Clifton Hicks - Hills of Mexico (Roscoe Holcomb) Two Finger Banjo 

What a nice rendition of one of my favorite old time tunes! Most of the old timers I recorded during the Pine Breeze field recordings from 1976-1981 played a two finger style. A couple, mainly Eldia Barbee could also play clawhammer, but only Florrie Stewart played almost always clawhammer, and even she would do two finger for songs.

Thanks for playing, The Hills of Mexico! My dad used to play a version that his grandmother sang to him. It started with this: "it was in the town of Griffin in the year of 83, there was an old cow-puncher, stepped up and said to me, well howdy-do young fellow, how would you like to go, and spend a few nice summer months in the hills of Mexico?" With songs this old, there always seem to be numerous versions. In the one my dad sang, when the drive was over, the driver refused to pay the cowboys. So the last phrase is this: "With guns and rifles in our hands I want you all to know, we left that drivers bones to bleach in the hills of Mexico." These old songs are the real deal - full of history. I enjoyed hearing your version.

Mr. Hicks as I have written I have been around old time music all my life from my granddad 1912-2002 and you sir are a true expression of its genius. You keep your music simple and striaghtfoward. I really love your music as a fellow musician myself. Keep making this world brighter sir it is a better place cause you are here.

Thanks for all your amazin music Clifton . I really love it. It pours into my heart effortlessly and makes me think about county Antrim and Appalachia. I feel I belong to this music at least part of me

Thank you for letting me actual travel on a journey through the song

A story as old as time, the life lessons of countless men played out on the banjo.

I got my 4 year old off the bus listening to o death.. my son starts singing it out of the blue before his bedtime while I'm at work. Thank you and almighty for your talent. Your music will be heard on Mars.

You have incredible talent. Thanks you for preserving the common folk's musical history and spreading it to a tired old soul like me. What a wonderful use of a life.

Oh my goodness! This is the way to play it right here! This mellower and somber two finger way gets down inside the soul of the song! Excellent Clifton!

I like how the lyrics of this song vary among singers. Like hearing a little different story each time.

By far, one of the best versions of this song I have ever heard!!

Well when I was in old Fort Worth in 1883 Some old Mexican cowboy came stepping up to me He said how are you young fellow How would you like to go And spend a summer season in the hills of Mexico Having no other appointment back to him I said It’s according to your wages According to your pay He said I’ll pay to you good wages And travel to and through If you’ll spend a summer season in the hills of Mexico A lightning storm came upon us It made the cattle run Now our pleasures all had ended And our troubles had begun We got covered in the stickers that on the cactus grow And the outlaws gunning for us in the hills of Mexico Well they caught us in an ambush Way back in the hills They was quite a few in number and the cowboy they did kill Well I made a run to save him But alas I was to slow So I left him with the out laws in the hills of Mexico Well I boarded on the steamboat She carried me to my home How the bells they did ring and the whistle it did blow How the bells they did ring and the whistle it did blow On that god forsaken steamboat in the Gulf of Mexico

I listen to many of your songs over and again. I have wondered why they create such deep emotion for me. I realize that with all of your skills, perhaps above all you are an excellent storyteller. Hats off to you and all the best Clifton.

God that sounds wonderful

I love this. salutes from Denmark.

Might seem like a minor point, but I like that fact that you sing your lyrics clearly. Many renditions of tunes esp banjo tunes, the instrument dominates and I can't understand all the lyrics and thus much of the emotional power. You achieve a nice balance.

My favorite songs have ways been the ones with a deep melancholy in them. Thanks for keeping this alive. My heart is both sorrowful and glad watching and hear all of these things.

I cannot stop listening to this!!!

You do promote the story of the song so well and let the banjo accompaniment bring a magical atmosphere. I really like this tune and the very different versions that Roscoe, Elizabeth Lapriell (sic) and you play all open a time portal to the original story-teller. Boys, THAT is what this music is all about.

I'll be trying this one out! What a sweet tune

Old Leatherstocking rocks!

Just getting to grips with Cumberland Gap and I thought 'I need to learn another tune in this tuning.' lo and behold, Mr Hicks has come through again! Thank you very much.

That's real music right there ! What a great story

Dear Clifton Hicks, you sing this song very well

My favorite rendition of this song Great voice

I just want you to know sir. Your who I keep coming back to in my darkest times. Form corner to corner of the great country we live. I feel at home regardless with these picks and I doubt you'll see this but if you do. Please know you your a crutch for some to lip along when emotional limbs are missing

Love this

I’m so happy you did this song again.

Preservation ❤

Man that sounds great. One of my favorites.

I first heard this tune (melody, with slightly different words) as "Plaines of the Buffalo" about 1958 or '59, sung by either Rick Von Schmidt, or Dave Von Ronk- I can't remember which. I think I may have also heard it played and sung by Pete Seeger about the same time. - Doug Vieyra, Eureka, Calif

Exquisite

Something about this version being slowed has certainly revived a great timely tune. One of my favorite renditions of yours Cliff. 👍

Love that song….play it all the time!….makes me want to go back in time!….good Roscoe Holcomb work too!

Wow dude Jesus. Too good

The more I listen to you pick that Banjo Brother! The more I love it!

I'm glad that you record songs more than once. It's great to hear the differences in styles between the two. Thanks for sending this out into the world.

I was going to write “simply beautiful”, but that would undermine your fantastic skill. I’ll just settle for “beautiful”-thank you so much for your upload.

Not being a musician I like what I hear,one of my favs Clifton

Much prefer this version. 2 finger is phenomenal for this, and your voice/vocal style is much easier on my nerves than the higher high lonesome. Thanks!

The richness of your voice on this song reminds me of Natalie Merchant - unique, not classically beautiful but complex. Love the way you say "Cooow-boy..." and the pacing of the playing just seems spot-on.

You sure capture the horrifying realisation of hopefull plans gone tragically wrong. Epic Clifton Hicks

Man I love this version. No BS.

oh i expected this to be the shanty "along the hills/plains of mexico" lol, but this is amazing too!

Thank you for what you do

Need more people like you.

I keep coming back to this! Cheers Clifton!

Thanks for this and all your videos Clifton. Love from Småland, Sweden

Love this. I'm just getting into 2 finger playing. Thanks for posting

Been watching your channel for a while now and I finally ordered a banjo tonight xp

So good Mr. Hicks! Willie Watson does a great cover of this song!

A great voice Clifton.

Amazing rendition.

Beautifull rendition ,shivers down my spine .

Golly, thank you for sharing. Goose bumps!

I lived with my brother. I liked to keep him nearby, in case there is an emergency. He would have understood this song. It is not easy to explain . He moved in with his sweetheart, I met the family. I was all- this looks good, but I don't think you know enough about him and his problems. But his sweetheart said we can do it. Yes you can! I said. He died in a work accident about 18 years ago. I don't know how this is a part of the song but I always think of him when I hear certain music. We were brothers. It is not easy to explain

Playing the melody on the high string is really challenging for me when playing thumb lead. i keep going back to this video for reference. if it takes me another year to smooth out, alteast i get to keep hearing this wonderful rendition of Hills of Mexico. Im gonna have to go through your patreon videos again and take notes. Thanks for the music Cliffton!

That banjo has a nice sound. Not as crisp as a new one, but more soulful and earthy--which I prefer. And I have to say I like the two finger technique.

Wish I could do a double thumbs up. Real heart in this rendition. Kind of reminds me of Ola Belle Reed

Powerfull voice. Wel done.

Really good man. 👍 my fav version

Just a Lovely melody

well they caught us in some bluegrass way out in them hills they was quite a few in number and the banjo they did kill i played a roll to save him but alas i was too slow so i left my bluegrass banjo for the hills of mexico

Anderson is my hero!!

This song make me feel like I'm there. Feeling some sort of way.

I love this song

Sounds great Mr. Clifton. I also like Willie Watson's version of this tune. Such a haunting song👏👏 well done

Asome pickin!!! love it!!

Wow 😍 🐎I heard that!

So good Clifton.. - I also found a really nice version of this on RU-vid from Meredith Moon. I'm just starting my claw-hammer banjo journey, having been a guitar player all my life. So hard to re-learn that right hand. That said I'm still grateful for having a head start. Thanks bud.

Damn you're good... What I wouldn't give to add some spoon accompaniment. Your style is the exact vibe that I love to play the spoons with.

clifton i been following you since myspace, you have really come a long way, keep on picking brother

Very DARK ART.. BACK BLACK CORNER BANJO HYMNS.. Just my impression.. I would end up a serial killer listening too to much of this stuff.. 😎

👍👍👍

I'm in Louisville KY. I follow on fb also. Are you ever in concert? Me and the wife need a night out. What are sometimes and locations? And thanks again for your service and great music!

Muy bueno Amigo, Mucho Gusto !

nice job...

sehr groovy baby

I wish this was what was on the radayo

I cannot string my banjo with nylgut.. I've tried so many times now. I want to play the two finger oldtime... But I cant seem to tune my steel strings like this.. I Want to play banjo like a nylog geetar but I can yet. Clifton Hicks I wish yee were up in NeeHampshee to help me !

A country song. I know we had problems.

Love your playing. Is that a Standard banjo tuning? Hey ho from germany

is this technique played with fingernails? like frailing or plucking? great stuff cheers!

I’ve always wondered how many instruments you are proficient in. I suspect many

Howdy Clifton, are you playing out any these days, anywhere near WV? Hope all is well!!🤠

sorry Clifton, I'm obviously dumb, but I'm confused over the tuning in the description. the banjo is actually tuned dBEAB, right, so, relative to fDGCD? because I was pretty sure I remember Roscoe played it in fDGCD or maybe I remember incorrectly.

Tuning? Nice job!

We'd fucking rock it, dude.

Whats a boy gotta do to get a tutorial on this

+1 comment

What tuning is this?

I mean this in the best way to do you are thee s***

I wish i could talk with you.

Sorry for the bother, i was wondering what kind of banjo you are playing on here? I am starting to hunt for my first one, for some reason I'm drawn to this one. Think thats a good call?

No