Rani Arbo &
daisy mayhem

East Virginia (The East Virginia Blues)

CD Not Available

Traditional, Arrangement by Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem

The East Virginia Blues, which we’ve called East Virginia, is one of those tunes that shows you just why old-time music is still around. It’s so simple and understated, and by the time you’ve heard one verse it’s already nestled under your skin. I don’t know when I first heard it, partly because it has so many melodic cousins, sisters, uncles and aunts, but I clearly remember hearing Ramblin’ Jack Elliot perform it at the Iron Horse Music Hall in what must have been 2006. Not long after, I heard Scott messing around with this beat, and I started playing the song. It seemed like a stretch at first, and it probably was. It took all the intervening time to bring it to a place that feels natural, open and beautiful, the way the song is to begin with. “I don’t want your greenback dollar, I don’t want your watch and chain, all I want is to see my darlin’ and be in her arms again”. Feels to me like a song about the modern world. – AN

I was born in East Virginia
North Carolina I did roam
There I met a fair young maiden
Her name and age I did not know

Well her hair was dark and curly
And her cheeks were rosy red
On her breast she wore white linen
Where I long to lay my head

I don’t want your greenback dollar
I don’t want your watch and chain
All I want is to see my darlin’
And be in her arms again