Baby! - McDowells 1890s (Baby Mine)
[The song, Baby, probably originated from a popular song, “Baby Mine,” published in 1874 with words by Charles Mackay and music by Archibald Johnson (or a similar folk-song; after all the Mackay composition, I believe, is based on a folk-version). It is similar to the Captain Kidd/Froggy Went A-Courtin’ family of songs. These songs have a repeated part: ("Oh my name is Captain Kidd, as I sailed, as I Sailed") (Froggy went a courtin’ and he did ride un-huh, un-huh); "Sam Hall" ("My name it is Sam Hall, it is Sam Hall"); the hymn "Wondrous Love" ("Oh, what wondrous love this is, O my soul, O my soul") and a conclusion.
Similar songs to Baby Mine are "Going round the World Baby Mine," "Banjo Pickin’ Girl," "Policeman Come," "Crawdad (Sugar Babe)" and "New River Train." A line from "Policeman Come" is found as a floating lyric here.
R. Matteson 2014]
BABY!
Catching a rabbit ain't no sin, baby!
Catching a rabbit ain't no sin, baby!
Catching a rabbit ain't no sin,
Turn him loose and catch him again, baby!
Way down yonder in Arkansas, Baby!
Way down yonder in Arkansas, Baby!
Way down yonder in Arkansas,
Bullfrog a-swinging with a crosscut saw, Baby!
Shoot your dice and see your fun; Baby!
Shoot your dice and see your fun; Baby!
Shoot your dice and see your fun;
Run like the devil when the police come, Baby!
What you goin' to do when the women all dead? Baby!
Stand on the corner with a hung-down head!
Got no money but I will have some, Baby!
Got my money when the pay-day come.
Standin' on the corner with a dollar in my hand, Baby!
Waitin' for a woman can't get no man.
This was a fiddle tune common in the "nineties," in the territory where the other songs of this collection were found. The inpromptu verses coined were endless in number.