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Skip to ma Lou
Old-Time Breakdown and Play-Party Song; US.
ARTIST: "Skip To My Lou" by "Elnora Crockett" Crown 3188 Recorded: 1931 Issued: October 1931
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: 1800s; 1888 Nebraska; First recording Uncle Eck Dunford 1927 with Hattie and Ernest Stoneman at Bristol Sessions;
Melody is derived from the English "Bony Breast Knot" from 1777 and is the same melody as "Bobby Shaftoe" and "Skip to my Lou."
RECORDING INFO: James Crase, "Skip to My Lou" (on MMOKCD)
Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers, "Skip To My Lou" (Crown 3188/Montgomery Ward 3025, 1931)
Pete Daley's Arkansas Fiddlers, "Skip to My Lou" (Continental 3012, n.d.)
Uncle Eck Dunford, "Skip to my Lou, My Darling" (Victor 20938, 1927; on CrowTold01)
Georgia Organ Grinders, "Skip To My Lou, My Darling" (Columbia 15415-D, 1929)
Spud Gravely & Glen Smith, "Skip to My Lou" (on HalfCen1)
John D. Mounce et al, "Skip to My Lou" (on MusOzarks01)
Ritchie Family, "Skip to My Lou" (on Ritchie03)
Pete Seeger, "Skip to My Lou" (on PeteSeeger08, PeteSeegerCD02) (on PeteSeeger17) (on PeteSeeger32) (on PeteSeeger21) (on PeteSeeger22) (on PeteSeeger23)
Skip To My Lou [Me II-A24]
Lomax, J. A. & A. Lomax / American Ballads and Folk Songs, MacMillan, Bk (1934), p294
Seeger, Ruth Crawford (eds.) / American Folk Songs for Children, Doubleday/Zephyr Books, Sof (1948), p166
Ford, Ira W. / Traditional Music in America, Folklore Associates, Bk (1965/1940), p240
Cazden, Norman (ed.) / Book of Nonsense Songs, Crown, Sof (1961), p 23
Scott, John Anthony (ed.) / Ballad of America, Grosset & Dunlap, Bk (1967), p167
Silverman, Jerry (ed.) / Folksingers Guitar Guide, Oak, Sof (1961), p12
Silverman, Jerry (ed.) / Folksingers Guitar Guide, Oak, Sof (1961), p46
Lomax, John A. & Alan Lomax / Folk Song USA, Signet, Sof (1966/1947), # 30
Lair, John (ed.) / 100 WLS Barn Dance Favorites, Cole, fol (1935), p94b
Owens, William A. (ed.) / Texas Folk Songs. 2nd edition, SMU Press, Bk (1976/1950), p159b [1930s]
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p177
Sandburg, Helga (ed.) / Sweet Music, Dial, Bk (1963), p114
Fox, Lillian M. / Folk Songs of the United States, Calif. State Series, Sof (1951), p 1
Richardson, Ethel Park / American Mountain Songs, Greenberg, Bk (1927/1955), p 82
Silverman, Jerry / Folksingers Guide to Note Reading and Music Theory, Oak, Sof (1966), p30
Shelton, Robert (ed.) / Josh White Song Book, Quadrangle, Sof (1963), p182
Glazer, Tom / Treasury of Songs for Children, Songs Music, Fol (1964/1981), p208
Botsford, Florence Hudson (ed.) / Universal Folk Songster, Schirmer, Sof (1937), p 53 (Skip Turn a Loo)
Leisy, James F. (ed.) / Folk Song Abecedary, Bonanza, Bk (1966), p302
Herder, Ronald (ed.) / 500 Best-Loved Song Lyrics, Dover dn500/500, Sof (1998), p318
Bryant, Larkin. Bryant, Larkin / Larkin's Dulcimer Book, Ivory Palaces, Fol (1982), p23-24
Carawan, Guy. This Little Light of Mine, Folkways FG 3552, LP (1959), trk# A.07
Chase, Richard. Instrumental Music of the Southern Appalachians, Tradition TR 1007, LP (196?), trk# 20 [1956/07ca]
Chase, Richard. Chase, Richard (ed.) / American Folk Tales and Songs, Dover, sof (1971/1956), p193 [1930-40's]
Clarke, Angie. Old Mother Hippletoe. Rural and Urban Children's Songs, New World NW 291, LP (1978), trk# B.07a [1937] (Rabbit in the Pea Patch)
Colson, C. C.. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p217/#128 [1934-39] (Tum Tum-a-Lulu)
Crase, James. Mountain Music of Kentucky, Smithsonian/Folkways SF 40077, CD (1996), trk# 2.59 [1959]
Davis, Bill. Smoky Mountain Melodies, Old Traditions BWD 61172, LP (1960s), trk# A.04
Dunford, Uncle Eck (Alec). Round the Heart of Old Galax, Vol 2., County 534, LP (1980), trk# B.03 [1927/07/27]
Dunford, Uncle Eck (Alec). Bristol Sessions. Vol 1, Country Music Foundation CMF 011C1, Cas (1987), trk# A.01 [1927/07/27]
Durbin, Carl. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p287/#516A [1927/06/04]
Erbsen, Wayne. Erbsen, Wayne / Manual on How to Play the 5-String Banjo for the com...., Erbsen, sof (1974), p20
Fluharty, Russell. West Virginia Heritage, Page SLP 601, LP (197?), trk# B.09
Glazer, Tom. Tom Glazer Concert with and for Children, Washington WC 301, LP (195?), trk# A.03
Guthrie, Woody; Cisco Houston and Sonny Terry. Alan Lomax and Cisco Houston - Legendary, Magnum TKCD 013, CD (1996), trk# 15
Ives, Burl. Ives, Burl / Burl Ives Song Book, Ballantine Books, Bk (1963/1953), p216
Keithley, Callie May. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p290/#516F [1941/03/27]
Keithley, Joe. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p290/#516E [1940/09/07]
Knicely, Dena. West Virginia Hills, Augusta Heritage AHR 011, Cas (1992), trk# 1.07 [1991/02/21]
Koch, Bill. Fife, Austin E. & Alta S. / Cowboy and Western Songs, Bramhall House, Bk (1982/1969), p275/# 99
Kweskin, Jim. Swing on a Star, Mountain Railroad MR 52793, LP (1979), trk# 8
Lapidus, Joellen. Lapidus, Joellen / Lapidus On Dulcimer, ALMO, sof (1978), p 33
Lattin, Rosie. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p289/#516D [1930/07/07]
MacArthur, Margaret. MacArthur, Margaret / How to Play the MacArthur Harp, Front Hall FHRBP 1005, Cas (1986), trk# p15
Mainer's Mountaineers. J. E. Mainer & the Mountaineers. Vol 20. 20 Old-Time Favorites, Rural Rhythm RC-250, Cas (1988), trk# B.01 (Dance Around Little Lou)
Mid-Columbia Old-Time Music Club. Way It Was, Kuiper, CD (2002/1978), trk# 15
New Lost City Ramblers. There Ain't No Way Out, Smithsonian/Folkways 40098, CD (1997), trk# 2
Okun, Milt. America's Best Loved Folk Songs, Baton BL 1293, LP (1957), trk# B.07
Petty, Pauline. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p289/#516C [1930/07/07]
Pratt Family. Ritchie Family of Kentucky, Folkways FA 2316, LP (1959), trk# B.03f
Red River Dave and His Texas Tophands. Songs of the Golden West, Remington, LP (1957), trk# 11
Reser, Harry. Banjos Back to Back, RCA (Victor) LPM-2515, LP (1962), trk# A.04c
Richardson, Pansy. Solomon, Jack & Olivia (eds.) / Sweet Bunch of Daisies, Colonial Press, Bk (1991), p150 [1936]
Ritchie, Jean. O Love Is Teasin', Elektra BLP 12051, LP (1985), trk# 2.12c
Seeger, Pete; and Brother Kirk. Pete Seeger & Brother Kirk Visit Sesame Street, CRA CTW 22062, LP (1974), trk# A.04
Seeger, Peggy and Mike. American Folk Songs for Children, Rounder 8001/8002/8003, CD (1977), trk# 2-36 (Skip-A To My Lou)
Seeger, Pete. How to Play the Five String Banjo, Folkways FTS 38303, LP (1974), trk# 1
Seeger, Pete. We Shall Overcome, Columbia C2K 45312, CD (1989), trk# 2.02 [1963/06/08]
Seeger, Pete. Seeger, Pete / How to Play the Five String Banjo, Seeger, sof (1962), p12
Seeger, Pete. Seeger, Pete / How to Play the Five String Banjo, Seeger, sof (1962), p18
Seeger, Pete. Seeger, Pete / American Favorite Ballads, Oak, Fol (1961), p90
Seeger, Pete;, Mike Seeger, and Larry Eisenberg. American Playparties, Folkways FC 7604, LP (1959), trk# A.02
Short, Lillian. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p290/#516G [1941/04/25]
Silverman, Jerry. Silverman, Jerry (ed.) / Folksingers Guitar Guide, Advanced, Oak, Sof (1964), p48
Smith, Blaine;, Florrie Stewart, and Willie Brandon. Skip to My Lou, Pine Breeze 004, LP (1977), trk# B.05 [1975]
Song Spinners. Johnson, Margaret & Travis (eds) / Early American Songs from ... the Spi, AMP, Fol (1943), # 3
Spradley, Isabel. Randolph, Vance / Ozark Folksongs. Volume III, Humorous & Play-Party ..., Univ. of Missouri, Bk (1980/1946), p288/#516B [1929/08/16]
Stoneman, Ernest and Hattie. Ernest V. Stoneman, Vol.1, Old Homestead OHCS 172, LP (1986), trk# A.05 [1927?]
Taussig, Harry. Taussig, Harry / Teach Yourself Guitar, Oak, Sof (1971), p 32
Traum, Happy. Traum, Happy (ed.) / Finger-Picking Styles for Guitar, Oak, Sof (1966), p 7
Wear, DeWayne; and the Great Wear Family. Hoe Down! Vol. 4, Rural Rhythm RR 121, LP (197?), trk# 17
Womenfolk. Womenfolk, RCA (Victor) LPM-2832, LP (196?), trk# B.01
RELATED TO: "Waltz the Hall" (lyrics); Blue Mule; Poor Lolette; Goodbye Reb, You'All Come; Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over
PARODY: Skip to the Polls
OTHER NAMES: Skip to my Lou My Darlin'
PRINT SOURCES: Randolph 516, "Skip to My Lou" (5 texts plus 2 excerpts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 395-397, "Skip to my Lou" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 516A)
Hudson 152, p. 300, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text)
Fuson, pp. 166-169, "Skip to My Lou" (1 very full text)
Cambiaire, pp. 131-132, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text)
Scott-BoA, pp. 167-168, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-FSUSA 30, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Lomax-ABFS, pp. 294-295, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Fife-Cowboy/West 99, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Arnett, p. 60, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Chase, pp. 193-199, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune, plus figures)
Darling-NAS, pp. 256-257, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text)
PSeeger-AFB, p. 90, "Skip To My Lou" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 288, "Skip to My Lou" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 389, "Skip To My Lou" (1 text)
NOTES: This play-party song was printed as early as 1888 but surely is an older song possibly of English origin. English versions are uncommon. The Opies have two.
Skip to My Lou
Lou, lou, skip to me lou, (3x)
Skip to me lou, my darling.
Lost my partner, what shall I do? (3x)
Skip to me lou, my darling.
I've found anuvver one, just like you, (3x)
Skip to me lou, my darling.
1976, From small cockneys whirling round in a circle. Iona and Peter Opie, 1985, "The Singing Game," pp. 319-320. In Louth, 1961, children confirmed that the way to play the game was to 'go quickly round, singing the song.'
The Opies note that more sophisticated wordings are found in Brian J. Sims "Cub Scout Songs, 1972. In J. E. Tobitts teaching manual "Singing Games for Recreation," 1938, more sophisticated movements are found. A slightly more sophisticated dance was found in 1961, between Glasgow and Paisley:
Skip, skip, skip to m'loo...
Skip to m'loo, my darling.
Slice the butter, choo, choo, choo...
Skip to m'loo my darling.
"The girls interrupted their circling to dance a pas de basque step opposite their neighbour."
Loo is an old dialect form of 'love,' (Opies'), but whether that is meant in the song is uncertain. I haven't found the song in Gomme and other older English references; it is conceivable that the song is an import from America. Perrow, 1913, JAFL 26, p. 136, remarked that "lou is a common term for sweetheart in eastern Tennessee."
The Opies have an interesting note about the tune, which Simpson, in "The British Broadside Ballad," says the tune of "Skip to My Lou" 'bears strong traces' of the tune "Dargason," first found in the 16th. c. Does anyone know this tune or a source for it?
Not seen is the version in Grace Cleveland Porter, 1914, "Negro Folk Singing Games." (A rare book). Many variants, and formerly different methods of playing the game.
According to Randolph, Hofer, 1907, "Popular Folk Games," was the earliest he knew in print with "Skip-to-ma-Lou, My Children Dear."
There are a number of variants in Jour. American Folk-Lore.
This one is from Randolph, coll. 1927.
Lyr. Add: SKIP TO MY LOU
"After choosing partners, all the players join hands and form a large circle, while everybody sings":
Flies in the buttermilk, two by two,
Flies in the buttermilk, shoo fly shoo
Flies in the buttermilk, two by two,
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.
"While this is being sung, one couple steps into the ring and chooses another boy, so that there are two men and one girl in the center, who hold hands and dance about the circle with a peculiar skip and double-shuffle step.
The first boy and girl hold their hands high, and the odd boy steps under the arch thus formed, after which the first couple joins the circle again. The boy left alone in the ring calls in another couple, then he and the girl make an arch and join the circle, leaving the new boy alone in the center. Then he chooses another couple, and so on."
Meanwhile, the song proceeds:
Little red wagon, painted blue, (3x)
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.
Dad's old hat got tore in two, (3x)
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.
Purty as a redbird, purtier too, (3x)
Skip to my Lou my darlin'.
Cain't get a redbird, a bluebird 'll do, (3x)
Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.
From Carl Durbin, Pineville, MO, 1927. With tune. No. 515, A, vol. 3.
Other verses from Arkansas and Missouri, also from Randolph:
She is gone, an' I'll go too,...
Git me another'n as purty as you, ...
Hair in the butter, six foot long, ...
Chicken in the breadpan, scratchin' out dough, ...
Rabbit in the briar parch, shooe, shoo, shoo, ...
Hole in the haystack, chicken fell through, ...
Hog in the cornfield, shoo, shoo, shoo, ...
Cain't git a fat gal, skinny gal'll do,...
Come along Maw, an' let's go visitin', ...
Cowboys a-leavin', two by two, ...
Bring in the biscuit, two by two, ...
One old boot an' one old show, ...
Choose your partners, skip to my Lou, ...
Cat's in the cream jar, what'll I do? ...
Right across center, two by two, ...
Stole my gal, that'll never do, ...
Skip, skip, why don't you skip? ...
Chicken in the dough tray, what'll I do? ...
Also see related game, "The Miller Boy," from England, versions in Gomme, "Traditional Games. Also found in America. The tune is usually different from 'Skip to My Lou." A tune for "Skip to My Lou," found in North Carolina, in Brown, North Carolina Folklore, Vol. 5, seems more akin to that of "The Miller Boy" than the tune general in the Ozarks and West. From Arkansas:
THE MILLER BOY
Happy is the miller boy who lives by the mill,
The mill turns around with its own free will,
Hand on the hopper and the other on the sack,
Lady keeps a-going, gents turn back.
Snow and it blows and it's cold stormy weather,
Along comes a farmer a-selling apple cider,
You be the reaper and I'll be the binder,
Lost my true lover and here's where I find her.
Sailing east, we're sailing west,
We are sailing far o'er the ocean,
Any young man who wants a wife
Had better be taking a notion.
Coll. from Dr. G. E. Hastings, Arkansas, 1942.
"The Miller Boy," No. 518 variant E, Randolph, Ozark FolkSongs, vol. 3.
Randolph, in 1980, said, "The play-party is passing, and the next generation will probably see its total extinction in the Ozark country." The game has been preserved, in variant form, by square dance and other dance groups.
Verses in Austin E. and Alta S. Fife, 1969, "Cowboy and Western Songs," no. 99, p. 275, with score:
Lou, Lou, skip to my Lou, ...
Little red wagon, paint it blue, ...
She's gone again, skip to my Lou, ...
Fly's in the buttermilk, shoo, fly, shoo, ...
Cows in the cornfield, two by two, ...
I'll get another one better'n you, ...
Coll. from singing of Bill Koch, South Dakota and Kansas.
McGuinn’s Folk Den: Skip To My Lou- In early America, respectable folk in Protestant communities have always regarded the fiddle as the devil’s instrument and dancing as downright sinful. Faced with such a religious prejudice for socializing, young people of the frontier developed the “play-party,” in which all the objectionable features of a square dance were removed or masked so that their grave elders could approve.
No instruments were permitted - the dancers sang and clapped their own music. In time, the play-party acquired a life of its own. It became an ideal amusement for teenagers and young married couples. In many a frontier community, the bear hunters, Indian fighters, the rough keel-boat men and the wild cowboys could be seen dancing innocently with their gals, like so many children at a Sunday school picnic.
“Skip to My Lou” is a simple game of stealing partners. It begins with any number of couples hand in hand, skipping around in a ring. A lone boy in the center of the moving circle of couple sings, “Lost my partner what’ll I do?” as the girls whirl past him. The young man in the center hesitates while he decides which girl to choose, singing, “I’ll get another one prettier than you.” When he grasps the hand of his chosen one, her partner then takes his place in the center of the ring and the game continues. It’s an ice-breaker, a good dance to get a group acquainted to one another and to get everyone in the mood for swinging around.
It’s interesting to note that “loo” is the Scottish word for “love.” The spelling change from “loo” to “lou” probably happened as our Anglo ancestors, and the song, became Americanized.
SKIP TO MY LOU* Perrow
Version A (From East Tennessee; mountain whites; from memory; 1905)
Pretty as a red-bird, prettier, too; (thrice)
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Get me another one, prettier, too; etc.
I'll have her back in spite of you; etc.
Gone again; skip to my Lou; etc.
Sweet as a pop-paw punkin-pie; etc.
Pigs in the 'tater-patch, skip to my Lou; etc.
She wears shoes number two; etc.
Stand like a fool,1 skip to my Lou; etc.
*Lou, a common term for "sweetheart" in East Tennessee. Probably derived from
the proper noun. This song bears strong evidences of communal composition. The
stanzas have no fixed order: any one may be sung at any time during the dance, if the
fore-singer thinks fit. The rhyme-scheme, although a very simple one, is frequently lost
sight of as the fore-singer, feeling that the dance must go on, is obliged from time to time to improvise words to accompany his action. I have often engaged in this dance, and have seen the process of such communal composition. The game is played as follows:
the boys choose their partners from among the girls, and the couples arrange themselves along the walls of the room in which the dance is to take place. There is one boy, how-ever, who has no partner. He begins the song, skips across the room to the time of the music, and steals the girl of his choice from the boy who is with her. This boy then becomes the fore-singer, and steals another girl, or sometimes brings back the girl who has been taken from him. The fore-singer determines what verse shall be sung, the crowd joining in with him as soon as possible. He often sings just what happens to come into his head at the time, his best verses, of course, being remembered, and used again the next time the game is played. Cf. the account of this game in Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. xxv, p. 270.
B (From Indiana; country whites; MS. of Mr. Davidson; 1908)
Dad's old hat and Mam's old shoe; etc.
C (From Mississippi; country whites; MS. of R. J. Slay; 1909)
Lost my partner, what will I do?
Get me another one; skip-tum-i-loo.
If I can't get a jaybird, a redhead will do; etc.
D (From Mississippi; country whites; MS. of Miss Annie Reedy; 1909)
Lead 'em up and lead 'em down; etc.
Swing her on the corner; etc.
Sweetheart skipped me; etc.
Black-eyed pretty one; etc.
In Ames, L. D., "The Missouri Play-Party," JAFL 1911, vol. 24, no. 93, pp. 304-305:
Lost your partner, What'll you do? ...
I'll get another one, Better one , too, '''
Can't get a red bird, A blue bird will do, ...
Gone again, Skip-to-my-Lou, ...
Common as corn-bread, Commoner, too, ...
Chicken in the dough-tray, Shoo, shoo, shoo! ...
Piper, E. F., "Some Play-Party Games of the Middle West," 1915, JAFL vol. 28, no. 109, pp. 276-277.
MEXICO Tune var. of Skip to My Lou; Western KS, 1905
There was a little war in Mexico,
Mexico, Mexico,
There was a little war in Mexico,
Long time ago,
(Spoken)
Come to the place where the blood was shed,
Gents turn around and ladies go ahead.
When we meet we'll dance and sing,
Dance and sing, dance and sing.
When we meet we'll dance and sing.
Tra la li la.
SKIP TO MY LOU Western Nebraska, 1888 Piper says there were some 40 verses in western Nebraska.
1. I lost my partner, what'll I do? ...
Cho. Gone again, skip to my Lou! ...
2. I'll get another one better than you, ...
3. If you can't get a white girl, a black girl'll do, ...
4. If you can't get a red bird, a black bird'll do, ...
5. I'll get her back again, you bet you! ...
6. Pigs in the tater patch, two by two, ...
7. Gone again, and I don't care, ...
8. I'll get another one, sweeter than you, ...
9. My Ma says, I can have you, ...
10. Rats in the bread-pan, chew, chew, chew, ...
11. Some folks say that a *preacher won't steal, ...
12. I caught a *preacher in my cornfield, ...
13. Rats in the sugar-bowl, two by two, ...
14. My fellow wears a number 'leven shoe, ...
15. Dad's old shoes'll never fit you, ...
16. Chicken on the haystack, shoo, shoo, shoo, ...
17. Little red wagon, painted blue, ...
18. Stands like a fool, what'll I do? ...
"Skip To My Lou" by "Elnora Crockett"
Crown 3188 Recorded: 1931 Issued: October 1931
Skip to my Lou my partner dear
Skip to my Lou my partner dear
Skip to my Lou my partner dear
Skip to my Lou my darlin.’
Can’t get a red bird a blue bird will do
Can’t get a red bird a blue bird will do
Can’t get a red bird a blue bird will do
Skip to my Lou my darlin.’
Come again gone again skip to my Lou,
I’ve got another one a pretty one to,
Cat’s in the cream jar skip to my Lou,
Flies in the buttermilk shoo shoo shoo;
Repeat first
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