Elk River Blues

A song based on a story told to me by the composer of the fiddle tune by the same name upon which this song was based, Ernie Carpenter, a fifth-generation West Virginia Fiddler. I met Ernie in 1989 at the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. He told me his home was flooded by the Sutton Dam project and he composed the tune to express his sadness at the loss of his community and home. I later wrote lyrics to the tune.

[@gonzagaoliveira1964]

linda Demais !!! Parabéns !!!Thanks Brasil !!! Obrigado

[@LEXICOGRAFFER]

Beautifully done and it moved me.

[@lanecobb4150]

Beatuful! Going to listen to the newer version right now!

[@farnorthpicker56]

We really enjoyed this 😊❤

[@rachelannegoodman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@d0nad0n]

I cannot express how exhilarating and mesmerizing this melody is! The lyrics are so poetic and charming, and yet, so melancholic and moving. Your work really elevated this outstanding tune! Thank you for sharing your amazing talent, Ms Goodman!

[@markduffield8110]

Still listening can’t get enough Well done simply beautiful

[@brandonmarling6386]

The lyrics pay beautiful homage to the gentleman who wrote it

[@rachelannegoodman]

I made a new video with the remixed song and more photos. ua-cam.com/video/QUFHb5XbFwY/v-deo.html

[@siddyx]

Music doesn't get any better than this. So evocative. The back story is so interesting . Rachel's voice is beautiful and so natural and the guitar playing is gorgeous. Hope u don't mind me playing it a couple thousand times ❤

[@rachelannegoodman]

Thanks for listening. I have a newly remixed version of the song with images of the fiddler/tune's author Ernie Carpenter. ua-cam.com/video/QUFHb5XbFwY/v-deo.html

[@siddyx]

I listened and watched your new version, it's beautiful. Stunning scenery with a hint of sadness

[@barbnagle537]

I have loved this tune and have never heard the words before.

[@ryskarpaty9968]

beautiful ballad and story

[@rachelannegoodman]

Thank you!

[@MrAllt1]

enjoying learning this on banjo and singing it. here in wales the welsh nationalist movement has the slogan 'cofwch Treweryn!' which means remember Treweryn which was a north wales village flooded to supply water to England in which all 50 welsh MPs in government voted against it but was over ruled as Wales was treated just as a region of UK. Unfortunately the welsh Chapel movement ie religion saw fiddles as the devils music so for a long time the welsh were singing in choirs rather than playing traditional music so the welsh folk scene has taken a bit longer than the irish folk scene to develop. Dafyd Iwan wrote yma o hyd (were still here) which is a great welsh nationalist song recently though. There probably is a cofwch treweryn song in welsh i must have a search.

[@simpleysteve2536]

Very nice. Should have more views.

[@joata43]

Sweet...an excellent version.

[@rachelannegoodman]

We just issued a remix with John Reischman on mandolin, Bill Coulter on guitar, and Niamh Varian-Barry on Viola. Hope you like it.

[@randyraeder2333]

Beautifully paced and retrained. Lovely.

[@chriskepple5860]

This is lovely. You have a beautiful voice!

[@rachelannegoodman]

Thank you so much! I just posted a new version with some wonderful musicians joining me.

[@markduffield8110]

Well done beautiful voice

[@rachelannegoodman]

Thanks Mark.

[@markduffield8110]

🥂

[@elmikol2443]

Good job!

[@praytoescape6651]

best tempo

[@rachelannegoodman]

Check out my newly mixed version of the song on my channel.

[@edrushbrook]

Beautiful song, beautifully done. I wondered where Sierra Ferrell found it.

[@rachelannegoodman]

Yes, funny story about that. T-Bone Burnett was going to have her sing it in a Sony Pictures film called Downtown Owl, and I was all excited to have a film credit, but they decided to use Elvis Costello's music instead.

[@edrushbrook]

I’m sorry I didn’t see your reply until today, but I was playing the song on my guitar and my wife asked me what the song was. I played her your version since I think it captures the mood perfectly. I live not far from the Elk River. I’m surprised this version doesn’t have more views. Thanks for responding!

[@Endresgarden1]

This is a fiddle tune written by Ernie Carpenter, inspired, if that is really the word, by watching the loss of his family land when the Elk River was dammed. I was just a kid then, and didn't understand that people upstream of the dam were losing their homesteads, often held for several generations, as was the case with Ernie. Several different people, including you, have written lyrics for this tune It bothers me that in your description, you did not credit Ernie for the tune. And yes, I am aware the tune is well known in certain circles. Still no excuse for not giving Ernie credit.

[@chadk2525]

Credited in the description!