462
Sing Polly ^^'oLLv Doodle
Probably of minstrel origin, this song has been familiar to one
of the editors of this volume since his boyhood days in Mississippi,
where he knew the refrain as 'Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all day'
and stanzas much like those below. There is a printed version of
it in Spaeth's Read 'Em and Weep, 92; another in Plantation Songs,
Arranged for Baritone Solo and Chorus of Mixed Voices with
Pianoforte Accompaniment by Stanford Robinson (London and
Philadelphia, c. 1928), pp. 14-15. With stanza 2 compare No. 193,
above.
'Negro Song." From Mrs. Nilla Lancaster, Wayne county; without
date.
1 I'm going down South for to see my gal.
Singing Polly Wolly duoll doll da.
My Sal is a spimky gal.
Singing Polly Wolly duoll doll da.
Chorus:
Farewell, farewell, my fair fae,
Goin' to Louisiana to see my Susiana,
Singing Polly Wolly duoll doll da.
2 I went to the river and couldn't get across, etc..
Jumped on a nigger, thought he was a boss, etc.
3 Grasshopper sitting on a railroad track, etc..
Picking his teeth with a carpet tack, etc.
4 I went to bed, but it was no use, etc..
My feet stuck out for the chicken roost, etc.
5 That chicken sneezed so hard with the wiiooping cough,
etc..
He sneezed his head and tail right off, etc.
---
462
Sing Polly Wolly Doodle
'Negro Song.' Anonymous singer. No place or date given.
F-427
I'm go - ing down South for to see my gal, Sing-ing
My Sal she is a
Pol - ly Wol - ly du - oil doll da.-
spunk - y gal, Sing-ing Pol - ly Wol - ly du - oil doll
da.-
Fare - well, — fare - well, — fare - well, my fair
fae, Goin' to Louis - i
to see my Su - si-
an - a, Sing - ing Pol - ly Wol - ly du - oil doll
For melodic relationship cf, ***RaW 92; SA 97.
da. —
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: e-flat. Structure: abab^cc^ab^
(2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) = aa^bai (4,4,4,4) = Reprisenbar.