Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

The Gobby O

jig

Key signature: Adorian

Submitted on May 28th 2006 by lazyhound.

This tune has been added to 24 tunebooks.

Also known as The Gaby Boy, The Gobbio, The Gobby-O, Jefferson And Liberty, Jefferson's March.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Barefoot On The Altar by Chulrua

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Gobby O, The
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Ador
|:B| c2A AcA| E2A A2c| B2G GBc| dBG GAB|
c2A AcA| E2A A2g| edc BAG| E2A A2:|
G| A2B c2d| e2f g2e| faf g2e| dBG G2B|
A2B c2d| e2f g2f| edc BAG| E2A A2||
G| A2B c2d| e2f g2e| faf g2e| dBG GAB|
c3 cBA| Bcd efg| edc BAG| E2A A2||

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Jefferson and liberty

That's another of the names.

# Posted on May 28th 2006 by vonnieestes

It sounds like a jig version of a reel I posted the other day http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5780.

# Posted on May 28th 2006 by Dow

The Gobby O (jig)

I learnt this tune a few days ago at a local tune workshop. What I have posted is an accurate transcription of what the tutor played.
The tutor was of the opinion that it's an old tune (possibly 18th century) and is also called The Gobbio.
The Gobbio was also a single figure English country dance described as follows in T Wilson's "The Treasures of Terpsichore" (2nd Ed. 1816):
"The top Lady turns the second Gentleman, the top Gentleman turns the second Lady, down the middle, up again, and allemande."
Is there any connection between the dance and the tune?
And does anyone have any information about the origin of the name "Gobby O" or "Gobbio"?

# Posted on May 28th 2006 by lazyhound

I'm sure this is in one of the Scottish "Kerr's" collections. I learned it years ago from Tony Cuffe [ RIP ], who played it on whistle. Tony said that the "Gobby - o" was a fish. It's well-known in Kerry as a slide.

# Posted on May 28th 2006 by Kenny

The Gobby O (jig)

Gobby is perhaps another name for a guppy, then?

# Posted on May 28th 2006 by lazyhound

I learned this version from New England Tradition's Farewell to the Hollow CD. It's got a few odd accidentals that I kind of like.
K:Ador
|:B| c2A A^GA| E2A A2c| B2G GBc| dBG GAB|
c2A A^GA| E2A A2e| edc BAG| E2A A2:|
E| A2B c2d| e2f g2e| faf g2e| dBG GAB|
A2B c2d| e=fe a2g| edc BAB|c2A A2:||

# Posted on May 29th 2006 by Fiddlekit

Jefferson and Liberty

This is a great dance tune and has been used in New England for generations. The words to Thomas Jefferson's 1800 presidential campaign song were set to the tune, known in those days as The Gobby-O but ever since the election as J&L.

The chorus, sung to the B part of the tune, goes:

Rejoice, Columbia's sons, rejoice
To tyrants never bend the knee
But join with heart, and soul and voice
For Jefferson and Liberty.

# Posted on May 29th 2006 by celticladda

Gobby O

Me again asking a dumb inane question.

I really like the tune The Gobby O but what in HE**
is a Gobby O.

I did search the site but didn't find it.

Happy Friday
Mary

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by Antikhntr

Re: Gobby O

The tune is here. There are also alternative titles

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/5806

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by Johannes J

Re: Gobby O

Thanks, Scotsman

I have the tune and play it often as "Jefferson and Liberty"
but was just wondering about the title.

Mary

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by Antikhntr

Re: Gobby O

Try searching for it at the Fiddler's Companion site:

http://www.ceolas.org/tunes/fc/

The listing there states "Suggestions regarding the meaning of the title include a derivation from "Gaberlunzie Boy" to "Gaby Boy" to "Gobby-O", or that the title was derived from the Gaelic word 'gob', meaning mouth or beak."

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by tedium

Re: Gobby O

There's some specualtion in the comments section of the tune entry on this site that the name refers to a type of fish. It's also either the name of a country dance or a type of country dance -- check out the comments tab, Mary.

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by fidkid

Re: Gobby O

Thanks, very interesting

# Posted on November 3rd 2006 by Antikhntr

The Gaby Boy

Here's the version - and title - from the John Moore manuscript of 1839. He has it in the major key and with a couple of interesting variants including the long notes in the B part. (This is taken from The Shropshire Hornpipe, edited by Gordon Ashman, published by Dragonfly Press, ISBN 1 872277 06 3)

PS The Gobies are a large family of small marine tropical fish, usually associated with coral reefs, and popular in recent times withi tropical fish keepers. I'd be very suprised if the tune was shown to be named from that derivation :-)

# Posted on March 9th 2008 by andy9876

How about A mix instead?

The major version doesn't really do it for me, though I might like the first g in the B-part sharp.

# Posted on March 9th 2008 by muspc