A bit of Prohibition and Depression era history here, the poor farmer couldn't make enough money raising cotton. Four Cent Cotton led to raising corn instead for whiskey. Times haven't changed so much, sad to say. This arrangement comes from the early recording of fiddler Lowe Stokes.

This traditional Cajun waltz sings of the sad loss of a loved one. I like its melody and found it easy to play on clawhammer banjo.

Clawhammer banjo in aEAc#e

Original Cello Banjo

3-finger picking

Tuning: A C# A B E

Elizabeth Cotten learned this tune in 1910 from a man aged about 50. She added the words.

Two finger thumb lead. Banjo tuned fDGCD.

Two finger thumb lead. Banjo tuned fDGCD.

Clawhammer style, gDGCD (relative). 1964 Gibson RB-175.