"Cindy" ("Cindy, Cindy") |
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Music by | Traditional |
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Language | English |
Form | Folk song |
"Cindy" ("Cindy, Cindy") is a popular American Folk song. According to John Lomax, the song originated in North Carolina. In the early and middle 20th century, Cindy was included in the songbooks used in many elementary school music programs as an example of folk music. It is familiar from the chorus:
One of the earliest versions of "Cindy" is found in Anne Virginia Culbertson's collection of Negro folktales (At the Big House, where Aunt Nancy and Aunt 'Phrony Held Forth on the Animal Folks, Bobbs-Merrill, 1904) where one of her characters, Tim, "sang a plantation song named 'Cindy Ann'," the first verse and refrain of which are:
As with many folk songs, each singer was free to add verses, and many did. Cindy was a particular favorite for this, with many ribald verses added, attesting to Cindy's amorous inclinations.
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Benjamin Weisman, Dolores Fuller and Fred Wise wrote a version of "Cindy" called "Cindy, Cindy". This version is the familiar one recorded by such performers as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon, Nick Cave (in a duet with Johnny Cash), and others. Dr. Mack Wilberg's choral arrangement of the piece was written for four-hand piano, double eight-part choirs, a string bass, xylophone, and a score of quintessential Americana instruments to supplement the melody during the arrangement's hoedown section. This arrangement is available for any choir to learn and perform, although Wilberg also wrote a special arrangement to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choral parts are the same, but the accompaniment has been rewritten for full orchestra (specifically the Orchestra at Temple Square). Robert Plant has included an arrangement of "Cindy" on his cd, Band of Joy.
The song is performed in the 1957 episode of Maverick (TV series), "Hostage" by Don Durant.[2]
The song is performed in the 1959 John Wayne movie - Rio Bravo[3]. It is performed by Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan.