274. Jack and Joe

 


274

Jack and Joe

This seems to be a clear instance of a music-hall production
establishing itself as traditional song. At any rate, it is reported
as such from Kentucky (Shearin 24), Tennessee (JAFL xliv
iio-ii, SSSA 135, FSSH 173-4), Mississippi (JAFL xxxix
160-1). Florida (FSF 64), and Illinois (TSSI 244-5). The Archive
of American Folk Song lists records of it from New York (B. L.
Lunsford), Arkansas, and Wisconsin. It appears fourteen times
in our collection, in various sections from the coast to the moun-
tains. The texts hold together pretty well, differing sometimes by
omissions and misplacements, sometimes by minor differences in
language. Not all are given here.

 

'Jack and Joe.' Obtained from Mrs. Minnie Church of Heaton, Avery
county, in 1930. An unusually full text.

1 Three years ago both Jack and Joe set sail across the foam,
They each a fortune vowed to gain before returning home.
Then at the station Nellie turned to say goodbye to Jack :
'I'll wait for you, my darling boy, for I know^ you're com-
ing back.'

2 One year had passed. Jack^ gained his wealth and sailed

for home that day ;
And as the pals shook hands to part poor Joe could only
say:

Chorus:

'Oh, give my love to Nellie, Jack, and kiss her once

for me.
The sweetest girl in all this world I'm sure you'll say

'tis she.
Then treat her kindly. Jack, old boy, and tell her I am

well.'
The parting words were: 'Don't forget to give my love

to Nell.'

3 Two years had passed when Joe at last gained wealth

enough for life.
He sailed for home across the foam to make sweet Nell
his wife,

* The manuscript has here "Joe"— evidently a mere slip of the pen.

 

636 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE

When soon he learned upon his way that Jack and Nell

had wed.
Now he regrets, with sobs and frets, that he had ever said :

4 They chanced to meet upon the street. Says Joe, 'You

selfish elf,
The next girl that I learn to love I'll kiss her for myself.
But all is well in love, you know, and since you've gone

and wed
I'll not be angry with you, Jack,' and once again he said:

 

'Give My Love to Nell, O Jack.' From Miss Martha Lane, Hertford,
Perquimans county. Somewhat reduced from A, and with numerous
small variations. Places that may seem corrupt can be understood by
comparing with A.

1 Three years ago, when Jack and Joe set sail across the

foam.
They found a fortune he would make before returning

home.
In one short year Joe^ gained his wealth and then set sail

away,
And as the boys shook hands to part poor Joe could only

say:

Chorus:

'Give my love to Nell, O Jack, and kiss her once for me.
The fairest girl in all this world I know you think is she.
Treat her kind and good, O pal, and tell her that I'm

well.'
These parting words were : 'Don't forget to give my love

to Nell.'

2 Three years had passed when Joe at last had gained his

wealth for life.
Then set sail across the foam to make sweet Nell his wife.
But on his way he heard them say that Jack and Nell had

wed.
He sighed and fretted and then regretted that he had ever

said:

3 They chanced to meet upon the street. Said Joe, 'You

selfish elf!
If ever I love another girl I'll kiss her for myself.
Though things seem fair and lovely, say, since you and

Nell have wed,
I'll not be angry with you, pal' ; and once again he said :
* So the manuscript, but evidently it should be "Jack."

 

NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 637

C

'Jack, Joe, and Nell.' From Gertrude Allen (later Mrs. Vaught),
Taylorsville, Alexander county. Substantially the same as B in stanza
I and the chorus ; the last two stanzas show how oral transmission
changes a text :

2 In three more years Joe gained his wealth, set sail for home

that day.
But soon he found to his regret that Jack and Nell had wed.
He says, 'Next time I love a girl I'll kiss her for myself ;
For as the pards shook hands to part poor Joe had only

said:

3 They chanced to meet upon the street. Joe says, 'You

selfish elf,
You've gone and wed the only girl that I have ever loved.
But all is fair in love or war ; since you and Nell have wed
I'll not be angry with you now.' So once again he said:

D

'Jack and Joe.' Contributed by Ethel Brown of Catawba, Catawba
county, some time in the period 1916-18. Substantially like B, but
without the corruptions that mar that text.

1 Three years ago, when Jack and Joe set sail across the

foam,
Each vowed a fortune he would win before returning home.
'Twas just one year Jack gained his wealth, and sailed for

home that day;
And when the boys shook hands to part poor Joe could

only say :

Chorus:

'Give my love to Nellie, Jack, and kiss her once for me.
The dearest girl in all this world I'm sure you'll say

'tis she.
Then treat her kindly, Jack, old boy, and tell her I am

well.'
The parting words : 'But don't forget to give my love to

Nell.'

2 Two years had passed when Joe at last gained wealth

enough for life.
He sailed for home across the foam to make sweet Nell

his wife.
But when he learned that Jack and Nell one year ago had

wed
He sobbed regrets and frets to think that he had ever said :

3 They chanced to meet upon the street. Said Joe, 'You

selfish elf !

 

638 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORK

The next girl that I learn to love I'll kiss her for myself.'
But they agreed that all was well, 'And since you've gone

and wed,
I'll not be angry with you, Jack.' So once again he said :

The remaining texts do not differ significantly from D. They are:
E From M. K. Carmichael. Date and place not noted.

F From Carl G. Knox — probably from Wrightsville in New Hanover
county, in or about 1924.

G Reported by L. W. Anderson, Nag's Head, as obtained from Alva
Wise, a student there.

H From Bonnie Ethel Dickson, Helton, Ashe county.

I Printed in the Monroe (Union county) Journal, November, 1916.

J Copied by Jesse T. Carpenter from the manuscript songbook of Mrs.
C. T. Weatherly of Greensboro, Guilford county, 1923.

K From C. H. Smith, Harmony, Iredell county, in 1920.
L From W. Amos Abrams, Boone, Watauga county.
M From Mamie Mansfield, Durham, in 1922. Only the chorus.
N From the Blaylock Collection, made in Caswell and adjoining counties
in 1927-32.
-------------
 

 

274

Jack and Joe

 

'Give My Love to Nell, O Jack.' Sung by C. K. Tillett. Recorded at Wan-
chese, Roanoke Island, 1922.


For melodic relationship cf. *FSoA 76, general melodic outline only.

Scale : Heptachordal, plagal. Tonal Center : b-flat. Structure : abaifai (4,4.4,4^
= aai (8,8). Chorus: 2?\iz\W- (4,4,4,4) = a^a^ (8,8). It is structurally inter-
esting to find that a- is built of the first half of a^ and the second half of a.

 

'Jack and Joe.' Sung by Mrs. E. Wilson. Recorded; no date or place given.
The tune for the chorus is the same as that for the stanza.

For melodic relationship cf. *FSoA 76.

Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: a-flat. Structure: ababi (4,4,4.4) =
aai (8,8).

 

K
'Jack and Joe.' Sung by C. H. Smith. Recorded at Harmony, Iredell county,

 

 

 

in 1920. In the general melodic outline there is considerable relationship with
274D.


For melodic relationship cf. **FSoA 76.

Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: ababi (4,4,4,4) =^
aai (8,8).