XIII. Songs of Childhood 303-327
CONTENTS:
What Folks Are Made of - 303
All the Pretty Little Horses - 304
The Old Gray Goose - 305
Long Time Ago - 306
Three Pigs - 307
Tale of a Little Pig - 308
Frog Went a-Courtin' - 310
Crows in the Garden - 314
The Connecticut Peddler - 317
Billy Boy - 320
Paper of Pins - 323
Hardly Think I Will - 325
I Love Little Willie - 327
____________________
WHAT FOKS ARE MADE OF
What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
Piggins and pails and little puppy tails,
That's what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of? etc
Sugar and spice and all things nice
And that's what little girls made of.
What's young men made of? etc.
Thorns and briars, they're all bad liars,
And that's what young men made of.
What's young women made of? etc.
Rings and jings and all fine things,
And that's what young women made of.
What's old men made of? etc.
Whisky and brandy and sugar and candy,
And that's what old men made of.
What's old women made of? etc.
Moans and groans in their old aching bones,
And that's what old women made of.
What are little babies made of? etc.
Sugar and crumbs and all sweet things,
And that's what little babies made of.
_________________
ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES
Dorothy Scarborough in her book, On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs, says that this is one of the lullabies that the Negro mammies sang to their little white charges.
Hushaby,
Don't you cry,
Go to sleepy, little baby.
When you wake,
You shall have
All the pretty little horses—
Blacks and bays,
Dapples and grays,
Coach and six-a little horses.
Hushaby,
Don't you cry,
Go to sleepy, little baby
Hushaby,
Don't you cry,
Go to sleepy, little baby.
Way down yonder
In de medder
There's a po' lil lambie,
De bees an' de butterflies
Peckin' out its eyes,
De po' lil thing cried, "Mammy!"
Hushaby,
Don't you cry,
Go to sleepy, little baby.
________________
THE OLD GRAY GOOSE (GO TELL AUNT NANCY)
Go tell Aunt Nancy,
Go tell Aunt Nancy,
Go tell Aunt Nancy,
Her old gray goose is dead.
The one she'd been saving, (three times)
To make a feather bed.
She died last Friday, (three times)
With a pain in the back of her head.
Old gander's weeping, (three times)
Because his wife is dead.
The goslings are mourning, (three times)
Because their mother's dead.
_______________
LONG TIME AGO
Dedicated to Hugh Waters, Washington, D. C.
Once there was a little kitty,
White as the snow.
She went out to hunt a mousie,
Long time ago-
Two black eyes had little kittie,
Black as a crow,
And she spied a little mousie, Long time ago.
Four soft paws had little kitty,
Soft as the snow, And they caught the little mousie,
Long time ago.
Nine pearl teeth had little kitty,
All in a row,
And they bit the little mousie,
Long time ago.
When the kitty bit the mousie
Mousie cried out, "Oh!"
But she got away from kitty,
Long time ago.
______________
THREE PIGS*
* As sung by Shirley Lomax Mansell and Bess Brown Lomax.
There was an old sow, she lived in a sty,
And three little piggies had -she.
She waddled around saying, "Onk, onk, onk,"
While the little ones said, "Wee wee!"
"My dear little brothers," said one of the brats,
"My dear little piggies" said he,
"Let us all in the future say, 'Onk, onk, onk.'
It's so childish to say, "Wee wee!"
Now these little piggies grew skinny and lean,
And lean they might very well be,
For somehow they couldn't say, "Onk, onk, onk,"
And they wouldn't say, "Wee wee, wee!"
Now these little piggies they up and died,
They died of the Fee-lo-dee-zee From tryin
g too hard to say "Onk, onk, onk!"
When they only should say, "Wee wee!"
A moral there is to this little tale,
A moral that's easy to see:
She waddled around saying, "Onk, onk, onk,"
For you only should say, "Wee-wee!"
________________
TALE OF A LITTLE PIG*
* As sung by Shirley Lomax Mansell and Bess Brown Lomax.
There was an old woman and she had a little pig,
Oink-oink-oink,
There was an old woman and she had a little pig,
Didn't cost much and it wasn't very big,
Oink-oink-oink.
The little pig did a heap of harm,
Oink-oink-oink,
The little pig did a heap of harm,
A-rooting around that old man's farm,
Oink-oink-oink,
The little pig died for want of breath,
Oink-oink-oink,
The little pig died for want of breath.
Wasn't that an awful death!
Oink-oink-oink.
The little old woman, she sobbed and she sighed,
Oink-oink-oink,
The little old woman, she sobbed and she sighed,
Then she lay right down and died,
Oink-oink-oink.
The old man died for want of grief,
Oink-oink-oink,
The old man died for want of grief, Wasn't that a great relief! Oink-oink-oink.
There they lay all one, two, three,
Oink-oink-oink,
There they lay all one, two, three,
The man and the woman and the little piggee,
Oink-oink-oink.
There they laid all on a shelf,
Oink-oink-oink,
There they laid all on a shelf,
If you want any more, you can sing it yourself,
Oink-oink-oink.
Man and the woman, piggee!
_______________
FROG WENT A-COURTIN'
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, unh-hunh,
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, unh-hunh,
Sword and pistol by his side, unh-hunh, unh-hunh.
Rode till he came to Miss Mousie's door, unh-hunh,
Rode till he came to Miss Mousie's door,
He gave three raps and a very loud roar, unh-hunh, unh-hunh.
He said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" etc
"Yes, I just sat down to spin."
He went right in and took her on his knee,
And he said, "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?"
Miss Mouse, she said, "I can't answer that
Until I see my Uncle Rat,
"Uncle Rat's in London Town,
And I don't know when he'll be down.
"Without my Uncle Rat's consent,
I wouldn't marry the President."
Uncle Rat came riding home;
"Who's been here since I've been gone?"
"A very worthy gentleman,
He said he'd marry me if he can."
When Uncle Rat gave his consent,
The weasel wrote the publishment.
"Where shall the wedding supper be?"
"Out in the woods in an old hollow tree."
"Who shall the wedding guests be?"
"A little lady bug and a bumblebee."
Mister Frog was dressed in a pea green,
Mistress Mouse she looked like a queen.
First that came was a little lady bug,
And she had whisky in her jug.
Next that came was a bumblebee
Dancing a jig with a two-legged flea.
"What shall the wedding supper be?"
"Two blue beans and a black-eyed pea."
First came in a little moth
For to lay the tablecloth
Solemnly walked the Parson Rook,
Under his arm a very large book.
The owl did hoot, the birds, they sang,
And through the woods the music rang.
Next came in was a little red ant,
She always says, "I can't, I can't."
Next came in was a bumblebee,
She stung little Dickey on his knee.
Next came in was Doctor Fly,
He said that little Dick must die.
The next came in was Mister Tick,
He ate so much till it made him sick.
The first came in was an old brown cow,
Tried to dance and didn't know how.
First came in was a little brown bug,
He drowned himself in the 'lasses jug.
Second came in was a little fly,
He ate so much he almost died.
Last came in was a little brown snake,
He coiled himself on the wedding cake.
The next came in was an old gray mare,
Hip stuck out and shoulder bare.
The next came in was a little black dog,
Chased Miss Mousie in a hollow log.
The next came in was an old tomcat,
Swallowed Miss Mouse as slick as a rat.
Mr. Frog he went down to the lake,
And there he was swallowed by a big black snake.
Big black snake he swam to land,
And was killed by a Negro man.
Negro man he went to France,
And that's the end of my romance.
So here's the end of one, two, three,
The snake, the frog, and Miss Mousie.
There's bread and cheese upon the shelf,
If you want any, just help yourself.
_______________
CROWS IN THE GARDEN*
* As sung by Shirley Lomax Mansell and Bess Brown Lomax.
Crows in the garden, pulling up corn,
Crows in the garden, pulling up corn,
Catch 'em, catch 'em, string 'em up and stretch 'em.
Plague upon the whole consarn.
Gardener asleep in the shade of the barn,
Gardener asleep in the shade of the barn,
Wake him, wake him, tickle him and shake him,
Everything will go to rack sure's you're born.
Then listen to the merry, merry caw, caw, caw,
For they've gone away with a well filled craw
Then listen to the merry, merry caw, caw, caw,
For they've gone away with a well filled craw.
Chorus:
This busy, busy world is full of crows,
Money is the corn and sure to grow.
Once they catch you napping and away it goes
With a merry, merry haw, haw, haw.
Cattle of your neighbors break down your fence,
Cattle of your neighbors break down your fence.
Whale 'em, whale 'em, take a stick and frail 'em,
Send your neighbor word he must put 'em up in pens.
Lawyer come along, chock full of sense,
Lawyer come along, chock full of sense.
"Sue 'em, sue 'em, slap it to 'em, screw 'em,
Only get the evidence."
Then hark to him prate about the law, law, law,
Your neighbor's case not worth a straw,
But never, never let that law, law, law
Once get you in its claw-aw.
You must have a pretty watch and rings of gold,
You must have a pretty watch and rings of gold.
Some come hoaxing, some come coaxing
For the pretty chink you hold.
The weary, weary heart at length grows cold,
The weary, weary heart at length grows cold,
So much hurry, so much hurry
For the little chink you hold.
Then gentle music may your mind withdraw
From the toil and care of trade and law;
Then oh, how soothing is the fa, fa, fa
And the do, re, mi, sol, la-ah!
________________
THE CONNECTICUT PEDDLER*
*The music, words, and notes for this song were sent by Shirley Lomax Mansell and Bess Brown Lomax.
1. I'm a peddler, I'm a peddler,
I'm a peddler from Connecticut,
I'm a peddler, I'm a peddler,
And don't you want to buy?
2. Many goods have I in store,
So listen while I name them o'er,
So many goods you never saw before,
So very many goods you never saw before,
So listen while I name them o'er,
3. Here are pins,
Papers and needles and pins,
Tracts upon popular sins,
Any of which I will sell you.
4. And here are the seeds of asparagus,
Lettuce, beets, onions, and peppergrass
From the Limited Society,
Seeds of all kinds and variety,
Da, da, da, tiddle-dum, tiddle-dum,
Rum, turn tiddle-dum, tiddle-dee,
Rinktum, te-tiddle-dee, rinktum te-tiddle-dee, {Repeat)
Tiddle-dum, tiddle-dum, faddle whee.
I'm a peddler, I'm a peddler,
I'm a peddler from Connecticut,
I'm a peddler, I'm a peddler,
Don't you want to buy?
Footnotes:
1. This is probably the cry of the peddler as he comes up the road, to make the housewives notice his approach.
2. The second verse is to be sung all in one breath as steadily as possible, every note receiving the same amount of time.
There are no pauses at all. The wily advertiser allows no one to get a word in edgewise.
4. The fourth verse is to be sung all in one breath, with the only pause after "variety." Take another breath for the "tiddle-dums," then make a long pause at the end of the stanza as an imaginary purchase goes on.
5. Repeat the first verse softly as the peddler passes from hearing.
_______________
BILLY BOY
Where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Where have you been, charming Billy?
I've been down the lane to see Miss Betsy Jane,
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mammy!
Where does she live, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Where does she live, charming Billy?
She lives on the hill, forty miles from the mill,
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mammy!
Did she ask you in, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?
Did she ask you in, charming Billy?
Yes, she asked me in with a dimple in her chin,
She's a young thing and cannot leave her mammy!
Did she take your hat, etc?
Yes, she took my hat and she threw it at the cat, etc
Did she set you a chair, etc?
Yes, she set me a chair, but the bottom wasn't there, etc
How old is she, etc?
She's twice six, twice seven, three times twenty and eleven, etc
How tall is she, etc?
She's tall as a pine and straight as a vine, etc
Can she fry a dish of meat, etc?
Yes, she can fry a dish of meat as fast as you can eat, etc
Can she make a loaf of bread, etc?
She can make a loaf of bread with her nightcap on her head, etc
Can she bake a cherry pie, etc?
She can bake a cherry pie, in the twinkling of an eye, etc
Can she bake a punkin well, etc?
She can bake a punkin well, you can tell it by its smell, etc
Can she sew and can she fell, etc.?
She can sew and she can fell, she can use her needle well, etc
Can she make a pair of breeches, etc.?
She can make a pair of breeches fast as you can count the stitches, etc
Can she make a feather bed, etc.?
She can make a feather bed that will rise above your head, etc.
Can she milk a muley cow, etc.?
She can milk a muley cow if her mammy shows her how, etc
Is she fitted for your wife, etc?
She's fitted for my wife as my pocket for my knife, etc
Did she sit close to you, etc?
Yes, she sat as close to me as the bark upon a tree, etc
Did you ask her to wed, etc?
Yes, I asked her to wed, and this is what she said, etc
Can she milk a heifer calf, etc.?
Yes, and not miss the bucket more than half, etc
Can she feed a sucking pig, etc?
Yes, as fast as you can jig, etc
Can she pull the sheet away, etc?
No, that's a game my wife can't play, etc
Are her eyes dark brown, etc.?
Yes, she was raised out of town, etc
Is she very, very fair, etc.?
Oh, yes, she's fair, just touch her if you dare, etc
_______________
PAPER OF PINS
I'll give to you a paper of pins,
And that's the way that love begins,
If you will marry me,
If you will marry me,
I'll not accept a paper of pins,
If that's the way that love begins,
And I won't marry you,
And I won't marry you.
I'll give to you a coach and four,
That you may ride from door to door, etc.
I'll give to you a little lap dog,
To carry with you when you go abroad, etc.
I'll give to you a pacing horse,
That paced these hills from cross to cross, etc
I'll give to you a coach and six
With every horse as black as pitch, etc.
I'll give to you a gown of green, That you may shine as any queen, etc
I'll give to you a dress of red,
All bound around with golden thread, etc
I'll give to you a blue silk gown, With golden tassels all around, etc.
I'll give to you my hand and heart, That we may marry and never part, etc
I'll give to you the keys of my chest, That you may have gold at your request,
If you will marry me,
If you will marry me.
Oh, yes, I'll accept the key to your chest, That I may have gold at my request,
And I will marry you,
And I will marry you.
And now I see that money is all, And woman's love is nothing at all;
So I'll not marry you,
So I'll not marry you.
I'm determined to be an old maid, Take my stool and live in the shade,
And marry no one at all,
And marry no one at all.
_______________
HARDLY THINK I WILL
To be sung with spirit cheerfully.
Pll tell you of a fellow,
Of a fellow I have seen,
He's neither white nor yellow,
He's altogether green.
His name is not so scrumptious,
In fact it's common Bill.
He wishes me to marry him
But I hardly think I will.
He came one night to see me
And stayed so awfully late
I really thought the blockhead
Would never leave the gate.
He talked about the weather,
And tried so hard to please,
But when he saw he couldn't
He got down on his knees j
He begged and pleaded with me
Till his eyes began to fill,
He wishes me to marry him
But I hardly think I will.
Chorus.)
He said that if I'd marry him
He'd give me every limit,
But if I did not marry him
He'd die this very minute.
Now in the Holy Bible It says,
"Thou shalt not kill."
I thought the matter over,
And I guess I'll marry Bill.
Chorus: Oh, I guess I'll marry Bill,
I guess I'll marry Bill;
I thought the matter over,
And I guess I'll marry Bill.
Chorus:
Oh, I hardly think I will, I hardly think I will} He wishes me to marry him But I hardly think I will.
_____________
I LOVE LITTLE WILLIE*
Music and words from Bess Brown Lomax.
I love little Willie, I do.
Mama, I love little Willie, tra, la, la, la, la.
I love little Willie, but don't tell Pa,
For he mightn't like it, Mama, Mama.
He told me he loved me, he did, Mama,
He told me he loved me, tra, la, la, la, la.
He told me he loved me, but don't tell Pa,
For he mightn't like it, Mama, Mama.
And now we are married, Mama, Mama,
And now we are married, tra, la, la, la, la,
And now we are married, now you can tell Pa,
For he's got to like it, Mama, Mama.