Tune History

The Stories Behind Your Favorite Tunes

Big Sciota

or Scioto, Scioty, and other variations

“Big Sciota" is a very popular tune in the Old Time community. It is named for the Scioto river, which is the longest river that is entirely within Ohio. The 231 mile length of the Scioto, and the fact that it empties into the mighty Ohio river, made it an important waterway for Native Americans and early settlers of the entire region. The name Scioto was taken from the word “scionto” in the Wyandot language of the Iroquois, which translates to “deer.”

The pronunciation and spelling of the Scioto has varied over the years. The United States Geological Survey formally adopted “Scioto” as the river’s official name and spelling in 1931 for all maps. The USGS also lists 13 previous name variations for the same river from previous historical surveys. Probably because the most common variation in spelling over the years has been “Sciota,” the most common pronunciation is “Sigh- Oh- Tuh”, the next most common being the official “Sigh Oh Toe.” Ohioans caution relying on the Google search pronunciation example of “Skee-Oh-Toe”, as no one actually says it that way.

Why “Big” Scioto? Because there are two “Little” Scioto rivers in Ohio. One empties into the Scioto and one empties into the Ohio river.

In Old Time music, “Scioty” appears to be the favorite way to identify the tune. This is likely because “Big Scioty” is what West Virginia fiddler Burl Hammons (1907-1993) called it when he played the tune for various collectors, including a field recording for Malcolm & Blanton Owen from Fuzzy Mountain String Band in 1970, and for Alan Jabbour in 1972. Hammons said he learned the tune from his uncle, "Old Pete,” - unfortunately, there is not much history other than that. Hammons played it as a solo piece without a lot of structure, dropping, adding, and repeating phrases as he saw fit - reportedly never playing it the same way twice. His 1972 recording is in the mp3 player below.

There are now many(!) versions of “Big Scioty.” In Old Time circles, “Big Scioty” is usually played at a lively dance pace in the key of G as a two part tune with a simple AABB structure. Be aware that the B part can get “notey" in lots of versions. It is also fairly common to substitute Em chords in the B part for some flavor. Knoxville’s “Mumbillies" version is made crooked by inserting a couple of extra chords into the B part, which they say came from the Canote Brothers. The tune has also become very popular with bluegrass players, as it lends itself well to solo breaks. It is not often heard as a solo piece any more.

Although “Big Scioty” was originally a fiddle tune, lyrics have been added over the years. (Ed.note: We are assuming the lyrics appeared after the tune was popularized by Hammons’ various recordings in the early 70s.) The lyrics are often labeled as “traditional” in various album notes, which means that no one knows who wrote them, and/or that they are “floating” lyrics that may not be unique to a single song but are commonly used in other tunes.

In the video section, we have the solo version performed by Brad Leftwich, in the style of Burl Hammons. The Old Crow rendition (in the key of A) is from an out of print 2001 EP, and is pretty typical of what you might hear at an Old Time festival - with lyrics. The Westbound Rangers’ version (also in the key of A), represents a common bluegrass style arrangement with solo breaks, and also includes lyrics. (Ed. note:- it’s easier to sing in A)

OCMS Lyrics:

Verse

I've lived by the river all my life

Don't know nothin’ but toil and strife

I can't go home again

Chorus

Well east and west the highway rolls

Lord have mercy on my poor soul

I miss my blue eyed baby-o

My pretty little blue eyed baby oh

Verse

Well the river is deep, the river is wide