In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Old Dan Tucker

Traditional American Folk Song

"Old Dan Tucker", also known as "Ole Dan Tucker", "Dan Tucker", and other variants, is an American popular song. Its origins remain obscure; the tune may have come from oral tradition, and the words may have been written by songwriter and performer Dan Emmett. The blackface troupe the Virginia Minstrels popularized "Old Dan Tucker" in 1843, and it quickly became a minstrel hit, behind only "Miss Lucy Long" and "Mary Blane" in popularity during the antebellum period. "Old Dan Tucker" entered the folk vernacular around the same time. Today it is a bluegrass and country music standard. It is no. 390 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

The first sheet music edition of "Old Dan Tucker", published in 1843, is a song of boasts and nonsense in the vein of previous minstrel hits such as "Jump Jim Crow" and "Gumbo Chaff". In exaggerated Black Vernacular English, the lyrics tell of Dan Tucker's exploits in a strange town, where he fights, gets drunk, overeats, and breaks other social taboos. Minstrel troupes freely added and removed verses, and folk singers have since added hundreds more. Parodies and political versions are also known.

The song falls into the idiom of previous minstrel music, relying on rhythm and text declamation as its primary motivation. Its melody is simple and the harmony little developed. Nevertheless, contemporary critics found the song more pleasant than previous minstrel fare. Musicologist Dale Cockrell argues that the song represents a transition between early minstrel music and the more European-style songs of minstrelsy's later years.

Release Date: 1843

Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-8 of 8 items.

Mary Donnelly : Folksong Partners Around the World

Here are more flexible folksongs to introduce young singers to beginning part-singing and experience a variety of world cultures. The reproducible singer songsheets feature each folksong and its partner on separate pages for a variety of teaching options. Teach these world folksongs in the lower grades. When singers are ready, teach the partner songs, and add twelve more songs to their singing repertoire. For further challenge, partner them up for twelve more performance options! A helpful teaching sequence and extension activities are also included. Accompany your singers live with simple piano parts in the printed collection, or use quality performance/accompaniment MP3 recordings available via audio access in the Performance Kit. Fresh new originals partnered with these world folksongs: Ging Gang Goolie, Tum Balalaika, Andale Juana, Sansa Kroma, Haru Ga Kita, Old Dan Tucker, Sarasponda, Ma Bella Bimba, and more! Suggested for grades 1-6.

Songlist: Sansa Kroma, Sarasponda, Tum Balalaika (Play the Balalaika), Home On The Range, Bella Bimba, Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah, Oleanna, Ging Gang Gooli, Barn Dance, Cruising Down The Amazon, Strum The Balalaika, Andale Juana, The Pinata Song, Poor Little Bird, Welcome, Springtime, Haru Ga Kita, I Hear A Joyful Melody, Hanukkah Is Here At Last, Oleanna, Ole!, Yahoo, Yippy-i, Yippy-ay!, Samba Lele, Dance The Samba Lele!, Pretty Little Dutch Girl, Old Dan Tucker

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - Medium High

This volume of best-loved folk songs for solo voice and piano contains fourteen memorable works arranged by three of Alfred's top writers: Jay Althouse, Mark Hayes and Ruth Elaine Schram. Includes "Camptown Races," "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and more!

Songlist: The Water Is Wide, Cindy, All Through The Night, Poor Boy, Camptown Races, Go 'Way From My Window, Simple Gifts, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, He's Gone Away, Old Dan Tucker, All My Trials, Follow the Drinking Gourd, Fire Down Below, Shenandoah

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - Medium Low

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - Medium High

This volume of 14 best-loved folk songs for solo voice and piano contains memorable works arranged by three of Alfred Music's top writers: Jay Althouse, Mark Hayes and Ruth Elaine Schram. Titles: All My Trials * All Through the Night * Camptown Races * Cindy * Fire Down Below * Follow the Drinking Gourd * Go 'Way from My Window * He's Gone Away * Old Dan Tucker * Poor Boy * Poor Wayfaring Stranger * Shenandoah * Simple Gifts * The Water Is Wide. This title is available in SmartMusic.

Songlist: The Water Is Wide, Cindy, All Through the Night, Poor Boy, Camptown Races, Go 'Way from My Window, Simple Gifts, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, He's Gone Away, Old Dan Tucker, All My Trials, Follow the Drinking Gourd, Fire Down Below, Shenandoah

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - Medium Low

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - High Voice

A new high edition of our popular vocal collection, this volume of best-loved folk songs for solo voice and piano contains fourteen memorable works arranged by three of Alfred Music's top writers: Jay Althouse, Mark Hayes, and Ruth Elaine Schram. Titles: All My Trials * All Through the Night * Camptown Races * Cindy * Fire Down Below * Follow the Drinking Gourd * Go 'Way from My Window * He's Gone Away * Old Dan Tucker * Poor Boy * Poor Wayfaring Stranger * Shenandoah * Simple Gifts * The Water Is Wide. This title is available in SmartMusic.

Jay Althouse : Folk Songs for Solo Singers, Vol. 2 - High Voice

Richard Johnston (editor) : Folk Songs North America Sings

This superb 382-page resource contains more than 350 North American folk songs, carefully sequenced both rhythmically and melodically for use with the Kodály method, which is based on authentic Hungarian folk music. The collection features information about solfege, form, phrase, length, range, rhythmic construction, and more.

Songlist: Jubilee, 1 2 3, Ah Vous Dirai-Je, Maman? (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star), Animal Song, Frog Went A-Courtin', Poor Wayfaring Stranger, Christus Natus Hodie, Goodbye, Old Paint, All The Pretty Little Horses, Let Me Fly, Cumberland Gap, On Springfield Mountain, Jesus Born In Beth'ny, Alphabet Song, I Wonder As I Wander, Daddy Shot A Bear, Down In The Valley, Soldier Boy, Little Bird, Skip To My Lou, Mary Had A Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Pretty Saro, London Bridge, The Farmer In The Dell, Hickory Dickory Dock, I Got A Letter This Morning, Riding In A Buggy, Awake, (Go Tell Aunt Rhody) The Ole Grey Goose Is Dead, and more

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.

Susan Brumfield : Old Dan Tucker

The favorite folksong in an accessible version that will help 2-part choirs build their rhythmic skills. With percussion and fiddle, it will steal the show! Perforemance Time: Approx. 2:05.

Arranger: Susan Brumfield

Carol Barnett : Old Dan Tucker

This imaginative festival setting of the well-known folk song allows the choir to take the stage. Marked boisterous, it calls for attention from the choir, with tricky rhythms and quick turns and twists. Several unison sections and easy ranges will help middle school choirs and beyond to have fun with this crowd-pleaser! Duration: ca. 3:00.

Arranger: Carol Barnett | Country: American Folk

John Leavitt : Old Dan Tucker

Your singers and audiences will love this song about one of the great characters in American folklore. A dazzling accompaniment for piano and fiddle and a rollicking two-part treble setting. Yee-haw! Available: 2-Part, ShowTrax CD. Performance Time: Approx. 2:00.

Arranger: John Leavitt | Country: United States