mystery song, broken things, remixed song

[solarbird]

I’ve been learning to play melody parts on zouk and mandolin - you might notice the lack of zouk or mandolin solos in the studio album? there’s a reason for that - and I started playing this tune, which I’ve known for forever, and which, in my headcanon, everybody in the world knows.

I’m wondering what it’s called. None of the tune recognition

Comments

[ypawtows]

RE: What is this tune?... I'm hearing "Skip to My Lou".

[solarbird]

There is a sequence in this tune which is absolutely the same as in the eponymous phrase in "Skip to my Lou, My Darling." That's what you're triggering on. But you find that chunk of notes (or very similar) in many old folksongs.

The rest of the song is quite different - different melody, different phrasing, and the appearance of separate A and B parts, which doesn't happen in "Skip to my Lou." It's something else with that phrase in common.

[stickmaker]

Arthur Marx was one of those people who could encounter a new instrument and play it with a few minutes experimentation. Someone - perhaps as a joke - gave him a full-size harp. This he had to work at, because he kept breaking the strings. Eventually, he worked out a tuning which sounded good and didn't overstress the strings. He incorporated the instrument into the family act, and quickly acquired the nickname Harpo

[solarbird]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I worry about that sort of thing sometimes - I have lots of weird gaps in my knowledge and/or skill sets because of my DIY approach to everything, and it's difficult to get anyone to take me seriously as it is, and it all kind of feeds the whole "impostor syndrome" thing. It's a problem.

[partywhipple]

I read this post twice. It didn't make me want to cry in my closet. So nice!!

[solarbird]

I know! And yet, it's the econ that people pay attention to and comment upon. I suppose there being money involved is what matters.