Red River Valley (Cover)

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Beautiful!! And I loved the history of the song too.

[@ruthwilson1647]

My sweet Dad used to play this on the harmonica. I sure miss him. Thanks so much for the memories.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thank you, Ruth. I hope it brought back fond memories. This song would certainly be beautiful on harmonica.

[@CynthiaRuba]

Your voice is so beautiful nice to hear this song again.

[@carolnelson9962]

I am 67 and I learned this song as a young child from my mom. Always loved it

[@ChrisAlred-mn5if]

Tears...my dad played the harmonica, and this is the last song he played for me before he passed away at the age of 67. Treasured memory. Thank you so very much. ❤❤❤

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thank you for sharing that story, Chris. :-) Sometimes I have wondered what will be the last song that I sing, play, or hear. We never know. Red River Valley isn't a bad way to go. As I replied to Ruth above (whose father also played RRV on harmonica), this song is well-suited to harmonica and would be beautiful played on that instrument.

[@ChrisAlred-mn5if]

@@BlindPigAndTheAcorn what ever your last song will be, I am sure it will be a treasured memory for your loved ones. Thanks again. I'll be re-listening. 🥰

[@astropoe2898]

I also have a memory of something our elementary teacher did, just out of the blue. Sweet, after all these years, how that memory was allowed to remain for recall like today. Red River Valley is a song I remember singing as a lil kid too. Very nice. So thank you, twice! 😊😊

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Glad that it brought back pleasant memories. Thanks for watching! :-)

[@lisabeal8615]

Thanks Paul for the song! Great job. God bless you and prayers for Granny.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Lisa. God bless you too, and we appreciate your prayers!

[@DrivinAndSingin]

Beautifully done. I had to listen a couple of times!

[@darlacarter441]

You sing that song so well, Paul. It makes me think of an old western 🍿. I enjoy your rendition of the song and your “ history” of the song and appreciate the research you did on it. ❤

[@lindabuchanan1185]

Great song, Paul! 😊 For some reason, I think that I've heard Marty Robbins sing this song. Thank you for sharing. Sending blessings to you and all your family. 💗🙏

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Linda. Yes, I haven't heard Marty sing it, but it's right up his alley, and I'm pretty sure that I saw him listed among the names of those who've recorded it (on secondhandsongs.com).

[@edieparastatides9403]

My Dad’s favorite song!❤❤ His Mom(my Grandma) used to listen to songs on the radio and then would sit down and play them. All the cousins would get together on a Saturday night with their instruments and just play like crazy. This was in Nova Scotia. How I would have loved to have been there.😊

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you for sharing and for watching! Pap had a friend who frequently traveled to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. We used to have a little ashtray that he brought Pap from there. :-)

[@edieparastatides9403]

nice! 😊

[@mags102755]

One of my favorites, beautifully played and sung. Thanks Paul.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. :-)

[@kathleensaeva2649]

I love this song. You sang and played it wonderfully! I remember my third-grade music teacher playing a green spinet piano, and the only songs I remember singing from the hardcover songbook were Red River Valley and Oh Shenandoah! I always enjoyed listening to Guy and Ralna on Lawrence Welk. I thought they sang beautifully together. I've had the pleasure of seeing and talking with Riders in the Sky half a dozen times over the years. They are genuine folk and great musicians/singers. Thank you, Paul! God bless you all!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Kathleen, for sharing that. Makes me wonder if it could have been the very same song book. :-) The one I recall was also hard back. Seems like the cover might have been gray, but that's been a long time ago! I've never talked to the Riders but got to seem the live once in Franklin, NC. They put on a beautiful show!

[@kathleensaeva2649]

@@BlindPigAndTheAcorn I wish I could get my hands on a copy of that songbook! I'm glad you got to see Riders. They do put on a wonderful show!

[@doyledykesmusic]

Excellent Paul! Now that’s ole fashion! Great Pickin’ & singin’ & nice guitar!

[@patmotley7457]

WOW! Made my eyes leak! Thank you for sharing this beautiful song! My brother and I had a babysitter who taught him, the more musical of the two of us to play this on her guitar. We would sing it together with her soulful voice, she said we were singing 3-part harmony, but I was aware that one of the parts had no clue, nor the ear to be a part of any harmony but she loved me and never pointed it out. BTW, speaking of your crush, my brother had a big crush on that babysitter, but she loved him too and made him feel so special. Thank you for reviving this memory.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Pat, thanks for sharing that sweet story! A good babysitter is invaluable! Someone who takes the time to interact with the kids and make a lasting impact on them is probably pretty rare, especially today. Today, our cellphones take so much of our attention away from the moment.

[@joybartlett9784]

Beautiful 😍. I enjoyed it so much. My parents used to sing it.

[@jsellick6468]

Dear Paul, That may be the loveliest version of Red River Valley I’ve ever heard. I’ve loved that song since I was a little girl, and it was so nice to just close my eyes and hear you sing it so beautifully! Thank you!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Wow, thanks so much for that kind comment! :-)

[@JANSFAMBAM7]

My mother use to sing this song she passed away in 2004 that you Paul for sing this song God bless you

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thank you for watching and commenting, and for sharing that memory with us. God bless you. :-)

[@monicataylor1313]

Such a pretty song. You sang so beautiful on this. 😊❤ This one is a keeper on my playlist to listen to again. Thank you for sharing.

[@kirkstephens806]

An excellent rendition of a beautiful old song. Granny is correct, that's old timey !

[@jerrivenables1289]

Enjoyed your singing!

[@carolinelvsewe]

I haven’t heard that since my dad passed on 15+ years ago. Very nice

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Caroline. I hope it brought fond memories of your dad.

[@christinej2358]

Lovely song and you sang it well. Thank you for sharing. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sandysmith8567]

Reminds me of watching Hee Haw and Westerns with my dad. Pretty sure Roy Clark had to have sung it! Thank you, Paul!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Sandy. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Roy sang it on HeeHaw. I think Guy and Ralna sang it on a special episode of the LW show that was dedicated to solely country music.

[@Sandi-w9d]

I sure appreciate your bringing back from memory this old beloved ballad. It was also taught to me in grade school and from those days it touched my heart with the melancholy tune and lyrics. Also, I thank you for the history on it along with the your rendition, Paul!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Sandi, thanks for watching and commenting! Glad you liked the video. :-)

[@lori394]

Love this song! I'm trying to learn how to play a guitar, and that song is one I'm trying to conquer! Thank you, Paul, for your beautiful rendition of it.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Lori! Best of luck on learning to play it. It's a great song for beginners. :-)

[@SueMorris-f4s]

I love hearing you sing and play. ❤

[@lindamcgee3651]

Praying and Blessed! 🤗🙏💕🌄🎄

[@gayliagreen3687]

I remember that song from Eddie Arnold--oh I loved listening to him sing...once again you have stirred a memory of my dad singing because any time Eddie was on tv and sang this song my dad would sing along----brings tears to my eyes as I can even now hear his voice and picture him sitting in hid recliner singing along with the tv performer----daddy was a cowboy in the truest sense of the word and I have always thought this was one of several songs that just seemed perfect for my dad to sing. You have such a wealth of knowledge especially for any manner of topics long before your time you young whipper snapper lol

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Gaylia! So glad that it brought back fond memories for you. :-) You are one of many ladies commenting that her father sang this song. It must be a great dad song. :-)

[@huliniswhoiam]

For a lot of musicians, this song is one of the first we learn! I play the autoharp, the guitar, the banjo, the dobro. This is one of those songs that is easy to pick up and very fun to play

[@judywells7801]

My father used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl. Well done!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Multiple Acorns have commented that their fathers sang this song. I think it's very well suited for a lullaby. :-)

[@lindahays8444]

Beautifully sung Paul.

[@donnabk6901]

Love this! One of my Daddy’s favorite! I can still hear him singing it! He’s been gone since 1993. Thank you for the memory! You do such a great job!🎄🥰

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks so much, Donna. Glad you liked it. You are one of several ladies commenting that her father sang the song. Must be a good song for dads to sing for daughters. :-) I'm glad this brought back fond memories for you.

[@ls7196]

Morning, Paul, only the best.

[@normatavernier1822]

Another very beautiful performance!! 👏👏👏

[@clarieking4603]

WONDERFUL LADY LOVELY SONG GOD BLESS HER WITH LONG LIFE SHE IS BLESS E

[@papaw5405]

Acorns are NUTS!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Touché. That's a good one, Papaw. :-)

[@moviemakerwannabe]

I'll be saving this one so I can listen again and again (and possible sing along).

[@ruthnorman5021]

I love this song. My daddy would sing it in winter evenings. Fond memories.

[@Tonytherf]

Beautifully done. Thank you Paul.

[@noahcount7132]

Red River Valley is one the first songs I learned in grade school, too, Paul. At that time the students were led to believe it was named for the Red River in Texas. Later I was told it was named for the Red River of the North that flows from South Dakota and Minnesota into Manitoba, Canada. Your story shed a great deal of new (to me) light upon the history and origins of the old love song. Thanks for that, and for your great treatment of the song. 👍👍👍👍

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

You bet, Noah! Thanks so much for always watching and commenting all these years! In the info I read about the song, some say that the original lyrics were about a river in or near New York. I didn't see that coming!

[@jimmymalone3494]

Thank you Paul you done a great job on Red Valley.God Bless y'all.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Jimmy! God bless you and your family too!

[@lindareinking5326]

My dad used to sing Red River. He also sang Loreado and ghost riders in the sky. In school we had music and we did a whole group of songs like Red River valley, I love to go a wandering, clementine etc. Loved it. ❤❤ great job Paul!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Linda. Sounds like a very musical, fun school experience. I love Ghost Riders. It's one of the reasons I wanted to learn to play guitar. :-)

[@lindareinking5326]

That's awesome! My school years started in the early 60s in rural Indiana. We always had music at least once a week. We learned notes and symbols. I remember my first music teacher Mrs. Davenport. She used the music from Peter and the wolf to describe different instruments in an orchestra. That was in second grade. My dad was a country boy who loved westerns. He was a good man and father. ​@@BlindPigAndTheAcorn

[@noradonovan6707]

So beautiful...😌

[@grandmaking]

Great job Paul. One of my best old timey songs.

[@taurusman67]

Nice..Glad you did this one....Peter

[@ShelbyBunten]

Sung so beautiful enjoyed it Paul ❤️ Shelby

[@csnanny1882]

I remember this,, it’s so beautiful.

[@ShadowsMommy741]

Paul, you are such a blessing!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks so much! :-)

[@mamawfrancy]

Paul, My picture is beside the word 'sentimental' in the dictionary.. I've loved & appreciated how you've taken me back in time to many sweet memories. TY for sharing & God bless your days.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thank you, MamawFrancy! God bless you too! I'm pretty sentimental as well. :-)

[@jackieellenbarnes1268]

Your Music reminds Me so much of My Dad’s, so keep on keeping on. 😊

[@Esme0285]

Dear Paul, First and foremost you played and sang this precious song so sweet and tenderly.💕 I had to laugh when you said you didn’t sing in school much. Since I went through a Christian school, we sang all the time you certainly would not have missed any singing or guitar playing at my grammar school. On Fridays, the whole school got together and we would go to church for the afternoon and we would have singing lessons to learn to perfectly sing the current songs that we were currently singing in church.💒 I love this song…so very sentimental. Thank you most sweetly for your rendition of this song.♥️🌟💚Esme’ PS I think you most definitely get a pass for having a crush on Ralna!😅 doesn’t every young boy have a crush on an older woman? So so sweet.♥️

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Esme. Sounds like your schooling was a very fun experience.

[@Clfike]

Enjoyed this episode, Paul! When I was a kid in the late 40s & early 50s my family and I used to attend the Old Dominion Barn Dance Show at the WRVA Theater in Richmond, VA. The MC was Sue Workman, known as "Sunshine Sue" as her theme song was You Are My Sunshine. We lived near her and her family and her son Bill was my best friend. I remember playing with Bill when Grandpa Jones's daughter Eloise would come out to join us. Bill helped me learn to play guitar. Grandpa and Ramona were regulars on the Barn Dance as well as Joe Maphis and his wife Rose. Ah, memories!!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

What wonderful memories!! Thank you for sharing them!!

[@kathrynreed9724]

Beautiful!!

[@MattieAnnBrown]

Thanks for a great song ❤❤❤

[@keeptrying5962]

So nice to see this first thing! Thank you. 🙌🏼

[@bobhowell8055]

Very nice

[@NormanChester882]

Thank you Paul, God bless you very much,

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Norman, God bless you too!

[@PinkPrudie29]

Thank you, Paul. That song brings back sweet memories. Shelly’s Winter Love was always one of my favorites, do you perform this one? I know you know it!😁 The Osborne Brothers and Merle Haggard❤️❤️ PS: I’m loving your Christmas decorations! Merry Christmas, Paul!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks a bunch. I think I may have heard Haggard sing that song once. I'll have to go back and give it a listen. The title has me intrigued. :-)

[@PinkPrudie29]

@ we always performed the Bluegrass version, but, it’s a beautiful song!

[@chattan3018]

I met the guys from Riders in the Sky when they played here in Birmingham at a music festival. Very nice group of guys. They all signed a picture of the band for my daughter who watched their shows on Saturday mornings. Enjoyed hearing your version of this song.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Very cool! I would expect nothing less having watched them on TV for so many years. :-)

[@debbiehills2928]

❤thanks paul.😊❤❤❤

[@cindatribble1495]

Love it!

[@Firekeeper61]

Great presentation SIR! Bascom was a friend to my family in Madison County nc. Good Herbs , buddy! Your pal G.Justice Oldfirekeeper

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

That's really cool, Firekeeper. Bascom Lamar Lunsford is a very famous name in old time music!

[@Firekeeper61]

@BlindPigAndTheAcorn Paul I do remember going to Turkey Creek and having dinner at Mr.Lunsfords house There was Music and dancing I remember a run of homemade ice cream and a you all come back. And we did.😉

[@mawmawkaren2801]

Hey there Paul! Love this song. I remember singing it in elementary school, along with, "This Land is My Land". Do you remember that one? On a side note I went to a country school without a music teacher. We did have a music teacher that came from the town schools from time to time. I remember her pushing a big old piano down the hallway room to room. This was in the day when we had those connecting room dividers that unfolded. I was always excited when she came, even though I've never had a good singing voice. Thanks for sharing.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

MawMawKaren, thanks for commenting and sharing those memories. Your comment made me remember that we too had a great big, upright piano that sat in the hallway down at one end of the wing. I never saw it move from that spot, but I bet the same practice was done at my school before my time there. I know just from bumping into it, that it had wheels underneath it. :-) I also remember singing "This Land is Your Land." I didn't remember it until I read your comment, but we probably sang that song more than any other song. I remember that when I was a kid, I liked the words and images in that song. :-)

[@lawrencecarberry1399]

nice job Paul thanks

[@garybrunet6346]

Thank you, Paul! I love your narrative with these songs! Enjoy your retirement! How’s Granny doing?

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks a bunch, Gary. Granny's doing great. I'll be taking her to visit her cousin in a couple of hours, and I know she will really enjoy that time. :-)

[@huliniswhoiam]

And it's funny you mentioned Riley Puckett. His guitar playing is considered to be the bridge between old time and Bluegrass according to a lot of people

[@Laura-SouthBound]

Paul, there's a guitar builder in McMinnville TN, Nathan Wright. You're guitar is fantastic. just wanted to bring your attention to him. His sounds wonderful too.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Good to know, Laura. Thanks for watching and thanks for the tip! :-)

[@theshepherdspromise]

Absolutely recognize this song. I wish I could remember the recording I am thinking of, but there is an older recording of a female duet doing a sweet and soft version that I absolutely loved. Thanks for the tune and the history lesson. (Also, I have so many questions about your recording set up.)

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Hmmmm. Sounds interesting. I may have to look for that version. Please feel free to email me your questions. The best address to use is [e-mail]

[@apiecemaker1163]

Was it Judy Collin’s and Kris Kristofferson? You can probably look them up on KZbin and see if that’s the version you’re remembering. Hope that helps.

[@theshepherdspromise]

@apiecemaker1163 Possibly. I will check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@apiecemaker1163]

@ you are most welcome

[@theshepherdspromise]

@@apiecemaker1163 I checked it out. It was a great version, but it wasn't the one. A good recommendation, anyway.

[@kourtnilackes7086]

That was so lovely 🌹 Can you sing Little Jimmy Dickens "Cold Tater and wait"?

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Ha! Thanks, Kourtni. I'll have to think about that one. I don't know if I have the comedy chops to pull it off. He was such a little fireball when he sang! :-)

[@jsellick6468]

11:16

[@debbienixon230]

Paul Loved it, and you nailed it. I could just close my eyes and listen to you sing this over and over. It's a sad song, but the melody is just so captivating to me. You did great on that flat top it worked really well with this song. I haven't gone to those links yet, but I will sometime today. That microphone 🎤 setup you were using is fantastic. I thought your voice came through perfectly. What type of set-up is it? I really love this "Old Timey Series" on Tuesday along with Thursday's " That's original series. Thank you for the time you spent researching these songs to give us some insight into the song you're playing. I have heard this song all my life, and like you, it's always been a favorite of mine. Debbie Are you using that capo that Doyle Dykes sent you?

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Debbie! So glad you liked it. I planned to use the Shub Capo that Doyle sent, and then I couldn't find it! I think I must have left it in one of my guitar cases. Hopefully, I'll use it soon. The Microphone set-up is just a paired set of Rode guitar mics. They came with the little bar that's holding them. "Paired" means that they are supposed to be identical in every way. The idea of using them one one stand this way is to mimic the "stereo" sound of our ears, capturing sound from two directions at once. However, they are guitar mics, not vocal mics, and it's a little difficult to get them close enough to me. What I would love is to be able to use both the audio from them and the audio from the camera at the same time, but when I try that, it the video has an echo.

[@JamesJones-rn1bf]

That was the first song I played on my guitar.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Cool coincidence! It's a great one for beginners. :-)

[@papaw5405]

Isn't the bridge adjustable? Maybe the strings are raised up too much is because the bridge is too high. Or sitting in the wrong place. Hopefully it's not the neck!

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

Thanks, Papaw. I was mostly being a bit of a baby in my complaints about the strings. I could lower them by installing a shorter saddle in the bridge, but I think they need to stay as they are for the sake of volume.

[@papaw5405]

@@BlindPigAndTheAcorn Doesn't the bridge have two thumbwheels that raise and lower the ebony saddle like an archtop mandolin does? Maybe I don't understand what kind of setup you have but every archtop guitar I've ever seen had a floating bridge with an adjustable saddle.

[@BlindPigAndTheAcorn]

@@papaw5405 I don't think so, but I'll check!