Annotation:Hold Old Bald While I Dance with Josie
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HOLD OLD BALD WHILE I DANCE WITH JOSIE. Old-Time, Breakdown. USA, Missouri. C Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. Source Jim Herd (1919-2002) was born in Eastview, Missouri, but moved in 1951 to Washington State. He retained his Missouri fiddle style however, and was early influenced by Lonnie Robertson. Mark Wilson (2000) suggests possible melodic connections with the tunes "Hawks and Eagles" and "Fun's All Over (1) (The)." Drew Beisswenger (2008) notes that similar Ozark melodies include "Arkansas Hoedown," "Wagner One Step" and "Humansville." He also suggests the title may relate to a play-party song called "The fiddler's drunk and we can't dance josie," pointing out that 'josie' was the name of a dance popular in the 1840's (and mentioned in the c. 1838 minstrel song by Edward Harper called "Jim Along Josie"). Actually a 'josie' appears to be an African-American dance step rather than a dance itself.
Source for notated version: Jim Herd [Beisswenger & McCann].
Printed sources: Beisswenger & McCann (Ozarks Fiddle Music), 2008; p. 56.
Recorded sources: Rounder 0437, Jim Herd - "Traditional Fiddle Music of the Ozarks, vol. 3: Down in the Border Counties" (2000. Various artists).