© 2014 Trad. Arr. Janice & Bud Merritt

Don't Sell It, Don't Give It Away

We discovered the roots of this tune at PublicDomain4U listed under “folk blues.” Oscar Woods first recorded the tune and it is noted primarily for the fact that he played a National steel guitar in the lap Hawaiian style. This may be the beginning of many country and blues styles on this instrument. The most fascinating thing about him is that he, an African-American, backed up the Governor of Louisiana on several recordings in 1930! Now that would have been a session to have been at. According to some reports he lived on until the 1950’s while others say that he disappeared in 1938. I played around with the lyrics to make them a bit less risqué and to make them from the female perspective. We then set it to a Texas or Western Swing rhythm and added a minor chord.