JUNE APPLE [1]. American, Reel (cut time). USA, Virginia. A Mixolydian. Standard or AEae (Tommy Jarrell) tunings (fiddle). AB (Silberberg): AABB (most versions). A June apple is an early ripening variety of apple, maturing in the spring in the southern United States. It tends to be smaller and more tart then later-ripening apples. Most versions of the tune are in the mixolydian mode, although Benton Flippen (b. 1920, Surry Country, N.C.) plays it in A major. The late Mt. Airy, North Carolina, fiddler Tommy Jarrell [1] (1901-1985) sang these words to the second strain:
Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerham
Wish I was a June Apple Hanging on a tree Every time my true love passed She'd take a little bite of me
Going across the mountain I'm Going in a swing When I get on the other side I'm gonna hear my woman sing
Don't you hear that banjo saying I wish that gal was mine Can't you hear that banjo saying I wish that gal was mine
Charlie he's a nice young man Charlie he's a dandy Charlie he's a nice young He feeds the gals on candy
Over the river to feed my sheep Over the river Charlie Over the river to feed my sheep Feed them on barley
Wish I had some sticks and poles Build my chimney higher Ever time it rains or snows Puts out all my fire
Joel Shimberg points out that the lyrics to "Train on the Island" scan for the "June Apple" melody and are sometimes sung to it as 'floating verses.'
Additional notes
Sources for notated versions: - Red Clay Ramblers (N.C.) [Brody]; Uncle Charlie Higgins (Galax, Va.) [Krassen]; Allan Block and Andy May [Spadaro]; W.B. Reid/M. Gaponoff [Silberberg]; Carthy Sisco [Silberberg]; Benton Flippen (Surry Co., N.C.) via Jody Stecher [Fiddler Magazine]; Tommy Jarrell [Milliner & Koken].
Printed sources : - Brody (Fiddler's Fakebook), 1983; p. 153. Fiddler Magazine, Winter 2008/09, vol. 15, No. 4; p. 8. Johnson (Kitchen Musician No. 2: Old-Timey Fiddle Tunes), 1982 (revised 1988, 2003); p. 6. Krassen (Appalachian Fiddle), 1973; pp. 34–35. Milliner & Koken (Milliner-Koken Collection of American Fiddle Tunes), 2011; p. 352. Phillips (Fiddle Case Tunebook: Old Time Southern), 1989; p. 24. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 1), 1994; p. 130. Silberberg (Fiddle Tunes I Learned at the Tractor Tavern), 2002; p. 79 (two versions). Spadaro (10 Cents a Dance), 1980; p. 37.
Recorded sources: -Chubby Dragon CD1008, Brad Leftwich, Bruce Molsky et al – "Mountairy.usa" (2001).
County 713, Cockerham, Jarrell, and Jenkins – "Down to the Cider Mill" (Tommy Jarrell learned the tune from his father, Ben Jarrell).
County CD 2735, Tommy Jarrell – "Stay All Night" (2004).
Folkways FTS 331038, Roger Sprung and Hal Wylie – "Bluegrass Blast."
Heritage 054, Smokey Valley Boys – "Brandywine '83: Music of French America" (1984).
Marimac AHS #3, Glen Smith – "Say Old Man" (1990. Learned from Tommy Jarrell).
Marimac 9000, Dan Gellert & Shoofly – "Forked Deer" (1986. Learned from Tommy Jarrell).
Oak Records OOK CD 001, "Brittany Haas" (2004).
Tennvale 002, Red Clay Ramblers – "Galax '73."
See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
Hear a 1999 recording of the Sim Top Ramblers at Berea Digital Content [3]
Hear banjo player Neal 'Pop' Collins (c. 1970's) at Digital Library of Appalachia [4]
