"Dark Hollow" is a

folk song Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

first recorded by folk singer-songwriter

Bill Browning Wilmer "Bill" Browning (May 16, 1931, Wayne, West Virginia – January 23, 1977) was an American Rockabilly musician, recording studio and songwriter. He wrote the country music hit single '' Dark Hollow'', which was covered by both Jimmie Skinn ...

in 1958. It is included as the B-side of his single "Borned with the Blues". Though usually credited to Browning, the song has some lyrical similarities to the traditional "East Virginia Blues/East Virginia" and "

Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies "Come All You Fair and Tender Ladies" ( "Tiny Sparrow" or "Little Sparrow") (Roud #451) is an American folk music ballad, originating from the Appalachian region. On the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Catalogue the earliest versions are from "B ...

", likely Browning's inspiration. "Dark Hollow" is considered to be the most popular of Browning's short career, but it did not reach the peak of its popularity until it was recorded by

Grateful Dead The Grateful Dead was an American rock music, rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, Folk music, folk, country music, country, jazz, bluegrass music, bluegrass, ...

in the early 1970s. They began performing acoustic covers of the song in 1970. Electric covers soon followed in 1973 followed by more acoustic covers in 1980. In total, Grateful Dead performed "Dark Hollow" around 30 times. Their version appears on ''

History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice) ''History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice)'' is a live album by the Grateful Dead. It is their fourth live album and their ninth album overall. Released in July 1973 on Warner Bros. Records, it offers concert highlights recorde ...

'' and the live recording '' Reckoning''.

Other renditions

Jimmie Skinner Jimmie Skinner (April 27, 1909 – October 28, 1979) was an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist. He also was known for a mail-order record business and retail store in Cincinnati, Ohio. Biography Ski ...

single (Dark Hollow / Walkin' My Blues Away) (1958) *

Mac Wiseman Malcolm Bell Wiseman (May 23, 1925 – February 24, 2019) was an American bluegrass and country singer. Early life He was born on May 23, 1925, in Crimora, Virginia. He attended school in New Hope, Virginia, and graduated from high school the ...

''Mac Wiseman'' (1967) *

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. Stanley began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of ...

(1969) *

(1973) *

Muleskinner A muleskinner or mule skinner is a muleteer or mule-driver. The word may also refer to: * Muleskinner, the mascot of St. John's Military School, Kansas, U.S. * ''Muleskinner'', an alternate title for the album '' Jack Takes the Floor'' by Ramblin' ...

'' (1974) *

David Bromberg David Bromberg (born September 19, 1945) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. David Bromberg biographyat Billboard.com An eclectic artist, Bromberg plays bluegrass, blues, folk, jazz, country and western, and rock a ...

'' Midnight on the Water'' (1975) *

David Grisman David Grisman (born March 23, 1945) is an American mandolinist. His music combines bluegrass, folk, and jazz in a genre he calls "Dawg music". He founded the record label Acoustic Disc, which issues his recordings and those of other acoustic mu ...

'' Early Dawg Recorded August of 1966; sung by Del McCoury'' *

Amythyst Kiah Amythyst Kiah (born 11 December 1986) is an American singer-songwriter. Kiah is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee and currently lives in Johnson City, Tennessee, Johnson City. She plays Acoustic guitar, guitar and banjo. ...

''Dig'' (2020)

References

{{authority control 1958 songs 1958 singles Grateful Dead songs