Paul Stookey's "Wedding Song" and a 12 String Background

[Elderguilder]

Back in the early/mid 70's I felt a bit of pride in figuring out on my 6-string what I think is a very close rendition of the guitar picking of Stookey's "Wedding Song." My wife Melissa and I had sung it at a few weddings. I enjoyed his Paul and .... album and got the sheet music for it but it bears no similarity to the way he plays it, as happens w/ so much sheet music. But I didn't know anything about the background of the song itself but the fact he recorded it on a custom-built 12 string he called Sebastian. After so many decades I just found the notes I made of how I pick the song - I thought it was lost to history - no way I could refigure it out, especially having forgotten the tuning - CADGGC. I don't recall if I figured out the tuning originally or if I heard it somewhere. But taking the note I picked up the Martin, re-tuned it and soon it all came back. Cool! Here is Stookey's 1993 article on the song. Just as special is Paul's description of the birth of Sebastian, the guitar, not the song. The song is very cool, and of course, he wrote it about the instrument. So reading his recollection is wonderful!
John