Blue Mule

 BLUE MULE. AKA and see "Austin Breakdown." Old-Time, Breakdown. USA; Arkansas, Missouri. G Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AA'BB'C (Beisswenger & McCann). Recorded for the Library of Congress by musicologist/folklorist Vance Randolph in the early 1940's from Ozark Mountain fiddlers, where it is a regionally popular tune formerly seldom heard in other parts of the country. Mark Wilson sees resemblance with the tunes "Nancy's Got a Pretty Dress On" and "Austin Breakdown," while Drew Beisswenger (2008) finds Absie Morrison's "Irish Washerwoman [2]" (a reel version) similar. There is some speculation it may have derived from the play-party song "Skip to My Lou." "Blue Mule" is usually heard played in two strains. Source Glen Rickman (1901-1982) believed the tune to have been played during the Civil War, and identified his additional third part as the one a "Rebel" cousin had played [Beisswenger & McCann]. Guthrie Meade gives two early 78RPM recorded sources: Bob Miller's Hinky Dinkers (1930) and Jess Hillard & His West Virginia Hillbillies (1933). It was in the repertoire of Missouri fiddlers Art Galbraith (1909-1993) and Bob Holt (1930-2004). Sources for notated versions: Kerry Blech (Seattle) [Silberberg]; Glenn Rickman (Hurley, Mo.) [Beisswenger & McCann]. Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozark Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 112. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 13. Recorded sources: See also listing at: Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources

X:1 T:Blue Mule M:C| L:1/8 K:G GE|DG[GB]G DG[GB]G|DG[BG] d2d2|(3cBc AF DFAF|DFAB c4| DG[GB]G DG[GB]G|DG[BG] d2d2|(3cBc AF DFAc|B2G2G2 ef|| g2 ge dedc|BGAF G3 gf|e2 c2 cdcB|AGFE D2 ba| g2d2 dedc|BGAF G2 FE|DFAF DFAc|B2G2G2||

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