Annotation:Rattlesnake Bit the Baby

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RATTLESNAKE BIT THE BABY. AKA and see "Katy Did (2),” "Boston Boy," “Ladies in the Ballroom (2),” "Take Me Back to Georgia" (Lowe Stokes). Old-Time, Breakdown. USA. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The title appears to be mandolinist Kenny Halls, but is better-known under the name Lowe Stokes recorded it, “Take Me Back to Georgia.” See also the related tunes "Pateroller Song (2)," "Pat the Budgie," "Rocky Pallet," "Wild John” and Gene Goforth’s “Black River."

Rattlesnake Bit the Baby, foreign girls drive me crazy,
Rattlesnake Bit the Baby, ha, ha, ha, the baby.

Frankie shot Albert, Frankie shot Albert,
Frankie shot Albert, ha, ha, ha, Albert.

Tadly shot Homer, Tadly shot Homer,
Tadly shot Homer, ha, ha, ha, Homer.

Tadly smashed Homer, Tadly smashed Homer,
Tadly smashed Homer, ha, ha, ha, Homer. ... (Kenny Hall)

Source for notated version: Kenny Hall (California) [Kuntz].

Printed sources: Gray & Hall (Kenny Hall's Music Book), 1999; p. 73. Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pp. 355-356. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 195.

Recorded sources: County 727, John Ashby and the Free State Ramblers – “Old Virginia Fiddling” (1970). Marimac 9057, Vesta Johnson – “Blue Flame” (1994). Voyager 328, "Kenny Hall and the Long Haul String Band" (Learned from Hank Bradley via Harry Liedstrand).

See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [1]

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