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!

Johnny Come Down to Hilo

(Bb 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

Johnny Come Down to Hilo

Never see de like since I been born
When a big buck nigger wid his sea boots on,
chorus:
     Says: "Johnny come down to Hilo,
     Poor old man! Oh, wake her, oh, shake her!
     Oh wake dat gal wid de blue dress on!
     When Johnny comes down to Hilo,
     Poor old man!

l lub a little gal across de sea,
She's a 'Badian beauty, and she says to me:

Oh, was you ebber down in Mobile Bay,
Where dey screws cotton on a summer day?
Dld you ebber see de old plantation boss,
And de long-tail filly and de big black hoss?"

From American Ballads and Folk Songs, Lomax
Recorded by Forebitter, also Oscar Brand
RG

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!