Back Up and Push – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 53

When I was a kid I used to play this song ALL the time. My dad thought it was great since it has the Georgia shuffle in it, so he would make me play it every stinkin’ time we played a show. I grew so sick of Backup and Push that I went without playing it for about 15 years. At this point, it’s still not my favorite tune, but I certainly don’t mind playing it – especially if someone requests it.

The weather is just gorgeous here tonight in northern Colorado, so I thought it was fitting to take it outside. I’m kind of surprised that I didn’t realize before now that Backup and Push is just like Rubber Dolly except for souped up a little bit and in C instead of A.  And, I now have my new Fiddle Tune Fact of the Day. 🙂

Get Sheet Music to Back Up and Push

Learn to play Back Up and Push on fiddle here

Backup and Push According to the Fiddler’s Companion

BACK UP AND PUSH [1]. AKA and see “Rubber Dolly.” Bluegrass; Breakdown. USA, widely known. C Major. Standard tuning. One part (Lowinger): AABB (Brody, Silberberg): AA’BB (Phillips): AA’BB’ (Reiner). Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers’ 1934 version of the piece (backed with “Down Yonder”) became the third best-selling country music record for that year. Gid’s son, 17 year old Gordon Tanner, played uncredited fiddle lead at the session, according to Tony Russell.

Bronner also says the tune has a similarity to an older British Isles melody called “Lord Alexander’s Reel/Hornpipe,” though he must have consulted other versions of the melody for his sources’ version is somewhat obscure. It has been a favorite Texas or western swing piece in the 1930’s and 40’s, and has also been collected in the northeast.

Backup and Push Lyrics