What the Devil Ails You?
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Transcription: by Darryl D. Bush
"What the Devil Ails You?", also known as "Blue Bird Schottische", "Everybody<br> Schottische", "Hi-Lo Schottische", "Jack Clumb Up the Plum Tree", "Rochester<br> Schottische", "Cat Clumb Up the Plum Tree Schottische" or "Sparrow in the<br> Treetop" is a schottische known in western Pennsylvania in D Major.<br> The parts are played ABA.<br> "Rochester Schottische" is a very popular and widespread schottische melody<br> throughout North America.<br> Samuel Bayard (1944) remarked that the title of the tune very often was not<br> known among western Pennsylvania fiddlers, giving rise to a number of different<br> names. His source for the title, Charles Armstrong, husband of fiddler Sarah<br> Armstrong (Bayard's source), recalled two lines of a rhyme, attached to the tune<br> in tradition:<br> What the devil ails you, what the devil ails you?<br> Why the hell can't you tell, what the devil ails you?<br> It seems likely that the Armstrong's title for the tune, "What the Devil<br> Ails You?" is an import from Scotch-Irish tradition, brought to southwestern<br> Pennsylvania by settlers.<br> It was collected from Mrs. Sarah Armstrong (Derry, Pa.) on November 18th, 1943<br> by Samuel Bayard.<br> It was printed in Adam's Old Time Fiddlers' Favorite Barn Dance Tunes (1928)<br> (as "Hi-Lo Schottische"),<br> Bayard's Hill Country Tunes (1944),<br> Bayard's Dance to the Fiddle (1981),<br> Ford's Traditional Music in America (1940) (appears as "Rochester Schottishe") and<br> Howe's Diamond School for the Violin (1861).<br>
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