Also known as “Dig a Hole in the Meadow,” “Darling Cora,” and several other variations, this mournful folk song was first published in 1918, but is likely much older. Bill and Charlie Monroe’s 1936 release of the song is a relatively laid-back duet setting featuring tremolo-laden mandolin solos and fills. The version Mike teaches in this lesson is from a 1964 Decca single released under Bill Monroe’s name only—no mention of the Blue Grass Boys. Monroe pushed the song up into the key of E for this performance, and his blues-drenched solo is just eight bars long. As Mike points out, the entire solo is played in the fourth position between the seventh and 11th frets, and is based around an E chord. Starting with a triplet pickup, the  solo mirrors the way Monroe sings the melody, with the vocal line expressed with syncopated rhythmic phrases rather than with specific melody notes. Listen for a bend at the end of the sixth bar. Mike suggests leaving your fretting fingers in position after playing a note so that you have a solid point of reference before moving on to the next phrase. 

Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow
Dig a hole in the cold, cold ground
Dig a hole, dig a hole in the meadow
Gonna lay darlin’ Cory down