My Funky Folk Journey

Many years ago, my dad instilled an inspiration deep in me: a love of old-time fiddle and banjo music. Growing up, I played the fiddle but it wasn't until I was 22 that I realized why I loved to play so much. The most inspiring moments of my life have been those of deep connection with other humans, and sometimes even with trees, which have been mostly facilitated by music. Playing music with another person is a most excellent way to connect with them, because it forces emotional honesty from you, and also means you have to listen. It is a fun activity at the least, and a spiritual exercise in the most. Some of my favorite musical experiences have also been singing with others. The grandest musical moment of my life was at Clifftop, 2018, the "Appalachian String Band Festival", playing with people I loved into the night until an explosion of color and life-force erupted from everybody's chest. But before we get there, though, it may be important to clarify some things about music and what it means to a free people. How does somebody gain it as a spiritual tool? Music is a tradition passed down through generations. It is inherently simple, yet infinitely explorable. Music is NOT something to be manufactured and fed to people; it is something that humans must create together. It in itself represents a union of human beings, and therefore is a cure to the social isolation of the modern world.

American music represents the unique union of European and African culture. Because our history is so violent, it is hard to imagine either culture taking anything from the other. Yet, historians say that whites and blacks recreated together in America before slavery was racialized. (source: The New Jim Crow; book). During this time, the people surely shared songs with each other. It is common for the human, around a campfire or after a meal, to share his/her songs and listen to those of his companions. We know about "soul music" as an African American thing- dating back to spirituals, work songs, banjo picking, but I have heard the term "blue eyed soul music" refer to Celtic/ Gaelic music. The African American musical tradition is deep, and is considered to be influenced by oppression. "Sunny days wouldn't be special if it wasn't for rain." (Curtis Jackson). Turn your eye also to the Irish and Scottish people, known for their fighting and drinking whiskey. These people too are considered to have been oppressed by the British. Is it any coincidence that their music is also so full of soul, so punching to the gut and inspiring to listen to? These two soulful ethnic groups mingled in America, and also traded musical traditions.. The West Africans brought the banjo (akonting) and the clawhammer banjo style. The British Islanders brought the fiddle, and the Europeans at large brought other instruments. Both groups brought their ancient songs. The African songs I do not know, but they clearly evolved into spirituals and chain-gang songs. The Gaelic songs I do know some of- they are beautiful ballads. Both traditions bring dance music- wonderful dancing music- that seems to combine, as the fiddle becomes played with the banjo. Thus, the quintessential American music- the first mixture and trade between these two cultures- is old-time fiddle and banjo music, which is a magical thing. The fiddle and clawhammer banjo are mates.

Of course, the rest of American music history is a giant thing. But one thing remains certain- music was passed down through generations all the way from the founding of America, from slavery and immigration, all the way to today. Surely you have all sung "Happy Birthday?" This is a basic example of a folk song. Ancient, origins of the melody unknown, changeable lyrics if you want. And, most importantly, it tells a story: "Happy birthday!". Depending on who is reading this, you may or may not know more old songs. It seems that in the world of pop garbage that stagnates around us, most people don't know much folklore or sing many old songs. But I have met plenty of people who do!! In fact, it seems like I ONLY meet musicians... and no matter how experimental of a musician you are, you of course will be recycling stuff you have heard; it has created your style. But, on the opposite side of the spectrum is Trevor Hammons, a young fiddler and banjo player from Pocahontas County, West Virginia, whose Scottish ancestors carried a fiddle with them on the trip across the sea to America. This frontiersman family, who literally "roughed it" in the woods of dark and beautiful West Virginia since immigration, were not exposable to the trends of pop culture the rest of the nation experienced until recently, with internet and radio, etc. And as such, geographically isolated in the mountains, they had time and their own space to play their ancient songs, and adapt them to their new surroundings as the soul demanded. It is because of this that Trevor's grandfather's brother (or some relation like this, I don't know) was recorded singing a song that can be traced back 1,200 years into the past, into the time before Beowulf was ever written. We know this because variations of the song exist spatially scattered throughout the British Isles- it seems to really stick. And I say that, from experience, it certainly does stick. Why? Because it is EPIC!!! It is literally an oral epic- a hunting ballad about man versus monster- his wits versus the jaws of a beast: "Bangum and the Wild Boar." No ordinary boar, mind you, for when Bangum tracks the boar to his den, he finds the bones of 1,000 men.

It goes: "They are a wild boar in these woods, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

They are a wild boar in these woods, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

They are a wild boar in these woods, he eats mens' flesh and sucks mens' blood,

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio....

Old Bangum made him a wooden gun, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

Old Bangum made him a wooden gun, Dillo Dee

Old Bangum made him a wooden gun, to shoot that wild boar as he run,

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio.

Old Bangum took him a butcher's knife, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

Old Bangum took him a butcher's knife, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

Old Bangum took him a butcher's knife, and he swore to take that wild boar's life,

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio.

He tracked that wild boar to its den, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

He tracked that wild boar to its den, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

He tracked that wild boar to its den, where he found the bones of a thousand men,

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio.

He raised his horn up to his ,mouth, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

He raised his horn up to his ,mouth, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

He raised his horn up to his mouth, and he blowed it east and west and south.

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio.

That wild boar came with such a dash, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee.

That wild boar came with such a dash, Dillo Dee,

That wild boar came with such a dash, that he splintered hick'ry oak and ash

Come away, Quaddle Down, Quanzio

Old Bangum raised his wooden gun, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

Old Bangum raised his wooden gun, Dillo Dee

Old Bangum raised his wooden gun, and he shot that wild boar as it run,

Come away, Quaddle Down, Cuanzio

Bangum raised his butcher knife, Dillo Dee, Dillo Dee

Bangum raised his butcher knife, Dillo Dee,

Bangum raised his butcher knife, and there he took the wild boar's life

Come away, Quaddle Down, Cuanzio.

This was able to be passed down through time due to its repetitiveness, epic nature, and simple and catchy melody. Imagine singing this one around the fire. A better example of how easily music is passed down is an examination of the three-chord structure of so many songs. These chords are I (i.e. D), IV (i.e. G), and V (i.e. A). These chords make such simple recipes. Listen to the song "walking cane", an old African American song adopted into the old-time and bluegrass tradition .

I

"Hand me down my walking cane,

V I Hand me down my walking cane.

IV Hand me down my walking cane,

I I’m gonna leave on the midnight train,

I V I All my sins are taken away, taken away.

Because the chords are so simple, the melody can be quite catchy and repetitive. The lyrics are clearly catchy and repetitive too. And, because of all this, the music is easy to play!!! And here we have a very important point- that this folk music is beginner friendly. Academics often say that folk music is characterized by not being the music of professionals. It is the music of the common people, and anyone can do it. Take this walking cane song. I can clearly sing along with you. Give me a guitar, and I will happily play these chords with you. Give me a fiddle, harmonica, whatever you've got, and I'll play the melody between the verses. Same thing with the banjo, bass, accordion, spoons, whatever- there's a niche for each one of them, and they will find it quite simply and happily.

So why would people want to play and sing? It feels good! It feels great, actually. And you get to do it with other people. You get to assert yourself and everybody else does too. And it's damn sure better than watching TV.