I first learned Play Fiddle Play from Dale Morris when I was 14 or 15. He taught it to me as a waltz, and it was a really pretty schmaltzy gypsy sounding tune.
Listening back, there are some structural similarities between Play Fiddle Play (the way that Dale taught it to me), and a tune I wrote a couple of years later – On a Snowy Day. I was definitely not thinking about this when I wrote On a Snowy Day, but it’s interesting to listen for those kind of similarities.
When I decided I was going to play this tune, I wanted to make sure that I played each part the correct number of times, so I looked on youtube to find a recording. (I haven’t thought about this tune in years.) When I found it, the recording I played was a free flowing time through, followed by swinging it. I watched another video and it was a similar arrangement. That sounded like fun to me, so I worked up a quick arrangement in that style. Enjoy!
Play, Fiddle Play History
You’ve got to read the story behind the tune by Jack Lawrence. What a tale!
Play Fiddle Play Lyrics
(Arthur Altman / Jack Lawrence / Emery Deutsch)
Arthur Tracy
Also recorded by : Kenny Clarke; Sam Donahue; Fast Eddie Erickson;
Erroll Garner; Dizzy Gillespie; Matt Glaser; Marian McPartland;
Ray Noble; David Pell; Slam Stewart.
Now the gypsy band rest their caravan
Where I hear concealed the song
Dusky magic falls, gypsy music calls
Oft to lovers one by one.
A lover strums his fiddle while he hums his little song
Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm.
Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm.
Play, fiddler play, play my loved one a melody
Sing to my love while the stars swing above
Play, fiddle play, sing my loved one a rhapsody
Play on the strings of her heart
The campfires are gleaming as red as the sun
And my heart keeps dreaming, just dreaming of one
So softly, croon while the moon with our two hearts in harmony
Play, fiddle play to my love.
(Instrumental break)
Croon while the moon with our two hearts in harmony
Play, fiddle play to my love.
Awesome. I like that gypsy sound. Very nice where in the middle somewhere, you up the tempo with a series of double stops. I really like this. Thank you.
Why should Emery get any credit at all after reading that tale.
Why should Emery get any credit at all after reading that tale.
The music business hasn't always been fair to those who do the work. I think it's better now than it has been in the past, but it's still important as a musician and songwriter to become educated on copyright law.
Thanks, Francis. I really feel the emotion of this tune when I play it.