DOWN IN THE VALLEY
(Birmingham Jail)
Button Accordion with Guitar Accompaniment
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Time signature: 3/4
Beats per bar = 3 Beat symbol = Dot ( . ) or equivalent |
Traditional American Folksong
Most artists (though not all) do it at a moderate waltz tempo |
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ACCORDION (BUTTON) NOTATION
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Either row (high) = Buttons 5 to 8*
Either row (low) = Buttons 2 to 4* |
Verse 1 (of 3)
.5 .6 .7* | .:7 | .:6 | .7 .7* .6 | .:7*~ | ~: .r |
.2 .3 .3* | .:4 | .:3 | .4 .3* .3 | .:3*~ | ~: .r |
Down in the val - ley val - ley so low___ /
.5 .6* .7* | .:8* | .:7* | .6* .6 .7* | .:6~ | ~: .r |
.2 .2* .3* | .:4* | .:3* | .2* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~: .r |
Hang your head o - ver, hear the wind blow___ /
.5 .6 .7* | .:7 | .:6 | .7 .7* .6 | .:7*~ | ~: .r |
.2 .3 .3* | .:4 | .:3 | .4 .3* .3 | .:3*~ | ~: .r |
Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow___ /
.5 .6* .7* | .:8* | .:7* | .6* .6 .7* | .:6~ | ~.: |
.2 .2* .3* | .:4* | .:3* | .2* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Hang your head o - ver, hear the wind blow___ /
.5 .6 .7* | .:7 | .:6 | .7 .7* .6 | .:7*~ | ~: .r |
.2 .3 .3* | .:4 | .:3 | .4 .3* .3 | .:3*~ | ~: .r |
Down in the val - ley val - ley so low___ /
.5 .6* .7* | .:8* | .:7* | .6* .6 .7* | .:6~ | ~: .r |
.2 .2* .3* | .:4* | .:3* | .2* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~: .r |
Hang your head o - ver, hear the wind blow___ /
.5 .6 .7* | .:7 | .:6 | .7 .7* .6 | .:7*~ | ~: .r |
.2 .3 .3* | .:4 | .:3 | .4 .3* .3 | .:3*~ | ~: .r |
Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow___ /
.5 .6* .7* | .:8* | .:7* | .6* .6 .7* | .:6~ | ~.: |
.2 .2* .3* | .:4* | .:3* | .2* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Hang your head o - ver, hear the wind blow___ /
Embedded youTube VIDEOS
Twelve videos in the keys: A=1 A,E=1 Bb=1 C=2 Db=1 Db,Eb=1 E=2 G=2 G?=1
Some videos differ from the notation above, either in lyrics or rhythm (or both).
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Key: E
Tempo: ~95 bpm Singer: The Browns Posted by: ernst810 |
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Key: E from time 0 to 2:33
A from 2:34 to end Tempo: ~130 bpm Singer: Glen Campbell Posted by: Glen Campbell Forums |
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Key: G ?
Tempo: ~120 bpm Singer: Burl Ives Posted by: RecordsFromShelf |
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Key: G
Tempo: ~110 bpm Singers: Jerry Garcia & David Grisman Posted by: tina taquilla |
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Key: Db
Tempo: ~100 bpm Group: ASU Men's Chorus Posted by: asumenschorus |
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Key: Db from time 0 to 1:37
Eb from time 1:37 to end Tempo: ~100 bpm. Singer: Roy Drusky Posted by: dvdman49 |
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Key: Bb
Tempo: ~95 bpm Singer: Patti Page Posted by: ruudrebel |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~125 bpm. Performer: ? Posted by: Elena Nito A very short piano demo. |
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Key: E
Tempo: ~120 bpm Singer: Lawson Bates and Carlin Bates Posted by: Lawson Bates |
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Key: A
Tempo: ~105 bpm Singer: Slim Whitman Posted by: Cootjuh86 |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~130 bpm Singer: Herb Andler Posted by: Herb Andler Interesting, but with a faster tempo and different rhythm than most of the preceding videos. |
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Key: G
Tempo: ~150 bpm Singer: Solomon Burke Posted by: KingOfRockNSoul A variant: the rhythm is somewhat different from that given above. Fun to try, but it does not lend itself easily to accordion accompaniment. |
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Background Materials, Information & Links
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Lyrics:
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Down in the valley the valley so low
Late in the evening, hear the wind blow Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow Late in the evening, hear the wind blow Roses love sunshine, violets love dew Angels in heaven, know I love you Know I love you, dear, know I love you Angels in heaven, know I love you Write me a letter, send it by mail Send it in care of, the Birmingham Jail Birmingham Jail love, Birmingham Jail Send it in care of, the Birmingham Jail Roses love sunshine, violets love dew Angels in heaven, know I love you Know I love you, dear, know I love you Angels in heaven, know I love you |
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Background Links:
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Click HERE for additional info about this song. (Wikipedia)
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