Red Haired Boy is my selection for this tune of the week!
This is a well known tune that goes by many other names: Gilderoy, The Old Solider With a Wooden Leg, The Little Beggarman, The Jolly Beggar, The Rigadoo, Johnny Dhu, Injun et a Woodchuck, and a few other odd names popped up here and there.
Here is the link to the fiddler's companion for those who are interested - FIDDLER'S COMPANION
It seems the tune is Irish and Scottish in its origins. "Red Haired Boy is the English translation of the Gaelic title "Giolla Rua" (or, Englished, "Gilderoy"). Another website claims that the name 'Gilderoy' is an English corruption of the Gaelic words 'Giolla Ruaidh'; giolla is generally taken to mean a servant or a young person, while ruaidh literally means red, though when used in conjunction with a person it refers to red hair.
The tune seems to be done traditionally in the key of A, but some in key of G as well.
I like the lyrics to the Soldier with a Wooden Leg version-
There was an old soldier and he had a wooden leg,
He had no tobacco and tobacco he would beg.
Says this old soldier: "Won't you give me a chew?"
Says t'other old soldier: "I'll be darned if I do."
Here are some lyrics in the Little Beggarman variety - Here is a LINK to the complete lyrics
I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been,
For three score years in this little isle of green;
I'm known along the Liffey from the Basin to the Zoo,
And everybody calls me by the name of Johnny Dhu.
Now for some BHO versions. There are no shortage of awesome versions out there.
Here's Janet B playin and a singin - LINK
Jim Reed at his best - LINK
Mark Johnson's perfect clawhammer - LINK
Dave Hum's nice arrangement - LINK
Rick Hayes nice Irish feel - LINK
Here is a really neat version by the Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem - LINK
There was a nice "Post-a-thon" In the sound off forum in July that you can read and check out here - LINK
I came across one story that I found really interesting. You may remember Daniel Pearl - the American journalist who was kidnapped and then killed in 2002. Danny was a bluegrass and old-time fiddler and apparently "Red Haired Boy" was his favorite fiddle tune. There seems to be a group of people, at least back in mid 2000's after he was killed, that have renamed this song Danny Pearl's favorite. I'm not sure if that name still has any traction, but I thought it was an interesting story. Have any of you ever heard this song go by that name in any jams recently?
Finally, I've attached the version that I recorded a few months ago. I had hoped to record something new or maybe a video, but I honestly haven't picked up a banjo in the past 2 weeks but about one time. That's one thing I need to fix real soon!
Chime in with your thoughts on the song. I'd love to hear some new versions posted to the hangout.
**edited to add my attachment which i forgot the first time! Thanks Janet!