing banjo for 6 years now and, well frankly, Im damn good now. But it was /this/ video that really inspired me to learn the skill, above all else ---peace & love from the high sierra
Radical! Totally awesome! People I try and play like because they have a "style" I admire #1 right here! I would so love to sit and jam with you Sarah! You freaking rock! Know you have fans girl and keep on putting it out there for us! Thank you~
Wow, love this Sarah, I just came across your songs and music, You have a new fan, I'm an ole hippie from the 70s who has went from rock and folk to country and now I am making my way into mountain and bluegrass music, Love your style,
WOW!!!! such a fantastic version...... wonderful combination of techniques, on such a cool instrument....this is low down good, good , good..!!! thanks for posting !!!
Fantastic playing and singing. I'll say you own this song...now I'll spend the rest of the evening checking out all the other versions. Will check out Clifton Hicks next.
"Wake up - Wake up, my darling... What makes you sleep so sound? Them highway men are riding - Gonna burn this whole damn town. Wake up, wake up my darling... What makes you sleep so sound? Them highway men are riding - Gonna burn this whole damn town. I sat up-on my pillow, I sat upon my bed. Got them prison boys all around me - And them cold chains on my leg. Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow... Dig a hole in the cold, cold waves... Oh, dig me a hole in the meadow... Let me lay my darling away. Oh, the first time I've seen my woman... She was sitting by the banks of the sea. Had a rattle on her shoulder, And a banjo on her knee. The last time I seen Darling Cory, Had a dram glass in her hand. She's a drinkin' down her trouble, With some lone and sorry man. Oh wake up, wake up Darling Cory, What makes you sleep so sound. Them highway men are riding, Gonna burn this whole damn town. Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow... Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground... Go dig me a hole in the meadow, Let me lay my darling down."
Hi Sarah, thank you for this song. I saw a fretless banjo in the window of my guitar shop and wondered what you'd do with it. So I looked it up on youtube and found your videos. The soft percussive sound of your instrument is intriguing. I like it very much as well as your voice. Thanks for introducing your music to me. Greetings from a guitar player, Berlin, Germany!
Hi Kerstin, glad to hear from you! One of the nice things about a fretless banjo, in addition to the beautiful sound, is the ability to slide up and down from one note to another in a way you can't quite do on a fretted instrument, which lends a particularly soulful quality to the music. I hope you continue to find fretless videos that intrigue you! Best, Sarah
Watched this several times now. The banjo has a beautiful sound and it looks like it might take a bit of managing with that wide neck and those deep slack strings. Your performance is the real thing.
Hi Sarah. Terry Bell here. You bring out the best in that gal. In 1977 I met a guy who showed me clawhammer and that night I got drunk on banjos forever. We became friends, added another friend with a guitar and my brother on washtub bass. We played around Michigan til the mid 80's. Years later, my banjo bug never went away and I started making them, and here you are playing one. My banjo friend Clyde has passed away. He was a sensitive soulful player like you. It makes me so happy to watch your clips.
Terry, I've been spotty on youtube the last few years and am just seeing this now. Thank you so much for sharing this history. It's so funny, I knew nothing about banjos, besides bluegrassy cliche, before someone demonstrated clawhammer for me one time. The story is that I was taking fiddle lessons and was itching to learn a new instrument, and thought I'd try the mandolin since the fingerings are the same, but all the mandolins in my local music shop (this was before internet shopping, ha) were way above my budget. My oldschool cowboy fiddle teacher said, "Hey, I know a guy selling a banjo for a hundred bucks!" (Side note, ten years later: don't buy a hundred dollar banjo unless you have gun to your head. But, it was an okay place to start, I suppose.) "Banjo??" I said, skeptical. But then he grabbed his own openback and played me an oldtime tune, and showed me clawhammer: "Look, it's a whole band in one intstrument", he said. "This is the drone, and this fingernail plays the melody, and these fingers play the harmony, and then there's the percussion, like this." I was floored. I wanted in. I bought that banjo, and then another, and then another, and another. Thank god. I'm so glad I did.
@@mesarah011 Hey, my first banjo was 40 bucks. It was a Sears Silvertone and I have a vague memory that it was a decent enough banjo to start on, after it was stolen (along with my pickup truck), I got another one, but it wasn't as decent...the action was a mile high. I've since upgraded to a much more playable model :-)
@@mesarah011 I am too
@@mesarah011a whole band in one instrument. Love it
Great work, Sarah. I learned this song from George Gibson and he learned it from his father, Mal Gibson. I'm sure they'd both like your version as much as I do.
Clifton Hicks Thank you so much!!! That means the world.
Wasn't it by roscoe holcomb or is it just a general folk song?
@@chrisjames5979 The song is older than Roscoe Halcomb.
@@chrisjames5979 As far as I know, the earliest recording would be by a Benjamin Frank Shelton at the Bristol TN sessions in 1927. It's quite similar to both this recording, Clifton's, and and Holcomb's, but not the same. He also did a recording of Pretty Polly. Excellent playing here, though!
@Nic North absolutely love this, love what your doing.
Have you not set up merch sites ? Bandcamp etc?
Would love to purchase even a cdr. For now I'll just learn.
Riley, your voice and banjo playing is sent from God 🕊️ Thank you
Don''t sell yourself short sister. This is beautiful.
Jesus Christ..
It's like talent is literally coming out of the woodwork. She's amazing.
This gets better every time I hear it.
Same here, such a moving performance.
Amazing! That is one well-loved banjo, as evidenced by the worn finger marks along the neck. I'm astounded how you can play without frets, it takes real talent to "feel" an instrument in that way. Great tune and singing too, thanks so much for sharing!
She really is in the zone
This must be the tenth time I've watched this. Really, it's very good indeed.
I love the song...I love her interpretation of it. Perfect. Kudos.
Wow! Goosebumps! You've just got a new subscriber.
been coming back to this over the years. I been playing banjo for 6 years now and, well frankly, Im damn good now. But it was /this/ video that really inspired me to learn the skill, above all else ---peace & love from the high sierra
Really, really, good! You have nailed the emotional aspect of the song, and your command of the banjo is admirable!!! Regards, Jimp
What a perfect performance of this. Really great!
Being able to play like Clifton Hicks is a worthy goal. Damn close.
Unflinching soul music with pure essence of banjo. Oh that we could all aspire to this!
I'm early in the banjo learning process, and at the moment, this rendition of yours is my most watched video and stylistic touchstone. Thank you!
Radical! Totally awesome! People I try and play like because they have a "style" I admire #1 right here! I would so love to sit and jam with you Sarah! You freaking rock! Know you have fans girl and keep on putting it out there for us! Thank you~
Woah impressed by that - big congrats!!!
Absolutely stunning.. your fingerstyle is incredible and your voice .. oh my god i love it... I'm just gonna listen to this all the day!
fabulous! sung from way down in your soul.
Cant get enough of this vid.
What passion and soul.❤
Ok...well.....damn. I dont even know what to say, that was incredible.
Wow, love this Sarah, I just came across your songs and music, You have a new fan, I'm an ole hippie from the 70s who has went from rock and folk to country and now I am making my way into mountain and bluegrass music, Love your style,
Dont fret...this is lovely❤
Makes my hair stand on end. Fantastic!
Omg what talent 🕊️
Very lovely you play beautifully I play fretless banjo too. Just enjoy it Madam. Love your singing and picking keep going you sound wonderful.
Far out this is brilliant
My ears have been blessed 🙏
That was a face melting banjo CLINIC! Awesome!
Hell, there ain't NOTHIN wrong with this!
Excellent.....only word I can use to describe.
You're very talented! thanks for making this
WOW!!!! such a fantastic version...... wonderful combination of techniques, on such a cool instrument....this is low down good, good , good..!!! thanks for posting !!!
Fantastic playing and singing. I'll say you own this song...now I'll spend the rest of the evening checking out all the other versions. Will check out Clifton Hicks next.
Dang. That was really good!
Great authentic song.....superbly delivered.
great, well done. i know nothing about banjo playing, but i lke this very much.
Awesome!!! 💙💙💙
I dunno if this is the best performance of Darling Cora (or Corey), but it's way ahead of whatever is in second place.
Absolutely stunning.
You rocks, holy smoke that was awsome! 😎💪🏼
Nice job. Great voice and that banjo - wow what a natural folk sound.
"Wake up - Wake up, my darling...
What makes you sleep so sound?
Them highway men are riding -
Gonna burn this whole damn town.
Wake up, wake up my darling...
What makes you sleep so sound?
Them highway men are riding -
Gonna burn this whole damn town.
I sat up-on my pillow,
I sat upon my bed.
Got them prison boys all around me -
And them cold chains on my leg.
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow...
Dig a hole in the cold, cold waves...
Oh, dig me a hole in the meadow...
Let me lay my darling away.
Oh, the first time I've seen my woman...
She was sitting by the banks of the sea.
Had a rattle on her shoulder,
And a banjo on her knee.
The last time I seen Darling Cory,
Had a dram glass in her hand.
She's a drinkin' down her trouble,
With some lone and sorry man.
Oh wake up, wake up Darling Cory,
What makes you sleep so sound.
Them highway men are riding,
Gonna burn this whole damn town.
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow...
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground...
Go dig me a hole in the meadow,
Let me lay my darling down."
Great job! Thank Terry for making such a fine banjo. My people come from the hills of Kentucky...they'd be proud of you especialy on a fretless banjo.
This is just great. First time I've heard the song. Thanks very much! now to learning it, and dreaming of building a fretless. . .
awesome! That banjo looks like a lot of fun
Love it, thank you.
Love your playing and singing. That banjo does a killer bass line.
Sarah, you are a force of nature. Your playing and singing gets right to the root of things - simply superb!!!
Theres smth deeply powerful about this performance
Fantastic job, Sarah! Damn good banjer picking and you're a great singer also. Always love watching your videos!
I'm such a fan
You are very gifted, second to none, and a great inspiration. Wonderful!
Videos like this make me want to learn to play the banjo and at the same time convince me not to waste my time.
Lovely Sarah, just lovely. Thank you.
New personal goal: get my banjo to sound like that LOL great playing, I might go build my own fretless
What talent..my God, wow!
Wow Sarah, it's breathtaking good. Keep it up
Don't doubt yourself....great playing!
Wonderful......love what you do Sarah
Outstanding!! You rock!!!
I really enjoy how you have your own way of playing. Thank you for capturing on video. :)
Great job Sara!
You put a lot into this and it was a wonderful performance!
Yeah!! Good job Sarah, its great song!
Hi Sarah, thank you for this song. I saw a fretless banjo in the window of my guitar shop and wondered what you'd do with it. So I looked it up on youtube and found your videos. The soft percussive sound of your instrument is intriguing. I like it very much as well as your voice. Thanks for introducing your music to me. Greetings from a guitar player, Berlin, Germany!
Hi Kerstin, glad to hear from you! One of the nice things about a fretless banjo, in addition to the beautiful sound, is the ability to slide up and down from one note to another in a way you can't quite do on a fretted instrument, which lends a particularly soulful quality to the music. I hope you continue to find fretless videos that intrigue you! Best, Sarah
Your playing an singing is hypnotizing. Thanks for sharing that
I LOVE THIS SONG!
Don't sell your self short Sarah. This is a wonderful version. On repeat here. You are stunning.
Love the singing and playing. You have improved over the past year.
for the first time in my life, I'd like to be a bean plant to listen live this inspiring music :) It's great!
This is my favorite rendition of the song. Thank you for your soulful and unique take on it :)
Very cool
Woah, amazing sound !
This was fantastic. Thank you!
Making that banjo really sing, great sound
Great sound. Thanks for sharing your talent.
Love it!
how beautifull
My favorite version of this song
Brilliant version of this great song ! ......
Proof again that simple is supreme.
Fantastic!
Boom! nailed it.
Damn what a great banjo sound
Wow Your something else x
I have played this song at leats 100 times and still not enough
Wow. The intro sounds almost like you are playing a Donso Ngoni, before the superb clawhammer kicks into gear. I love the sound.
This is simply amazing. So haunting. Beautiful. Congrats !
NICE playing and singing.
Well hey there! NICE banjo!!! ;-)
Sweet. She's really groovin
sounds great building a gourd banjo probably first song I'll tackle
Watched this several times now. The banjo has a beautiful sound and it looks like it might take a bit of managing with that wide neck and those deep slack strings. Your performance is the real thing.
Wonderful Sarah ... So glad to find this clip ....All the best Guy
Yeah! Really great! You shred that thing, and sing so easy. I'm glad I found this.
Whew...you rocked this one! Fast and scary, just like it’s ‘sposta be!
love the vocals
Mighty fine!
Great playing and singing! You have the perfect voice for this kind of music!
Look at me! Your brilliant. Slainte!
this made my day
Holy Wow! Bravo!