Leather Britches
First recording and first release by Uncle "Am" Stuart (July 7, 1924 / September 1924)
- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Language
- English
- Comments
-
Very popular old-time, breakdown fiddle tune in the late 1800s and well into the 1900s and derived from the late 16th century Scottish reel, Lord MacDonald's Reel
The title may refer to 'leather breeches', a nickname in some parts of the American South and West for green (snap) beans dried in the pod and later cooked. Sometimes the beans would be pieced with a needle and thread and strung together, then hung to dry where they would last the winter (but would need to be soaked to re-hydrate them prior to cooking).
Alternatively, the title may refer to actual garments made of leather, and it has been pointed out the the playing of the tune on the fiddle involves bowing in a motion that has been likened to the movements in sewing with a needle and thread.
Many lyrical variants but a popular one went:
Leather breeches full of stitches,
Old shoes and stockings on--
My wife she kicked me out of bed
Because I had my breeches on. - Licensing
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