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The Rising Sun

Alan Lomax recorded two other versions of the ballad in eastern Kentucky in 1937; one

by Dawson Henson and another by Bert Martin. In 1941, in Lomax’s songbook “Our

Singing Country,” Lomax credits the song to Georgia Turner using Martin’s extra lyrics

to complete the song. A “bluesologist” for Texas music, Coy Prather, argued that “The

Rising Sun Blues” should be credited to Texas Alexander (1928) as a hillbilly song, but

another researcher, Ted Anthony, indicates that the Texas Alexander version is similar

to an old tune called “The Rambling Cowboy” and may not be related.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l67CwScw3nE

All the tunes and songs are played with live, acoustic

instruments, and the audio-video reflects what is written

in the sheet music shown above.

I chose the lower octave in the sheet music to give it

more feeling, and I used an Irish-tuned, low octave

mandolin (aka “Irish Bouzouki”), an Astarius Messo C

whistle, an MK1 Low C whistle, and a footboard drum.

There is no difference in playing the arrangement one

octave higher.

“Shaun,

That KelticDead

Guy”

Patrick O. Young,

KelticDead Music

KelticDead Music