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Jan 19, 2026 - 10:57:47 AM
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3297 posts since 4/6/2014

Thought i may as well post it here as well . Usual rough a**ed recording


Jan 19, 2026 - 3:09:08 PM

2058 posts since 7/30/2021

Sounds like Speed the Plough to me? 
'There are a few small differences but is it enough to get the tune another name? Hmmm I shall check.

Anyway, Nice!
Drat if only you were there to play it,with us at next session! :-)

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/19/2026 15:12:05

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:20:18 PM
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DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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I had to refresh my memory with "Ryan's," but I agree with Pete. Not "Speed the Plow" - definitely "Something Else." Maybe your AI friend will know, Pete.

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:28:14 PM

2058 posts since 7/30/2021

I vote that this is some regional variation of Speed the Plough…it’s very close!
This tune is also called Cronin’s or Tom Billy’s (according to thesession.org)? 

Btw Doug, there seems to be a popular other tune called "Speed the Plow" too! 
(talk about tune name confusion, sigh)

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/19/2026 15:30:01

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:35:49 PM
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DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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This is the one I know, more or less. youtu.be/x84wR2esREU?si=iK0_igY2hm_ODgJy
Its in "Ryan's" about like that.

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:38:35 PM

JonD

USA

299 posts since 2/12/2021

Nice playing Pete! Most definitely is 'Speed the Plow', at least the tune that is called that in Irish trad.
AKA Cronins AKA Tom Billy's
It's not related in any obvious way to John Salyer's "Speed the Plow" in A, slippery-hill.com/content/speed-plow-0
There is a gussied-up version of Salyer's tune, which I've played about a million times with the Barn Owl Band.

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:49:56 PM
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7081 posts since 8/7/2009

quote:
Originally posted by JonD

Nice playing Pete! Most definitely is 'Speed the Plow', at least the tune that is called that in Irish trad.
AKA Cronins AKA Tom Billy's
It's not related in any obvious way to John Salyer's "Speed the Plow" in A, slippery-hill.com/content/speed-plow-0
There is a gussied-up version of Salyer's tune, which I've played about a million times with the Barn Owl Band.


LOL... I get into the same "spot" with the folks I play with - they play Speed the Plow" and I always ask "what is that tuen?". When they tell me, I reply: "that's not  the same one I play".

I have come to recognize where the confusion may come from. The title of the tuen we know (pointing to) is actually "The Speed OF the Plow" . And that might help explain /resolve the the confusion. Speed of the Plow is a John Salyer tune. 

I play "Speed of the Plow" - and I've made a commitment to my session mates to learn "Speed the Plow".

Edited by - tonyelder on 01/19/2026 16:03:31

Jan 19, 2026 - 3:55:17 PM

3297 posts since 4/6/2014

i think i learned it as Tom Billy's. the one that Doug cites is what i know as speed the plough.

Edited by - pete_fiddle on 01/19/2026 16:04:15

Jan 19, 2026 - 4:03:54 PM
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DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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The one I know (sort of) is on pg. 41 of "Ryan's," which dates it to at least 1883. There are several versions from Canada on YouTube, from King Ganam and from Cape Breton, and Charlie Walden plays a "teaching" version.
The John Salyer tune he called "Speed of the Plow," and like several of his tunes isn't the same as other similarly named tunes. Here played by Walt and Clare: youtu.be/YIDfx2mn6aQ?si=57gNUNpc2xwsMCSX

Jan 19, 2026 - 4:23:32 PM
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3297 posts since 4/6/2014

Ha Ha...... Ai says it is "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" ....Lol... Maybe it's my playing?

But to me "Speed The Plough" is an English Morris tune. Not an Irish reel.

Jan 19, 2026 - 5:19:09 PM

3866 posts since 9/13/2009

Sounds familiar that I've heard in set at at sessions; as far as name I always think of the reference "Gan Ainm" wink

Or sometimes set of reels (or jigs), goes by name of first tune in set... the other ones are referred to as "the third one in the set" of reels; "the one that's after" that named tune; or "the one that's in between" the two other tunes.

Barry Foy's  book "Field Guide to Irish Music Session" (good book), mentions something about session players can either use precious limited memory to store names... or store tunes; they choose latter.

Nice tune, setting and playing.

Jan 19, 2026 - 5:23:37 PM
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DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
Online Now

I thought I saw several YouTubes of Morris sides dancing to this tune, but this is all I find now: youtu.be/UWeN8fibpoI?si=__paF7TJEjbHKqPe
There are also examples from a 1906 Victor record with orchestra to the Quebe sisters (who apparently played it as part of a medley).

Jan 19, 2026 - 5:35:31 PM

DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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Sidenote: In "Ryan's" and other sources, the tune is in A. The Morris players are in G. I read somewhere that the D/G accordion is the most popular for Morris dance music, so that would make sense.

Jan 19, 2026 - 5:36:37 PM

3866 posts since 9/13/2009

quote:
Originally posted by pete_fiddle

Ha Ha...... Ai says it is "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" ....Lol... Maybe it's my playing?

But to me "Speed The Plough" is an English Morris tune. Not an Irish reel.


Catlin Warbelow showed me an app on her phone, that did a really good job for Irish tunes, (like Shazam) for hearing what's being played and figuring the name; not just to preexisting registered recording library; but live playing.

We had a good laugh though, as we took it around to other jam rooms at hotel; it sucked at OT and cajun. As well as some of my versions Irish tunes but with more OT setting/feel (esp for CH banjo).

Jan 19, 2026 - 5:59:49 PM

3866 posts since 9/13/2009

Then again... the other idea;

Tune names are important, without knowing the name, how would listener tell the tunes apart. wink ; - or be able to know if you are playing it "right"

Edited by - alaskafiddler on 01/19/2026 18:02:03

Jan 20, 2026 - 1:34:13 PM

375 posts since 4/17/2023

One of my favorite Speed the Plows is by Gaither Carlton. Total class...
slippery-hill.com/content/speed-plow-3

Jan 20, 2026 - 1:45:27 PM

DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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It says that is Carlton Rawlings playing, not Gaither Carlton. I didn't think Gaither played that one. Recorded by John Harrod, so I assume Mr. Rawlings was from Kentucky.

Jan 20, 2026 - 2:50:02 PM

15811 posts since 9/23/2009

It sounds very Irish. It's kinda funny that Speed the Plough is so Irish, and then Speed OF the PLOW is so different...lol. Speed of the Plow sounds really like OT American to me...it seems Speed is used as an adjectival, I guess...tell me if my grammar is off base here...where in the Irish case, Speed seems to indicate a command...like, hurry up the plowing. In the American OT case it just seems more descriptive...the speed of the Plow...like describing how much land can be plowed at whatever speed. I guess none of that is important...lol...it just seems funny to me that the titles are so close, but not quite the same. I've played Speed of the Plow and have heard the name Speed the Plough but never thought of the grammatical difference. The musical difference is obvious too. Well that's all...just thinking aloud here.

Jan 20, 2026 - 3:09:55 PM
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DougD

USA

12962 posts since 12/2/2007
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"Speed the Plow" apparently goes back to about 1800, and I read that the title is shortened from "God speed the Plow," that is, kind of a blessing for a good farming season. Can't remember if its Irish or English, I think English, written for a stage production. The Fiddlers Companion has a long article about the tune(s) if you're really curious: ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SPA_SPL.htm
John Salyer is very mysterious to me.

Edited by - DougD on 01/20/2026 15:17:06

Jan 20, 2026 - 3:12:48 PM

2058 posts since 7/30/2021

"Speed of the Plow" is a good tune! I've been enjoying listening to it. :-)

But yea, nothing like the Irish reel, heh heh.

Edited by - NCnotes on 01/20/2026 15:13:20

Jan 20, 2026 - 6:20:27 PM

375 posts since 4/17/2023

Oh thanks...slipped up on the name! Definitely Carlton Rawlings.

Jan 20, 2026 - 6:39:53 PM

375 posts since 4/17/2023

Henry Reed (Virginia) played Speed the Plow too.

I play it.

I got it from a West Virginia fiddler recording. Don't remember when where or who.

Jan 21, 2026 - 6:42:05 PM

15811 posts since 9/23/2009

Now I'm wondering about the exact meaning of the word, "Speed." Lol...seems my perception of speed is totally modernized American...lol.

Jan 21, 2026 - 8:16:10 PM
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JonD

USA

299 posts since 2/12/2021

Here is the version of 'Speed the Plow' I'm most familiar with, a tune in A played here by Rhys Jones & friends

youtube.com/watch?v=esAZ3nNwu80

It does seem to be related to Salyer's 'Speed of the Plow'.

But, it doesn't share very much with the other A tune called Speed the Plow (the one that dates from 1800s) -- or the tune Pete played and calls Tom Billy's.

Tune names, can't live with em, can't live without em!

Jan 22, 2026 - 8:27:37 AM

375 posts since 4/17/2023

Speed the Plough from 1785 (got it on tunearch.org).  A. Kuntz does great work there, making sure sources are solid etc. Some neat phrases in this I might steal. 


 

Edited by - ShawnCraver on 01/22/2026 08:29:35

Jan 22, 2026 - 8:39:50 AM

2419 posts since 3/1/2020

quote:
Originally posted by ShawnCraver

Speed the Plough from 1785 (got it on tunearch.org).  A. Kuntz does great work there, making sure sources are solid etc. Some neat phrases in this I might steal. 


While the OP's version has a much more Irish feel to it, this version looks a lot more English (or maybe originally Scottish). 

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