Annotation:June Apple

Back to 

 JUNE APPLE [1]. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Virginia. A Mixolydian. Standard or AEae (Tommy Jarrell) tunings. AB (Silberberg): AABB (most versions). A June apple is an early ripening variety of apple, maturing in the spring in the southern United States. It tends to be smaller and more tart then later-ripening apples. Most versions are in the mixolydian mode, although Benton Flippen (b. 1920, Surry Country, N.C.) plays it in A major. The late Mt. Airy, North Carolina, fiddler Tommy Jarrell (b. 1901) sang these words to the 'B' part: Wish I was a June Apple Hanging on a tree Every time my true love passed She'd take a little bite of me Going across the mountain I'm Going in a swing When I get on the other side I'm gonna hear my woman sing Don't you hear that banjo saying I wish that gal was mine Can't you hear that banjo saying I wish that gal was mine Charlie he's a nice young man Charlie he's a dandy Charlie he's a nice young He feeds the gals on candy Over the river to feed my sheep Over the river Charlie Over the river to feed my sheep Feed them on barley Wish I had some sticks and poles Build my chimney higher Ever time it rains or snows Puts out all my fire Joel Shimberg points out that the lyrics to "Train on the Island" scan for the "June Apple" melody and are sometimes sung to it as 'floating verses.'  Source for notated version: Red Clay Ramblers (N.C.) [Brody]; Uncle Charlie Higgins (Galax, Va.) [Krassen]; Allan Block and Andy May [Spandaro]; W.B. Reid/M. Gaponoff [Silberberg]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg]; Benton Flippen (Surry Co., N.C.) via Jody Stecher [Fiddler Magazine].  Printed sources: Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 153. Fiddler Magazine, Winter 2008/09, vol. 15, No. 4; p. 8. Johnson (Kitchen Musician No. 2: Old-Timey Fiddle Tunes for Hammer Dulcimer, Fiddle, etc.), 1982 (revised 1988, 2003); p. 6. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pp. 34-35. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook), 1989; p. 24. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes), 1994; p. 130. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 79 (two versions). Spadaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 37.  Recorded sources: Chubby Dragon CD1008, Brad Leftwich, Bruce Molsky et al - "Mountairy.usa" (2001). County 713, Cockerham, Jarrell, and Jenkins- "Down to the Cider Mill" (Tommy Jarrell learned the tune from his father, Ben Jarrell). Folkways FTS 331038, Roger Sprung and Hal Wylie- "Bluegrass Blast." Heritage 054, Smokey Valley Boys - "Brandywine '83: Music of French America" (1984). Marimac AHS #3, Glen Smith - "Say Old Man" (1990. Learned from Tommy Jarrell). Marimac 9000, Dan Gellert & Shoofly - "Forked Deer" (1986. Learned from Tommy Jarrell). Tennvale 002, Red Clay Ramblers- "Galax '73."  See also listing at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources Hear a 1999 recording of the Sim Top Ramblers at Berea Digital Content Hear banjo player Neal 'Pop' Collins (c. 1970's) at Digital Library of Appalachia

Back to