“Keep on the Sunny Side” This popular American song originally written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn (1858–1927) with music by J. Howard Entwisle (1866–1903). The song was popularized in a 1928 recording by the Carter Family. A recording of the song with The Whites was featured in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?. In 1899 Ada was inspired to write this hymn by a phrase used by her nephew. Her nephew was disabled and always wanted his wheelchair pushed down "the sunny side" of the street. The Carter Family learned of the song from A. P. Carter's uncle who was a music teacher, and they recorded the song in Camden, New Jersey in 1928. "Keep on the Sunny Side" became their theme song on the radio in later years. A.P. Carter's tombstone has a gold record of the song embedded in it.
Performance Notes: 1. There is a good example of this tune on YouTube with Maybelle and the Carter sisters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qEhj-rQSAU&feature=related. Their arrangement is in the Key of C. I used the same key since it also fit my vocalist’s range. I’ve seen it performed in other keys, such as D and higher. The key you chose will ultimately depend on the vocal range of your singer(s). 2. The first arrangement is based on the melody line. It would be good to learn this linear version since the Banjo solo is based on the vocals. 3. The Banjo Solo is straight forward, based on the “Scruggs” style rolls. Below the tab, there will be larger/bold letters. These are the melody notes. Play them a little harder to help the melody surface. 4. The Banjo intro and ending are the same as measures 30-34 of the Banjo solo. 5. At measures 11, 18, 19, 26, 27 and 31, I’ve included the left hand fingerings (chording hand). These letters represent the index (I), middle (M), ring (R), and pinky (P) fingers. The letters below the tablature are the right hand (picking) fingerings.
Keep On The Sunny Side www.jaybuckey.com
A. Blenkhorn (Lyrics) J. Entwisle (Music) - 1899 Arrangement by Jay Buckey
Melody line: C
1
@@ Û
1
1
There's
a
Oh,
the
Let
us
F
0
1
dark
2
C
0
and
a
trou
storm
and
it's
fu
green
with
a
song
1
0
- bled
side
-
2
0
of
life,
ry
broke
to
of
hope
each
-
2
1
There's
day.
Crush
day.
Though
a -
ing the
G
6
5
5
bright
and
a
that ment
Û hopes mo
-
7
5
2
0
0
1
2
sun
-
ny
side
too;
Though
you
we
cher
-
ish
so
dear.
Clouds
and
be
cloud
-
y
or
fair.
Let
us
C
10
3
2
Û
0
5
meet
with
the
dark
storms
will
in
time
trust
in
our
Sa
14
0
-
-
0
2
ness
and
strife
The
pass
a
-
way,
The
vior
a
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way,
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eth
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side -
gain ev
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,
5
so
2
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find
1
may
al
you.
will
shine
bright
and
clear.
'ry
one
in
His
care.
1
1
F
18
5
5
Û Keep
22
on
the
sun
2
-
2
1
side
ny
1
al
-
1
keep
on
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2
the
sun
2
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3
ways
ny
2
side
of
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7
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5
us
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ev
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2
3
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the
sun
1
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2
side
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2
life.
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1
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30
5
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26
7
on
7
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'ry
2
0
day,
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C
3
2
the
Sun
1
will
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0
Side
will
C
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1
bright
G
2
5
-
1
en
all
C
0
of
1
Life.
2
0
the
way,
1
if
0
we
The complete arrangement for “Keep on the Sunny Side”, including: ・ The Banjo solo and backup ・ multiple play along mp3s at slow, medium and faster tempos, ・ with or without the Banjo ・ with or without the lead and/or harmony vocals are on this page: http://jaybuckey.com/music_pages/downloads/isd/isd.htm
