Section II- Dance/Play-Party Songs & Ballads
[Cambiaire is rather flippant about the cost of the shoes-- $10 to $15 a pair during the depression is a lot of money. Today that $10 in 1934 would be $180 which is more than I'd pay for a pair of shoes!
R. Matteson 2014]
INTRODUCTION TO PART II.
BALLADS AND SONGS FOR DANCES,PARTIES AND GAMES.
Social life was not lacking in pioneer mountain civilization. Up to the last few years Tennessee Mountaineers had often dances, parties and games. On these occasions girls dressed beautifully. Their clothes were made out of silk and linen. Around the waist they wore sashes of various colours. Short sleeves and low neck dresses were not acceptable. Shoes were made out of the best kind of calf skin and imported Morocco leather by local shoe-makers, who bought their leather from home tanneries, which turned out excellent material. These shoes had rather low heels, cost from $10 to $18 a pair, and lasted several years. High heels came in favour in the mountains only about thirty years ago. women and girls wore full length skirts and petticoats full" of ruffles and fine laces. They were made to measure by skilful seamstresses, who lived in the mountains' or occasionally by seamstresses living in Knoxville or some other town close to the mountains. Socks and stockings for winter use were knit at home from wool spinned [spun] by mountain women, and coming from sheep owned by mountain farmers' Some of the stockings had beautiful designs, such as little hearts and roses, and some were ribbed. Summer socks and stockings were knit out of homespun cotton. women's hats were broad-brimmed, and were adorned with plumes. ostrich plumes were very popular and cost as much as $10 each. Girls who could not afford to buy them, wore ribbons or streamers on their hats. Men wore tight fitted pants, elegant coats, and waist-coats adorned with flowers.
Young girls never went unchaperoned to dances, games, and parties. Generally their fathers or mothers, or at least some old and very reliable aunts accompanied them. While young people were enjoying themselves some of the parents remained in the bail-room and some others went into an adjacent room, and peeled potatoes, shelled corn or did some other kind of work useful to their hosts. The prevailing custom of parents accompanying their daughters to parries and dances has disappeared almost entirely, and many mountain girls are allowed to imitate the example of most of their city sisters who go to dances with no other escort than that of their boy friends. This change in old customs does not seem to have brought good results. Years ago there very few divorces in East Tennessee mountains, now they begin to be numerous.
There were very few public dance-halls and public dances in the Cumberland mountains. Dances were by invitation only the persons invited were present. Musicians were not paid. Even nowadays at dances and parties often musicians play without any retribution.
ORDER OF DANCES.
In dances there was what could be called a Master of ceremonies who gave at the proper time in some of the dance sets the following orders:
"Choose your partner-Ladies to the centre- The gents march around."
After the partners had been chosen by boys dancing around the centre where the girls stood, the Master of ceremony said at
the appropriate time:
- -." Swing your partners--single file-Gents to the right, Ladies to the left."
In dances among mountaineers the young men did not hold the girls by the waist, but only by the hands, and the partners stood at a certain distance from each other jazz dances and new dances generally very poorly executed, have taken the place in the last few years of the very elegant and moral dances of years ago. Some schools have contributed very much in inciting young people to scorn old mountain dances, and adopt what they imagine to be the latest dances.
Formerly, mountain musicians played only violins and banjos. In recent years, the guitar has become very popular. Mountain orchestras are not very complicated. Generally, they are composed of one or two violins, one or two guitars and a banjo. Sometimes there is a drum. The musicians do not worry with sheet music, every artist plays by ear. Very few mountain musicians know how to read music. Still there are a few so-called music teachers, who do not know one printed note from the other but know how to show beginners how to get tunes out of their instruments. It is needless to say that the pieces played are not complicated, the leading melody theme is repeated over and over. There are attempts at variations, but, of course, there is no scientific display in these variations. They are very simple. Many musicians know a great number of tunes. Some of them know as many as 400. Many of the old dance melodies are exactly the same as some of the dance tunes played by old Louisiana French fiddlers. East Tennessee and Western Virginia musicians beat time with their feet, and handle their violins exactly in the same manner as old French fiddlers in Louisiana.
The following ballads or songs for dances, parties and games were supplied by Mrs. Francis Dora Bussell, and other ladies in or around Shawanee, Tennessee. They sang them or danced them many times, when they were young girls. They learned them from their mothers and never saw them in print. Many old dwellers in Cumberland mountains remember these songs.
__________________
SKIP TO MY LOU.
In this dance there is a stealing of partners. (A young man goes dancing towards a girl, and gets her. Another boy comes and takes her away from him.) A young man sings, while dancing. At the last line of the stanza the crowd joins in.
My sweetheart is gone, what shall I do,
My sweetheart is gone, what shall I do,
My sweetheart is gone, what shall I do,
What shall I do my darling.
Go steal another one; skip to my Lou,
Go steal another one; skip to my Lou,
Go steal another one; skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Lost my partner, skip to my Lou,
Lost my partner, skip to my Lou,
Lost my partner, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
I'll get another one better than you,
I'll get another one better than you,
I'll get another one better than you,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
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 darling.
Come again, skip to my Lou,
Come again, skip to my Lou,
Come again, skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Hair like the corn silk, Yellow too,
Hair like the corn silk, Yellow too,
Hair like the corn silk, Yellow too,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
My sweetheart's gone, what shall I do?
Sweet as a peach, sweeter too,
Sweet as a peach, sweeter too'
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Cheeks red as roses, pinker too;
Sweet as the sugar cane, slenderer too,
Sweet as the sugar cane, slenderer too,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Saucy as a jaybird, smarter too,
Saucy as a jaybird, smarter too,
Saucy as a jaybird, smarter too,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Mouse in the buttermilk, skip to my
Mouse in the buttermilk, skip to my
Mouse in the buttermilk, skip to my
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
Other verses can be made with: Spider on the wall, Skip to my Lou; and Mouse in the Mill barrel, Skip to my Lou; and other similar expressions.
________________________
JENNIE PUT THE KETTLE ON.
(The mountaineers pronounce kittle.) A girl prepares tea somewhere in the kitchen.
Jennie put he kettle on, he big one, and the little one,
Jennie put the kettle on, We will all take tea.
Slice your bread and butter
Fine enough for any man.
Choose the one you love the best,
Call him on the floor.
A young man sings:
Oh, Miss Jennie, I love you.
Nothing on earth I admire above you.
My right hand, and heart, I'll give you.
One sweet kiss, and I leave you.
(There is no actual kiss, the kiss is thrown with the hand.)
Jennie put the kettle on . . .(repeat above)
The dance is continued and the name of Jennie is changed into other names such as Sybel, Leola, Rosy, Louise, Marion, etc. After some dancing tea is really served, and drunk. Partners are chosen while singing is going on. Dancing begins after the girls have found partners. The couples hold each others hands cross-ways. Tea may be served several times.
The girl who is inside of the ring picks a partner; the young man chooses one also, and both couple, dance in the revolving circle. Then the two dancers who came in first in the centre of the circle go back to their places, and are replaced by two other dancers. Successively the couple who came in are replaced by new coup]es in the revolving circle, until every young man and young girl have been in the centre of the ring.
__________________
TIDEO.
(This game is like the following one, Susie Brown, but it has a quicker tempo, and there is always only one couple inside the circle made out of boys and girls joining hands and turning with a rhythmic step. The girl inside the ring soon chooses a new partner and her partner goes back to the revolving circle. After a few rounds the young man chooses another girl, and his partner joins the crowd in the large circle. One after the other all the dancers get into the centre of the ring.)
Pass one window, Tideo,
Pass two windows, Tideo,
Pass three windows, Tideo,
Pass four windows, Tideo.
Swing, centre, balance to y'r beau;
And all go jingle up to Tideo.
Jingle, jingle, jingle Joe,
And all go jingle up Tideo.
We're marching 'round the levee,
'We're marching 'round the levee,
We're marching down the levee,
Since we have gained the day.
_________________
LONDON BRIDGE.
Directions: Young men on one side, girls on the other. My choose partners and face each other. They hold hands. They go down the line, turn around at half of the line and fall back into line. They dance while going. They go ahead with dancing steps. one couple follows the other down the line. All sing:
London's bridge is burning down, burning down, burning down,
So they say, remember me,
So they say, remember me,
London's bridge is burning down, burning down, burning down,
So they say, remember me (bis)
Chorus:
A fine time to swing those ladies (repeat three times)
London fare you well.
Other version:
London's bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down,
Falling down, my fair lady !
London's bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down,
Falling down, my fair lady,
London fare you well ! (repeat)
____________________
Ballads for Games.
SUSIE BROWN
Boys and girls join hands, form a circle and turn around a couple in the centre of the ring. They sing:
Love in the middle as we go 'round,
Love in the middle as we go 'round,
Love in the middie as we go 'round,
I love You, Susie Brown.
Choose Your love' as You go 'round'
Choose Your love' as You go 'round'
Choose Your love' as You go 'round'
I love You, Susie Brown'
Go forth and face your lover,
Go forth and face your lover,
Go forth and face your lover,
Since we have gained the day.
At this point the young man and young girl in the centre quickly go out of the ring, choose partners among young people outside of the ring and come back with them into the centre of the circle.
Go in and out the window,
Go in and out the window,
Go in and out the window,
For we have gained the day.
[This certainly isn't a ballad, and is known by a variety of titles- one early Country recording was titled "Cave Love has Saved the Day" misheard for "Cause Love has Saved the Day." See song after next. ]
_________________
THE MILLER'S BOY
The players join hands and march two abreast in a circle while singing the following words to a tune like that of "Turkey
in the Straw."
There was a little miller boy, lived by the mill.
The mill turned 'round with a right good will,
And all that he made he put on a shelf.
At the end of the year he was gaining in wealth.
One hand in the hopper, the other in the sack;
The lady step forward, the gent step back.
________________________
I MEASURE MY LOVE TO SHOW YOU
This song may be used as a continuation of Tideo or as the theme of a short dance. A young man and a girl. The young man holds the girl by both hands. They face each other and dance. The young man spreads out his arms while he sings and afterwards brings the girl close to him without ceasing his singing.
I measure my love to show you,
I measure my love to show you,
I measure my love to show you,
For we have gained the day.
I kneel because I love you,
I kneel because I love you,
I kneel because I love you,
Since we have gained the day.
This last verse is generally omitted, and if sung no actual kiss is given a kiss is sent with the hand.
I'll take a sweet kiss and leave you,
I'll take a sweet kiss and leave you,
I'll take a sweet kiss and leave you,
For we have gained the day.
_________________
CAPTAIN JINKS
I'm Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines,
I feed my horse on corn and beans,
And court young ladies in their teens,
For that's the style in the army.
We'll all go round and circle left,
We'll circle left, we'll circle left,
We'll go 'round, and circle left,
For that's the style in the army.
The ladies right, and form a ring,
And when they form, you give 'em a swing,
And when you swing, you give 'em a call,
And take your lady and promenade all.
________________
WEEVILLY WHEAT
I won't have none of your weevilly wheat,
I won't have none of your barley;
I'll take a little of your best old rye
To bake cake for Charley.
Charley he's a nice young man,
Charley he's a dandy,
Charley is the very, very man
That buys girls some candy.
______________________
OLD DAN TUCKER
Old Dan Tucker and I got drunk,
He fell in the fire, and kicked a chunk.
A charcoal got in his shoe,
Laws a-massy, how the ashes flew!
Get out o' the way for old Dan Tucker;
He's too late to get his supper!
Supper's over; dinner's cooking;
Old Dan Tucker stands a-looking.
_______________
THE GAME OF "HOWSERS"
The game of " Howsers " was one in which there was a hunt for partners. Two boys and two girls join hands and sing:
And we will go down to Rowsers, Rowsers, Rowsers,
We'll all go down to Rowsers, and get some good old beer.
A circle is formed. Young men and girls hold each other by the hands and turn. Then the circle breaks. The young men swing around their partners with one hand, saying, "Right and Left," and the song goes on:
And get some good old beer,
And get some good old beer.
We'll go down to Rowsers,
And get some good old beer.
It's right and left to Rowsers, to Rowsers, to Rowsers,
It's right and left to Rowsers, to get some good old beer.
Other young people join the dancers, until there are three or four sets of dancers going on at the same time. The dancing and the singing take a slower tempo.
Come my love and go with me,
We'll go down to Tennessee.*
Girls reply:
It's so far I cannot go,
I cannot leave my mamma, Oh !
Or:
First to the courthouse, then to the jail,
Hang my hat on a rusty nail !
Ah come along Jim, along Josie,
Ah come along Jim, along Joe ;
Nail it broke, down it fell
Smash my Katy all to smash.
Oh, come along Jim, come along Josie,
Oh, come along Jim, come along Joe.
The tune changes:
The beegum's busted, so they say ;
The beegum's busted, so they say ;
The beegum's busted, so they say ;
So early in the morning.
All partners separate. Young men and girls form two rows, one composed of boys, the other of girls. The rows face each other. Two young men at each end of the row advance and meet girls facing them. There is a call for Wilson's Ballroom." The group sings:
Hurrah for Wilson's ballroom,
Hurrah for Wilson's ballroom,
Hurrah for Wilson's ballroom,
So early in the morning.
other young men follow the example of the two young men at each end of the row, and meet girls facing them. The singing goes on:
Fiddler's drunk, and he can't play,
Fiddler's drunk, and he can't play,
Fiddler's drunk, and he can't play,
So early in the morning.
Young men:
Girls, O girls, I'll tell your mamma,
Girls, O girls, I'll tell your mamma,
Girls, O girls, I'll tell your mamma,
How you are a-dancing.
Girls:
Come on, boys, with your brass wagon,
Come on, boys, with your brass wagon,
Come on, boys, with your brass wagon,
So early in the morning.
All:
Whoop'er up, boys, with your brass wagon,
Wheel is broke, and the axle is dragging,
Right and left to your little wagon,
So early in the morning.
* Cumberland Gap mountaineers used to call "Tennessee" the Valleys of the State of Tennessee. and called their section Cumberland mountains. This old custom prevails yet among unedueated mountaineers.
[Parts (Rowser's) of these play-party songs are associated with Pig in the Parlor. the melody is "For he's a jolly Good fellow"]
_______________
HUNTING BALLAD
We'll Shoot The Buffalo
This ballad is sung sometimes for dancing. The tune same as that of "Wearing of the Green."
OH, we'll shoot the buffalo,
We will shoot the buffalo.
We will rally 'round the canebrake
And we'll shoot the buffalo.
Oh, the buffalo is dead,
For we shot him in the head.
We rallied around the canebrake
And we shot the buffalo.