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Description
EDIT: I feel that I should include a link to this rendition as well: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VBj5E…
Its spritely, whimsical nature seems more suited to Rocky Rickaby as we know and love him.

I've been wanting to make some fan art like this for a while. I started this a while ago but never finished it. I probably won't for a while. I also adjusted the scanner to make it darker.

I wanted to draw a picture of an old Rocky, in the event that he happens to reach old age that is. Since he's a fiddle player and a bit of a rover, I used one of the sets of lyrics of the old folk song "Rosin the Bow" as inspiration (there's also the song "Rosin the Beau" which has the same tune).
So here's ol' Rocky Rickaby, a merry old man sitting in an alley next to the River (maybe it's the Mississippi, maybe it's the Missouri, and, maybe...it's Jordan), rosining his bow and playing for whoever puts a penny in his hat or just happens to come by.

"Rosin the Bow"
(words and music by unknown author)
(Here's the music to sing along to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fUuuY… ) (Just right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab")
(EDIT: Better yet, listen to this one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VBj5E… it's not as slow and more spritely and whimsical like the Rocky we know and love.)

I've always been cheerful and easy,
And scarce have I needed a foe.
While some after money run crazy,
I merrily Rosin'd the Bow.

Some youngsters were panting for fashions,
Some new kick seemed now all the go,
But having no turbulent passions,
My motto was "Rosin the Bow."

So kindly my parents besought me,
No longer a roving to go,
And friends whom I thought had forgot me,
With gladness met Rosin the Bow.

My young day I spent all in roving,
But never was vicious, no, no;
But somehow I loved to keep moving,
And cheerfully Rosin'd the Bow.

In country or city, no matter,
Too often I never could go,
My presence all sadness would scatter,
So cheerful was Rosin the Bow.

The old people always grew merry,
Young faces with pleasure did glow,
While lips with the red of cherry,
Sipped "bliss to old Rosin the Bow.

"While sweetly I played on my viol,
In measures so soft and so slow,
Old Time stopped the shade on the dial,
To listen to Rosin the Bow.

And peacefully now I am sinking,
From all this sweet world can bestow,
But Heaven's kind mercy I'm thinking,
Provides for old Rosin the Bow.

Now soon some still Sunday morning,
The first thing the neighbors will know,
Their ears will be met with the warning,
To bury old Rosin the Bow.

My friends will then so neatly dress me,
In linen as white as the snow,
And in my new coffin they'll press me,
And whisper "poor Rosin the Bow."

Then lone with my head on the pillow,
In peace I'll be sleeping below,
The grass and the breeze shaken willow,
That waves over Rosin the Bow.

I think it's a beautiful song about reflecting on a life well-lived and greeting Death as an old drinking buddy. You may recognize the tune as that of many other songs. Yep. That's the same tune.

The song has two sets of lyrics. The one you see above is almost never recorded for some reason.
Here's a recording featuring the other set of lyrics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSx9Vd…
This one, "Rosin the Beau", is more of a drinking song and I think that any of you would enjoy singing it with a group of friends. It kind of takes the edge off the inevitability of death.

Here's a list of songs that are set to the same tune:

"Lincoln and Liberty, too": www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJ1iH…

"Kelly's Irish Brigade": www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ot7am…

"The Soldier's Farewell": www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oVTab…

Lackadaisy and all of the characters therein are the intellectual property of the great Tracy J. Butler.

Thanks for viewing! ^^

Description
EDIT: I feel that I should include a link to this rendition as well: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VBj5E…
Its spritely, whimsical nature seems more suited to Rocky Rickaby as we know and love him.

I've been wanting to make some fan art like this for a while. I started this a while ago but never finished it. I probably won't for a while. I also adjusted the scanner to make it darker.

I wanted to draw a picture of an old Rocky, in the event that he happens to reach old age that is. Since he's a fiddle player and a bit of a rover, I used one of the sets of lyrics of the old folk song "Rosin the Bow" as inspiration (there's also the song "Rosin the Beau" which has the same tune).
So here's ol' Rocky Rickaby, a merry old man sitting in an alley next to the River (maybe it's the Mississippi, maybe it's the Missouri, and, maybe...it's Jordan), rosining his bow and playing for whoever puts a penny in his hat or just happens to come by.

"Rosin the Bow"
(words and music by unknown author)
(Here's the music to sing along to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fUuuY… ) (Just right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab")
(EDIT: Better yet, listen to this one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VBj5E… it's not as slow and more spritely and whimsical like the Rocky we know and love.)

I've always been cheerful and easy,
And scarce have I needed a foe.
While some after money run crazy,
I merrily Rosin'd the Bow.

Some youngsters were panting for fashions,
Some new kick seemed now all the go,
But having no turbulent passions,
My motto was "Rosin the Bow."

So kindly my parents besought me,
No longer a roving to go,
And friends whom I thought had forgot me,
With gladness met Rosin the Bow.

My young day I spent all in roving,
But never was vicious, no, no;
But somehow I loved to keep moving,
And cheerfully Rosin'd the Bow.

In country or city, no matter,
Too often I never could go,
My presence all sadness would scatter,
So cheerful was Rosin the Bow.

The old people always grew merry,
Young faces with pleasure did glow,
While lips with the red of cherry,
Sipped "bliss to old Rosin the Bow.

"While sweetly I played on my viol,
In measures so soft and so slow,
Old Time stopped the shade on the dial,
To listen to Rosin the Bow.

And peacefully now I am sinking,
From all this sweet world can bestow,
But Heaven's kind mercy I'm thinking,
Provides for old Rosin the Bow.

Now soon some still Sunday morning,
The first thing the neighbors will know,
Their ears will be met with the warning,
To bury old Rosin the Bow.

My friends will then so neatly dress me,
In linen as white as the snow,
And in my new coffin they'll press me,
And whisper "poor Rosin the Bow."

Then lone with my head on the pillow,
In peace I'll be sleeping below,
The grass and the breeze shaken willow,
That waves over Rosin the Bow.

I think it's a beautiful song about reflecting on a life well-lived and greeting Death as an old drinking buddy. You may recognize the tune as that of many other songs. Yep. That's the same tune.

The song has two sets of lyrics. The one you see above is almost never recorded for some reason.
Here's a recording featuring the other set of lyrics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSx9Vd…
This one, "Rosin the Beau", is more of a drinking song and I think that any of you would enjoy singing it with a group of friends. It kind of takes the edge off the inevitability of death.

Here's a list of songs that are set to the same tune:

"Lincoln and Liberty, too": www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJ1iH…

"Kelly's Irish Brigade": www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ot7am…

"The Soldier's Farewell": www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oVTab…

Lackadaisy and all of the characters therein are the intellectual property of the great Tracy J. Butler.

Thanks for viewing! ^^