New Orleans- Bertha Beard (NC) c.1894 REC
[My date. From Youtube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyuRLQlYevo. She lived in Wilkes County many years. It was her father's song, she said "My daddy was a great singer." [Burton]. The two extra stanzas (first and last) are found in different related songs including Pretty Little Pink. See: Newell's text below.
R. Matteson 2017]
"New Orleans" sung by Bertha Hubbard Beard, recorded about 1970s. She was born in 1880 Alexander County, learned from her father.
I'll put my knapsack on my back,
My rifle on my shoulder,
I'll march away to New Orleans
And there I'll be a soldier.
CHORUS: Fal la linka do, oh do oh do,
Fal la linka do, oh di dee.
How old are you my pretty little miss,
How old are you my honey?
She answered me with a modesty,
I'll be sixteen next Sunday.
CHORUS: Fal la linka do, oh do oh do,
Fal la linka do, oh di dee.
Will you marry me my pretty little miss,
How old are you my honey?
She answered me with a modesty,
I'll have to ask my Mommy.
CHORUS: Fal la linka do, oh do oh do,
Fal la linka do, oh di dee.
I'll put my knapsack on my back,
My rifle on my shoulder,
I'll march away to New Orleans
And there I'll be a soldier.
CHORUS: Fal la linka do, oh do oh do,
Fal la linka do, oh di dee.
Well the coffee grows on white oak trees,
And the river flows with brandy
The streets all lined with ten-dollar bills
And the girls aa sweet as candy.
CHORUS: Fal la linka do, oh do oh do,
Fal la linka do, oh da dee.
_________________________
"Pretty Little Pink" Newell, W. W., "Games and Songs of American Children," first published in 1883. No. 175, from East Tennessee. "The manner of playing has not been obtained."
My pretty little pink, I once did think
That you and I would marry,
But now I've lost all hope of that,
I can no longer tarry.
I've got my knapsack on my back,
My musket on my shoulder,
To march away to Quebec town,
To be a gallant soldier.
Where coffee grows on a white-oak tree,
And the rivers flow with brandy,
Where the boys are like a lump of gold,
And the girls as sweet as candy.
"In another version, Mexico was substituted for Quebec."