Digital Tradition Mirror

This notation is pretty simple; dark circles mean covered holes; empty circles mean uncovered holes; a '+' below means to blow harder to get the upper octave; a '#' below means this note is too low for the whistle chosen and you'll have to fake it :) The author of this program always plays accidentals by closing holes, so you'll never see half-covered holes.

When I was starting, I found notation like this to be very helpful, and I know plenty of people who have trouble reading music who find this notation easier. Good luck!

Billy Grimes

(D whistle)

(This score available as ABC, SongWright, PostScript, PNG, or PMW, or a MIDI file)
(Choose a whistle key: A B C D E F G Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb A# B# C# D# E# F# G#)
Dulcimer tab for this song is also available

Billy Grimes

Tomorrow morning I'm sweet sixteen
And Billy Grimes, a drover,
Has popped the question to me, ma
And wants to be my lover.

He says he's coming here, mama,
Tomorrow morning quite early.
To take a pleasant walk with me
Across the field of barley.

You must not go, my daughter dear,
It's no use now in talking.
You must not go across the field
With Billy Grimes a-walking.

To think of his presumption too,
The ugly, dirty drover.
I wonder where your pride has gone
To think of such a lover.

Old Grimes is dead, you know, mama,
And Billy he's so lonely.
Besides of Grimes's whole estate
Billy is the owner.

Surviving heir to all that's left,
That they say is nearly
A good ten thousand dollars, mama,
About six thousand yearly.

I did not hear, my daughter dear,
Your last remark quite clearly,
But Billy he's a clever lad,
And no doubt loves you dearly.

Remember then tomorrow morn
To be up bright and early
To take a pleasant walk with him
Across the field of barley.

From English Folk Songs in the Southern Appalachians, Sharp
  Collected from Mrs. Margaret Jack Dodd, VA 1918
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!