The Russian Rabbit

A traditional Old Time breakdown in G major, documented from John Morgan Salyer (1882–1952) of Salyersville, Magoffin County, Kentucky, from his 1941–42 home disc recordings. Jeff Titon’s Old-Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes notes the local southeastern Kentucky pronunciation renders the title “Rooshian Rabbit”; it is also known as “Hoosier Rabbit” and “Bell Cow.” John Hartford transcribed it for The Devil’s Box (vol. 31, No. 2, Summer 1997, p. 13); Salyer’s recording appears on John M. Salyer: Home Recordings 1941–42 (Berea College Appalachian Center AC003, 1993).