Turkey In The Straw

Turkey in the Straw is one of America’s most recognized fiddle tunes, though its journey is complicated. The tune likely descends from British and Irish sources. ‘The Rose Tree’ (1782) is the most frequently proposed ancestor, though scholars disagree on how direct the connection is. By 1834, it surfaced in blackface minstrel shows under a racially derogatory title. The melody acquired its modern name after Dan Bryant’s 1861 song “Turkey in de Straw” was published with the older tune appended as “Old Melody.” Typically played in G or D Major (Ford published a C major version).

“Dan Bryant” was the stage name of Daniel Webster O’Brien (1833–1875), who co-founded and led Bryant’s Minstrels with his brothers in 1857. “Turkey in the Straw” is sometimes incorrectly attributed to Dan Emmett, who performed and wrote songs with Bryant’s Minstrels from 1858 to 1866. Emmett is credited with several tunes still in circulation today, including “Old Dan Tucker” and “De Boatman’s Dance” from his earlier Virginia Minstrels years (1843), and “Dixie,” written for Bryant’s troupe in 1859.