"Raleigh and Spencer" Clawhammer Banjo Lesson

I learned "Raleigh & Spencer" from musicians around Watauga County, North Carolina, such as Josh Hayes, Matt Kinman, and Steve Kruger. My version is also derived from a fiddle recording of Tommy Jarrell, whose brother-in-law got the song from a local black guitarist.

It's been said that "Raleigh and Spencer are burning down..." is a reference to the Civil War destruction of Raleigh and Spencer, North Carolina; however, Raleigh was not burned after it surrendered to U.S. troops in 1865, and Spencer wasn't a town until the 1890s.

My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ d♯BEF♯B (three frets below f♯DGAD).

Raleigh and Spencer they're burning down
There's no more liquor in this town (x2)

What you gonna do baby to wet them pretty lips
When this whole damn world's going dry (×2)

You can trample the flowers down around my grave
But they'll rise up and bloom once again (×2)

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