Library

June Apple

Traditional

Style
Old-time
Tradition
American old-time
Form
Reel
Key
A Mixolydian
Level
3
Played on
Fiddle

In the public domain. Source

Music

90bpm

Click any note to start from there

History

A June apple is an early, small, tart apple that ripens in late spring in the South. The tune is from Surry County, North Carolina, and Tommy Jarrell (1901 to 1985) of Mount Airy learned it from his father, Ben Jarrell.

Most fiddlers play it in A mixolydian, often cross tuned to AEae as Jarrell did. Benton Flippen played it in plain A major. Jarrell sang words to the second part, and verses from "Train on the Island" fit the melody too.

Wish I was a June Apple Hanging on a tree Every time my true love passed She'd take a little bite of me
Tommy Jarrell

Read more on the Traditional Tune Archive