Game-Songs from Southern Indiana by Paul G. Brewster
The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 49, No. 193 (Jul. - Sep., 1936), pp. 243-262
GAME-SONGS FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA
BY PAUL G. BREWSTER
The following specimens of Indiana game-song texts and airs were obtained during 1935 and 1936, at which time an effort was being made to collect as much as possible of the folksong still current within the state.
All tunes given were noted by Mrs. Inez Lysle Johnson, of Bloomington, Indiana.
1. a MARCHING 'ROUND THE LEVEE
Cf. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, No. 163; Wolford, The Play Party in Indiana, pp. 47-48; Hudson, Folksongs of Mississippi, pp. 287-288; Journal, XXIV, 306 (Missouri); XXVI, 138; XXXIII,
120 (Michigan).
1. We're marching round the levee, We're marching round the
levee, We're marching round the levee, The Highland's gained the day.
2. Pass in and out the window,
Pass in and out the window,
Pass in and out the window,
The Highland's gained the day.
3. Go forth and face your lover,
Go forth and face your lover,
Go forth and face your lover,
The Highland's gained the day.
4. I'll measure my love to show you,
I'll measure my love to show you,
I'll measure my love to show you,
The Highland's gained the day.
5. I'll kiss you because I love you,
I'll kiss you because I love you,
I'll kiss you because I love you,
The Highland's gained the day.
1. b MARCHING 'ROUND THE LEVEE
Lacks stanza 4 of first text, and has the refrain "For I have gained the day." Contains the following additional stanzas:
Both kneel before each other,
Both kneel before each other,
Both kneel before each other,
For I have gained the day.
Now hug and kiss forever,
Now hug and kiss forever,
Now hug and kiss forever,
For I have gained the day.
1. c MARCHING 'ROUND THE LEVEE
Has stanza 2 of the first text, with the refrain "As we have done before." Additional stanzas are:
Stand and face your partner,
Stand and face your partner,
Stand and face your partner,
As we have done before.
Take her hand and greet her,
Take her hand and greet her,
Take her hand and greet her,
As we have done before.
1. d MARCHING 'ROUND THE LEVEE
Identical with the first version except for "kneel" instead of "kiss you" in stanza 5. Contains the additional stanza:
One kiss and then I'll leave you,
One kiss and then I'll leave you,
One kiss and then I'll leave you
While the Highlands gain the day.
2a. SKIP TO MY LOU
Cf. Wolford, The Play Party in Indiana, p. 97; Hudson, Folksongs of Mississippi, p. 300; Journal, XXIV, 304 (Missouri); XXV, 270 (Nebraska); XXXIII, 123 (Michigan).
Skip to the right and skip to the left; Skip to my Lou, my darling;
Skip to the one that you love best; Skip to my Lou, my dar-ling.
2b. SKIP TO MY LOU
Here comes a red bird,
Skip to my Lou;
Here comes a red bird,
Skip to my Lou;
Here comes a red bird,
Skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
She's gone again,
Skip to my Lou;
She's gone again,
Skip to my Lou;
She's gone again,
Skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
2C. SKIP TO MY LOU1 Other lines sometimes used are "Little red wagon painted blue," "I'll get another one, prettier, too," "Flies in the buttermilk," "Gone again, what'll I do ?" "Hair in the biscuit," etc.
[Pret-ty as a red bird, pret-ti-er too;
Pret-ty as a red bird, pret-ti-er too; Pret-ty as a
red bird, pret-ti-er too; Skip to my Lou, my dar - ling.]
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
Cf. Wolford, op. cit., pp. 102-104; Campbell and Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (Karpeles edition), No. 267; Sandburg, The American Songbag, p. 101; Journal, XXIV, 302; XXVII,
290; XXVIII, 278; XXXII, 488; XXXIX, 193.
3a. [I won't have none of your wee - vil - y wheat,
Neither rye nor bar - ley; I want some of your
good old wheat To bake a cake for Char - lie.
Over the river to feed my sheep,
Over the sea to Char - lie; Come weal, come woe, I'll
gath'r and go And live or die for Char - lie.]
Charlie he's a nice young man;
Charlie he's a dandy;
Charlie he's a nice young man;
He treats the girls on candy.
If you had been where I've been
And seen the sights I've seen,
Half a dozen pretty girls
Dancing on a sheepskin.
3b. BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
I won't have none of your weevily wheat
And I won't have none of your barley;
I must have some of your good old wheat
To bake a cake for Charlie.
O Charlie he's a nice young man;
My Charlie he's a dandy;
My Charlie he's a ladies' man
And feeds them sugar candy.
4a. THE QUAKER'S WOOING
Cf. Newell, op. cit., No. 31; Mackenzie, Ballads and Sea Songs from Nova Scotia, p. 380; Pound, American Ballads and Songs, No. 108; Cox, Folk Songs of the South, p. 465; Journal, XVIII, 55-56 (Massachusetts);
XXIV, 341.
I am an old and honest Quaker,
Mo-der-me!
And I have lost my own true lover,
Mo-der-me!
O I have a ring and I have money,
Ho-dum-a-rinktum-te-i-day!
To give to the girl that I call my honey,
Ho-dum-a-rinktum-te-i-day!
I have a ring worth forty shillings,
Mo-der-me!
And you can wear it if you're willing,
Mo-der-me!
O none of your rings and none of your money,
Ho-dum-a-rinktum-te-i-day!
It never shall be said that you called me honey,
Ho-dum-a-rinktum-te-i-day!
4b. THE QUAKER'S WOOING
Madam, I have gold and silver;
Madam, I have a house and land;
Madam, I have a ship on the ocean;
It shall sail at your command.
For I love you and you can't help it;
O lawsy, how I do love you!
What care I for your gold and silver?
What care I for your house and land?
What care I for your ship on the ocean?
All I want is your heart and hand.
For I love you and you can't help it;
O lawsy, how I do love you!
5a. THE NEEDLE'S EYE
Cf. Newell (1901 edition), Nos. 29, 171; Wolford, of. cit., p. 72; Hudson, op. cit., pp. 291-292; Journal, XXXIII, 115; XXVII, 298; XXVIII, 263; XXVI, 138; XL, 26; XLVII, 334.
[The needle's eye that doth comply with thread that runs so
true, Many a blow the vi'-lets grow sincefirst I
want-ed you, you, you, you, Since first I wanted you.]
5b. THE NEEDLE'S EYE
The needle's eye that doth supply
With thread that passes through;
Many a lass have I let pass
Because I wanted you.
5c. THE NEEDLE'S EYE
The needle's eye that doth supply
The thread that's passing through,
Many a beau have I let go
Because I wanted you.
I caught one;
I caught two;
Many a beau have I let go
Because I wanted you.
5d. THE NEEDLE'S EYE
The needle's eye that doth supply
The thread that runs so true;
Many a beau have I let go
Because I wanted you.
O you look so neat
And you kiss so sweet!
How pleased am I as time goes by
To have this couple meet!
6. SISTER PHOEBE
Cf. Newell, No. 31; Wolford, op. cit., p. 80; Hudson, op. cit., pp. 298-299; Journal, XXIV, 305 (Missouri); XXV, 272 (Nebraska); XXXIII, 107 (Michigan);X XVII, 300; XXVIII, 268.
O Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The night we sat under the juniper tree,
The juniper tree, heigh-ho! heigh-ho!
The juniper tree, heigh-ho!
(O this is Tom Tinker come choosing a wife;
He'll choose the fairest of all his life.
Can he get lodging here, oh here,
Can he get lodging here?
O this is my daughter that sits by my side,
And no Tom Tinker can make her his bride.
You can't get lodging here, oh here,
You can't get lodging here.)1
Now rise you up, sister, and choose you a man,
And choose the bravest that ever you can;
Now rise you up, sister, and go, and go,
Now rise you up, sister, and go.
Put this hat on your head, keep your head warm;
And take a sweet kiss, it will do you no harm.
It will do you much good, I know, I know;
It will do you much good, I know.
[1] The two stanzas in parentheses are interlopers from another game-song, variously known as "The Three Sailors," "The Three Kings," etc. See No. 10 in the present paper.
7. KING WILLIAM WAS KING JAMIE'S SON
Cf. Newell, Nos. 17 and 177; Wolford, pp. 62--64; Hudson, pp. 289-290; Journal, XXXIII, 107; XXIV, 313; XIV, 298; XXVII, 295.
King William was King Jamie's son,
Who from the royal race did come;
Upon his breast he wore a star
Like the points of the compass are.
Go choose to the east, go choose to the west;
Go choose the one that you love best.
If she's not there to take her part,
Choose another with all your heart.
250 5ournal of American Folk-Lore.
Down on this carpet you must kneel
Sure as the grass grows in the field.
Salute your bride and kiss your sweet;
Now you may rise upon your feet.
8a. THE MILLER BOY
Cf. Newell, No. 40; Hudson, op. cit., pp. 300-301; Journal, XXIV, 316 (Missouri); XXV, 269 (Nebraska); XXXIII, 15 (Michigan); XXVII, 293.
[How hap- py is the mill- er that lives by himself;
The turn-ing of the wheel is the making
of his pelf. One hand in t-e hopper, the other
of his pelf. One hand in the hopper, the other
in the sack, When the wheel goes round he cries out "Grab!"]
8b. THE MILLER BOY
Happy is the miller boy who lives by the mill;
He takes his toll with a free goodwill.
With one hand in the hopper and the other in the sack,
Every time the wheel turns, it's "Sack, boys, sack!"
9a. GETTING MARRIED
Cf. Wolford, op. cit., p. 43; Newell, No. io; Campbell and Sharp (Karpeles edition), No. 255; Journal, XXVIII, 275. Cf. Hudson, pp. 301-302 ("Texas").
Here stands a loving couple to join heart and hand;
He wants a woman, and I know she wants a man.
So they will get married, for I know they can agree,
And we'll march them down the river in love and harmony.
And now they are married, and since it has been so,
Away to the war my truelove must go;
A warning, a warning, and this shall be my cry:
If my truelove don't come back, I surely shall die.
O here comes my truelove, and it's "How do you do?"
And how have you been since last I saw you?
The war it is over, and I have returned,
And won't you give us joy by the raising of your arms?
9b. GETTING MARRIED
Here you come, my true lover; how do you do?
How have you been since I parted from you?
The war is all over and we're secure from all harms;
Can't you give us joy by the raising of your arms?
10. TWO TINKERS
Cf. Newell (1911), Nos. 2, 164, 165; Hudson, op. cit., p. 296.
Two tinkers, two tinkers, two tinkers we are,
Come courting your daughter so rare and so fair.
Can we have lodging here, oh here,
Can we have lodging here?
This is my rich daughter that sits by my side,
And no old tinker can make her his bride;
And you can't have lodging here, oh here,
And you can't have lodging here.
I care little for your daughter, much less for her pelf;
I'll bet you my boots I'll better myself,
And we don't want lodging here, oh here,
And we don't want lodging here.
11a. JOHNNY BROWN
Cf. Newell's variant 2 of "Marriage" (Games and Songs of American Children, 1911, No. IO).
["Very well done," says Johnny Brown, "Is this the
road to Lon- don Town?" "Stand you still and stand you
by Un - til you hear your true - love cry."]
Down on this carpet you must kneel
And choose the fairest in the field;
Choose the one that you profess
To be the one that you love best.
Now the wheat is in the barn,
The best production of the farm;
Now the money must be paid,
On both cheeks it must be laid.
Now you've got her, you've got your part;
You've got her to love with all your heart.
Now you've got her, you've got her to kiss,
And swear you'll never do better than this.
11b. JOHNNY BROWN
"Very well done," says Johnny Brown;
"Is this the road to London Town?"
"Stand you still and stand you by
Until you hear your true love cry."
It's in this ring that you must stand
And take your truelove by the hand;
Choose the one that you profess
To be the one that you love best.
Now you've got her, you've got your part;
You've got the lover of your heart.
Now you've got her, you've got her to kiss,
And I swear you'll never do better than this.
11C. JOHNNY BROWN
"Very well done," says Johnny Brown,
On his way to Shawneetown;
"Stand you still and stand you by
Until you hear your truelove cry."
Down on this carpet you must kneel
As sure as grass grows green in the field,
And rise again upon your feet
To kiss the one that looks so sweet.
12. WE'VE COME TO SEE MISS JENNIAH JONES
Cf. Newell (1911), No. II; Journal, XLVII, 334ff. (Georgia); Beckwith, Folk-Games of Jamaica (Folk-Lore Foundation Publications, No. 1), p. 45.
"Two persons are chosen for Miss Jenny and her nurse. The others approach and ask about the health of the former. At the answer 'Well' Miss Jenny and the nurse chase the inquiring friends, and the first two caught become Miss Jenny and her nurse. Answers are given as desired, usually having a number of inquiries made so that the players will be thrown off their guard."
[We've come to see Miss Jen - ni - ah Jones, Miss Jen-ni - ah
Jones, Miss Jen - ni - ah Jones; We've come to see Miss
Jen- ni-ah Jones, And how is she to -day?]
Answer - "Better"
O we're so glad to hear of that,
Hear of that, hear of that;
O we're so glad to hear of that,
And how is she today?
Answer - "Worse"
O we're so sorry to hear of that,
Hear of that, hear of that;
O we're so sorry to hear of that,
And how is she today?
Answer - "WELL!"
13. LAZY MARY
Cf. Newell (1911), Nos. 32, 33; Pound, op. cit., pp. 225-226; Campbell and Sharp (Karpeles edition), No. 134.
1. [O la- zy Ma-ry she won't get up, she won't get
up, she won't get up; 0 la - zy Ma - ry she
won't get up; she won't get up to - day.]
2. What'll you give if I'll get up,
If I'll get up, if I'll get up?
What'll you give if I'll get up,
If I'll get up today?
3. New plumed hat and velvet gown,
Velvet gown, velvet gown,
New plumed hat and velvet gown
If you'll get up today.
4. O no, Mother, I won't get up,
I won't get up, I won't get up;
O no, Mother, I won't get up;
I won't get up today.
5. Slice of bread and roasted calf,
Roasted calf, roasted calf,
Slice of bread and roasted calf
If you'll get up today.
6. O no, Mother, I won't get up,
I won't get up, I won't get up;
O no, Mother, I won't get up;
I won't get up today.
7. A nice young man with rosy cheeks,
Rosy cheeks, rosy cheeks,
A nice young man with rosy cheeks
If you'll get up today.
8. O yes, Mother, I will get up,
I will get up, I will get up;
O yes, Mother, I will get up;
I will get up today.
14. SLEEPING BEAUTY
Cf. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children (I9II), p. 224 ("The Sleeping Beauty").
There was a young lady sat down to sleep,
Sat down to sleep, sat down to sleep;
There was a young lady sat down to sleep
So early in the morning.
She wants a young man to keep her awake,
To keep her awake, to keep her awake;
She wants a young man to keep her awake
So early in the morning.
Write his name down and send it by me,
Send it by me, send it by me;
Write his name down and send it by me
So early in the morning.
His name it is written and all ready,
And all ready, and all ready;
His name it is written and all ready
So early in the morning.
............... his name it shall be,
His name it shall be, his name it shall be;
............... his name it shall be
So early in the morning.
After the choice is made, the young lady sings the chorus:
O my dearest dear, how I love you!
None on earth do I love above you;
Heart you have and hand I'll give you;
One sweet kiss and I'll go with you.
Then the same chorus, this time ending with:
Another sweet kiss, and then I'll leave you.
Then the song begins:
There was a young man sat down to sleep,
Sat down to sleep, sat down to sleep;
There was a young man sat down to sleep
So early in the morning.
He wants a young lady to bake him a cake,
Bake him a cake, bake him a cake;
He wants a young lady to bake him a cake
So early in the morning.
15 TROOPS ARE MARCHING TO IOWAY
Cf. Campbell and Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (1932), No. 95.
1. [Troops are marching to I - o - way, Troops are marching to
I - o - way, Davy Jones fell in love with a pret-ty
lit - tle dove, and he called her name Miss Ma - ry Brown.]
O now, Mary, won't you come and go ?
O now, Mary, won't you come and go?
In a carriage you shall ride with Davy by your side,
And he'll wait on you in Ioway.
Troops are marching to Ioway;
Troops are marching to Ioway;
In a carriage you shall ride with your lover by your side,
And he'll wait on you in Ioway.
16. GREEN GROWS THE WILLOW TREE
Cf. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children (I9II), Nos. 7 and 169. The former is nearer the Indiana version.
Green grows the willow tree,
Green grows the willow tree,
Green grows the willow tree;
Come, my love, by the side of me.
Green grow the rushes, O;
Green grow the rushes, O;
Green grow the rushes, O;
Kiss her quick and let her go.
17a. THE THREE DUKES
Cf. Newell (19II), No. 3; Wolford, op. cit., pp. 52--54; Journal, XLVII, 337; XL, 8. Cf. also Beckwith, op. cit., pp. 48-49.
"One man, representing the Duke, stands alone, opposite a long line of persons. He steps forward, bows, and then sings the first stanza. He then retreats backward. The line now advances and bows, sings the answer,
and retires. After the Duke has chosen his partner, the verse should probably be 'Here come the Duke and Duchess,' but we always sang it: 'Here come two Dukes a-roving.' "
1. [Here comes one Duke a - rov-ing, a - rov-ing, a - rov-ing;Here
comes one Duke a - rov-ing, a ran-zy tan-zy tee, sir!]
What is your good will, sir, good will, sir, good will, sir?
What is your good will, sir, a ranzy tanzy tee?
My good will's to marry, to marry, to marry;
My good will's to marry, a ranzy tanzy tee.
17b. THREE DUKES
"The game begins with a row of girls hand in hand and one person, the Duke, coming forward singing No. 1. When the Duke retires backward, the line moves forward singing No. 2. When he chose one, we sang:
O! O! O! what a choice you've made;
In your grave you'd better be laid!
So kiss her quick and let her go
To her home in Mexico.[1]
[1] This stanza appears to be an intruder from "Marriage." Cf. Newell, op. cit., No. 10, p. 611.
Then the two come forward, singing 'Here come two dukes a-roving.' The game continues until all have changed places."
Here comes one duke a-roving, a-roving, a-roving;
Here comes one duke a-roving for the ranzy tanzy tee.
What is your good will, sir, good will, sir, good will, sir?
What is your good will, sir, for the ranzy tanzy tee?
My good will's to marry, to marry, to marry;
My good will's to marry for the ranzy tanzy tee.
Why not have one of us, sir, of us, sir, of us, sir;
Why not have one of us, sir, for the ranzy tanzy tee?
You're all too brown and blowsy, and blowsy, and blowsy;
You're all too brown and blowsy for the ranzy tanzy tee.
We're just as fair as you, sir, as you, sir, as you, sir;
We're just as fair as you, sir, for the ranzy tanzy tee.
17C. THE THREE DUKES
Here come three dukes a-riding,
A-riding, a-riding;
Here come three dukes a-riding,
With a razima tazima tee.
What are you riding here for,
Here for, here for?
What are you riding here for
With a razima tazima tee?
We're riding here to get married,
Get married, get married;
We're riding here to get married,
With a razima tazima tee.
18. MARCHING tO BOSTON
Cf. Wolford, op. cit., p. 49; Campbell and Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (1932), No. 261.
Girls are marching down to Boston,
Down to Boston, down to Boston;
Girls are marching down to Boston
So early in the morning.
Come on, boys, and let's go with them;
Come on, boys, and let's go with them;[1]
Come on, boys, and let's go with them
So early in the morning.
O yes, (boy's name), I'll tell your mammy,
I'll tell your mammy, I'll tell your mammy;
O yes, ......., I'll tell your mammy
As how you're going a-courting.
Take her by the hand and tell her that you love her,
Tell her that you love her, tell her that you love her;
Take her by the hand and tell her that you love her
So early in the morning.
[1] This line should read "Let's go with them, let's go with them."
19. MARCHING ROUND THE GUM STUMP
1. [We're marching round the gum stump, sev' - ral at a
time; We're marching round the gum stump, sev'- ral at a
time; We're marching round the gum stump, sev'- ral at a
time; We're marching round thegum stump, sev'-ral at a
time, Hanging all to-gether like the grapes up-on the vine.]
We're marching 'round the gum stump two at a time;
We're marching 'round the gum stump two at a time;
We're marching 'round the gum stump two at a time,
Hanging all together like the grapes upon a vine.
"Then continue for as long as your players last. Use 'pretty girl' instead of 'gum stump' for the girls - up to twelve. After that, 'several at a time.' "
The crowd it is increasing and the coming we shall win;
The crowd it is increasing and the coming we shall win;
The crowd it is increasing and the coming we shall win;
Rise you up, gum stump, and choose your partner in.
20a. A PAPER OF PINS
Cf. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children (1911), No. 5; Pound, op. cit., No. III; Flanders and Brown, Vermont Folk-Songs and Ballads, p. i8o; Campbell and Sharp, English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians (1932), No. 92; Hudson, op. cit., pp. 276-277.
Madam, I'll give you a paper of pins
If that's the way that love begins,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept a paper of pins
If that's the way that love begins;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you a red silk gown
With golden laces hanging 'round,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept your red silk gown
With golden laces hanging 'round;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you a dress of green
That you may be my fairest queen,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept your dress of green
That I may be your fairest queen;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you a little black dog
That you may take when you go abroad,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept the little black dog
That I may take when I go abroad;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you a coach and six,
With every horse as black as pitch,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept the coach and six,
With every horse as black as pitch;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you the key to my heart
That we may love and never part,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I won't accept the key to your heart
That we may love and never part;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
Madam, I'll give you the key to my chest
That you may get money at your request,
If you'll marry, if you'll marry,
If you'll marry me.
I will accept the key to your chest
That I may get money at my request;
I will marry, I will marry,
I will marry you.
Ha! ha! ha! money's all;
Woman's love is none at all;
I won't marry, I won't marry,
I won't marry you.
20b. A PAPER OF PINS
It will be noted that in this variant only the final syllable of the third line is repeated. Only stanzas which do not occur in a are given.
I'll give you a dress of red,
Bound around with a golden thread,
If you will marry me, me, me,
If you will marry me.
I'll not accept a dress of red,
Bound around with a golden thread,
And I'll not marry you, you, you,
And I'll not marry you.
I'll give you an old gray mule
That you may ride to Sunday school,
If you will marry me, me, me,
If you will marry me.
I'll not accept the old gray mule
That I may ride to Sunday school,
And I'll not marry you, you, you,
And I'll not marry you.