Can You Play This Riff? Ep.12 "Tennessee Ernie Ford"

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[@GuitarPilgrim]

Absolutely love the lyrics of this song, fantastic! Tabs for this video are available here: bit.ly/3JS76l8

[@tedjorde396]

I would like to hear your take...on his take of.."Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" He had a hopped-up 'cycle that took off like a gun That fool was the terror of Highway 101

[@3cardmonty602]

Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version is King. This was one of my late Father’s favorite song. He was a WWII Vet and would sing this song regularly, so I grew up hearing it all the time. The lyric “I owe my soul to the Company Store” refers to an on-site store that you HAD to use because the Company you worked for issued you pay in their exclusive currency, which in turn was only received by the company store - nowhere else. So yes, you did owe your soul to the company store - you were screwed over.

[@oddjobtriumph1635]

Love this version..... try and give the Platters version with the late great Herb Reed on Bass Vocals ....also excellent

[@timpierceguitar]

Hey happy new year to you! Always look forward to seeing your videos, and hearing you play :)

[@jon.wilson]

The legend is here

[@GuitarPilgrim]

Thanks Tim, likewise!

[@TheAzmountaineer]

Ernie definitely made this song his own. My mom's family were coal miners, deeply involved in the union, the mine wars in WV and the miners' march on Logan. I remember hearing this song on the radio when I was so little I didn't understand most of it.

[@divindave6117]

16 Tons is a special song for me. Its one of those songs that is easy to sing acapella. Its a bonus if you can snap your fingers and tap your foot too. I remember back in the early 60s as a young kid, my dad would entertain us by singing this song, snapping his fingers and tapping his foot. I sure do wish there had been video of it, it would have gone viral for sure. I learned well from my dad, and I entertained my kids the same way. On 4th of July our family got together, and my 19 year old grand daughter entertained the whole family by singing 16 Tons acapella, and snapping her fingers and tapping her foot. When she finished, 6 of us sung it together, snapped our fingers, and tapped our feet. It was awesome and It shook me up pretty good.

[@rocketpost1]

I absolutely love this song and I think that Tennessee Ernie's version is the definitive one and what a great voice he had. This is the first time I've seen a film of the man himself so thanks for that.

[@larrypower8659]

Ernie’s is THE definitive version, also one of the first songs I heard on the radio that hooked me on what would become rock and roll. This is the blues, pure and simple. It’s the feel of the music that gives it the mojo. Dark, mysterious, spacious, and kinds scary to an eight year old kid listening to the radio at 2:00 AM. “Scary,” is fascinating when you’re eight.

[@JohnA000]

I used to occasionally sing this song at work until I retired from cubicle world 4 years ago. lol Rings true no matter what you do for a living... along with the fact that we're credit card maxed out and mortgaged up to our eyeballs. Happily I am not in debt anymore and my life is my own again. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, nice take on the tune.

[@riksplace]

He grew up about 3 blocks from I grew up. This song came out about the time I was born...I'm 65. He went to my church and used a picture of it as the album cover.

[@kutsbothways]

Jeff Beck and ZZ Top do a live version that just smokes. I can remember seeing Ford do this on tv, my Dad loved Ernie Ford.

[@funguy4utube]

An usual and BRILLIANT tribute selection!!

[@SFCB1954]

Bravo, Maestro. What a pleasure it is to watch and learn from your videos.

[@billyclub56]

T.E.F. definitely. Mom had the record when I was young. Heard it A Lot!! Born in '56

[@kevinknight470]

Thanx for the memories. TE Ford, best version. You probably know this, in the past when times were tough, coal companies would pay miners with scrip. Scrip could only be used at the mining company store. You get the picture.

[@noahtenshen]

I grew up on the TEFord version (in steel/coal country) and it stuck with me that I never wanted to "owe my soul to the company store". Could be why I've had over 75 jobs, and none of them in either field. What a flashback tune. Stay Well Groovy One!

[@kavinguitarcom]

I love the way you talk very fun ha😂😂👏👏👏

[@grog5564]

When I saw the Who, it was in Calgary 1968 at the Coral, at the Stampede. They played after Tennessee Ernie Ford. They cleared out the Coral and the Who fans filed in for the afternoon show. Then they did it again with Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Who fans filed in for the evening show. Weird combination, each played two shows that day.

[@adriantodor3458]

Happy new year everyone! I absolutely love this song and TE Ford's version. For an acoustic guitar cover - just watch Josh Turner's version.

[@johnclayton1026]

I first heard this riding my bike around the hood in Riverside. CA

[@craigthomson3621]

Tennessee Ernie Ford’s version of Sixteen Tons was number 1 in the UK on the day I was born.

[@sapelesteve]

Terrific video Thom! I must admit that I never heard Merle's version before. However, just gotta love that classic version by Tenn. Ernie Ford! Hope that you & your family are doing well & staying safe!

[@mikejones-go8vz]

These guys from the fifties etc had beautiful voices

[@maninchair6648]

A wonderful song and I didn't know about the original version so thanks for another entertaining informative vid!

[@ppvk2610]

Ha Guitar Pilgrim.. Now you're surrounded by the Irish.. Please could you do one on such a unique stand out blues song, one of it's kind. In (melancholy) mood and intensity comparable to well .. let's say Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb or perhaps Pearl Jam's Black .. It's that solo from the '74 Irish Tour "A Million Miles Away" by Rory Gallagher I've never heard such playing before or after... Have a good one! And a Happy New Year offcourse

[@devanhansonmusic]

My grandpa loves this song. I love your taste in music!

[@richardpierce7819]

I remember this song it was one of my moms favotites

[@kyotosal]

Great to see the video of Ernie Ford again! Loved that song. Thank you Pilgrim......Sal : )

[@manuelbockman1244]

Nice!!! Leuk, ik hoorde 'm ook voor 't eerst in m'n vroege tienerjaren en herken de fascinatie voor 't lekkere loopje en de (fijn lopende) deprimerende tekst!!!! Altijd motiverend en inspirerend je enthousiaste lessen‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ 😃👌🎼💚🎸trouwens nog happy NewYear!!

[@FocalPoint-xh6bi]

A little West Virginia ( coal mining ) history. Coal companies used to build small towns around their mines, and the miners would live there. Instead of being paid with cash, the miners would be paid with tokens, which could only be used in the "company stores" in that town. (which were owned by the coal companies) So all the miners' wages, went back to the coal companies.

[@fantinijacques]

One of my favourite tunes ! Thank you so much !

[@Pwecko]

I first heard the Tennessee Ernie Ford version of Sixteen Tons when my family visited my uncle on holiday. I was about six or seven years old. My cousin played it on the record player and I was transported to another place. TEF's voice was like nothing I had ever heard before. We didn't have a record player at home, so the only music I ever heard was on the radio. And none of it affected me like this did. I first hear it again years after and it still had a visceral effect on me. (His version of Shenandoah is equally good). Having said that, the guitar on the Merle Travis version is more interesting than the TEF one.

[@nukapeterstenskov1866]

Nice , Happy New Year :-) Tennessee Ernie Ford, So cool

[@ianstringer4086]

I can remember this on the radio when I was 6 aggghhh

[@crowhaven200]

Ha! Tennessee Earnie Ford of course. My favorite TV show, and song when I was a young kid. And I learned to play my version on guitar, about the time I learned House of the Rising Sun. My versions of course. I am old..lol Great video!

[@clintfoard7332]

My Dad was mad on that song. That lesson took me back. Cheers!

[@GuitarPilgrim]

My dad used to play this song as well, that's how I know it

[@ppvk2610]

Ahh what a great great song, thx

[@jkrause365]

Merle Travis!

[@funguy4utube]

Here is another unusual songs request 🤔 if you would consider one or two please Pilgrim: 1) theme from “Good Bad and the Ugly” Eninnio Morriconi 2) theme from “Beverly Hillbillies” 3) “Ode to Billy Joe” 4) “Man of Constant Sorrow”

[@brocluno01]

Both, depending on mood 😊

[@dipthaosen]

Both of the verson is best of the best

[@johnpaul781]

More song tutorials please!

[@iuricastro4690]

Wow! Now you surprised me! Love this song. Awesome, as usual. Just for fun, check Noriel Vilela's verison. Different lyrics, though. Keep up the good work. And please, more Freddie King and SRV. Cheers.

[@GeorgReiterer]

Sehr gut! A+++

[@BopKitBill]

Very cool lesson. Left turn...On you other vids you play a Strat. Would you (or anyone) be so kind as to tell which model Fender Strat that is? I've been looking for that color (Is it Arctic White?) with a rosewood fretboard with truss rod adjustment at the headstock (the vintage models require removing the neck to get to the truss rod!) Thanks very much!

[@daddycat69]

tennessee ernie ford, also think stray cat strut.

[@michaellandreth1392]

Can you please do Bob Dudley's Six Days on the Road ? A lot of great Guitar playing going on in the background. Thank You.

[@christophergallagher531]

Good One! You may like Peggy Lee's version of 'Fever'.

[@1980bwc]

Have you ever done one of these videos of Luther Perkins?

[@timomarra3315]

Good video!

[@milandamjanovic1213]

Bravo por el presentador. El explico muy bien. Para mi Tennessee Ernie Ford es mejor

[@miquelvc]

could you do a study on Django Reinhardt? Please! 🎸

[@rodneyneil2247]

I like Ford's song

[@regnauldmortimer4952]

Check out Eric burdon mr...guitar PILGRIM...thus was great.as is all your stuff...I'm in india and u have a huge following....keep it up..u are great

[@345kobi]

Pilgrim, please do Chain Of Fools lesson. No lesson seems to get the groove of the song. I am certain that you can.

[@jonathanrabbitt]

Hey Thom, could you elaborate on your right hand technique you're using at the end? Are you down-strumming the chords with one fingernail per string?

[@HashBrown99Gaming]

Hey GP, could you do some more work on Prince?? I noticed you've done a few videos on him which were awesome but more can't hurt! He's an absolutely incredible guitarist.

[@GuitarPilgrim]

He sure is, I'll see what I can do!

[@HashBrown99Gaming]

@@GuitarPilgrim Legend! You're one hell of a guitarist yourself, I'm always in awe watching you play

[@rs4425]

We've all heard and love TEF's version but give credit to Merle Travis...a guitar genius AND song writer.

[@patappleton6285]

I prefer your version.

[@erfanps4601]

Hey guitar pilgrim can you please answer my question tell me your hands size length from wrist to end of middle finger thank you

[@patrickgueguin792]

To my point of view nothing can be better than the original.But..Tenessee Ernie Ford brought something dramatic Same way the Platters did

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Thanks Merle for the song, but TEF made it his own.

[@pedasijeff]

The Billy Gibbons version.

[@pmailsor]

Best version is definitely Peter Thorup: 16 tons. Check it out, please. Br Per S.

[@larrypower8659]

Per Serensen ~ That’s a name I almost never see or hear on KZbin. And I only know about him because he and Alexis Korner did some fabulous work together. Never met him but I did know Alexis, having spent a week recording with him and a hand picked cast of characters in Bermuda, 1970. The album was, “Alexis Korner,” not one of his more well regarded records (released 1971) but quite an education for me, a 23 year old guitar player from Boston who got the gig as a panicked, last minute replacement. Peter Thorup is a legend in The UK and Europe; no one knows who he is in America.

[@jockojohn3294]

Can I play this riff? No........

[@kennelsonhomeinspector4970]

Prefer the Jerry Reed version, which is almost unplayable unless you're that good on guitar...can you try it?

[@GuitarPilgrim]

I'm not familiar with his version, I will have a listen!

[@lolzlarkin3059]

I know this song because of South Park.

[@fatkitty4207]

can you do more John Mayer. Like his solos and stuff.

[@russelmurray9268]

It's in a minor buddy

[@masterofpuppets6879]

Ok... And what?