Jerry Byrd and LaGolondrina

Jack Byrd · Post by **Jack Byrd** » 19 Jul 2003 4:28 pm

I have recorded LaGolondrina twice. The first time it was included in the Album Hi Fi Guitar and the second time about 4-5 years ago with a western swing band. Tom Morrell’s great band out in Dallas. I did it western swing style in a new arrangement and different tuning than the original. I think you guys would find that as equally good or better than the original one. It is on a CD in which I also played Blues Guaranteed and I’m Confessing. The reason I did I’m Confessing on this CD was because I played it all the time over here (Hawaii) and they liked it and Tom had a girl singer, Chris O’Connell, one of the best female singers I ever heard. And when I heard her do some stuff on one of Tom’s other CD’s I told him before I came to do these songs I would like to do one song with Chris singing it, so he wanted to know what song and I told him I’m Confessing. We did it in the key of Db which is a good key for me and I’d be damned if she didn’t sing it in Db. But she did a great job on it and I think many of you would like that too. Those three songs are on the CD “No Peddlers Allowed”. Tom did 2-3 CD’s and did not have any pedal players on them, although they played both pedals and non-pedal- they would go back and forth when they had to play one or the other. The CD with my tunes on it had three other steel players on it. If you are interested in obtaining the CD contact WR Records, P.O. Box 248, Hunt Texas, 78024.

When I was in Detroit, Buddy Emmons was just a young boy learning to play and would write me eight page letters asking all kinds of questions and he learned by himself pretty much and that’s how he learned, keep playing more than anybody else – just continually. I dedicated LaGolondrina to him on this CD. He used to come and hear us when we played various places he would always come and sit down beside me in front and would say play LaGolondrina for me. That was one of Buddy’s favorite songs. I told Tom Morrell lets dedicate this to Buddy Emmons. I don’t know if he ever learned I dedicated it to him because it was one of the tunes I did that was one of his favorites.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 19 Jul 2003 5:14 pm

THANKS once again, Jack Byrd. What took you so long?

Jody Carver, yourself and any number of other
Forumites that are/were in the know, have really made this Forum of b0b's so valuable to those of use that have spent our lives out in the boonies, away from the main stream music that each of us have loved and chased most of our lives.

THANKS once again!

How about another?

Since we've stepped back in time just a little, might you have any "inside" info' on JB's alleged "Doo-Wah" button? Some of the folks here are really intrigued by it. Perhaps you'd be the best authority to share the "rest of the story" with Jerry's many fans.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 19 Jul 2003 7:36 pm

There is NO song, anywhere on this planet that I love as much as LaGolendrina as Jerry did it on HiFI guitar. I have loved this song like you cannot believe since I first heard it in the 50's. I bought the album because of it.

And now Jerry tells us that it was Buddy Emmons' favorite.

Wow, NOW folks I gotta tell ya, for this dude it truly does NOT get any better than that.

My only two hereos in the entire musical genre' And one thrills me to pieces for over 50 yrs doing my favorite song and now I learn 54 yrs later that my other hero loved it just like I did.

I never cease to wonder about the many blessings My precious Savior gives me. Never a day goes by. Learning this at this late date (and age) makes an old man cry.

May HE richly bless JB, BE, Jack and all of you,

carl

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 20 Jul 2003 6:34 pm

Dont Forget "Slippery Elm" another Jerry Classic.

oops Am I off topic here?? If
so I'm sorry.But it is another one of Jerry's GREAT tunes.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 20 July 2003 at 07:36 PM.]

Fred Layman · Post by **Fred Layman** » 21 Jul 2003 8:20 pm

My favorite of Jerry's reditions is "Drowsy Waters."

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 22 Jul 2003 3:51 am

"Drowsy Waters" was the very first record I ever had! It's still one of my favorites!

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Jim Vogan
Carter D10, 8&5 with BCT
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 23 Jul 2003 4:54 pm

What about "Estralita".....?

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 25 Jul 2003 8:10 am

I've heard Hank Snow sing a song entitled "She Wears My Ring", which is the same tune as La Golondrina. It goes like this:

She wears my ring
To show the world that she belongs to me
She wears my ring
To show the world she's mine, eternally
With loving care, I placed it on her finger
To show my love
For all the world to see.

That's all I can remember of the words. Does anyone know what "La Golondrina" actually translates to in English? I've never heard any words to La Golondrina, except for the words that Hank Snow sang to the same melody...

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 25 Jul 2003 8:43 am

Ok, I may have them backwards; but I believe the following is true:

1. LaPaloma--The Dove

2. LaGolendrina--The Swan

Any Spanish speaking players out there that can straighten this out for us?

carl

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 25 Jul 2003 9:02 am

Carl: I can't speak Spanish but I have always heard, from my father who loved classical music, for one, that La Golendrina meant The Swallow. But I would like to know for certain as well. I remember well the swallows who made many, many nests in our barn rafters. It was they who kept the mosquito population under control and they were very beautiful with their dark blue coloration and swift flying patterns.

Regards, Paul

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 25 Jul 2003 6:50 pm

I just remembered I have a Spanish-English dictonary...

After blowing the dust off it, Carl and Paul are both correct...Golondrina translates to "Swallow", and La Paloma is "the Dove."

I wonder if there were ever any original Spanish words to the songs..???

Jim Vogan · Post by **Jim Vogan** » 25 Jul 2003 7:29 pm

SHE WEARS MY RING

SHE WEARS MY RING TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT SHE BELONGS TO ME
SHE WEARS MY RING TO SHOW THE WORLD SHE'S MINE ETERNALLY
WITH LOVING CARE, I PLACED IT ON HER FINGER
TO SHOW MY LOVE FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE

THIS TINY RING IS A TOKEN OF TENDER EMOTION
AN ENDLESS POOL OF LOVE, THAT'S AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN
SHE SWEARS TO WEAR IT WITH ETERNAL DEVOTION
THAT'S WHY I SING, BECAUSE SHE WEARS MY RING

THIS TINY RING IS A TOKEN OF TENDER EMOTION
AN ENDLESS POOL OF LOVE, THAT'S AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN
SHE SWEARS TO WEAR IT WITH ETERNAL DEVOTION
THAT'S WHY I SING, BECAUSE SHE WEARS MY RING

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Jim Vogan
Carter D10, 8&5 with BCT
G.D. Walker Stereo Steel Combo
Bakelite Ric
Hilton volume pedal

[This message was edited by Jim Vogan on 25 July 2003 at 08:30 PM.]

Fernando Fernandez · Post by **Fernando Fernandez** » 26 Jul 2003 4:53 am

Yes, La golondrina is "The swallow".

About the spanish lyrics, only I know the lyrics to the Serradell song:

Aben Hamed al partir de Granada
Su corazón destrozado sintió
Y allá en la Vega al perderla de vista
Con débil voz su lamento expresó.

Ay! cual te envidio al mirar
Que te alejas
Ave felíz de dicha y de placer
Mis ecos lleva a la pátria
A donde nunca jamás yo volveré.

A donde irá veloz y fatigada
La golondrina que de aquí se va
O si en el viento se hallará extraviada
Buscando abrigo y no lo encontrará.

Junto a mi lecho le formaré su nido
En donde pueda la estación pasar
Tambien yo estoy en la región perdido
Oh cielo santo y sin poder volar.

Dejé tambien mi patria idolatrada
Esa mansión que me miró nacer
Mi vida es hoy amante y angustiada
Y ya no puedo a mi mansión volver.

Ave querida, amada peregrina
Mi corazón al tuyo estrecharé
Oiré tu canto tierna golondrina
Recordaré mi patria y lloraré.

The first two verses are more unusuals and are eliminated in most part of the versions.Somebody said that it's a bolero or serenata, but I think it's more an habanera ( due to the lyrics).

regards

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 26 Jul 2003 6:57 am

Fernando: It's nice to meet you here on the Steel Guitar Forum !! I see you've been around for almost three years now but we need to hear more from nice folks like you overseas. I spent a lot of time overseas with the USAF and I recognize the color and variety other people add to the Forum. Tell us what the steel guitar is doing in Spain and things like that to add character to this site.

Regards, Paul

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Jul 2003 10:24 am

Hola Fernando !

gracias por la cancion
bueno verano

Henry · Post by **Henry** » 2 Feb 2004 3:50 am

Next to JERRY BYRD are there more ""LA GOLONDRINA""versions ??

Henry

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 2 Feb 2004 4:39 am

Buddy Emmons recorded it in the early 60's, though on a pedal steel.

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 2 Feb 2004 7:28 am

Ray and all, I posted Jerrys reply about the "wah button". There was a 3rd control on his Blond Rick but it was not a wah button and Jerry did not remember what it was for but never used it at all as far as he could remember and he alwaus did the wah effect with his finger on the TONE control. I had originally bought this up as I had the JB model blonde Rick like Jerrys and quite by accident I discovered it was a wah button. I was contacted by A person in Cal that was a former Rick employee and he said the 3rd button was intended to be a Mid control ala todays amps. He said that I was the 4th guy through all these yrs that he knew off who had a 3rd button that "malfunctioned". Another person here in Tx contacted me and said he had a wah button on his JB blonde Rick. He cane to my home and brought his and shorenuff his 3rd button "malfunctioned". My guitar was in pristene shape so he offered me a price I could not refuse. At no time did I accuse Jerry of using the 3rd button as a wah and Jerry says he did not so that is plenty good enough for me. BTW I know a fellow in San Angelo Tx that has a wah button on his 1975 Sho-Bud. Hope this clears up the wah button thing. In my correspondence with Jerry He knows I asked him the question out of curiousity since my blonde Rick arrived from the factory with a unintentunal wah.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 2 Feb 2004 8:15 am

Henry, I think there was a version done by the Dutch group "the Jumping Jewels" or a similar name. They also did "Java", "Twilight Time" etc.
Check it out.

(Other versions are also done by James Last, Bert Kaempfert, Catarina Valente, Los Panchos, Max Gregor, Billy Vaughn. How do I know this? I searched on Kazaa Lite.)

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Peter den Hartogh-Emmons 1978 S10 - Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

[This message was edited by Peter on 02 February 2004 at 08:20 AM.]

Henry · Post by **Henry** » 2 Feb 2004 9:10 am

Thanks PETER,
BTW,,,
Did you already tried the ""DUTCHway""

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HIE TIE JA HOE BESSIE =hitijahubessy
------------------------------------
""wil het een beetje""?

Henry[This message was edited by Henry on 02 February 2004 at 10:02 AM.]

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 2 Feb 2004 9:48 am

Jerry's rendition of LaPaloma is another fine tune, done in what I believe is a tango rythm. I don't know if he recorded it, because I have it from a recording that my grandmother cut off the radio in about 1949.
Bill

Harry Williams · Post by **Harry Williams** » 2 Feb 2004 10:24 am

Is anyone aware of tab for La Golondrina either on Lap or PSG? I first heard it by BE on his Four Wheel Drive recording.

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Peter · Post by **Peter** » 2 Feb 2004 11:39 am

Henry, Ja het lukt best hoor. Ik moet het nog 98 keer herhalen.
In English it would sound like "HeeTeeYahooBessy".

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Peter den Hartogh-Emmons 1978 S10 - Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

Bob Stone · Post by **Bob Stone** » 2 Feb 2004 2:55 pm

I'm quite certain La Golondrina is Mexican. How about La Paloma, is it Mexican too? I think so...

Just curious.

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 3 Feb 2004 2:50 am

La Paloma was also recorded by Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders with Roland Peachey on Hawaiian Guitar. January 1940... Parlophone F-1663..available on Harlequin HQ-CD-93

La Golondrina was recorded by Felix also. Sammy Mitchell on H.G. September 20th 1950 ..Columbia DB-2822.. NOT available since (But plans are afoot)

Does this Pre-date Jerry Byrd's version ? or was it copied from his ? or vice versa ?

Howard White also recorded both tunes BUT, called them "Steel Guitar Swallow" and "Steel Guitar Dove" respectively.. available on Bear Family Records..BCD-15575.
Howard White was a J.B. Inspired player and lived in Charlotte N.C.

Solomon King and Elvis Presley also recorded vocal versions of La Golendrina (as She Wears My Ring)
Basil Henriques www.waikiki-islanders.com

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Steel players do it without fretting

http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

[This message was edited by basilh on 04 February 2004 at 11:21 AM.]