Oral History Interview with Virgil and Clela Alfrey Part II

. Transcriber’s Notes:Words or phrases in found brackets represent unclear or unintelligible portions of the recording. Brackets are also used to provide the reader with helpful background information about the recording. Underlined text within the transcription represents more than one person speaking at the same time.

[Virgil Alfrey’s wife, Clela Hillman Alfrey plays guitar accompaniment with Virgil Alfrey on these songs].

Alfrey:From the beginning, through the first part, through the second part, come back and play the first part again and then the second part and then end it.

Interviewer:You played another part and you went up high. Was that a variation on the first part or, or what was going on?Alfrey:Like we talked about before, just an expression. And if I think of it I play. And if not, I mean I just sort of play what through the chorus structure is, what I am doing. Staying within the chord structure, varying from the melody a little.

Interviewer:Okay. Thank you. I’d like to hear “Dreamer’s Waltz.”

Alfrey:[00: 34---2:30 “Dreamer’s Waltz”]

Interviewer:“Apple Blossom.”

Alfrey:2:40---3:58 Plays “Apple Blossom.”

4:08---6:06 Plays unnamed song.

6:07--- 7:48 Plays unnamed song.

Interviewer:“Ace of Spades.”

Alfrey:7:53--- 1:00Plays “Ace of Spades.” 2:00 --- 3:00Plays unnamed song 4:00 --- 5:00Plays unnamed song

[Alfrey begins speaking to his wife who is playing guitar] In G position. 6:00--- 16: 00 Plays unnamed song

Interviewer:“Mother’s Old Sun Bonnet.” Okay.

Alfrey:16: 02---- 7:00Plays “Mother’s Old Sun Bonnet.” [Clela sings the lyrics, transcribed below].

There’s a faded old sunbonnet on a peg behind the door,

It’s the one my sainted mother used to wear.

Till on day she took it down never [hung back again]

Since that day we’ve left it laying there.

God be good to mother wherever she may be.

Please rest and help her over there and keep her

Just the same sweet smiling angel she always seemed to me

In that old sunbonnet that she used to wear.

Hard work, bad luck and worry were all my mother knew

Until that day she laid her burdens down.

Her tired old hands were [folded]

Her work on earth was through.

She’d exchanged her old sunbonnet for a crown.

God gives sunbonnet mothers a special kind of love

To help them with their burdens they must bear

I hope he has a special place prepared for them up there

They all should get the best of it somewhere.

They ought to get the best of it somewhere.

Interviewer: This is called “Rutland’s Reel, R-u-t-l-a-n-d-‘-s. And Virgil has an idea about this tune.

Alfrey:Well, my idea is that Howard Forrester and Bob Rutland played together so many years either Bob Rutland composed this before he passed away or Howard Forrester composed this, I think, possibly in honor and in memory of Bob Rutland that he played with for so many years. It’s the “Rutland Reel.”

[ 8:00 ---- 9:00Plays “Rutland’s Reel/ “Rutland Reel.”]

[ 10:00End of recording]