John wrote this song while he lived with us, the Blake family, on Belmont Blvd. in Nashville. I remember he was stoned to the bone when he wrote it. Took him about 15-20 minutes.
I saw Hartford on tour for the Aereo Plane lp when I was in college at North Texas State. It was just him and Norman Blake. Have never seen anything like it. It was an outdoor concert, very informal. Definitely the best newgrass I've seen before or since. I remember I requested "Up on the Hill...", and they played it the very next song. John was gracious and a picking fool.
I met Vassar during set break once when he was playing on the town common in Danvers, Massachusetts, around this same time period. He was loading his pipe, and I commented on his violin. He said it was made in the early 1700s
I saw Vassar play in a bar with Buddy Cage from New Riders in NJ, must have been around '94 or so, after his set was over i walked over, commented on his fiddle & he handed it to me! Also told me it was a few hundred years old. Really nice guy. Told him I can't play good yet - just learning, but i looked over the carving at the peghead, and VERY carefully handed it back to him. Looks to be the same fiddle on this video.
Down in the city it's a pity what's there All the kids in the gutter runnin' really bare How much money do I have to get To get me set where the jet set gets Chorus: Up on the hill where they do the boogie (dododododododo, the boogie) I wonder what they're doin' when they dodo the boogie And I wonder what I'm doin' here Down in the city if a-you ain't dead You better watch that man, he gonna bust your head Throw you over and leave you aloone He's a-twenty minutes late, He's gotta be back home (Chorus) The rat's in the alley and a roach on the floor A businessman huntin' for a two-bit whore I thought I heard some housewife say I gotta go up the hill for the PTA (Chorus) A-Some folks say that a hippie won't steal But I caught three in my corn field One had a flag and the other had a bomb And the third ol' boy was a-gettin' on home (Chorus) Now all I know about is a-what I read A-see it comin' at me on the TV screen Every time they boogie well it gives me a thrill But they always seem to do it way up on the hill (Chorus) Dodododododododododododododododododododdo do dodod dodo
John wrote this song while he lived with us, the Blake family, on Belmont Blvd. in Nashville. I remember he was stoned to the bone when he wrote it. Took him about 15-20 minutes.
What a great story. As a songwriter musician, I can assure you this is the exact time frame in which all great songs are written(;
If he was a heavy hitter probably part of the reason he got so sick... hey wait a minute - isn't this an old gospel song?
I saw Hartford on tour for the Aereo Plane lp when I was in college at North Texas State. It was just him and Norman Blake. Have never seen anything like it. It was an outdoor concert, very informal. Definitely the best newgrass I've seen before or since. I remember I requested "Up on the Hill...", and they played it the very next song. John was gracious and a picking fool.
All-Star's !
Missing John & Vassar 💙⚡
What a treasure
John died 7 months later after a 12yr battle with lymphoma. Amazing how well he's doing here!
I never heard until after the fact. I was shocked.
He was always great! Unique sense of timing & lyrics . And a soft, gentle voice t hat spoke to us in a way noone else could. RIP
Jerry Garcia and John Hartford. 2 guys that really had something special. Could bring a crowd out of themselves and into the moment. Miss them!
my dad is a huge deadhead, and he tells me stories of sitting around the fire with Hartford, so i'm sure he'd wholeheartedly agree
You nailed it! Gone are the days
Did John & Jerry ever get together to record anything?
@@MrStringpicker Would have been something. I don't know that they ever did.
Best wishes to all from Less Than Face Productions. With special thanks to Phreshie at the Vault.
Wow, Face! I was just at TSBMH Sunday afternoon. Thanks.
This one makes me laugh. Love it!
I met Vassar during set break once when he was playing on the town common in Danvers, Massachusetts, around this same time period. He was loading his pipe, and I commented on his violin. He said it was made in the early 1700s
I saw Vassar play in a bar with Buddy Cage from New Riders in NJ, must have been around '94 or so, after his set was over i walked over, commented on his fiddle & he handed it to me! Also told me it was a few hundred years old. Really nice guy. Told him I can't play good yet - just learning, but i looked over the carving at the peghead, and VERY carefully handed it back to him. Looks to be the same fiddle on this video.
top notch my man, gracias!
Norman Blake looking so slick in the back
Best rhythm guitarist that ever lived.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
PURE GOLD
Thanks for sharing!
Where were the housewivesstay in Bermuda?
Who's the other fella, besides Sam, playing mandolin?
Mike Compton
I was there at memorable historical concert in the top row seat at the Troy music hall. Remember it like yesterday.
Down in the city it's a pity what's there
All the kids in the gutter runnin' really bare
How much money do I have to get
To get me set where the jet set gets
Chorus:
Up on the hill where they do the boogie
(dododododododo, the boogie)
I wonder what they're doin' when they dodo the boogie
And I wonder what I'm doin' here
Down in the city if a-you ain't dead
You better watch that man, he gonna bust your head
Throw you over and leave you aloone
He's a-twenty minutes late, He's gotta be back home
(Chorus)
The rat's in the alley and a roach on the floor
A businessman huntin' for a two-bit whore
I thought I heard some housewife say
I gotta go up the hill for the PTA
(Chorus)
A-Some folks say that a hippie won't steal
But I caught three in my corn field
One had a flag and the other had a bomb
And the third ol' boy was a-gettin' on home
(Chorus)
Now all I know about is a-what I read
A-see it comin' at me on the TV screen
Every time they boogie well it gives me a thrill
But they always seem to do it way up on the hill
(Chorus)
Dodododododododododododododododododododdo do dodod dodo
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The irony is he playing the fiddle wishing he was playing the banjo
There's probably 750,000 to 1,000,000 worth of simply INSTRUMENTS on that stage, nevermind the talent. Geez...
Crazy he'd be dead in just 7 months