It’s no secret that the token heroine of just about every old-time tune is Sally. Hands down, she’s the queen of the old-time song.
But if Sally is the queen of the old-time tune, then Johnny is king.
Though the Johnny that weaves his way in and out of the tapestry of old-time tuneage seems to have a mischievous streak, and perhaps is prone to a vice or two. As this week’s tune of the week would seem to suggest, one of those vices is the bottle.
And while the title phrase “Johnny Don’t Get Drunk” initially comes across like a benevolent note of warning, a few bars in we realize that it’s being delivered with a wink and a smile.
If Johnny does indeed possess a penchant for the white lightning, he doesn’t stand a chance against this raucous and rambunctious beast of a tune.
So let’s all raise a glass to Johnny, and pick a few notes in his honor. You can’t help but have a good time with this one, even when your wits are fully about you.
Johnny Don’t Get Drunk
aDADE tuning, Brainjo level 3
Notes on the tab
Skip Notes: The notes in the shaded box are “skip” notes, meaning they’re not actually sounded by the picking finger. Instead, you continue the clawhammer motion with your picking hand, but “skip” playing the note by not striking it (this is a technique used to add space and syncopation). The fret number you see in the shaded box is the suggested note to play should you elect to strike the string.