7. Dialogue, Nursery, and Game Songs

DIALOGUE, NURSERY AND GAME SONGS

108. The Quaker's Courtship 223

109. Dutchman, Dutchman, Won't You Marry Me? 224

110. What Will You Give Me If I Get Up? . . .225

111. Paper Of Pins 226

112. The Milkmaid 228

113. Billy Boy 231

114. Poor Robin 232

115. Babes In The Woods 233

116. In Good Old Colony Times 234

117. Let's Go To The Woods 235

118. I Bought Me A Wife 236

119. We'll All Go Down To Rowser's 237

120. Sweet Fields Of Violo 238
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DIALOGUE, NURSERY, AND GAME SONGS

108

THE QUAKER'S COURTSHIP

"Madam, I have come a-courting, hi, ho, hum! I'm for business, not for sporting, hi, ho hum!" "That you go home is my desire, rol dol dil a day. Unless you stay and court the fire, rol dol dil a day." "I've a ring that's worth a shilling, hi ho hum. Thou mayst wear it if thou'rt willing, hi ho hum!"

"01 don't want your ring or money, rol dol dil a day. I want a man that'll call me honey, rol dol dil a day."

"I've a kitchen full of servants, hi ho hum! Thou mayst be a mistress o'er them, hi ho hum." "Indeed I'll not be scolded for you, rol dol dil a day. Indeed I think myself above you, rol dol dil a day." "I've a stable full of horses, hi ho hum,

Thou mayst ride them at my bidding, hi ho hum."

"Indeed I'll not be jockey for you, rol dol dil a day. I think I'm better off without you, rol dol dil a day." "Must I give up my religion? O dear me! Must I join the Presbyterians? O dear me!" "0 you go home and tell your daddy, rol dol dil a day, That you couldn't get me ready, rol dol dil a day!"

"O you go home and tell your mother, rol dol dil a day, That you're a fool and lots of bother, rol dol dil a day." "Must I leave without one token? O dear me! Must I die with my heart broken? O dear me." "Cheer up, cheer up, my loving brother, hi ho hum, If you can't catch me just catch another, hi ho hum!" 109

DUTCHMAN, DUTCHMAN, WON'T YOU          MARRY ME? "Dutchman, Dutchman, won't you marry me?"

  "No, no, no, not I. How can I marry such a pretty little girl When I have no shoes to put on?"

Away to the shoeshop she did vent

  As fast as she could go, Bought him some shoes of the very best kind. "Now, Dutchman, put them on!

"Dutchman, Dutchman, won't you marry me?"

  "No, no, no, not I. How can I marry such a pretty little girl When I have no coat to put on?"


Away to the tailor's shop she did vent

  As fast as she could go, Bought him a coat of the very best cut. "Now Dutchman, draw him on!

"Dutchman, Dutchman, won't you marry me?"

  "No, no, no, not I. How can I marry such a pretty little girl When I have no hat to put on?"

Away to the hatter's shop she did vent

  As fast as she could go, Bought him a hat of the very best style "Now Dutchman, put him on!

"Dutchman, Dutchman, won't you marry me?"

  "No, no, no, not I. How can I marry such a pretty little girl When I have one wife to home?"

110

WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME IF I GET UP?

"What will you give me if I get up,,

   If I get up, if I get up? What will you give me if I get up. If I get up today?"

"A slice of bread and a cup of tea,  A cup, a cup, a cup of tea, A slice of bread and a cup of tea,    If you get up today." "No, mother, I won't get up,    I won't, I won't, I won't get up, No, mother, I won't get up,    I won't get up today." "What will you give me if I get up,

   If I get up, if I get up? What will you give me if I get up, If I get up today?"

"A nice young man with rosy cheeks,   With rosy cheeks, with rosy cheeks, A nice young man with rosy cheeks,       If you'll get up today." "Yes, mother, I will get up,    I will get up, I will get up, Yes, mother, I will get up,    I will get up today." Ill

PAPER OF PINS

"I'll give thee a paper of pins If that's the way that love begins, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but       marry me." "I'll not accept the paper of pins, If that's the way that love begins, And I'll not marry, I'll not marry. I'll not marry you." "I'll give thee a little lap dog, That'll go with you when you go abroad, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but       marry me." "I'll not accept the little lap dog, To go with me when I go abroad, And IH not marry, I'll not marry, I'll not marry you." "I'll give to thee a coach and four, With every horse as white as snow, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but     marry me." "I'll not accept a coach and four,

With every horse as white as snow,

And I'll not marry, I'll not marry, I'll not marry you."

I'll give to thee a coach and six, With every horse as black as pitch, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but     marry me." "I'll not accept the coach and six,

With every horse as black as pitch,

And I'll not marry, I'll not marry, I'll not marry you." "I'll give to thee the key of my heart, That we may lock and never part, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but marry me."

"I'll not accept the key of thy heart,

That we may lock and never part,

And I'll not marry, I'll not marry, I'll not marry you."

"I'll give to thee a chest of gold, And all the money you can control, If you'll but marry, if you'll but marry, if you'll but     marry me." "I will accept a chest of gold,

And all the money I can control,

And I will marry, I will marry, I will marry you."

"Ha, ha! Ha, ha! money is all Woman's love is nothing at all, And I'll not marry, I'll not marry, I'll not marry you."

112

(A) THE MILKMAID

"Where are you going, my pretty maid,

 My pretty maid, my pretty maid, Where are you going, my pretty maid?" "I'm going a-milking, sir, I say,    Sir, I say, sir, I say, I'm going a-milking, sir, 1 say." "May I go with you, my pretty maid,  My pretty maid, my pretty maid, May I go with you, my pretty maid?"

"You may if you wish to, sir, I say, Sir, I say, sir, I say,

You may if you wish to, sir, I say."

"What is your father, my pretty maid,  My pretty maid, my pretty maid, What is your father, my. pretty maid?"

"My father's a farmer, sir, I say,    Sir, I say, sir, I say, My father's a farmer, sir, I say."

"What is your fortune, my pretty maid, My pretty maid, my pretty maid,

What is your fortune, my pretty maid?"

"My face is my fortune, sir, I say, Sir, I say, sir, I say,

My face is my fortune, sir, I say."

"Then I won't have you, my pretty maid, My pretty maid, my pretty maid,

Then I won't have you, my pretty maid."

"Nobody asked you, sir, I say,    Sir, I say, sir, I say, Nobody asked you, sir, I say."
(B) THE PRETTY MILKMAID

"O where are you going to, my pretty maid, O where are you going to, my pretty maid?" "I'm going a-milking, sir," she said, "sir," she said, "I'm going a-milking, sir," she said. "0 may I go with you, my pretty maid,

0 may I go with you, my pretty maid?"

"O yes, if you like, kind sir," she said, "sir," she said,

"0 yes, if you like, kind sir," she said.

"0 what is your father, my pretty maid,

O what is your father, my pretty maid?"

"My father's a farmer, sir," she said, "sir," she said,

"My father's a farmer, sir," she said.

"0 what is your fortune, my pretty maid,

0 what is your fortune, my pretty maid?"

"My face is my fortune, sir," she said, "sir," she said, "My face is my fortune, sir," she said.

"Then I cannot marry you, my pretty maid,

1 cannot marry you, my pretty maid,"

"0 nobody axed you, sir," she said, "sir," she said, "0 nobody axed you, sir," she said.

113. BILLY BOY

"O where have you been Billy Boy, Billy Boy, 
O where have you been, charming Billy?"
"I have been for a wife, she's the treasure of my life,  
She's a young thing but can't leave her mammie."
 

"Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Can she make a cherry pie, charming Billy?"
"She can make a cherry pie quick as cat can wink her eye,
She's a young thing but can't leave her mammie."

"Can she make a feather bed, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Can she make a feather bed, charming Billy?"
"She can make it very neat from the head unto the feet,
She's a young thing but can't leave her mammie."

"Can she make a loaf of bread, Billy Boy, Billy Boy
Can she make a loaf of bread, charming Billy?"
"She can make a loaf of bread with a night cap on her head,
She's a young thing but can't leave her mammie."

"Can she milk a mulie cow, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Can she milk a mulie cow, charming Billy?"
"She can milk a mulie cow if her mammie shows her how.
She's a young thing but can't leave her mammie."
 

114. POOR ROBIN

Poor Robin was dead and lay in his grave,

  Lay in his grave, lay in his grave,
Poor Robin was dead and lay in his grave, OOOO.

They planted an apple tree over his head,

  Over his head, over his head, They planted an apple tree over his head, 00 00.

When the apples were ripe and ready to fall,

  Ready to fall, ready to fall, When the apples were ripe and ready to fall, 0 000.

An old woman came and gathered them up,   Gathered them up, gathered them up, An old woman came and gathered them up,  000 0. Poor Robin jumped up and gave her a thump,   Gave her a thump, gave her a thump. Poor Robin jumped up and gave her a thump.  OOOO. It made the old woman go flippety flop,

  Flippety flop, flippety flop, It made the old woman go flippety flop, 0 0 0 0.

And as she ran off her apron string broke,

Her apron string broke, her apron string broke,

And as she ran off her apron string broke.   0 0 00. If you want any more just sing it yourself,

  Sing it yourself, sing it yourself; If you want any more just sing it yourself, 000 0.

115

BABES IN THE WOODS

My dear you must know that a long time ago There was two little children whose names I don't     know, "Who were taken away on a bright autumn day, And lost in the woods I have heard people say. Now when it was night very sad were their plight, The stars did not shine and the moon hid her light, Then they sobbed and they sighed and sadly they cried, And the poor little things at last lay down and died. Two robins so red when they saw them lie dead Brought beech and oak leaves and over them spread; And all day long the branches among They sang to them softly and this was their song: Poor little babes in the woods, Poor little babes in the woods, 0 who will come and find, Poor little babes in the woods! 116

IN GOOD OLD COLONY TIMES

In good old colony times, where we lived under the King,

Three roguish chaps fell into mishaps Because they could not sing.

Three roguish chaps fell into mishaps Because they could not sing.

The first he was a miller, and the second he was a weaver,

And the third he was a little tailor, Three roguish chaps together,

And the third he was a little tailor, Three roguish chaps together.

The miller he stole «orn, and the weaver he stole yarn,

And the little tailor stole broadcloth For to keep these three rogues warm.

And the little tailor stole broadcloth For to keep these three rogues warm.

Now the miller got drowned in his dam, and the weaver got hung in his yarn,

And the devil clapt his claws on the little tailor With the broadcloth under his arm,

And the devil clapt his claws on the little tailor, With the broadcloth under his arm. ,

117

LET'S GO TO THE WOODS

"Let's go to the woods," says Richard to Robin, "Let's go to the woods," says Robin to Bobin, "Let's go to the woods," says Johnny alone, "Let's go to the woods," says every one. "What to do there?" says Richard to Robin, "What to do there?" says Robin to Bobin, "What to do there?" says Johnny alone, "What to do there?" says everyone. "Shoot at my wren," says Richard to Robin, "Shoot at my wren," says Robin to Bobin, "Shoot at my wren," says Johnny alone, "Shoot at my wren," says every one. "What if she's dead?" says Richard to Robin, "What if she's dead?" says Robin to Bobin, "What if she's dead?" says Johnny alone, "What if she's dead?" says every one. "How would you get her home?" says Richard to     Robin, "How would you get her home?" says Robin to Bobin, "How would you get her home?" says Johnny alone, "How would you get her home?" says every one. "A cart and six horses," says Richard to Robin, "A cart and six horses," says Robin to Bobin, "A cart and six horses," says Johnny alone, "A cart and six horses," says every one. 118

I BOUGHT ME A WIFE

I bought me a wife the tenth of June,   Nickety nackety, now, now, now, I brought her home by the light of the moon.   High, willy, wally, and Jenny bang,   Doodle, sandy go restego, now, now, now. I bought two cows, 'they both were good, I told her to milk whichever she would. For want of a churn she used the old man's boot, For want of a dasher she used his foot. She made some cheese and hung it on a pin. The grease ran out and the dirt sucked in. The old book lies on the shelf.

If you want any more you can sing it yourself.

119

WE'LL ALL GO DOWN TO ROWSER'S

We'll all go down to Rowser's, We'll all go down to Rowser's, We'll all go down to Rowser's,     For there they keep the beer,     For there they keep the beer,     For there they keep the beer, We'll all go down to Rowser's     For there they keep the beer. My father and mother were Irish, My father and mother were Irish, My father and mother were Irish, And I was Irish too,

And I was Irish too,

   And I was Irish too. My father and mother were Irish And I was Irish too.

They kept the pig in the parlor, They kept the pig in the parlor, They kept the pig in the parlor,     For that was Irish too,     For that was Irish too,     For that was Irish too. They kept the pig in the parlor,     For that was Irish too. 120

SWEET FIELDS OF VIOLO

How happy I was on my father's farm,

  Sweet fields of Violo, Tending to my father's horses That I fed in the barns of Violo. And a gee ho here and a gee ho there,

Here a gee and there a gee, and 0 pretty maids, won't you come and go with me

To the sweet fields of Violo!

How happy I was on my father's farm,

  Sweet fields of Violo, Tending to my father's cows That I milked in the yards of Violo. And a suke, suke here, and a suke, suke there,

Here a suke and there a suke, and

A gee ho here and a gee ho there,

Here a gee and there a gee, and O pretty maids, won't you come and go with me

To the sweet fields of Violo!

How happy I was on my father's farm,   Sweet fields of Violo, Tending to my father's pigs

That I fattened in the pens of Violo.

And a boo hoo here and a boo hoo there,

Here a boo and there a boo, and

A suke suke here and a suke suke there,

Here a suke and there a suke, and

A gee ho here and a gee ho there,

Here a gee and there a gee, and 0 pretty maids, won't you come and go with me

To the sweet fields of Violo!

How happy I was on my father's farm,

Sweet fields of Violo, Tending to my father's sheep That ran in the vales of Violo.

And a bleat bleat here, and a bleat bleat there,

Here a bleat and there a bleat, and

A boo hoo here and a boo hoo there,

Here a boo and there a boo, and

A suke suke here and a suke suke there,

Here a suke and there a suke, and

A gee ho here and a gee ho there,

Here a gee and there a gee, and O pretty maids, won't you come and go with me

To the sweet fields of Violo!

How happy I was on my father's farm,

  Sweet fields of Violo, Tending to my father's geese That swam in the ponds of Violo. With a shoo shoo here and a shoo shoo there,
  Here a shoo and there a shoo, and  A bleat bleat here and a bleat bleat there,   Here a bleat and there a bleat, and  A boo hoo here and a boo hoo there,   Here a boo and there a boo, and  A suke suke here and a suke suke there,   Here a suke and there a suke, and  A gee ho here and a gee ho there,   Here a gee and there a gee, and O pretty maids, won't you come and go with me   To the sweet fields of Violo! How happy I was on my father's farm,   Sweet fields of Violo. Tending to my father's chickens

That laid in the nests of Violo.   A cackle cackle here and a cackle cackle there,   Here a cackle, there a cackle, and  A shoo shoo here and a shoo shoo there,   Here a shoo and there a shoo, and  A bleat bleat here and a bleat bleat there,   Here a bleat and there a bleat, and  A boo hoo here and a boo hoo there,   Here a boo and there a boo, and  A suke suke here and a suke suke there,   Here a suke and there a suke, and  A gee ho here and a gee ho there,   Here a gee and there a gee, and 0 pretty maids, won't you come and go with me To the sweet fields of Violo!
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NOTES: 

108. The Quaker's Courtship. Text obtained from Iowa by L. C. Wimberly, in 1916. For this song, see Newell, Games and Songs of American Children (1903), p. 94. It is an importation from England, like most of the following pieces.

109. Dutchman, Dutchman, Won't You Marry Me? Text of Miss Edith Little, Falls City, Nebraska, in 1914. This is a variant of the well-known "Soldier, Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?" See Newell, Games and Songs, p. 93.

110. What Will You Give Me If I Get Up? Text of Miss Lucia Saxer of Mount Clare, Nebraska, 1914. This song is usually entitled Lazy Mary. It is sometimes used in a singing game. See Newell, Games and Songs, p. 96.

111. Paper Op Pins. Text secured from Louisiana by L. C. Wimberly, in 1916. Compare Newell, Gomes and Songs, p. 52.

112. (A) The Milkmaid. Text secured from the singing of children at Omaha by Elizabeth Gordon, 1915.

(B) The Pretty Milkmaid. Text secured by Frances Botkin and Zora Schaupp from Mrs. Adna Dobson of Lincoln, Nebraska.

113. Billy Boy. From the singing of Mrs. Ava Shellenbarger of Pawnee City, Nebraska, 1911. This favorite song is an Old World importation. See The Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 26. p. 357.

114. Poor Robin. Text obtained from Nuckolls County, Nebraska, by Miss Alice Hanthorne, in 1915. Other versions have the titles "Old Rover," "Poor Roger," "Poor Johnny," eto. This is an old song. Compare The Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 13, p. 230, 1900. It is now mostly a motion song in children's games Compare also Alice Gomme, Dictionary of British Folk-Lore, vol. II, p. 16, 1898.

115. Babes In The Woodb. Text from Harry Gear of Junction, Wyoming, 1913. This favorite song is still sung by grown-ups in the Kentucky mountains. Compare Bishop Percy's account of the Children in the Woods, Reliques of Ancient English Poetry (1865).

116. In Good Old Colony Times. Text from Mrs. Mary P. Lindsay of Hebron, Nebraska, in 1915. For the history of this song, see The Ballad of the Three in A. H. Tolman's "Some Songs Traditional in the United States," Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 29, p. 167 (1916) and G. L. Kittredge's annotation.

117. Let's Go To The Woods. Text of Mrs. Mary F. Lindsay. Hebron, Nebraska, 1916. Sometimes known as Bobbin, Bobbin, Richard, and John, or The Wren Shooting. For this song, see the account of St. Stephen's Day customs in G. F. Northall's English Folk-Rhymes, 1892. It was printed as a nursery song in Gammer Ourton's Garland, 1783.

118. I Bought Me A Wipe. Text obtained by Elizabeth Gordon from Esther Knapp in Omaha, 1915. Miss Enapp's mother learned it in childhood from the singing of another child. For the final couplet, compare a song in a comedy by W. Wager (about 1568), which runs—

I laid my bridle upon the shelf; If you will anymore, sing it yourself. 110. We'll All Go Down To Rowseh's. Text from E. R. Harlan of Des Moines, Iowa, 1914. This piece is sometimes merely sung but usually it is a game song.

120. Sweet Fields Of Violo. Obtained by Mabel Conrad Sullivan from Fern Sikes of Crete, Nebraska, in 1915. The singer should "end the piece with a good crow." This song has some relation to the college or glee club song, My Father Has Some Very Fine Ducks.