“There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle” (proverb)
“There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle” is a proverb meaning that something (or someone) old can still perform. It’s not known who originated the saying, but it has been cited in print since at least the 1880s.
“That many a good tune may be played on an old fiddle we have often heard” was printed in The Anglers’ Journal on September 19, 1885. “The old proverb proved a true one, that there is many a good tune played on an old fiddle” was printed in The Times of India (Mumbai, India) on September 17, 1888. “But, after all, there’s many a new tune played on an old fiddle! Isn’t that so?” was printed in the book The Real Charlotte (1894).
Google Books
19 September 1885, The Anglers’ Journal, “Society Reports—The Brunswick,” pg. 450, col. 2:
A vocal and instrumental entertainment (a la Chirgwin) was a screamer; that many a good tune may be played on an old fiddle we have often heard, but “The Last Rose of Summer” on French nails arranged on a rough piece of wood beats cock-fighting.
17 September 1888, The Times of India (Mumbai, India), “Theatricals at Mhow,” pg. 4, col. 5:
The old proverb proved a true one, that there is many a good tune played on an old fiddle, and we saw the “Area Belle” put on the stage as well, if not better, than ever.
The Real Charlotte
By E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross, Authors of “An Irish Cousin”
London, UK: Ward and Downey Ltd,
1894
Pg. ? (Chapter XI):
He hesitated. “But, after all, there’s many a new tune played on an old fiddle! Isn’t that so?”
Newspapers.com
9 September 1899, Buffalo (NY) Commercial, “World of Sport,” pg. 6, col. 3:
There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle.
The Way of All Flesh
By Samuel Butler
London, UK: Grant Richards
1903
Pg. ? (Chapter LXI):
“It’s a gentleman’s place to soothe a woman, but he, he’d like to tear her hair out by handfuls. Why, he told me to my face that I was a-getting old; old indeed! there’s not a woman in London knows my age except Mrs Davis down in the Old Kent Road, and beyond a haricot vein in one of my legs I’m as young as ever I was. Old indeed! There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle. I hate his nasty insinuendos.”
OCLC WorldCat record
Dublin Letter: There’s Many a Fine Tune Played on an Old Fiddle
Author: Martyn Turner
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: Fortnight, n141 (19770204): 7
OCLC WorldCat record
Vintage years: There’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle
Author: S O’Reilly
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: HUMAN RESOURCES -LONDON- no. 36, (1998): 19
OCLC WorldCat record
Many a good tune played on an old fiddle working relations and the ageing workforce
Author: Glennis Maxine Hanley; Tui McKeown; Monash University. Department of Economics.
Publisher: [Caulfield East, Vic.] : Monash University, Dept. of Management, 2005.
Series: Working paper series / Monash University, Department of Management, 32/05; PANDORA electronic collection.; Working paper series (Monash University. Department of Management : Online), 05/32.
Edition/Format: eBook : Document : English
Twitter
Helen Patterson
@HelenMP4
Replying to @EdgeCGroup and @Lazybastarandy
Too damn old for what Jim? May I remind you there is many a good tune played on an old fiddle! As you have probably guessed “yes” we did have one of these 🙂
5:08 AM · Nov 29, 2019·Twitter Web App