Little Maggie

A traditional Appalachian song from the late 1800s belonging to the “Darling Corey/Country Blues/Hustling Gambler” family of white blues ballads, “Little Maggie” tells the story of a hard-drinking, unfaithful woman and her heartbroken lover. The song was first recorded by Grayson & Whitter around 1928, but gained its greatest fame through the Stanley Brothers’ 1946 recording when their style was still more old-time than bluegrass. Tommy Jarrell remembered the tune “going around” the Round Peak area of North Carolina around 1915-1916, becoming popular with younger folk. The song is written in the mixolydian mode, giving it a distinctive modal sound that sets it apart from standard major or minor keys. Dr. Ralph Stanley made the song his own throughout his career, and it became a standard for bluegrass pickers worldwide. The song has been covered by diverse artists from Bob Dylan to Robert Plant, demonstrating its enduring appeal across genres.