Draggin’ The Bow – Fiddle Tune a Day – Day 110

WOW! Another crazy time trying to find out the history of a tune. Who would have thought that a tune like Draggin’ the Bow was so poorly documented online. Just finding the author was a crazy chore. As it turns out Curt Massey wrote the tune, but I couldn’t find the exact date. I did find that it was recorded in the mid 30’s (between 34 and 36).  Other than that, there are lots of people who have recorded it since.

I also found this little bit of history about Curt Massey that you might find interesting.

And, I think it’s a really fun tune to play – especially the triple shuffle!

Draggin’ the Bow according to Fiddler’s Companion

DRAGGIN’ THE BOW. AKA‑ “Drag That Fiddle.” American, Breakdown. A Major. Standard tuning. One part (Brody, Phillips); ABB (Christeson). Widely known in a variety of genres and styles: western swing, Canadian, bluegrass, cajun, old‑timey. Sources for notated versions: Cliff Bruner’s Texas Wanderers (Texas) [Brody], Cecil Brower and Cliff Bruner (Texas) [Phillips], Red Williams (Dallas, Texas) [Christeson]. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 90. R.P. Christeson (Old Time Fiddlers Repertory, vol. 1), 1973; pgs. 173‑176. Phillips (Traditional American Fiddle Tunes, vol. 2), 1995; pg. 44. Adelphi 2002, Hickory Wind‑ “At the Wednesday Night Waltz.” Condor 977‑1489, “Graham and Eleanor Townsend Live atBarre, Vermont.” Gusto 104, Harry Choates‑ “30 Fiddler’s Greatest Hits” (appears as ‘Drag That Fiddle’). June Appal 030, Marion Sumner‑ “Road To Home.” MSOTFA 007, Charlie Walden – “Draggin’ the Bow” (1985). Rebel 1552, Buck Ryan‑ “Draggin’ the Bow.” String 801, Cliff Bruner’s Texas Wanderers‑ “Beer Parlor Jive.” Voyager 309, Benny and Jerry Thomasson‑ “The Weiser Reunion: a Jam Session” (1993).

Additional Info on Draggin’ the Bow from Tiffany Transcriptions

The first recording is said to be:

4/11/35 Raggin’ the Fiddle by the Travelers (Henry Hartley on fiddle) Decca 5461. I have not heard this recording and I haven’t been able to find a reissue of it.

6/18/35 Draggin’ the Bow by the Westerners (on ARC) / The Massey Family (on Vocalion) (Curt Massey of fiddle) nice, not so flashy, moderate swing version

10/27/36 Draggin’ it Around – Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers (Cecil Brower Fiddle) Bluebird 6731

9/13/38 Draggin’ the Bow Cliff Bruner’s Texas Wanders (Cliff on fiddle)

12/06/38 Alley Cat Stomp Shelley Lee Alley & his Alley Cats (Shelley Lee and Leon Selph fiddles) Vocalion 04600

12/06/38 (same day as above and both in Dallas, TX) Draggin’ the Bow – Hi Flyers (Darrell Kirkpatrick – fiddle)

2/14/40 Lake Charles Shuffle – Rayn-Bo Ramblers (Harry Choates – Fiddle)

And a lot more after that….

Country Music Sources (Meade Spottswood, Meade) suggests it source to be a variety of Ragtime numbers the earliest being Bennie Moten’s Kater Street Rag from 5/15/25. You can hear it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=456JCbDsVRg . This and all the other rags noted by Country Music Sources and have that generic ragtime structure. So, whether it comes from an actual tune or if the composer just took that structure and came up with it, is anybody’s guess. Curt Massey is credited as the composer, but I wonder since there is an earlier recording and you can’t take anyone’s word on this kind of thing.