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DOWN IN THE VALLEY
(Also known as "Birmingham Jail")

Traditional American Folksong

Button Accordion Notation  (for beginners who know the melody)
​Although you may be a "beginner" on the button accordion, you already know lots of tunes, perhaps including the American folk song "Down in the Valley".   If so, you already have a sense of how long to hold each treble note, and where to put the emphasis.  You just need to get use to it on the button accordion.
​
​Verse 1 (of 3)

    5      6    7*     7     6      7     7*   6     7*
Down  in   the   val - ley   val - ley  so  low

    5       6*       7*    8*    7*     6*     6      7*      6
Hang  your  head    o - ver,  hear  the  wind   blow

   5       6     7*      7      6        7       7*     6      7*
Hear  the  wind  blow  love,  hear  the  wind  blow


    5       6*    7*      8*   7*      6*     6     7*      6
Hang  your  head   o - ver,  hear  the  wind  blow

​
​
TIP 1:  Use the (left) air button (operated by left thumb) to
     open the
bellows at the start ... a bit more for songs that
     require more
pushes than pulls, and a bit less it there
     are fewer pushes than pulls.


TIP 2:   For this song, if you place your "index finger" at
      button 5 and your "little finger" at button 8, you will be
      able to use four fingers to press buttons 5, 6, 7 & 8
      without  having to reposition your right hand.

​Embedded youTUBE  VIDEOS
Click to set custom HTML
Five videos in the keys:   A=1    C=1    D=1    G=2
Some videos differ from the notation above, either in lyrics or rhythm (or both).

​Key:  A

Tempo:  ~105 bpm

Singer:  Slim Whitman

Posted by: Cootjuh86

​Key:  C

Tempo:  ~125 bpm.

Performer:  ?

Posted by: Elena Nito

​A very short piano demo.

Key:  D

Singer:  

​Posted by:  ListenAndReadAlong

Key:  G 

Tempo:  ~120 bpm

Singer:  Burl Ives  

​Posted by:  RecordsFromShelf

Key:  G

Tempo: ~110 bpm

Singers:  Jerry Garcia & David Grisman

Posted by:  tina taquilla

 
Background Materials, Information & Links

​Lyrics:

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​
​
Background Links:
Click HERE for additional info about this song.  (Wikipedia)

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NOTE  1 - Copyright:
​Most of 
the contents of this site, in print, audio and video formats, is "copyright" protected.   
Users are responsible for ensuring that their usage is permitted by Canadian and international copyright law and agreements.  Check the Heads-Up (Read & Heed) button on the home page for additional information.

NOTE 2 - Composers, Performers & Publishers:
Though not revenue generating
, this non-profit educational site high-lights and celebrates some of my favorite composers, performers, and publishers, and encourages you to purchase their products, as I have done and continue to do, whether in paper, CD or electronic formats.
​

DISCLAIMER 1:  Browser Compatibility:
This site has been tested on the 2020 Chrome, Edge and Brave browsers without problem.  However my current (January 2021) Firefox browser does not always properly align the button notes with its corresponding lyrics.

DISCLAIMER 2 - Errors & Omissions:
Many of these tune pages are still in early stages of development, probably with many errors and omissions.  Make corrections as needed.

Copyright © 2015