​Goodnight Irene Piano Sheet Music Plus Mandolin Tab

​Meaning of "Goodnight, Irene""Goodnight, Irene" is a classic American folk song about love, heartache, and despair. It was first recorded in 1933 by Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) and later became a massive hit when The Weavers released their version in 1950.

Themes and Interpretation

1. Love and Longing
   
   • The narrator sings about his deep love for Irene, expressing both affection and pain over losing her.
   • Lines like “Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in town” suggest wandering and instability, possibly mirroring Lead Belly’s own troubled life.
2. Heartbreak and Despair
   
   • The song conveys deep sadness, with the singer struggling to accept that his love is gone.
   • The line “I’ll see you in my dreams” suggests he can only be with Irene in his mind, reinforcing his sense of loss and loneliness.
3. Hints of Self-Destruction
   
   • Some versions include lyrics about drinking and suicidal thoughts, such as “Sometimes I take a great notion to jump in the river and drown.”
   • This reflects the dark side of heartbreak and emotional suffering, common in blues and folk traditions.

Musical Style and Impact

• Originally a bluesy folk song, later adapted into a smoother, mainstream hit by The Weavers.
• The Weavers' version topped the Billboard charts for 13 weeks in 1950, making it one of the biggest hits of the era.
• Covered by artists like Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, and Willie Nelson, keeping it alive through generations.

Cultural and Historical Significance

• Lead Belly, who spent time in prison and lived a hard life, likely infused the song with his personal struggles.
• The song became a folk standard, blending elements of blues, gospel, and traditional ballads.
• Though melancholic, it remains a beloved sing-along tune, often performed at gatherings and folk

Guitar Tab With Chords Now Included. Goodnight Irene is an American folk song written by Lead Belly. The banjo sheet music here is in the key of G. The song was also recorded by Eric Clapton, Steve Earle and in Ireland by The Furey Brothers And Davie Arthur.​Goodnight Irene beginner fiddle tab included.​ Suitable for Irish Bouzouki in GDAE tuning.

Goodnight Irene sheet music for mandolin and tenor banjo, key of G.

​​Below is the list of songs [ tabs ] included in the Mandolin ebooks. The price is €7.90 
and I'll email the download links after payment. Standard tuning GDAE, 
You'll receive every song listed below which is around 800 and a mix of folk, ballads, pop and rock.
Now including a free Beatles ebook of songs and another of Irish rebel songs plus Christmas songs and hymns.
Also included is a 500 page ebook of lyrics and chords for the mandolin / tenor banjo in 3 different easy keys.
Martin

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Goodnight Irene fiddle sheet music

​ guitar tab and chords