Sally Goodin

A classic American fiddle tune with wide regional variations, “Sally Goodin” has been a core part of the Southern fiddler’s repertoire for over a century. There is a legend that the tune was named after a girl named Sally who had two fiddler boyfriends, and she chose the one named Goodin through a fiddle contest, eventually becoming Sally Goodin and having 14 children. However, that backstory was likely created after the tune.

Arizona fiddler Kenner C. Kartchner noted: “Old Texas tune. Only a few play it well. All try it.” The tune is particularly popular with Texas-style fiddlers, who usually perform it with multiple variation parts. Eck Robertson’s legendary 1922 performance incorporated no fewer than thirteen distinct strains, and his version is still played by Texas fiddlers today. Robertson’s 1923 release of “Sally Goodin’” was the number one country music bestseller for the year 1923. The tune was also recorded early by notable artists including Uncle Dave Macon in 1925, Bill Shores with Riley Puckett in 1926, and The Skillet Lickers in 1929.

Penn State musicologist Samuel Bayard noted that “Sally Goodin,” “Old Dan Tucker,” and “Rye Whiskey” are related “in an affinity that goes back a long while.” The tune appears in both A major and G major, with wide variety of versions and variants across different regions. In other regions outside of Texas, two-part versions are more common.