Tiddle-Dum Spree
Many famous fiddlers got their start as youngsters listening to music outside of dance halls. Tunes became engrained in their memories. When they finally reached for the fiddle, traditional music was alive within them.
When a fiddler wasn’t around at a house party, relatives of mine used to have “tiddle-dum sprees”; get-togethers where someone would “diddle” or “ jig the tune” with their mouths.
Tiddle-Dum Spree
September 2018 - Toronto
Grandpa played some very fine fiddle
But he’s grown old now and his hands are brittle
So Grandpa sits in the kitchen and diddles
Come-a-hi-yi-diddle-i-day
With a hi-yi-diddle just a jiggin’ the tune
And the ay-ray-riddles start a fillin’ the room
There’s a wee little fella bouncin’ ‘round on his knee
No fiddles at the tiddle-dum-spree
When grandpa was a wee little lad
There was no fiddle in the old homestead
Once the family went to bed
He’d be off to the old barn dance
Far too young to dosey doe
He’d sit out and listen by the hall window
Diddle right along, to every note
Come-a-hi-yi-diddle-i-day
With a hi-yi-diddle just a jiggin’ the tune
He’d follow that fiddle with a bit of tolut
Just a wee little fella from L’acadie
No fiddles at the tiddle-dum-spree
Grandpa saved up his pocket-change
Bought himself a fiddle, learned how to play
To the barn dance stage, he made his way
While the folks danced down below
He fiddled so hard that he broke a string
But he thought why not? And as quick as a wink
He gave a little diddle and they kept dancing
Come-a-hi-yi-diddle-i-day
With a hi-yi-diddle just a jiggin’ the tune
And the ay-ray-riddles started fillin’ the room
Everybody’s dancing at the chevarie
No fiddles at the tiddle-dum-spree
Grandpa played some very fine fiddle
But he’s grown old now and his hands are brittle
So Grandpa sits in the kitchen and diddles
Come-a-hi-yi-diddle-i-day
With a hi-yi-diddle just a jiggin’ the tune
And the ay-ray-riddles start a fillin’ the room
There’s a wee little fella bouncin’ ‘round on his knee
No fiddles at the tiddle-dum-spree