Level: 3
Tuning: Standard

One of Lead Belly’s best-known songs. Also recorded under the title “Mr. Tom Hughes Town”. A tour de force of twelve string playing. Played in the key of E with a rolling bass figure and a strong dynamic right hand approach.

The story told is that Lead Belly went to Shreveport, Louisiana in his father's wagon - his father taking produce to sell in the city. Apparently, his father made Huddie lie down in the wagon while he was passing the houses of ill-repute that flourished on Fannin Street in the early 1900s. Tom Hughes was the Sheriff of Caddo Parish (Shreveport is the main town) from 1916 to 1940.Leadbelly's uncle, Terrel Ledbetter, taught his nephew to play accordion and later guitar. Leadbelly was soon playing at local parties—as well as on Shreveport's Fannin Street, a notorious red-light district, despite his mother's protests.

Taught by Harry Lewman.