Blind Fiddler (Lost My Eyes In the Blacksmith Shop) Guitar

I`m pretty sure Blind Fiddler is a traditional folk song. As with many folk songs, there are a few different versions out there. People change up the melody and the lyrics a little. There all great but this is the way I have always played it.

Once upon a time there was no such thing as workers compensation. If you got hurt on the job, you was gone. No more payday. A blacksmith had an accident on the job and went blind. No doctor could make his eyes see again. Soon sorrow and despair set in, his self esteem left him and he became ashamed cause he could no longer support his wife and kids. He didn`t want to become a burden on his family so he left them and took up the fiddle and started roaming.

Blind Fiddler - Traditional

Well I lost my eyes in a blacksmith shop in 18 and 56
While working on a revolver and it was out of six
Well I`m so sad and lonely and I`m condemned to roam
Well I am a blind fiddler I'm a great long ways from home

I've been down to Knoxville had a talk with Dr Lane
He operated on one of my eyes but nothing could he gain
Oh I'm so sad and lonely and I`m condemned to roam
Well I am a blind fiddler I'm a great long ways from home

I've got me a wife and three little ones depending on me
They're sharin' all my burdens wherever they may be
I hope that they'll be careful as through this life they roam
Cause I am a blind fiddler and I cannot help them none