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Comment by Glenn Watt on November 18, 2019 at 8:15am

Dave Lynas, thank you very much. I appreciate your kindness.

Ernest Gusella, I agree that, if nothing else, there's a ton of inspiration in that book. It's got great stories and lyrics and a wonderful bit of history all wrapped up in its pages.

Comment by Ernest Gusella on November 15, 2019 at 8:16pm

I just got a used copy of 'The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles' on Amazon for a couple of bucks plus shipping. There are other used copies there at very cheap and decent prices. Just looking at the titles of the songs makes me drool. Even if you don't plan to learn any of the songs, there has got to be TONS of inspiration here to get ideas flowing for writing your own cigar box versions of whatever such as: two cops kissing in a Mississippi river or  the time the dog ate my wife's drawers or check out Tom Waits' song by bluesman John Hammond on Youtube 'Buzz Fletterjohn's Lodge'. It will blow your mind how he juxtaposes the most disparate ideas together and IT ALL MAKES SENSE MUSICALLY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REvuCAPH9-8

Comment by Dave Lynas on November 14, 2019 at 11:12pm

Beautiful chords you’re plucking there Glenn. You have the right voice for it too. Thanks.

Comment by Glenn Watt on November 14, 2019 at 9:18pm

Greg Tiffany, I'm glad you liked it. Thank you very much.

Ernest Gusella, it's good to read that you're familiar with Niles. He and the music and culture that he researched and recorded are all new to me, and I really enjoy it. Nifty stuff, for sure. Plus, I dig your perspective on how a cigar box guitar can open doors to musical exploration. It's taken a long while to find an art form to explore with a CBG, but I think I've found it now.

Poorness Studios, I really appreciate the time and attention you gave this video. Thanks, man.

BrianQ, it does sound old, doesn't it? I love it. All these melodies and musical pieces seem to have been handed down through generations and over great distances, never changing much save for the lyrics. And most of the lyrics are all emotionally charged, heavy things. They seem to speak to the lives that sang them and the hardships they faced.

Uncle John, I'm grateful for your time. Thank you for watching and for leaving kind words. Penny the dog is a treat. And needy treat, but a treat nonetheless. I too like ballads and the tales they tell. And yessir, if I understand it correctly, the music traveled across the Atlantic and down through Appalachia. I'm so happy that this author Niles roamed the countryside meeting the people that sang these songs and recording their words. All great stuff.

Comment by Greg Tiffany on November 14, 2019 at 5:22pm

Very nice story and ballad, well done.

Comment by Ernest Gusella on November 14, 2019 at 4:07pm

Beautiful song. John Jacob Niles was quite famous in the '60's when the whole folk thing got going. Glenn shows some of the full potential of the cigar box guitar. Great watching, learning warts and all. Let's get songwriting ourselves folks! Just like Uncle John! I have done 2 LP's on a 4 trak reel to reel and 7 CD's on a computer myself, and let me tell you, once you get the bug, well you are hooked for life. Cigar box guitars are one of the BEST tools to figure things out before you get fancy with multi tracking. You can do this too!

Comment by Poorness Studios on November 14, 2019 at 1:47pm

Always good to see someone get excited about a new discovery. Sounds like a good book. Thanks for sharing Glenn.

Comment by BrianQ. on November 14, 2019 at 12:47pm

That sounds old, thanx for sharing, definitely a great book with lots of historical value?

Comment by Uncle John on November 14, 2019 at 10:01am

I don't know of John Jacob Niles, but I do like ballads.   That song sounds like it could have come over from the British Isle.  Pretty!    l like.   Nice doxdy dog too.  More!