Annotation:Down at the Mouth of Old Stinson

Back to 

 DOWN AT THE MOUTH OF OLD STINSON. AKA - "The Mouth of Stinson." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, West Virginia. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. John Hartford notes that the area around Stinson Creek in Calhoun County, West Virginia, was at one time a very rough place and best avoided (although it was near Old Laury Hick's place, where Wilson Douglas used to hear the regionally famous fiddler Ed Haley play). Gerry Milnes reports that source Douglas placed the tune at the Mouth of Stinson Creek in Clay County, and recalled that there was a picnic attended by the 'woodhicks' there during which part of the entertainment was a wrestling match. Something went amiss and one of the participants was severely injured and died the next day. This 'crooked' tune is supposed to reflect the sadness of the event.  Source for notated version:  Printed sources:  Recorded sources: Marimac AHS#1, Wilson Douglas. Rounder 0392, John Hartford - "Wild Hog in the Red Brush (and a Bunch of Others You Might Not Have Heard) {1996}. Shanachie Records 6040, Gerry Milnes & Lorriane Lee Hammond - "Hell Up Coal Holler" (1999. Learned from West Virginia fiddler Wilson Douglas).

Back to