Annotation:Seven and a Half

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X:1 T:Seven and a Half N:From the playing of fiddler J.E. Mainer (1898 – 1971, North Carolina) M:C| L:1/8 R:Reel D: Z:Transcribed by Andrew Kuntz K:A +slide+a2-|aeaa ffee|afaa- f2+slide+a2-|abaf f-gee|ceBB A2+slide+a2-| aeae- ffee|afae- f2+slide+a2-|abaf f-gee|ceBB A4|| +slide+cAcA BcAA|cAcA E2+slide+(=c2|^c)AcA BcAA|FEFF A2(=c2| ^c)AcA BcAA| cAcA E2+slide+(=c2|^c)AcA BcAE|FEFF A2||

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SEVEN AND A HALF. American, Reel (cut time). A Major. AEae tuning (fiddle). The tune is a close relative of "Cripple Creek", although Norm Cohen links it with the better known "Hook and Line," or "Shout Lulu". It was in the repertoire of North Carolina fiddler J.E. Mainer, who recorded it in 1935 with his band Mainer's Mountaineers (Joseph Emmett Mainer, f/V; Wade Mainer, bj; Zeke Morris, g;Daddy John Love, g). Mainer sang couplets to the second strain, most 'floating' verses (i.e. used in several song/tunes).

Sold my cow, sold my calf.
All I got was seven and a half.

I rode my [herd to the middle of the barn(??)]
I won't get a bite 'till the water gets warm.

Sheep and goat, walking' to the pasture,
Sheep said, "Goat, can't you get a little faster."

Give me a hook, give me a line,
Give me that gal who's tall and fine.

Sold my horse, sold my calf,
Sold my lunch box for seven and a half.