784. When Johnnie Comes Down to Hilo
'When Johnnie Comes Down to Hilo.' Sung by Thomas Leary, Olin, Iredell county, August 24, 1939. Cf. RG 46, the chorus as noted there is musically incorrect. ABFS gives another title: 'Shanty Man.' For another text cf. IMWS 83.
F-683
big buck nig - ger with his sea - boots on, When John-ny
comes down to Hi- lo, — Poor old man! Oh, wake her, oh,
shake her, Oh, wake that gal with a blue dress on! When
John-ny comes down to Hi - lo, — Poor old man!
For melodic relationship of. ***ABFS 484; FSCSG 105; **EFC 19;
compare also measures 3-6 of stanza and chorus with measures 1-4 of OFS in
352-4 ('The Girl I Left Behind Me').
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: d. Structure: abcdaib^cd (2,2,2,2,2,2,2,2) — abaifa (4,4,4,4).
2nd stanza:
Did you ever see the plantation boss
With the long-tailed whip and a short-tailed hoss?
When Johnnie comes down to Hilo,
Poor old man.