Down Yonder

“Down Yonder” is an American popular song with music and lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert, published in 1921 and first performed that year at the Orpheum Theater in New Orleans; the Peerless Quartet made the first recording the same year. Though Gilbert originally wrote the piece with lyrics — bringing back characters from his earlier “Waiting for the Robert E. Lee” — it has almost always been performed as an instrumental. Early string band recordings established its place in the old-time repertoire: Clayton McMichen’s Melody Men cut it in November 1926 (Columbia 15130-D), followed by the Scottdale String Band in October 1927 (OKeh 45188). The most celebrated version is the 1934 Skillet Lickers recording on RCA Victor, with Gid Tanner’s 17-year-old son Gordon playing the uncredited fiddle lead, which sold over a million copies and remained in print until 1960. Doc Watson recorded it on Red Rocking Chair (Flying Fish, 1981).