Cripple Creek (folk song)
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| "Cripple Creek" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Published | Mid 19th Century |
| Genre | |
| Songwriter(s) | Traditional |
"Cripple Creek" is an Appalachian-style old time tune and folk song, often played on the fiddle or banjo, listed as number 3434 in the Roud Folk Song Index.
The lyrics are probably no older than the year 1900, and the tune is of unknown origin. It has become a standard among bluegrass musicians and is often one of the first songs a banjo picker learns.[1]
Its time of composition is unknown, and according to Bob Coltman, the tune is probably older than the lyrics.[2]
The most famous Cripple Creek is Cripple Creek, Colorado, where a mining town was formed after gold was discovered there in 1891. However most traditional Virginia musicians believe that the song refers to Cripple Creek, Virginia.[2]
