Alabama Jubilee

"Alabama Jubilee!" is a natural phenomena unique to only a few places in the world. Usually in the summer and during the night, when the water is still on Mobile Bay, fish and all other water creatures come out of the water and up on the beach. Flounder, catfish and crabs along with rays and eels crowd the shoreline waters. The cry of "Jubilee!" brings waterfront residents to harvest a bounty of seafood. Anywhere from a half hour to 2-3 hours later, everything is back to normal.

In Decatur, Alabama, what began with a spark of patriotism in the late 1960s in this Tennessee River city has exploded into one of North Alabama´s largest free Fourth of July celebrations. The annual Spirit of America Festival, spanning two days over the July 4th national holiday weekend, presents a mix of lively entertainment, such as that found at modern-day fairs, and a wheel barrow full of traditional, family-style games and activities common at turn-of-the-century town gatherings.

It is hard to conjecture, but the Ol'Kunnel wonders if the "Alabama Jubilee" of Yellen and Cobb were the same mind-filled fun as happens in our day and time. I reckon so, don't you?

Words by Jack Yellen.
Music by George Cobb.
Circa 1915.

Mandolins, violins,
Hear the darkies tunin' up, the fun begins,
Come this way, don't delay,
Better hurry, honey dear, or you'll be missin'
Music sweet, rag-time treat,
Goes right to your head and trickles to your feet,
It's a reminder, a memory finder
Of nights down in old Alabam'.

Chorus:
You ought to see deacon Jones
When he rattles the bones,
Old parson Brown foolin' 'roun like a clown,
Aunt Jemima who is past eighty three,
Shoutin' "I'm full o' pep!
(Spoken: Watch yo' step!, watch yo' step!)
One legged Joe danced aroun' on his toe,
Threw away his crutch and hollered, "let 'er go!"
Oh, honey, hail! hail! the gang's all here
For an Alabama jubilee.

Hear that flute, it's a beaut,
And the tunes it's tootin', tootsie, ain't they cute?
Let's begin, it's a sin,
To be missin' all this syncopated music!
Oh, you Jane, once again
Give your legs some exercise to that refrain,
Boy, that's what makes me so dreamy and takes me
Back home to my old Alabam'.

(Chorus)

Music provided by:

MIDI Music Arranged by:

Frank "Grandpa" Schober

Want to buy sheet music, songbooks or guitar tabs?

They have over a quarter million titles to choose from, and you can order online.

Here's your chance to find more MIDI music and vote

on how much you enjoyed the Ol'Kunnel's MIDI music page.

A hobby web site; nothing for sale; no fee, no profit. We just enjoy life on the 'Net using 300 pages with only a partial reflection of my omnivorous interests. Enjoy! Main Key Words: aviation,chat,country,family,friendship,god,honor,music,mankind,military,opinion,fact,fiction,dog,war">