Wow, 59 days of a fiddle tune every day. That really sounds like a lot. And, I’m almost 20% of the way done. The first time I heard Spider Bit the Baby, I was 11 years old at the Winfield, KS fiddle contest (at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival). If I remember correctly, Billy Ward won the contest, and he played Spider Bit the Baby as his breakdown. I heard Billly play it at other contests, but I didn’t learn it, until I heard it on the Dale Morris Album, Old Time Fiddlin’ New for ’78.
The slide up to an E with the 4th finger kind of gives a sound like a baby howling, which is always fun. I was hoping for lyrics, or something fun but the information is pretty limited.
Get the sheet music to Spider Bit the Baby here
Learn to play this tune on fiddle here
Spider Bit The Baby according to Fiddler’s Companion
SPIDER BIT THE BABY. Old-Time, Breakdown. C Major. From fiddler Kenny Baker.
ok.. so here are some words… might need some modification.. but it's a start…
One day, spider bit the baby.
One fine day, made her mamma cry,
One day spider bit the baby,
Daddy took his shoe and he said " you going to die!'
One day spider bit the baby,
Baby is a tough one, didn't even cry,
One day baby bit the spider,
ate him for her dinner,
Little spider had to die..
Bridge
Spider best be watchin, when the baby bites you back.
Spider best be watchin, or you'll be a baby snack!
Best watch out don't mess with the baby!
Best watch out, don't mess wi h her dad!
Best watch out, silly little spider.
Ain't no match for the baby and her dad!
Fun song. Thanks
Thank you, Deborah!
Lovely musical performance !
Thanks, Michael!
I learned this is “Rattlesnake Bit The Baby” from old-time Missouri fiddler, Billy Mathews in the late 1980’s.
Hi Sydney, I have heard of Rattlesnake Bit the baby as a similar tune – probably starting as the same tune at some point. 🙂