It's 1859, you're on a steamboat traveling from Cincinnati down to St. Louis. There is talk of secession and a looming crisis, but you sit in your seat and relax as you hear the relaxing sound of a banjo playing from a riverside cabin.
A wiry haired gentleman with a full mustache introduces himself as Sam and takes a seat beside you . He comments about the weather and then begins telling you philosophies and humorous short stories about his life experiences with a clever rhythm to his speech. What a beautiful afternoon it is on the river if I say so
100% the best version of that song ever played. I hope he knows that. He's really connecting with something here bigger than himself. I hear pure life in that song.
I learned this song from my elementary school music teacher. We didn't know it then (1960's) but nearly everything she taught us came out of the American folk song cache of music. In retrospect, I can't thank her enough. Thanks for jogging my memory, Cliff.
It's the traditional songs like this that ease my troubles during these distressing times. Thanks, Clifton. When things get really bad, at least we'll have this beautiful music to remind us all of what is important, and bring us all together again. God bless you wherever you may be.
Brother, I hope you know how transcendent this is. That tune, your voice? Pure magic my friend. Life could be found in that tune, or at least happiness could. I hear the Creator in it for sure.
ANYONE appreciative of 'Old Timey Music', Vaudeville-style entertainment, Bluegrass, and/or anything in between, would LOVE your voice, loving treatment of the old ways, instruments, and songs!! '
i cannot get enough of this song. learning how to play the banjo, taking some lessons from you actually, main goal right now is to eventually be able to learn how to play this song.
You inspired me to pick up my first oscar schmidt ob5 today appreciate you for spreading this authentic Appalachian sound i'll try my best to pass it down as well ❤🖤
That's a great song Clifton !!! Played expertly by you...!!! You play and sing like my best friend ever in this world and my hero.....my PAP !!! Did you ever hear a slave rowing song from tidewater Virginia called,"ROW THE BOAT DOWN" it's a beautiful song !
I’ve played this great old tune, over here in Lincoln England, for a few years now in standard tuning from hearing Mike Oberst’s version(from the band The Tillers), but I now play it in double C tuning which feels better to me. Superb version Clifton and the closest we’re likely to hear to the original. Fine work as usual. And lovely sounding banjo🤘🪕
I wish I could share this with my late brother. He would have been fascinated by your instrument I am sure. I bow to your ability. Your fingers are half as long again as my trotters and I even whistle flat.
That's awesome! I'm going to be getting one of these banjos here in about a month from some company in jamaica! I'll try to remember the name but if you know anything about where they come from maybe you could give some insight
That was really nice. Beautiful sound from you and the banjo! And dang Clif! You got green tomatoes in November? Or are you pulling some time travel? 😄
Now that's what I call the Chattahoochee Coochie! Man, I had a gypsy woman one time, and for a second I thought this is a bad idea. The third time was hook line and sinker all the way down to the mortgage lender.
you have an incredible ability to bring history to life with your playing and singing. much respect !
It's 1859, you're on a steamboat traveling from Cincinnati down to St. Louis. There is talk of secession and a looming crisis, but you sit in your seat and relax as you hear the relaxing sound of a banjo playing from a riverside cabin.
Great memory it would be
A wiry haired gentleman with a full mustache introduces himself as Sam and takes a seat beside you . He comments about the weather and then begins telling you philosophies and humorous short stories about his life experiences with a clever rhythm to his speech. What a beautiful afternoon it is on the river if I say so
Then your slave named raymond gives you a big 'ol high five cause he taught you how to play the banjo he brought with him from Africa
That's as authentic as you can get, playing a gourd Banjo in your workclothes with dirty fingers standing in a tomato patch.
The only addition I’d love to see is some period clothing. (:
@@HistoryBoyit’s more authentic like this, without a costume!! ❤️
Wow how nice of Clif to sing a song about me!!
Dance, boat man, DANCE!
Wicked sweet gourd banjo and best version of Boatman yet.
100% the best version of that song ever played. I hope he knows that. He's really connecting with something here bigger than himself. I hear pure life in that song.
Im eating moonshine cherries a listening to your music.
I learned this song from my elementary school music teacher. We didn't know it then (1960's) but nearly everything she taught us came out of the American folk song cache of music. In retrospect, I can't thank her enough. Thanks for jogging my memory, Cliff.
good golly yeessir - gourd all day every day
If that one don't leave ya with a grin ain't nothin' going to ⚓ 👍
Smokin' song... beautiful gourd ! 🔥🚿
Sounds damn good to me
It's the traditional songs like this that ease my troubles during these distressing times. Thanks, Clifton. When things get really bad, at least we'll have this beautiful music to remind us all of what is important, and bring us all together again. God bless you wherever you may be.
Sitting on my country porch with a corn cob pipe and my senior bloodhound, "rebel" listening to some mighty fine banjo picking!!!
Those are the hands of someone who's worked the land. Solidarity, friend.
The speckled hide is cool. Fun tune!
I learned this one from a book and kind of put my own spin on it. I didn't know there were lyrics for it. I got to figure out how to fit them in.
Pretty Neat cuzin🙋🧙♂️👍Praise The Gord
Dirty fingernails built this human world of ours. So pleased to see you unashamed of this fact.
This diddy just sounds RIGHT coming out that gourd
It's smooth and mellow, it sounds like honeydew melon taste!
Brother, I hope you know how transcendent this is. That tune, your voice? Pure magic my friend. Life could be found in that tune, or at least happiness could. I hear the Creator in it for sure.
Truly appreciate the free tunes dude! I jam out to this when I’m working my land. Live long and prosper 🖖
Down to earth music for down to earth people like you and me
I first heard this tune in 1988, thanks Fer the memory
Charlie always puts me to mind of Stanley Hicks from the Foxfire books. Ifen ya'll don't know 'im, look 'im up, ye know hit?
Just read the description. Braxton Co. WV? No way. My grandad was born and raised in Braxton and guess what he played? He picked the banjer.
As an Ohio Valley boy from just outside Huntington West Virginia I absolutely love this song. Love those songs from the valley.
Leaving a sacrifice comment for the algorithm gods. Love the music as always!
🌈🙌🏿
Amazing video my friend
Loved the "Police Squad" ending!
Clifton Hicks and Rhiannon Giddens are my favorite gourd banjo players!
Loving the baler twine holding up the banju Mr Hicks.
Love the gourd banjo.
ANYONE appreciative of 'Old Timey Music', Vaudeville-style entertainment, Bluegrass, and/or anything in between, would LOVE your voice, loving treatment of the old ways, instruments, and songs!!
'
Fantastic! I would really love to see you team up with Blink Boy Paxton. What a show that would be!
Beautiful looking Banjo ☺
Great tune...
love the gourd banjo, never seen one of those before
Great song and pickin love that banjo
I'm about 2 miles from the ohio river where de boatmen dance
That's a gourd-geous banjo
Very cool song nice man!
You're a breath of fresh air, brother. If you ever make it up to Kentucky way, stop for some homemade shine.
You should totally do a collab with the 2nd South Carolina String Band!
What a cool instrument.
i cannot get enough of this song. learning how to play the banjo, taking some lessons from you actually, main goal right now is to eventually be able to learn how to play this song.
No better cure for doom scrolling depression than a Clifton Hicks ditty!
love this so much
Love that banjo!
Dance ye boatman dance! Dance to the old gourd banjo!
You inspired me to pick up my first oscar schmidt ob5 today appreciate you for spreading this authentic Appalachian sound i'll try my best to pass it down as well ❤🖤
My favorite performance so far
This is probably one of the best songs you've ever recorded! Well done sir!
That's a great song Clifton !!! Played expertly by you...!!! You play and sing like my best friend ever in this world and my hero.....my PAP !!! Did you ever hear a slave rowing song from tidewater Virginia called,"ROW THE BOAT DOWN" it's a beautiful song !
On my way to Frisco, Tx slapping my knee to your tune Cliff. Thanks again brother
Damn nice! Great little tune!
I’ve played this great old tune, over here in Lincoln England, for a few years now in standard tuning from hearing Mike Oberst’s version(from the band The Tillers), but I now play it in double C tuning which feels better to me. Superb version Clifton and the closest we’re likely to hear to the original. Fine work as usual. And lovely sounding banjo🤘🪕
Rock on ! Would you please start a banjo school !! Your state should support this
Right on dude that banjo kind of reminds me of an Oud
Fabulous as always. I just got my Jeff Menzies banjo which I enjoy very much.
Sounds amazing. Well done sir.
Love that fretless sound
Awesome song bro! You are very talented!!
Great playing, and thanks for reference to Melvin Wine!
Excellent ! Great performance. Great banjo too.
A particularly good instrument.
loving this sir. sitting in cape town south africa chilling. thank you.
Ways a pleasure. Thanks so much for the music sir. I hope you have a great day.
Cool, l love it!😎♥️👍
I wish I could share this with my late brother. He would have been fascinated by your instrument I am sure. I bow to your ability. Your fingers are half as long again as my trotters and I even whistle flat.
Thanks!
On a budget for awhile.
Beautiful instrument and playing Sir!!
Clifton Cant Be Put Into Words!
Love it 👍🏻👍🏻
Love it
Outstanding! We appreciate it .
Absolutely Lovely! Kind Thanks Clifton! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Wonderful
Beautiful
Thank you for keeping our heritage alive.
Wow, awesome music and singing. Thanks for sharing this song
That banjo sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing this!
That was awesome.
Excellent Clif
You're an amazing talent. I could listen to your music all day. Thank you.
Awesome job!
That was a lot of fun. Thanks for posting. I'm starting to pick up the difference between the fretted and unfretted style.
Beautiful sounds and vocals 👍🏻
Excellent man🤙🏼✌🏼🤙🏼
Good gourd, man, that was fantastic! Keep it up.
That's an awesome banjo
Such a distinctive sound from that gourd. Goes well with that song.
Great video!
I am fascinated with the fantastic sound of this instrument. It is insanely wonderful.
Hope to get to a point that I build and play as well as you do
I have been doing a lot of intense reading on building Lutherie Tools and listen to you play. Thank you
Your makin those maters grow good with that old banjer! Kind Thanks Clifton! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
That's a good one 👍👍
🌈🙌🏿
That's awesome! I'm going to be getting one of these banjos here in about a month from some company in jamaica! I'll try to remember the name but if you know anything about where they come from maybe you could give some insight
Thanks......
That was really nice. Beautiful sound from you and the banjo!
And dang Clif! You got green tomatoes in November? Or are you pulling some time travel? 😄
Now that's what I call the Chattahoochee Coochie! Man, I had a gypsy woman one time, and for a second I thought this is a bad idea. The third time was hook line and sinker all the way down to the mortgage lender.
what would be interesting is hearing scruggs style picking on one of these banjos