Tim Eriksen- "O Death"

http://timeriksenmusic.com/
By request. I heard Dock Boggs sing this on a record when I was a kid and loved it and hated it right away. Cordelia's Dad worked up a version with Mike Seeger for a gig ca. 1997. It really got stuck in my head hearing Ralph Stanley sing it every night for a month when we were on the Great High Mountain Tour together.
I'd been telling incredulous people for many years that an unaccompanied old song would find its way into the hit parade, so I felt somewhat vindicated when I heard Ralph's voice emanating from a shoe store at the Mall of America around 2001. (On a recording).
Here's a link to my Prairie Home Companion performance of "o death" (as well as an old Amherst version of the song "two babes.")I've often had mixed feelings about PHC, but seeing Garrison at work gave me a real appreciation for it. Among other things, we did two consecutive nights at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, and the second show was completely different, after what must have been an all-nighter on GK's part. Check out the way he introduces me to sing "o death." This was completely spur of the moment- no discussion whatsoever. I wasn't even scheduled to perform in that part of the show- he just started motioning to me toward the end of the monologue, and the stage manager ran to get a mic set up. Garrison made eye contact, said something about a train whistle, then pointed at me like I was supposed to know what to do. It was cool.
http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2005/10/29/
One of these days I wanna rope my buddy Mike Hickey, ex- Venom, into doing a version.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• northern
• roots
• alternative
• folk
• eriksen
• stanley
• boggs
• cordelia's
• dad
• death
• brother
• where
• art
• thou
• mike
• seeger

[blueridger28]

Am i crazy but did you just play that song up in a tree? Sounded real good by the way. Liked it better than Ralph Stanley

[batfancy]

@blueridger28 Yeah, I was a good ways up in a beech tree (where I spent most of my youth when I wasn't plugged in). I'm always humbled to be heard in the company of Dr. Stanley- I don't know that he's ever pretended to play a fiddle as I do but, dang, you should see his pink Caddy. One of these days...

[fiddler9635]

Do you have your bridge shaved?

[batfancy]

I think it's lower than usual- I tried a different fiddle last summer and it seemed high.

[molemaninthemorning]

A true musician, thank you for posting up your performances up. It's great that you take the time out reply to your comments too. I want to buy some of your music. What should you recommend I start off with?

[batfancy]

Thanks. I have a couple of solo CDs- the closest thing to the youtube stuff. That's about it for now, though I have a ton of stuff on the way...

[TheGhost5600]

Tim, once again great tune, brilliant fiddle playing, but how in the world do you reach the G string?

[akemoguy]

fuckin brillant

sounds so dark 

[mouldybear]

Fine performance but don't forget Dock Boggs from the late 1920's.

[7daedalus7]

As always, incredible.

[muddyforkband]

What an exceptional artist he is...

[53Slimman]

Great tune! Do you remember how your fiddle was tuned?

[A7xrules555]

How did you film this?

[blueridger28]

Damn dont mean to sound weird but you sound so much like my papaw but he was a dobro player. I listen to you on a bout daily basis. Sorry im prtty damn piss drunk thanks