This is a song about many a musician's life, including mine. Only a musician who has had to give up his dream of making a true living on music could understand the heartache of the lyrics behind this song. Cat Below are the lyrics from Becky's website: The Barber’s Fiddle - Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI Lynda Wittig Dawson, Grandma Bea Music, BMI For Gene at the Star Barbershop in Bristol, VA; Mr. Billy Womack of Woodbury, TN; and the person who told me this story at Dollywood a million years ago. - BB Mr. Gene’s barbershop State Street, the Virginia side Walked in hand in hand with Pa 5 years old and terrified Mr. Gene smiled at me Helped me up into the chair In the mirror I could see An old red fiddle hanging there The gray-haired barber caught my gaze Said, “That’s a tale I like to tell Of a young man who came in one day With a fiddle and a dream to sell He tried to live out on the road Thought music was where he belonged It broke his heart and it broke his soul Made him sing a different song Chorus: Fiddled up high Fiddled down low Fiddle most everywhere I go I’d fiddle until my dyin’ day If I could make a life on a fiddler’s pay He sat in this very chair Scared of what his folks would say His hope was gone, his pockets bare They warned him it would end this way He returned to start anew No money for a shave and trim He asked, “Would this fiddle do?” Said it wasn’t any use to him Chorus Mr. Gene swept the floor Spun me ‘round and said you’re done I begged him to tell me more What happened to the wayward son Turns out it was Mr. Gene Hung his fiddle up that day And now I’m living out his dream Because he taught me how to play Chorus 2 (repeat twice): Fiddle up high Fiddle down low Fiddle most everywhere I go Gonna fiddle until my dyin’ day If I can make a life on a fiddler’s pay Tag: Livin’ my life on a fiddler’s pay
You have kept the spirit of bluegrass music alive and have taken it to a higher level. Bless your heart Becky, you are a genius, and may the people of the world come to appreciate your music. EDIT: I'd bet the fiddlers you showed doing the short solos are fiddlers who couldn't make a living on a fiddler's pay. (coming a from gigging musician myself)
This is great tune and video, with great singers and pickers. I always enjoy seeing those at the top of their crafts getting together. If only John Hartford and Curly Ray Cline had been living to be part of it.
This is just a awesome song and video. Thank you for including the photo of the bluegrass 5. My family is in this photo, Sterling, Floyd, Mac, and of course, the barber Billy Womack. The others in the photo I just don't remember their names. Brought tears of joy and some sadness. Thank you so much for making this and sharing. Becky, thank you for being family too.
Do you have any idea who the gentleman is on the left at 1.27? Glasses and looks like a brown shirt he's wearing. He looks so much like a dear friend of mine who passed 10 years ago. His last name was Bush and he had roots in the Carolinas going back to the 1600s. I know it's not the same person, but every time I look at this video and see that pic, it's as if my friend is looking back at me!
I heard you on Woodsongs and you mentioned this video. Glad I checked it out because it is a great song and a delight to see and hear 18 fiddlers playing. Keep up the good work.
Mighty fine !!
Super! Great job highlighting a Bristol treasure!
I heard this on 88.7 and It's been in my head ever since. Love this song!!!! ♡
All those fiddlers sound so great!
I LOVED this! What a great story, well sung and well played! Thank you so much.
This is a song about many a musician's life, including mine.
Only a musician who has had to give up his dream of making a true living on music could understand the heartache of the lyrics behind this song. Cat
Below are the lyrics from Becky's website:
The Barber’s Fiddle - Becky Buller, Goodnight Sparky Music, BMI
Lynda Wittig Dawson, Grandma Bea Music, BMI
For Gene at the Star Barbershop in Bristol, VA; Mr. Billy Womack of
Woodbury, TN; and the person who told me this story at Dollywood a
million years ago. - BB
Mr. Gene’s barbershop
State Street, the Virginia side
Walked in hand in hand with Pa
5 years old and terrified
Mr. Gene smiled at me
Helped me up into the chair
In the mirror I could see
An old red fiddle hanging there
The gray-haired barber caught my gaze
Said, “That’s a tale I like to tell
Of a young man who came in one day
With a fiddle and a dream to sell
He tried to live out on the road
Thought music was where he belonged
It broke his heart and it broke his soul
Made him sing a different song
Chorus:
Fiddled up high Fiddled down low
Fiddle most everywhere I go
I’d fiddle until my dyin’ day
If I could make a life on a fiddler’s pay
He sat in this very chair
Scared of what his folks would say
His hope was gone, his pockets bare
They warned him it would end this way
He returned to start anew
No money for a shave and trim
He asked, “Would this fiddle do?”
Said it wasn’t any use to him
Chorus
Mr. Gene swept the floor
Spun me ‘round and said you’re done
I begged him to tell me more
What happened to the wayward son
Turns out it was Mr. Gene
Hung his fiddle up that day
And now I’m living out his dream
Because he taught me how to play
Chorus 2 (repeat twice):
Fiddle up high Fiddle down low
Fiddle most everywhere I go
Gonna fiddle until my dyin’ day
If I can make a life on a fiddler’s pay
Tag:
Livin’ my life on a fiddler’s pay
You have kept the spirit of bluegrass music alive and have taken it to a higher level. Bless your heart Becky, you are a genius, and may the people of the world come to appreciate your music.
EDIT: I'd bet the fiddlers you showed doing the short solos are fiddlers who couldn't make a living on a fiddler's pay. (coming a from gigging musician myself)
Thanks for listening
This is great tune and video, with great singers and pickers. I always enjoy seeing those at the top of their crafts getting together. If only John Hartford and Curly Ray Cline had been living to be part of it.
Becky Buller can sure enough brighten up a tune that causes your feet to tap!
This is just a awesome song and video. Thank you for including the photo of the bluegrass 5. My family is in this photo, Sterling, Floyd, Mac, and of course, the barber Billy Womack. The others in the photo I just don't remember their names. Brought tears of joy and some sadness. Thank you so much for making this and sharing. Becky, thank you for being family too.
Do you have any idea who the gentleman is on the left at 1.27? Glasses and looks like a brown shirt he's wearing. He looks so much like a dear friend of mine who passed 10 years ago. His last name was Bush and he had roots in the Carolinas going back to the 1600s. I know it's not the same person, but every time I look at this video and see that pic, it's as if my friend is looking back at me!
Dang!! That was NIIIIIICE!!!
Makrs me want to dance again. ❤🙏❤
I heard you on Woodsongs and you mentioned this video. Glad I checked it out because it is a great song and a delight to see and hear 18 fiddlers playing. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for listening
I've heard the song many times but hadn't seen the video until just now. Very nicely done! Thanks for posting it for us to see.
Love it! Stuck inside working from home, like so many of us. Just what I needed to get my foot tapping! Thanks!
What a marvelous tune! I love it! ... saw the wall full of two-dollar bills.
I love this! New fan, here
Good song...
Wow....thanks for that. Well done!!
AWESOME
I just love this❤
Awesome! Just awesome
Love ya, Becky! Hope all is well, big hug from Detroit!
Just fantastic so many great great players
Great tune behind an entertaining story
I need a barber! Great song!
Awesome
I love this so much!
Go Nate!
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼