Ricky Skaggs – Uncle Pen, Song was written by Bill Monroe and recorded by Bill Monroe And His Blue Grass Boys, on October 15, 1950, at Castle Studio at The Tulane Hotel, 206 8th Ave. North, Nashville 3, TN, it was released on December 23, 1950, by the Decca label.
Ricky Skaggs, recorded a new version for the Epic label, on June 23, 1983, in Nashville, TN. Ricky was accompanied on the recording by: Lou Reid (high harmony vocal & banjo),, Ray Flacke (Guitar), Bruce Bouton (steel), Jesse Chambers (bass), George Grantham (drums), Bobby Hicks (fiddle) and Mickey Merrit (piano). The song was released in June 1984 with the production of Ricky Skaggs. On July 21, 1984, reaching number # 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts, the song remained on the charts for 19 weeks. It also reached number #1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks charts on October 13, 1984.
The song was included on Ricky Skaggs’ sixth studio album, Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown (Epic 1983). The album reached # 1 on the U.S. charts. Billboard Top Country Albums, on October 29, 1983, and spent 73 weeks on the charts. It also reached # 1 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums charts.
Some Versions:
Sonny Osborne (1953)
Porter Wagoner (1957)
Rose Maddox (1962)
Hank Smith & The Rodgers Brothers (1965)
Buck Owens & His Buckaroos (1971).
Gordon Terry (1973)
Mel Tillis & The Statesiders (1975)
Doug Kershaw (1975)
and some more …….
Ricky Skaggs – Uncle Pen lyrics
Oh, the people would come from far away
To dance all night to the break of day
When the caller would holler: “Do Si Do”
They knew Uncle Pen was ready to go
Late in the evening, about sundown
High on the hill, an’ above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord, how it rang
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing!
Well, he played an old tune they called the “Soldier’s Joy”
And he played the one they called the “Boston Boy”
Greatest of all was the “Jennie Lynn”
To me, that’s where the fiddlin’ begins
Late in the evening, about sundown
High on the hill, an’ above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord, how it rang
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing!
I’ll never forget that mournful day
When old Uncle Pen was called away
He hung up his fiddle and he hung up his bow
And he knew it was time for him to go
Late in the evening, about sundown
High on the hill, an’ above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord, how it rang
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing!
Late in the evening, about sundown
High on the hill, an’ above the town
Uncle Pen played the fiddle, Lord, how it rang
You could hear it talk, you could hear it sing!…
Ricky Skaggs – Uncle Pen GENIUS
