1 86
Whistle, Daughter, Whistle
The notes on this in SharpK show that it is well known in the
old country; Newell, Gam£s and Songs of Atnerican Children 96-7,
gives it as sung by children in New York ; it is known also in Vir-
ginia (SharpK 11 169, FSV 232), Kentucky (SFLQ vi 257-9),
North Carolina (SHF 24-5), Florida (FSF 420), Arkansas (OFS
I 412), and Missouri (OFS i 410-11). Another form of the same
joke, 'Lazy Mary,' is reported from Massachusetts (FSONE 31-3),
Arkansas (OFS in 121-2), Indiana (JAFL xlix 254-5), and
Nebraska (JAFL xxviii 273-4). It appears three times in our
collection, but as the three texts are identical only the first is given.
A
'Whistle, Daughter.' Contributed by Miss Lucille Massey of Durham.
1 'Whistle, daughter, whistle, and I'll give you a pin.'
'I cannot whistle, mother, neither can I spin.'
2 'Whistle, daughter, whistle, and I'll give you a book.'
'I cannot whistle, mother, neither can I cook.'
3 'Whistle, daughter, whistle, and I'll give you a sheep.'
'I cannot whistle, mother, neither can I sweep.'
4 'Whistle, daughter, whistle, and I'll give you a cow.'
'I cannot whistle, mother, indeed I don't know how.'
5 'Whistle, daughter, whistle, and I'll give you a man.'
'I cannot whistle, mother, but I'll do the best I can.'
{Last line whistled)
'Whistle, Daughter.' From Miss Lura Wagoner, Vox, Alleghany county.
Text as in A.
458 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
C
•Whistle, Daughter.' From Miss Amy Henderson, Worry, Burke county,
in 1914. Text as in A.
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186
Whistle, Daughter, Whistle
'Whistle, Daughter.' Sung by Miss Lura Wagoner. Recorded at ms score at
Vox, Alleghany county ; no date given. For a similar story from the Rhineland
in Germany cf. VTWL 124, No. 233. Cf. also DL 11 640 ('Spinn, spinn, meine
liebe Tochter').
Scale: Irrational, plagal. Tonal Center: f. Structure: abab (2,2,2,2) = aa
(4,4).