"Raleigh and Spencer" Clawhammer Banjo Lesson

I learned "Raleigh & Spencer" from musicians around Watauga County, North Carolina, such as Josh Hayes, Matt Kinman, and Steve Kruger. My version is also derived from a fiddle recording of Tommy Jarrell, whose brother-in-law got the song from a local black guitarist.
It's been said that "Raleigh and Spencer are burning down..." is a reference to the Civil War destruction of Raleigh and Spencer, North Carolina; however, Raleigh was not burned after it surrendered to U.S. troops in 1865, and Spencer wasn't a town until the 1890s.
My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ d♯BEF♯B (three frets below f♯DGAD).
Raleigh and Spencer they're burning down
There's no more liquor in this town (x2)
What you gonna do baby to wet them pretty lips
When this whole damn world's going dry (×2)
You can trample the flowers down around my grave
But they'll rise up and bloom once again (×2)
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[@commentingisdangerous7530]

your dog looks like half pitbull and half jackal. looks like a good pup.

[@milemarker_oscar_mike]

I have yet to watch a Clifton Hicks video that i haven't learned something from. Thx Clif

[@seancline8130]

I didn't know anything about this song at the time but years ago my neighbor had 2 labs named Raleigh and Spencer.

[@anthonybenjamin6343]

Thank you Clifton!

[@Mo11y666]

This about makes my morning. Appreciate ya man.

[@jeffalbillar7625]

Señor Hicks posts a video almost every Saturday.
It's become a Saturday morning tradition for me

[@jakelanningiscool]

THANK YOU CLIFTON!!!

[@Yallquietendown]

When I heard it it sounded like a song about prohibition

[@zachb8012]

Maybe the tune originated around the Civil War as, "Raleigh is falling down" and the lyrics were amended years down the line after Spencer experienced a big fire. Who knows, without sheet music or a recording it could've been two songs that merged into one and like some kinda Sugar Baby - Red Rocking Chair abomination. You know how the old time cannon can be, we're talking oratory history, which is great because it sounds cool as fuck, not because it's super accurate.

[@jaimymetts]

This is absolutely nice! I’ve always loved banjo! We have a banjo upstairs, but I don’t know how to play it which I’d love to learn, I only play piano and fiddle!

[@calindrarose926]

Raleigh and Spencer giving me Cotton-Eyed Joe vibes : ) Thanks for sharing this lesson.

[@oleksandrvoloshyn5447]

Thank you very much for this lesson, I play this song in a slightly different way, but yours I like more!
Cheers from Ukraine.

[@oscarrogers9745]

Country boy blues here sixty-five-year-old songwriter can you do a video on I don't love nobody and nobody loves me Grandpa Jones if you have time Keep On parking

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I've done that one here: ua-cam.com/video/fMcGsV1ySv8/v-deo.html

[@drewby613]

Does this tuning have a nickname like some tunings do?

[@nostalgiakarlk.f.7386]

I wonder, Clifton Hicks, what do you think of the tenor banjo? Have you ever played one?

[@zemartinho9779]

Great playing as always, Clifton! I bought an 1890s SS Stewart universal favorite recently, with the intention to "restore" it. It turns out the only thing it really needs are some inlays replaced, including three crescent moons and a star. I was wondering if you had any experience replacing inlays? What is the best celluloid source and best technique?

[@eddyhinojosa9488]

isn't this song about the prohibition of alcohol?

[@SkeeterMcBeater]

That's what it sounded like to me too on first listen.

[@jeffalbillar7625]

Thank you Señor Hicks.

[@Devrominums]

Rad

[@kilometer780]

This must be about prohibition!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Probably.