Robert W. Gordon "Inferno" Collection in the Archive of Folk Song, Library of Congress (1917)

Gordon 'Inferno' (1917-33)

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The Robert W. Gordon "Inferno" Collection
in the Archive of Folk Song, Library of Congress

The 'Inferno' collection consists of original correspondence and typescript copies of letters (~200 pages) that either Gordon or someone else separated out -- because of their bawdy and scatological subject matter -- from the materials he received and compiled as first head of the folklife department at the Library of Congress. Prefaced to the 'Inferno' collection is a 14 page index which lists informant, date, location and title of the texts.

If you use any of the Gordon material in publication, please credit Gordon's source, supply the Gordon pagination, and note that the collection is in the "Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress." The Archive of Folk Culture would also like to receive a copy of the publication, so that they can retain a record of research concerning the collections.

The text below was Optical Character Recognized (OCRed) from a photocopy of a photocopy of a typescript copy of the MS letters. This photocopy was very generously provided by Abby Sale. Also note that the typescript from which this is derived is itself incomplete, (e.g., #2561 which omits six verses).

Since this is OCR of a photocopy of a photocopy, there are errors in the text below. If you wish to verify the text, please download the PDF of the scanned pages.
~
Last revised 29 June 2006.

The Gordon 'Inferno' Collection Index

[[Index compiled by Debora Kodish 1/74. HTML version
of index revised and edited by John Patrick 8/04.]]

KEY: MS number; number of pages in MS; contributor's name, place, date; Title (number of pages in song-text typescript); additional commentary.

NOTE: Brackets appear around information that is not set forth exactly as in the MSS. They also appear around titles that I [[Debora Kodish]] gave to items. When the title was a first line or a chorus, that information appears in the commentary also surrounded by brackets.

[[Double brackets setout additional information or commentary that I, John Patrick, have provided to the index or typescript. It is my supposition that the "request" items are fragments of longer songs of which the full version is being requested of Gordon.]]

R.W. Gordon Adventure MSS
[[Subsection of the Gordon MSS. Letters containing songs contributed to Robert Winslow Gordon while editor of the "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" column of Adventure Magazine (1923-29).]]

246; 5; E.S. Fowlds, Hidalgo, Mex., 9/17/23;

Bollocky Bill the Sailor (1);
Inky Dinky Paries Vous (1).
[Mama, malade, Papa Zigzag] (1);
fragment.
Francie and Josie (1).
She was Poor but She was Honest (1).
La Sombra de un Palmar (1).
A las Poches de California (1);
fragment.
Lady Lil (1);
fragment-first line only.
La Cucuracha (1).

265; 3; John L. Bracken, written at sea, 10/20/23;

[Never Let a sailor boy get an inch above your knee] (1);
two-line request. [first line]

271; 1; D. C. Stearns, Cleveland, Ohio, 11/15/23;

[Sister you'll be called upon] (1);
two-line request; [first line].

333; 2; E.S. Lawson, Evanston, Illinois, 5/8/24;

The' Little Dutch Soldier From Over The Rhine (1);
two-line fragment, learned as child.

365; 7; J.N. West, Bayonne, New Jersey, 11/10/24;

Sally Brown (1);
last verse only.
A Long Time Ago (1).
Roll The Cotton Down (1);
learned from an old Irishman.
[Every ship has a capstan] (1);
request, [first line]

385; 5; H.W. McCormick, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 5/1/25;

Dirty Old Brown (1).

two.

448; 12; Theodore Lancaster,--, 12/—/27;

Lulu (1).
There once was a gay. Don d'Ilio (1).

474; 7; L.P. Richmond, Schenectady, New York, 1/2/23;

The Jolly Fisherman (1);
learned from a man who claimed it came from a New England fisherman.

480; 4; Cousin Jack, --, undated;

Bolakee Bill The Sailor (2);
somewhat expurgated by contributor.

481; 6; Ray Keller, Lewiston, Idaho, 5/26/25;

Frankie and Johnnie (1);
"mild" version of the song learned by contributor in California.
[Cocaine];
chorus: "O,baby, honey, cook a pill for me." Learned around Frisco and Barbary coast and expurgated by contributor.

482; 4; William F. Burroughs, DuBois, Maryland, 12/12/26;

[When I was young and foolish] (1);
first line, learned on the U.S.S. Intrepid, includes the line "Never let a sailor get an inch above your kneel."
Ring Dang Doo (1);
"circulated throughout the navy, and on a few merchant ships."
The Little Red Pants That Maggie Wore (1);
popular up and down the C and O canal around 1914.

738; 3; Lee Gotcher, ~~Los Angeles~~ [Amos], California, 5/10/24;

[Little Ball of Yarn] (1);
first line:"I placed my arms around her waist," fragment.

779; 9; Allen P. Wescott, (Field Artillery School) Port Sill, Oklahoma, 10/6/24;

[I'd rather be a pimp to a Mexican whore] (1);
[first line] Sung by the regulars of 1917-18 and previously, according to contributor.]

999; (4); Francis Boyer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 4/8/25;

Frankie (2);
a conglomerate of the versions the contributor learned at Harvard ('l6) and in the army.

three.

1008; 2; H.L. Davis, The Dalles, Oregon, 4/15/25;

Frankie and Johnny (1);
one stanza.

1020; 5; Donald C. Foster, Binghampton, New York, 4/14/25;

Frankie and Johnny (3);
learned as student in Ithaca, New York, (Cornell Univ.) 1912-1913.

1069; 4; John R. Spears, Utica, New York, 3/20/25;

Away Rio (1).

1109; 5; William F. Burroughs, Mount Ranier, Maryland, 4/30/25;

The Fair Young Maiden (Modern Swab Wringer's Version) (1);
[Abram Brown the Sailor]
Lulu (1)
Parlez Vous (1);
[Mademoiselle from Armnentieres]

1156; 5; C. Becker, Chicago, Illinois, 5/14/25;

Frankie and Albert (3);
first heard in Camp Mills, Long Island in 1917, and various other times in the army.

1261; 2; Charles Bell Emerson, Los Gatos, California, 8/10/25;

The Whores Lament (1);
Laws Q 26, two-line fragment.

1590; 10; J.F. Peverley, Dixon, Missouri, 5/28/24;

[The devil and the dutch/and the dun cow fit] (1);
[first 2 lines] fragment of four lines. learned as a boy, "evidently referring to a Spanish Italliand war"

1744; 5; Robert Hale, New York City, New York, before June 3, 1926;

[The bear went over the mountain] (1);
[first line] learned in a hobo meeting in the North-west c.1926. Contributor notes that the song is sung to the tune of Pop Goes The Weasel.
[Say, boys, thats where my money goes] (1);
[chorus] Contributor notes that this is "another tired Tommy song".

1752; 3; Wheaton H. (Skin) Brewer, Berkeley, California, 5/6/26;

The Weaver (1);
Laws 03, Contributor heard this from the rangers in the Sierras.

four.

1763; 5; R.W. Yearley, Quincy, Illinois, 5/28/26;

The Ring Dang Do (1);
sung by a sailor to the tune of "How Dry I Am".
[Schnapoo] (1);
[chorus] First line is "A young Dutch soldier came over the Rhine,".

2010; 11; C.W. Loutzenhiser, Chicago, Illinois, 10/21/26;

[The Beautiful lakes of Australur] (1);
[first line and chorus] Music included from letter 2179 (11/9/26) of the same contributor.

2036; 8; Hubert L. Canfield, Pittsford, New York, 10/27/26;

Christopho (1);
fragment of one line: "The white of an egg ran down her leg." Typescript has summary of the letter., Contributor's postulates the songs existence during the Civil War.

2061; 6; Joseph F. McGinnis, Brooklyn, New York, 11/01/26;

Slim Jones' House (1);
Continued in letter 2100 (11/11/26). Both letters included in the six MSS pages.

2087; 6; Hubert Canfield, Pittsford, New York, 11/5/26;

Frankie and Johnnie (3);
"The version that Carl Sanberg says is the best he's seen."
Frankie and Johnnie (2);
"Miscellaneous stanzas"

2148; 3; J.J. Burke, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2/15/26;

Hinky Dinky Parlez Voo (or Mademoiselle from Armentiers) (1);
heard it sung overseas.

2168; 4; J.F. McGinnis, Brooklyn, New York, 11/20/26;

[The Sea Crab] (i);
[first line: 'Oh there was a little man, An' he had a little wife'] Contributor remembers only two stanzas but gives a prose summary of the rest, which is also contained in the typescript.
Bollicky Bill the Sailor (1).

2186; 5; William F. Burroughs, DuBois, Maryland, 12/3/26;

[Mah fathah's in tha workhouse] (1);
[first line] fragment ---one verse that Contributor says "seems to be complete", from Washington, D.C.

five.

[Eyes right, assholes tight] (1);
[first line] "from the Lanca'shire Lassies at Manchester, England." Three verses to three different tunes.
[The Dying Hobo] (1);
[First two lines: 'Were every tree is a ----- / And houses have no locks']. one verse.

2188; 2; D.E. Little; Long Island City, New York, before 12/13/26;

The Fisherman's Friend (1);
[The Sea Crab] Contributor uncertain of last verse, has known it for 45 years.

2377; 6; William F. Burroughs, DuBois, Maryland, 12/25/26;

[Oh John saw a tulip] (1);
[first line] Parody of "When You Wore a Tulip" learned by contributor nine years earlier.
I Love My Wife (1);
Contributor thinks that was probably the title. He gives only a line of the song which he describes in the letter.
[Down in Rio de Janeiro] (1);
[first line]. three lines of one verse from a song he heard a sailor sing in Rio.

2383; 8; Frank Earnest, Sugar Loaf, Colorado, 1/20/27;

[Gaucho Song] (1);
one verse in Spanish and English translation. First line is : Mi tiene en la esquina barbaro loco. ( I have in the corner crazy barbarian.)

2432; 3; Leonard Nason, Paris, France, before 1/22/27;

[Oh Feel o' my slimy belly] (1);
[first line of chorus] [first line 'Four lassies came from Canada / Got drunk on cherry wine] learned in the army, 1914.*
[Our first sergeant he's the worst of all] (1);
[Oh, she don't act like she oughter] (1);
[first line]

2434; 3; R.S. Spears, Inglewood, California, 11/19/26;

[Parson chased her round a stump] (1);
four line fragment.

2463; 5; Charles E. Roe, Hudson, Massachusetts, 1/27/27;

The Sparrer (1);
Contributor attributes the song to a drunken Cockney in his town, a "long time ago".

2471; 5; Mellinger E. Henry, Ridgefield, New Jersey, 1/25/27;

The Ballade of the Skunk (1);
from Canada or tipper New York State according to Contributor.

six.

The Gold Nugget (1);
Prose-humorous story told entirely in dialogue.

2500; 4; Paul L. Jones, Waltham, Massachusetts, 1/28/27;

[Our Goodman] (1);
two line fragment.
[Little Ball of Yarn {{Doubtful Attribution}}] (1);
four line fragment.

2537; 13; Earl J. Teets, Buffalo, New York, 2/2/27;

Hesitation Blues (1);
Typescript includes description of the singing of the song. The Contributor says it is usually sung while swinging a pick.
All Night Blues (1);
Contributor learned it about 15 years ago when he was on a chain gang in Tennessee.

2561; 6; Charles E. Roe, Hudson, Massachusetts, 2/11/27;

[The old maid sat by the fah-yer] (1);
[first line] "From a half crazy hostler in a livery stable in Newtonville, spring of 1897.
Johnson's Boarders (1);
"Sung by 'Greeley' a lumberjack, in 1895. "Said he learned in Maine, about ten years before." Somewhat expurgated by the contributor C.E.Roe.

2578; 4; Frank A. Partridge, Lemoncove, California, before 2/17/27;

[I ast her for a little piece/of what she's setting on] (1);
[first two lines].

2582; 4; M.D. Little, Long Island City, New York, 2/10/27;

The Sailor Boy (1); Contributor said he had
forgotten parts of the verses.

2641; 4; M.D. Little, Long Island City, New York, 3/3/27;

[Oh Mother, dearest Mother] (1);
[first line], Contributor notes: "Scotch, before 1880, Canada.".

2711; 6; Prank A. Partridge, Auburn, California, before 4/27/27;

[Oh, the she cat sat on the barb-wire fence] (1);
[first line of chorus] Fragment--chorus only.

2734; 7; Bill Nice,Crestwood Station, New York, 3/16/27;

Lulu (1); chorus only.

seven.

2739; 6; Earl Teets, Buffalo, New York, 4/2/27;

[Farewell to winter, farewell to frost] (1);
First line. Also includes a verse deriving from "The. Riddle Song". Contributor heard it as a boy in New Jersey.

2752; 6; C.W. Loutzenhiser, Chicago, Illinois, before 4/29/27;

[The very first night that I lay down beside her] (1);
Eight line fragment. Includes line about the woman's "set of false teeth and pair of glass eyes".
Billy Green (1);
In the song text in the MSS the gentleman's name is Billy Grey.

2789; 8; Earl Teets, Buffalo, New York, 5/5/27;

Three Whores From Canada (1);
typescript summarizes variations mentioned by Contributor.

3007; 3; Bill Nice, Crestwood Station, New Jersey, 5/31/27;

Lulu (1).

3009; 3; Frank A. Partridge, [no identification on this letter. Gordon has Partridges name on the typescript, and the paper and typing are like his other letters to Gordon.]

[Good by gun, good by step] (1);
[first line] fifth line of the one verse given is "Join the army, some shit!"
[You're in the army now, you're not behind the plow] (1);
one verse—Contributor's note says "words to the bugle call--march flourish" according to the typescript. (Hand written in the margin of the is "march flourish") [first line]
[All you soldiers in the grass] (1);
[first line] Note in MSS and typescript is "Assembly".

3102; 5; Earl Teets, Buffalo, New York,after 4/10/27;

[Farewell to winter, farewell to frost] (1);
[first line] The same as 2739.

3144; 9; Frank A. Partridge, Auburn, California, undated;

Mademoiselle (2);
[Mademoiselle from Armentieres]
Lulu (3);
Partridge notes that there are two choruses.
The Tennessee Servant Girl (1);
includes the line "And never let a sailor boy an inch above your knee".
In the Back Room (1).

eight.

3359; 5; Ben A. Ranger, Santa Rosa, California, 6/5/27;

Miss Kitty O'Horey (1).

3711; 14; S.C. Wheeler, Seattle, Washington, 3/23/28;

Gypsy Davie (1);
Not Child 200. The summary included in both MSS and typescript describes Laws Q 8. Only one verse is given, the first two lines of which are: "Oh I'll ship you off to China/ And I'll trade you off for tea."

3729; 6; E. Anderson, London, England, 11/23/28;

[Every ship has a cabin] (1);
[first line] Contributor remembers only one verse and chorus, but gives description of the rest of song. (included in typescript).

3756; 11; C.E. Roe, [Identification penciled in, possibly by Gordon]
6/-/29;

Johnson's Boarders (1).

3773; 1; [Anonymous, according to typescript. No other identification

[I walked down the street like a nice girl should] (1);
[first line]
[Oh the ladies wear no teddies in Manila] (1);
[first line] one verse fragment. MSS has "A verse I hadn' heard before to the old familiar song."

3779; 5; Charles E.Roe, Hudson, Massachusetts, 6/29/30;

Frankie and Johnny (2);
"This version has a Chicago atmosphere and setting."

3801; 1; Anonymous,----, 1931;

[Oh the caribous have no hair in Merivales] (1);
[first line]

3802; 2; [No identification. Cornell paper, and a notation on the
the typescript by Gordon "from Cornell" and "--1931".
Possibly from the Godfrey. Irving MSS 3803]

Frankie and Johnny (2);
heard from Wobbly ranch laborers near Boise, Idaho, 1910-12.

3803; 2; Godfrey Irving, New York, New York, 12/14/31;

The One-Eyed Reilly (1);
heard from an Irish stoker off Belize, l920. This version from the "Slime Sheet", Paris, 1930. Letter has "The One'Eyed Riley".

nine.

3781; 6; Charles E. Roe, Hudson, Massachusetts, 8/25/30;

The Old Chisolm Trail (3);
"Additional verses from Slim Guyer, Montana".

3851; 9; Jean Bordeaux, Los Angeles, California, 2/6/32;

The Old Fool (2);
[Child 274] Learned from a Nova Scotian farmhand 1898-99. Typescript includes detailed history and description of the song as the contributor knows it.

3866; No MSS copy ; Anonymous [according to typescript];

[There was a rich merchant who sat on a rock] (1);
[first line].

3900; 1; No MSS copy; Anonymous [according to typescript];

[Two little nuts are in her guts, And they'll be out to-morrow] (1);
[last two lines]

3901; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

On a tombstone (1);
Epitaph of two lines.

3902; 6; Grantley W. Taylor, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 10/7/17;

[The Bastard King of England] (1);
Contributor encloses letter of a friend who had sent him the song as he had learned it at Princeton.

3903; 2; Emmet Dunn, Northampton, Massachusetts, 4/13/18;

[Oh it's home, boys home; it's home we ought to be] (1);
[first line of chorus] "Evolved during the Mexican campaign."
Evelina (I); Sung by a Washington D.C. at Port Meyer.

3904; 2; Anonymous [according to typescript], June 1925 penciled on MS;
[possibly by Gordon];

The Ballad of Chambers Street (Harvard Medical School) (4);

3904; 2; Anonymous [according to typescript];

[My name is Tannhauser] (1);
[first line] MSS and typescript have note: "Variant of above with name, Jim Bowser."

ten.

[The Foggy Dew] (1).

3906; 2; No Identification;

[The Bastard King of England] (1).

3907; 3 (part of MSS missing); Stu Van Hook, No location or date available,

Christopher Columbo (2).

3908; 1; No Identification;

[Christopho Columbo] (2).

3909; 1; Arch., Monastery, 4/2/18 [Identification crossed out, this is what is visible. 1918 written in pencil, possibly by Gordon.]

[Christopho Columbo] (2).

3910; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript]

Lady Lill (1);
arranged in verse form on typescript.

3911; 2; Anonymous, Cambridge, 1916 [Place and date penciled on MSS, possibly by Gordon. Typescript says "Anonymous"]

The Arse-hole of Zeus (2)

3912; 2; Anonymous, Cambridge, 1917, [Place and date penciled on MSS, possibly by Gordon. Typescript says "Anonymous"]

My Lulu (1)
[In the cottage next to mine] (1);
[first line] Contributor includes note "Tune: 'In the Good Old Summer Time'" which appears in the typescript as well as the MSS

3913; 8; Ollie, 1044 Cornell Rd., ??, 3/3/18 [This is all the decipherable identification that the letter, addressed to Lee, signed Ollie, provided. 1918 is added in pencil, possibly by Gordon. Possibly from Cleveland, Ohio according to comments in the letter.]

[The mountaineers have curly ears] (1);
[first line] four line fragment.
[Ring Dang Doo] (1).
The Old King Arose (1);
[The Sea Crab].
[No balls at all] (1);
[chorus]
[Don't look at me that way, mister] (1);
[first line] MSS says this is a recitation.
Oh Noah (1).

eleven.

3914; 1; Anonymous [According to typescript];

The Key Hole In The Door (1).

3915; 1; M.D. Little [According to typescript];

Flash Nell (1);
Contributor postulates origin of the song in London, adding information about words in the song. The tune is given as "The Flash Frigate".

3916; 1; Broadside, Manila, P.I., July 4th, 1899;

An Incident of the Late War (2);
First line is: "Don Camara, Don Camara, you are a funny creature." A parody of the first verse is included on the same Broadside, the first line of it being: "Don Camara, Don Camara, we've read in song and story."

3917; No MSS copy; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Sally (1);
four lines toungue-twister.

3918; 1; -------, Lark Hill, Salisbury Plains, 11/--/14;

As I Was Going To Salisbury (1).

3919; 1; F. Gregory Hartswick, ---,---;

[The old red bull came down from the mountain] (1);
This and the following item appear in an unknown, undated newspaper clipping, under the title "Lumberjack Chanteys".
[One-Eyed Reilly] (1);
refrain only. Appears in newspaper clipping, as above.

3920; 3; Unidentified Contributor. Newspaper clipping possibly from Denver, Colorado, 1/27/24;

The Whores Lament (1).
The Cowboy's Lament (1);
From newspaper clipping (The Sunday Gazette and Telegraph) which recounts the claim of F.H. Maynard to authorship of the song.

twelve.

R.W. Gordon California MSS

239; 1; No Identification;

Blow the Man Down (1);
includes false parts motif.

240; 1; A.M. Turner,--, 8/24/23;

Fire Down Below (1);
"Pumping or Capstan chanty".

241; 1; A.M. Turner, --, 8/24/23;

Handy, Me Boys, Be Handy (1);
"To'gallan's'l halyards chanty."

242; 1 (on same page of MSS as above); A.M. Turner, --, 8/24/23;

[Three times they give you peasoup] (1);
[first line] "Fragment--Capstan Chanty".

248; 1; A.M. Turner, --, 8/24/23;

Rikki Dikki Doo Da Day (1).

377; 4; Wheaton H. (Skin) Brewer; ---, 3/23/27;

The Appleknocker's Lament (1);
similar to "The Big Rock Candy Mountain".

378; Included in above MSS; Wheaton H. (Skin) Brewer,--, 3/23/27;

The Song of Amy (1);
One fragmentary verse of "Amy MacPherson"

379; 2; No Identification;

Hinky Dink (2);
[Mademoiselle from Armentieres] MSS includes note: "Das ist viel genug". Secondary title is; "the official song of the A.E.F."

380;t;No Identification;

[My father was hung as a horse thief] (1);
[first line] Pour line fragment with note "1911 Sullivan County, Missouri".

38l; No Identification;

[Frankie and Johnnie] (1);
three verse fragment.

thirteen.

382; No Identification;

[Frankie and Johnnie] (1);
Three verses and first line of fourth.

383; No Identification;

Johnnie and Frankie (2).

384; 1; No Identification;

[My name is Bob Baker] (1); [first line] one verse.

385; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Mobile (1).

386; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Hesitation Blues (1).

387; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Samuel Hall (1).

388; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Lydia Pinkham (1).

389; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Bocardy Bill The Sailor (1).

390; 1; Anonymous [according to the typescript];

The King of England (1);
[The Bastard King of England].

391; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

Lydia's Compound (1);
[Lydia Pinkham].

392; 1; Anonymous [according to typescript];

[Five little heifers grazing in the valley] (1);
[first line] Four line fragments of "The Little Black Bull" learned c. 1894, Nova Scotia.

393; 4; Andrew M. Turner, Berkeley, California, 12/12/25;

[Three Men Went A'Hunting] (1);
learned in Australia.

fourteen.

394; 3; L.C. Lockley, Berkeley, California, 5/--/23;

[A sailor man came home one night as drunk as drunk could be] (1);
[first line] Child 274.

395-408; 17; Anonymous; Berkeley, California, 1923;

MSS Entitled
"Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men"

395; I'm A Weaver (1);
learned on the Monterey Peninsula among laborers c. 1920.

399; [The steward went below Whoo-oo-oo];
[first line]

400; [Oh mother, oh mother, have you a daughter, Snap-oo, snap-oo] (1);
[first line].

401; [Those hardy sons of bitches] (1);
[last line chorus] includes many verses made up by a soldier while in quarantine with nothing else to do.

402; The Spanish Countilio (1).

403; Frankie and Johnie (2).

404; The Bastard King of England (1).

406; [Toodle um toodle urn too] (1);
8 line fragment, By an art student in New York City, 1917.

407; [Floating down the river, sitting on the stern] (1);
fragment of four lines learned by an art student in New York City, 1917.

Davids MSS
Written down by R.M. Davids, Cross X Ranch, Woodmere

Florida, c. 1924. Sent in to R.W. Gordon by J.C. Colcord 12/21/29.

pp. 5-6: Boring for Oil (1);

p. 8:[I swear to God I'll go whaling no more] (1);
[last line] three line fragment.

pp. 9-10: I'll Go No More A Roving (1).

pp. 11-12: John and Sue (1).

p. 13: The Handsome Cabin Boy (1).

p. 14: Pretty Peggy (1).

pp. 19-20: The Little Dutch Soldier From Over The Rhine (1).

p. 20: Little Ball of Yarn (1).

p. 22: Anything (1).

p. 24: Down Derry Down (1).

pp. 31-32: Abram Brown the Sailor (1).

PP.35-36: The Keyhole in the Door (1).

pp. 37-38: Jackie and His Master (1).

R.W. Gordon Georgia Collection MSS

560; 2; No Identification;

Uncle Bud (1);
Note on typescript says : "Sung in 1908 in Georgia near Atlanta-- work song, cotton picking."

LCFAFA No. 9 July 1991

The Gordon Collections

Manuscript and Recorded Collections Acquired and/or Indexed by Robert Winslow Gordon in the Archive of Folk Culture

Robert Winslow Gordon was the first head of the Archive of American Folk-Song, Library of Congress, 1928-1932.

Compiled by Joseph C. Hickerson and Gregory Jenkins

Arthur Mss.
See Odum-Arthur Mss.

Boyd Mss.
Ca. 125 songs contributed by T. B. Boyd, Alliance, North Carolina, 1926-27. Indexed. Original typescript in Archive.

Davids Mss.
Thirty-three songs contributed by Joanna Colcord, New York, New York, December 1929, obtained from R. M. Davids, Woodmere, Florida, ca. 1924. Indexed. Original manuscript and two typescript copies in Archive.

Frothingham Mss.
One hundred thirty-seven letters containing queries and songs contributed to Robert Frothingham, editor of the "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" column of Adventure Magazine, 1922-23. Indexed. Original letters and two typescript copies of texts in Archive.

Galt Mss.
Ca. 115 songs, presumably obtained from Nellie Galt, Louisville, Kentucky, ca. 1928, and corresponding recordings numbered D3 through D9 and E4. Indexed. Some of these recordings presumably in Archive, but no transcriptions.

Gordon Collection: California.
Ca. four hundred songs and groups of texts acquired by Robert Winslow Gordon while he lived in California, ca. 1920-23. The first part corresponds with cylinder recordings numbered 1-131. Indexed. Recordings and original manuscripts numbered ca. 240-400 in Archive.

Gordon Collection: Georgia.
Five hundred fifty-five songs acquired by Robert Winslow Gordon while he resided at a "field station" in Darien, Georgia, primarily during the years 1926-28. The first half corresponds with cylinder recordings numbered A203 through ca. A562. Indexed. Recordings only in Archive.

Gordon Collection: N.C.
Three hundred seventy-four songs acquired by Robert Winslow Gordon during a. field trip in North Carolina, October-December 1925. Texts 1-298 correspond with cylinder recordings A1-A202. Indexed. Recordings, one typescript of the whole, and two typescripts of 1-298 in Archive.

Gordon Mss.
Three thousand eight hundred fifty-eight letters containing songs and queries contributed to Robert Winslow Gordon, editor of the "Old Songs That Men Have Sung" column of Adventure Magazine/ 1923-29, plus additional letters and texts dating from 1911-32. Indexed. Original letters and two typescript copies of texts (one bound: M1629.G65) in Archive.

Hanford Mss.
Eight songs contributed by J. H. Hanford, Cleveland, Ohio, obtained from Esther Stover, Cleveland, January 12, 1930, who learned them from her father in Iowa City, Iowa. Indexed. Original typescript and two typescript copies in Archive.

Henry Mss.
Sixty-one southern Appalachian songs contributed by Mellinger Edward Henry, Ridgewood, New Jersey, 1928-29. Most texts and headnotes were subsequently published by Henry in the Journal of American Folklore and in Folk-Songs from the Southern Highlands (New York: J. J. Augustin, 1938). Indexed. Original typescript and two typescript copies in Archive.

"Inferno" Collection.
Bawdy and related songs taken from the following collections: 128 from the Gordon Mss collection; 32 from the Gordon Collection: California; 13 from the Davids Mss.; and 1 from the Gordon Collection: Georgia. Not indexed. Original manuscripts and two typescript copies in Archive.

Johnson Mss.
Fifteen songs contributed by Guy B. Johnson, University of North Carolina, ca. 1929, written down by Walter Jordon of New York City, as he learned them in the South twenty years before. Not indexed. Original manuscript and two typescript copies in Archive.

McAdams thesis.
"The Folk-Songs of the American Negro -- A Collection of Unprinted Texts Preceded by a General Survey of the Traits of Negro Song," collected and annotated by Nettie F. McAdams (Master's thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 1923). Ca. 140 songs. Indexed. Bound typescript in Archive (ML3556.M112).

McGinnis Mss.
Ca. 130 sea chanties and songs with music contributed by Joseph F. McGinnis, Brooklyn, New York, 1928-29. Indexed. Original manuscript returned in 1929.

McIlhenny Mss.
Three hundred twenty-five page manuscript entitled "Louisiana Negro Spirituals," containing 125 texts and tunes compiled by E. A. McIlhenny, Avery Island, Louisiana. Indexed. Microfilm copy in Music Division {Music 0025). See McIlhenny's Befo' de War Spirituals (Boston: Christopher Publishing House, 1933 [M1670.M15B4]).

Neal-Brown Co. Songs.
"Brown County Songs and Ballads," collected and annotated by Mabel Evangaline Neal (Master's thesis, Indiana University, 1926). One hundred eighty-three pages containing one hundred songs. Indexed. Bound photostat copy in Archive (M1629.N48B8).

Newcomb Mss.
Four hundred three-page photostat manuscript entitled "Songs My Mother Sang," containing 210 texts and 101 tunes from New Hope, Kentucky, contributed by Mary Newcomb, Louisville, Kentucky, 1929-30. Indexed. Not in Archive.

Newcomb Mss. (Additional).
One hundred two songs from Kentucky contributed by Mary Newcomb, Louisville, Kentucky, 1930-31. Indexed. One typescript copy in Archive.

Odum-Arhur Mss.
Eighty-three songs contributed by Howard W. Odum, University of North Carolina, July 10, 1929, obtained from J. D. Arthur of Tennessee. Indexed. Original typescript and two typescript copies in Archive.

Phillips Mss.
Twenty-two songs contributed by R. W. Phillips, Akeley, Minnesota, March 22, 1924. Indexed. Original manuscript and two typescript copies in Archive.

Purcell Mss.
One hundred eight songs with music contributed by Margaret Purcell, Greenwood, Virginia, ca. 1929. Indexed. Not in Archive.

Winger Mss.
Two collections of ca. 125 songs obtained from Betty Bush Winger, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, including black songs from Miss Winger's home in the Ozark region of Missouri. Manuscript II corresponds with ca. twenty-five recordings made by Gordon at Point Pleasant, 1931-32. Indexed, Typescripts in Archive; recordings presumably in Archive.

Additional R. W. Gordon manuscript collections may be located at the Randal V. Mills Memorial Archive of Northwest Folklore, University of Oregon.

For detailed biographical information on R. W. Gordon, see Debora Kodish's unbound Master's thesis entitled "Good Friends and Bad Enemies: Robert Winslow Gordon and American Folksong Scholarship," located in the Archive, and her book entitled Good Friends, Bad Enemies: Robert Winslow Gordon and the Study of American Folksong (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1966 [ML423.G69K6 1986]}.

To obtain copies of the manuscripts and recordings in the Gordon collection and other collections in the Archive of Folk Culture, please request a copy of the "Photoduplication Service Price List" and the Guide to the Collections of Recorded Folk Music and Folklore in the Library of Congress.

END

This ascii version prepared for Internet. For a published version please write to The American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540.

[The Gordon 'Inferno' Typescript]

[5]

c 1924

BORING FOR OIL

As I walked out one morning in May
I met a fair damsel and to her did say
It's all for a fortune I am willing to toil
If you'll show me some place to go boring for oil.

She stammered, she stammered, kind sir, I declare,
I know of a place and I've nursed it with care,
And no one has seen it since I was a child
And I'll show you there's no trouble in boring for oil.

Oh, I had not bored down more than six inches or so,
When the oil from my well it so freely did flow,
She screamed and she hollered Oh my character's spoiled
You've busted my hamgut while boring for oil. [?]

R. M. Davids

8

c 1924

No more, no more, no more, no more,
While I sit on my chest with my feet on the floor
I swear to God I'll go whaling no more.

(Or as the rough has it--)
With my arse on my chest, &c.

R. M. Davids

9

c 1924

I'LL GO NO MORE A ROVING

In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Now mark well what I say.
In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
And she was mistress of a trade.

I'll go no more a roving, for you fair maid,
I'll go no more a roving, for rovings been my ruin,
I'll go no more a roving, for you fair maid.

In Amsterdam there lived a maid,
Now mark well what I say.
In Amsterdam there lived a maid
And she did have a maidenhead.

I laid this maid down on the bed,
Now mark well what I say.
I laid this maid down on the bed
And slote away her maidenhead.

I laid this maid over in such style
Now mark well what I say.
I laid this maid over in such style
That in nine months she had a child.

R. M. Davids.

11

c 1924

JOHN AND SUE

One bright summer's morning the sun was brightly shining,
When Dame Margaret told her daughter Sue for market to get ready,
And John would bear her company, a lad sedate and steady.

John went along to drive the horse so away they went together
With nothing much to talk about but the neighbors and the weather.

And when going along the road close to a barley field, sir,
Sue saw a bull, in vigor full, leap upon a cow, sir.

Say, John, says she, how can he tell when the cow's a mind for it,
Or is the cow by nature turned continually inclined for it?

Oh, no, said John, the cow does stink when in that situation
And the bull full well the stink does smell and knows her inclination.

And then the weather being warm Sue unloosed her gown bethought her
And John saw her bubbles sticking out and his mouth began to water.

Then something in John's breeches rose that made his concience stagger
So stiff it grew the buttons flew, out popped his tallywagger.

Then Susan's dark and rolling eye began to flash and brighten
For now she saw the pretty thing that girls all "so delight in.

Say John, said she, 'tis firey red and now if you will tell me
I really think that I do stink, pray see if you can smell me.

So John got out and tied the horse, and amorously embraced her,
And in the wagon on some hay with gentle hands he placed her.

At first they took it on their sides, but Sue she overturned him
And John soon made the butter come with his tallowagger churning.

Than Sue got up and shook herself and sat her down right clever,
But they had not gone a mile or so, till she stunk as bad as ever.

John rasped her off the second time with his good stout repeater,
And as he rasped her off again, she swore it tasted sweeter.

And then when coming close to town, poor Sue she sat a thinking,
That she would like another go, so she yelled out, I'm a stinking.

John said, you have a fiery arse to hot by half I tell you
And if you think that you do stink, by God I cannot smell you.

R. M. Davids

13
c 1924

THE HANDSOME CABIN BOY

'Tis of a handsome female, as you must understand
Who had a mind for roving unto some foreign land

Dressed out in sailor's clothing, this fair maid did appear
And she agreed with a Captain to serve him for a year.

She agreed with this Captain a cabin boy to be,
And the wind it being favorable, they soon put out to sea

The Captain's lady being on board, she seemed much to enjoy
The favorable appearance of this handsome cabin boy.

His cheeks were like the roses, his sidelooks they did curl,
And the sailors often smiled and said he looked just like a girl

But eating cabin biscuits his color did destroy
And the waist began to swell, on lovely Nell, the handsome cabin boy.

Oh doctor dearest doctor the cabin boy did cry,
The sailors swore by all that's good the cabin boy would die,

The doctor ran with all his might, a laughing at the fun,
To think the cabin boy should have a daughter or a son.

The sailors learning of the joke, they all began to stare
That the child belonged to none of them they solemnly did swear

The Captain speaking to the Mate said I must wish you joy,
For I see it's you that has betrayed, this handsome cabin boy.

And now let's fill a bumper and drink success to trade
Likewise to the handsome cabin boys, be they boys or maids

And if the waves should rise again, us sailors to destroy
Why then we'll ship some more sailors, like the hands one cabin boy.

Davids

14
c 1924

PRETTY PEGGY

There was a rich merchant all riding one day
When he spied Pretty Peggy all by the highway.
He called to his coachman and loudly did say
There's a pretty fair damsel, go bring her this way.

There's fifty gold dollars if you will comply
All in my bedchamber this this night for to lie
At the sight of the gold, she gave her consent
So into his bed chamber pretty Peggy she went.

She played with his old boy with her lilly white hand
Which caused every hair on his old boy to stand,
Which caused every hair on his old boy to play
Over hills and green valleys and so far away.

With hugging and kissing he soon fell asleep
When out of his arms pretty Peggy did creep,
She sifted his pockets of a large sum of gold
Gold rings, a gold watch, and diamonds I'm told.

'Twas early next morning this merchant arose
'Tis raving distracted they thought he would go
He called for his horses to take a long ride,
Thinking to spy pretty Peggy down by the seaside.

Ha rode the beach up and he rode the beach down
But nothing of Peggy could there be found
Three times he did pass her but didn't her know
She laughed in her sleeve saying there goes my rich beau.

How Peggy is rich and lives by the seashore
She swears by her Maker she'll whore it no more
Unless some poor sailor is sadly in want
For the tars of Columbia shall never lack.

Davids

c 1924

THE LITTLE DUTCH SOLDIER FROM OVER THE RHINE

Oh, a little Dutch soldier from over the Rhine,
Snapoo, Snapoo,
A little Dutch soldier from over the Rhine,
Snapoo,
A little Dutch soldier from over the Rhine
He stopped at the house of a lady so fine
Snap peter, snap pooter, philander cochita phidam snapoo.

Oh, then says he have you a daughter so fine
For the little Butch soldier from over the Rhine

I have a daughter but she is too young,
Snapoo, Snapoo,
Oh yes said she, I have a daughter fine,
Snapoo,
For the little Dutch soldier from over the Rhine.

Snapeeter, snapooter, philander cocheeter phidam snapoo.

Oh no mamma I am not too young,
For I will open my legs and let him hop on.

He hopped on but he came off damned quick
For he thought he was luckey in saving his p-k.

Her Grandmammy she ran for the frying pan.
For fear that baby would s-—t (or mess) in her hand.

Davids

20

c 1924

LITTLE BALL OF YARN

It was in the month of May, when the lambs did skip and play
That I met a pretty fair maid, and thus to her did say,
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn, ball of yarn,
Let me wind up your little ball of yarn.
Oh no kind sir said she you are a stranger unto me
And perhaps you have some other charm.

And I'd rather go with those, who have money and fine clothes
To wind up my little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn, ball of yarn,
And I'd rather go with those, &c.

I took her by the waist and gently laid her down
Hot intending to do her any harm
And the mocking bird and thrush was singing in the bush
While I would up her little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn, ball of yarn,
While I wound up, &c.

She jumped up from the green and pulled her clothing down
And home unto her mother she did run.
And I skinned off from the green, for fear of being seen
For I had wound up her little ball of yarn.

Davids

22
c 1924

ANYTHING

Oh short and sweet shall be my song
As through this world I jog along,
I jog along through thick and thin
And sound the praise of "Anything".

I jog along through thick and thin
And sound the praise of "Anything".

As through a wood my way it led
Into a house I was conveyed,
A lady met me, so neat and trim
She made me think of "Anything".

As in this house I was conveyed
And in my arris this fair maid laid
Said she kind sir it is no sin,
For you to do most "Anything".

As in that bed we lay so snug,
And she began to kiss and hug,
I pulled her shift up to her chin
And played that game called "Anything".

Oh if ever I did have delight,
'Twas on that happy, happy night
And I only wish I was back again
To play that game called "Anything".

And now kind friends don't take me wrong
You asked me for to sing a song,
I asked you what you would have me sing
And you said I might sing "Anything".

And now kind friends my song's complete
And I do think it is your treat,
My choice, it is a brandy sling
But I can drink most "Anything".

R. M. Davids

24

c 1924

DOWN DERRY DOWN

As Jackie was walking the streets upon Down
He spied pretty Peggy of fair London town,
He spoke her in English, the signal she knew,
And she backed her main yard and she let him come to.
Singing down, down, derry down,

And she rattled his rigging right down to the rail.
She burnt poor Jack's rigging right down to the hull
So off to the doctors, poor Jack he did skull,
His yards were well braced and his blocks were well hung
Saying doctor, dear doctor, my main yard in sprung.

R. M. Davids

31

c 1924

ABRAM BROWN THE SAILOR

Who Is that knocking at my door?
Cries the fair young maiden.
Who is that knocking at my door?
Cries the fair young maiden

Won't you come down and let me in?
Cried Abram Brown the sailor --Bass voice; repeat.

Oh, I'll cone down and let you in,
Cries the fair young maiden.

Have you got a place for me. to sleep?
Cries Abram. Brown the sailor.

You can sleep by the side of me,
Cries the fair young maiden.

Oh, what have you got between your legs?
Cried Abram Brown the sailor.

I've got a hairy pin-cushion,
Cried the fair young maiden.

I've got a pin and I'll stick it in,
Cried Abram Brown the sailor.

If you stick it 'in you'll break my heart,
Cried the fair young maiden.

I'll break your heart or I'll make you fart,
Cried Abram Brown the sailor.

When can I have this treat again?
Cried the fair young maiden.

When you can get my cock to star4
Cried Abram Brown the sailor.

How can I get your cock to stand?
Cried the fair young maiden.

Scratch my arse and tickle my balls,
Cried Abram Brown the sailor.

R. M. Davids

35
c 1924

THE KEYHOLE IN THE DOOR

We left the parlor early, I think it scarcely nine
And by a lucky fortune, her room was next to mine
Resolved like old Columbus new regions to explore
I took a snug position, by the keyhole in the door.

The keyhole in the door, the keyhole in the door,
I took a snug position, by the keyhole in the door.

And while kneeling there in silence upon my bended knee
Most patiently I waited to see what I could see.
She first took off her collar, and it fell upon the floor
And I seen her stoop to get it, through the keyhole in the door.

This maiden next proceeded to take off her pretty dress
And than her underclothing some hundred more or less,
To speak the truth sincerely I think there was a score
But I could not count correctly through the keyhole in the door.

She sat down on the carpet, in pretty graceful ease,
And lifted her snowly linen above her lilly white knees
A dainty sky blue garter on either leg she wore
And they looked like Parian marble, through the keyhole in the door.

As she arose from her position, looking so nice and warm
And nothing but a chemise concealed her pretty form
Thinks I take off your chemise, and I'll ask for nothing more
And by Jots I seen her do it, through the keyhole in the door.

Then up before the mirror this pretty creature stood
Revealing her rich beauty and feverishing my blood
My hair apraised like briatles upon an angry boar
By Jove I felt like jumping through the keyhole in the door.

And as she stood reviewing her voluptuous charms
I wished like a polypus (or octopus) I had an hundred arms,
But as I did not have then the fact I did deplore
For you can't embrace a maiden through a keyhole in the door.

She next unloosed her tresses of flowing golden hair,
They fell in a golden torment, about her shoulders fair.
And as she quickly rebound them, more firmly than before
I viewed the pretty process, through the keyhole in the door.

She next approached the bed and laid the covers down
And on the bed Miss Jennie prepared to lay her body down
The light it was extinguished and I knew the show was o'er
So I abandoned my position by the keyhole in the door.

R. M. Davids

37
c 1924

JACKIE AND HIS MASTER

Jackie and his master a wager they did lay
That the one that had the shortest dink the wager had to pay.

Singing ta de di di ump de ay,
Tudie de ump di ay.

So they measured them around and they measured then about
And Jackie's was the longest by four inches and a snout.

The maid was in the barn and I think she was to blame
When she oversaw the measurement she went and told the dame.

The dame went to the barn, some eggs for to hunt,
And she stooped down to buckle her shoe, a mouse run up her c-—t.

She went to the door and hollered loud and shrill
And the old man heard her while working in the mill.

The old man came running just as fast as ha could walk
Saying, What's the matter, Dame, I thought I heard you talk.

There's a mouse up my old belly gut, oh God how he doth gnaw
And if you do not get him out, he'll eat away my maw.

The old nan went to the door and hollered loud and shrill
And Jackie overheard him while plowing on the hill,

Jackie he came running just as fast as he could walk
Saying, What's the matter, master, I thought I heard you squawk.

There's a mouse up my wife's belly gut, oh God how he doth gnaw,
And if we do not get him out, he'll eat away her maw.

I'll. give you twenty dollars if you'll only get him out,
For your dink it is the longest, by four inches and a snout.

Twenty dollars is not my wages, neither is it my price
For not less than fifty dollars shall my dink go hunting mice.

So Jackie took her by the middle small, and gently laid her down
And every jig and half a jig he whirled the mouse around.

The old woman being cunning had the mouse up in her sleeve
And when Jackie had tickled her tail enough, she gave the mouse a heave.

The old man stood by with a club, and as the mouse ran up the wall
He hit a hell of a lick, and missed it after all.

Tu di di um de ay,
Tu di di um di ay.

R. M. Davids

[560]

UNCLE BUD

Me and my gal a goin' cross de field
Kicking up dust like a automobile.

Uncle Bud, Uncle Bud,
Who in hell is Uncle Bud?

Me an' my gal went a huckleberry huntin'
She fell down and I saw somethin'.

Big cat, little cat, teeny insey kitten
And de little cat farted like a nachul man.

Uncle Bud had forty-nine children

Corn pone and taters, chicken and ham
Cornfed nigger and nachul man.

"Sung in 1908 in Georgia near Atlanta--work song,

cotton picking."

239

BLOW THE MAN DOWN.---

Oh blow the man down, bullies blow him away
To my Way-Hay-ay Blow the man down
Oh blow the man down, bullies blow him away
Give me some time to blow the man down.

As I was a walking down Paradise Street
A pretty young damsel, I happened to meet.

I said where are you ging, my pretty maid
I'm going a-milking, kind sir she said.

Then I smiled at this damsel, so beautous to see
And said-pretty maiden will you milk me.

Oh no Sir she answered, oh no sir not I
If I was to milk you I'd milk you too dry.

I gave her 5 shillings, she took me in tow
And away to her stateroom we quickly did go.

As I stripped off my dunnage and jumped into bed
This fair maid she scared me till I was nearly dead.

Her catheads came off when she took off her dress
Also with her bonnet came off her bright tress.

Then she unscrewed her left leg-unhooked her right ear
By that time believe me, I was feelin' dam queer.

When she spat out her teeth, and gouged out her right eye,
I grabbed up my dunnage, and left her to die.

Take warnin' my hearties, when you go ashore
Steer clear of false riggins & moor to a whore.

***********************************

240

[CALIFORNIA]

August 24, 1923

FIRE DOWN BELOW

Oh there's fire in the fo'c'sle, all hands on deck
Fire down below
There's fire in the fore-peak, comin' thru the deck
There's fire down below.

There's fire in the fore-top, fire in the main
We thought we had it drownded, there it comes again.

There's fire in the cabin, fire in the poop,
There's a fire in the galley, burnin' up the soup.

The old man he's a terror, allays cussin' at the crew,
If this old wagon burns, me boys, he'll only get his due.

The old woman she's a pissin', she's spoutin' like a whale
The ocean is a risin' way 'bove the t' gallant rail.

Pass along the buckets boys, and let the old girl spout
Double bank the pump my sons, we'll drownd the ----- out.

"Pumping or Capstan chanty"

A. M. Turner

241

August 24, 1923

HANDY, ME BOYS, BE HANDY.

As I was a strollin' one fine summer day
So handy, my boys, so handy,
A rosy cheeked damsel, I met on the way
By handy, me boys, be handy.

She passed out her hawser and took me in tow
I shortened all sail and away we did go.
She led me to her father's halls
To a beautiful garden inside the walls.

And there I embraced this pretty maid
And love me, Oh love me, kind sir, she said.
Then she led me to her snowhite bed
And I hugged her there till she was dead.

"To' gallan's'l halyards chanty ."
A. M. Turner

242
August 24, 1923

Three times they give you peasoup
Three tines they give you duff
On Saturdays they give you rice
To make you blow and puff .

So blow ye winds in the mornin'
Blow ye winds Aye Oh
We're outward boun' in the ship Renown
To the port of Callao.

"Fragment—Capstan Chanty"
A. M. Turner

248

August 24, 1923

RIKKI DIKKI DOO DA DAY

One night I slept with an English maid
Dooda dooda
A virgin pure as the snow--she said
Rikki dikki doo da day.

She swore that I was her very first love
And gave me her maidenhead by the Gods above.

I spent all my payday in buying her clothes
But all that she gave me was a dam dirty dose.

So every night when I go out to piss
I curse the whore who gave me this.

Now all you young sailors take my advice
Don't play with virgin women, for you'll have to pay the price.

A. M. Turner

377
March 23, 1927

THE APPLEKNOCKER'S LAMENT

On a very fine day in the month of May
A great big bum (big burly) came hiking
And he seated his pratt (himself) neath a big green tree
Which was very much to his liking.

On the very same day in the month of May
A farmer's lad caste hiking.
Said the bum to the son, "If you will come,
I'll show you some sights to your liking.

I'll show you the bees in the cigarette trees,
The big rook candy mountains
The chocolate heights where they give away kites
And the sody-water fountains.

The lemonade springs where the blue bird sings,
The marbles made of crystal.
We'll join the band of Dangerous Dan
Who carries a sword and a pistol."

So the bum set out with the lad at his back.
For six long months they travelled.
Than the boy came back on the very same track
And this (sad) tale (he) unravelled,

"There are no bees in the cigarette trees;
No big rock candy mountains,
No chocolate heights where they give away kites,
Or sody-water fountains.

No lemonade springs where the blue bird sing,
No marble made of crystal.
There is no such man as Dangerous Dan
Who carries a sword and a pistol.

He made me beg and steal his eggs (sit on his peg)
And he called me his jocker
When I didn't get pies he blacked my eyes
And called me his apple-knocker.

No more I'll roam from my very fine home.
I'll save my junkerino
You can bet your lid that this old kid
Won't be no one else's punkerino."

Wheaton H. (Skin) Brewer

378
March 23, 1927

THE SONG OF AMY

Now the slats were all busted
And the springs were all loose
And the sag in the matress
Fitted Amy's caboose.
And if your girl thinks
This party is swell
There's lots more cottages
Down at Carmel.

"Last verse"
Wheaton H. (Skin) Brewer

379

HINKY DINK

Oh, Madam, have you a daughter fair,
Parley-voo?
Oh, Madam, have you a daughter fair,
Parley-voo?
Oh, yes, I have a daughter fair,
With two little tits and golden hair!
Hinky Dinky Parley-voo.

Oh, up the stairs and into bed,
Parley-voo,
Up the stairs and into bed,
Parley-voo,
Oh, up the stair and into bed,
And there I captured her maidenhead)
Hinky Dinky Parleyvoo.

The first three months and all was well,
Parley-voo,
The second three months she began to swell,
Parley-voo,
The third three months, she gave a grunt,
And a little doughboy jumped out of her cunt,
Hinky dinky parley-voo.

The little red bastard, he grew and he grew,
Parley-voo,
The little red bastard, he grew and he grew,
Parley-voo,
The little red bastard he grew and ha grew,
And now he's screwing the women, too,
Hinky dinky parley-voo.

The little red bastard, he died like a mack,
Parley-voo,
The little red bastard, he died like a mack,
Parley-voo,
The little red bastard, he died like a mack,
From putting his cock in a dirty crack,
Hinky dinky parley-voo.

The First Division went over the top,
To make the Kaiser suck his cock,
The damned M.P.'s behind the line,
Screwing the women and drinking the wine.

379

HINKY DINK (2)

The YMCA had a hell of a time,
Screwing the soldiers out of their dimes.

The Medical Corps, they did their bit,
Jazzing the nurses and shovelling shit.

Oh, mademoiselle from Gay Paree,
She had the clap and gave it to me.

0h, madamoiselle from St. Nazaire,
She'd do "jig-jig' for a pomme de terre.

Oh, madamoiselle from Andernach,
For fifty pfennigs, she'd suck your cook.

0h, madamoiselle,from Niederzissin,
She'd give you a jazz like cats a-pissin'.

Oh, Madamoiselle from Niedermendig,
She'd give you a screw for fifty pfennigs.

"the official song of the A.E.F."

380

My father was hung as a horse thief
My mother was burned as a witch
I have seventeen sisters in the whore-house
And I'm a cock-sucking son of a bitch.

"1911, Sullivan County, Missouri, by a small town braggest type. More or less common property tho this an unusually tough version."

381

Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
Oh ray God how they could lore
They swore they would ever be faithful
As true as the stars above.
Oh, he was her man
But he done her wrong.

Johnnie went down to the corner
She went down after some beer
Said Johnnie to the bartender
"Have you seen my Frankie here!"
Oh he was my man
And now he's done me wrong.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - tell you no lie
But I saw your Frankie go yonder
With a girl named Nellie Bly
Oh he was your man
But he's done you wrong.

382

Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
Swore to be true to their love,
Swore to be true to each other,
As true as the stars above.
God dam his soul.
He was doing her wrong, wrong, wrong.

Johnnie went down to the corner saloon
To get him a glass of beer
Says Frankie, "Oh Mr. bartender,
Has my lovin' Johnnie been here?"
Goddam his soul,
He' been doin' me wrong, wrong, wrong.

Johnnie went down to the whorehouse
To buy him a piece of tail,
When Frankie came in and shot him,
And the sherrif took Frankie to jail
God dam his soul,
He'd been doin' her wrong.

They put Johnnie away in the boneyard.

383

JOHNNIE AND FRANKIE

O Johnnie and Frankie were lovers!
O my! How they did love!
They swore to be true to each other,
Just as true as the stars above.
But Johnnie was the man
That was doin' her wrong.

O Frankie went to the crib-house,
She looked in the window high;
And there she saw her Johnnie
A-lovalovin' Alice Fly.
He sure is the man
That is doin' me wrong.

O Frankie went to the crib-house,
But this time not for fun,
For underneath her kimona
She had a great big forty-four gun.
She was gonna git the man
That was doin' her wrong.

She said to the jolly bar-tender,
"Have ya seen my Johnnie round here?"
"I saw your Johnnie not a half-hour ago--
He was tanked to the muzzle with beer.
He sure is the man
That was doin' you wrong."

O Johnnie said to Frankie,
"How darling, don't you shoot?"
But Frankie pulled out that forty-four gun,
And seven times went "Toot-toot!"
She sure got the man
That was doin' her wrong.

O I ain' t-a-goima tell ya no stories,
An I ain't-a-gonna tell ya no lies.
Is a thing I do despise.
He sure is the man
That was doin' me wrong.

O bring on your rubber-tired hearses,
And bring on your rubber-tired hacks.
I'm gonna take my Johnnie to the graveyard;
Ain't a-gonna bring his ---- back.
Best part of the man
That was doin' me wrong.

383

JOHNNIE AND FRANKIE (2)

O bury me down in a dungeon;
O bury me down in a cell;
O bury me down in a dungeon
In the south-east corner of hell.
For she sure got the man
That was doin' her wrong.

O Frankie's down at the depot
A-waitin' fo' 'at train--
A-waitin' fo' 'at train to Sing-Sing
Where they keep 'at ball an' chain.
She killed her man,
But he was doin' her wrong.

384

My name is Bob Baker
My prick is my maker
My bollux weigh 99 pounds
Bring me Johanna
I'll fuck her, God damn her
And nail her damn ass in the ground.

385

MOBILE

Oh the eagles they fly high in Mobile, in Mobile,
Oh the eagles they fly high in Mobile,
Oh the eagles they fly high
And they shit down in your eye

Ain't you glad the cows don't fly in Mobile.
Oh the old grey cow is dead
But the children must be fed
So they milk the bull instead.

Oh they never wash their dishes
But they wipe them on their britches
Oh the dirty sons of bitches.

Anonymous

386

HESITATION BLUES

Oh ashes to ashes and dust to dust
If the whisky don't get you why the cocain must.
Must I hesitate? Must I wait so long?

Oh ashes to ashes and dust to dust
Ain't a man in old Virginia that a woman can trust
Must I wait so long? Or can I get you now?
Must I hesitate?

Well I'm not the iceman nor the iceman's son
But I can fill your box until the iceman comes.

I'm not the undertaker nor the undertaker's son,
But I'll screw you in your coffin till the undertaker comes.

I'm not the plumber nor the plumber's son
But I can stop your leak until the plumber comes.

Anonymous

387

SAMUEL HALL

Oh my name's Samuel Ball, Samuel Hall, Samuel Hall,
Oh my name's Samuel Hall,
And I hates you one and all
You're a gang of mushers all
Damn your eyes.

Oh they put me in the Quod
For I killed a man by God
And I left him on the sod.

Oh the sheriff he came too
With the gang of men in blue
They're a gang of mushers too.

Oh the parson he did come
And he looked so goddam glum
With his talk of kingdom come.

So I you my story tell
Hopes you all may go to hell
Hopes by God you sissle well.

Anonymous.

388

LYDIA PINKHAM

Rufus Jones he was a

And he had no balls at all
But ha drank three bottles down
Of Lydia's vegetable compound
Now they hang below his knees.

Sally Brown she had no breastworks
And she had no breasts at all
But she drank three bottles down
Of Lydia's vegetable compound
Now they milk her with the cows.

Mary Black had female trouble
And she had no kids at all
But she drank three bottles down
Of Lydia's vegetable compound
How she throws them twice a year,

Anonymous

389

BOCARDY BILL THE SAILOR

What have you got between your legs?
Said Bocardy Bill the Sailor.
What have you got between your legs?
Said Bocardy Bill the Sailor.

I have got a cushion there,
Said the fair young maiden,
I have got a cushion there,
Said the fair young maiden.

What if there should be a child,
Said the fair young maiden.

Strangle the bugger as soon as he comes
Said Bocardy Bill the Sailor.

What about the police force,
Said the fair young maiden.

Bugger the police and fuck the force,
Said Bocardy Bill the Sailor.

Anonymous

390

THE KING OF ENGLAND

Oh minstrels sing of an ancient king who lived long years ago
He rulled his land with an iron hand but his mind was weak and low
He loved to hunt to royal stag within the royal wood
But his favorite occupation was pulling the royal pud,
Christ, how he loved to pull his pud, pull his pud.

His only nether garment was a woolen undershirt
With which he tried to hide the hide, but couldn't hide the dirt
His hair was wooly and full of fleas
And his terrible dong hung down to his knees.
God save the bastard king of England.

The Queen of Spain was a sprightly dame, a sprightly dame was she
She loved to fool with his majesty's tool so far across the sea
So she sent a royal message by a royal messenger
Asked him to come and spend a month with her.

When the King of France heard this report, he said unto his court
She must prefer me rival because me horn in short
So he sent the Duke of Simmesap to give the queen a dose of clap
God save the bastard King of England.

Oh when the news of this foul deed did reach Old England's walls
The king he swore by the shirt he wore he'd have the Frenchman's balls
He offered half his kingdom and a piece of Queen Hortense
To any loyal Briton who would nut the king of France.

The loyal Duke of Suffolk betook himself to France
He swore he was a fruiter and the king took down his pants
He slipped a thong on the royal dong
And mounted his horse and galloped along
And dragged him before the king of England.

The king threw up his breakfast and fainted on the floor
For in the ride the Frenchman's pride had stretched a yard or more
The ladies of old England heard about King Philip's bone
They rallied to the Frenchman, to hell with the English throne.

So Philip of France usurped the throne
His sceptre was his royal bone
With which he browned the bastard kind of England.

Anonymous

391

LYDIA'S COMPOUND

Then we'll sing, sing, sing, of Lydia Pink-ham, Pink-ham, Ping
And her love for the human race
She had builded a vegetable compound,
And the papers publish her face.

Elsie Janis was hollow chested
She could scarcely fill her blouse
She drank six bottles of Lydia's Compound
Now they milk her with the cows.

Johnnie Jones had urinitis,
He could scarcely pee at all
He drank four bottles of Lydia's Compound
How he's a human waterfall.

Mrs. Jones was quite unhappy
She could have no babies dear
She drank six bottles of Lydia's Compound
Now she has them twice a year.

Anonymous

392

Five little heifers grazing in the valley
Five little bull calves had next season.
They cut those calves and they made them oxen
The little black bull went back to the mountains...

"Billy Day of Middle Musquodoboit, Halifax Co., N.S. c 1894
W. Gladwin of Jeddore, Halifax Co., N. S. c 1894."

Anonymous

393
December 12, 1925

Three jolly men went ahunting
And nothing could they find
They came unto a cowdung
And that they left behind.

The Scotchman says-that's a cowdung
The Englishman says Kay
And Paddy says-that's a custard pie
With the custard blown away.

Three jolly men went ahunting
And nothing could they find
They came unto a pumpkin
And that they left behind.

The Scotchman says-that's a pumpkin
The Englishman-he says Hay
And Paddy says-That's a tater
But it's in the family way.

Three jolly men went ahunting
And nothin' could they find
They came unto a knothole
And that they left behind.

The Scotchman says-that's a knothole
The Englishman-he says Hay
And Paddy says-that's a horse's arse
But the horse has ran away.

"an old song I heard in Australia"

Andrew M. Turner

394
May, 1923

A sailor man came home one night as drunk as drunk could be,
He saw a hat upon the rack where his hat ought to be.
"My dear wife, my sweet wife, my darling wife," says he,
"What means this hat upon the rack, where my hat ought to be?"
"O, you poor fool, you damn fool, you son of a bitch," says she,
"It's nothing but a piss pot that my granny sent to see."
"O I've travelled over land and sea, and pissed on every shore,
But a piss pot on a hat rack, I've never seen before."

A sailor man came home one night as drunk as drunk could be,
He saw a head upon the bed, where his head ought to be.
"My dear wife, my sweet wife, my pretty wife," says he,
"What means this head upon the bed, where my head ought to be?"
"O you poor fool, you damn fool, you son of a bitch," says she,
"It's nothing but a cabbage head my granny sent to me."
"O I've travelled over land and sea, and pissed on every shore
But a cabbage head with whiskers on, I've never seen before.

A sailor man came home one night, as drunk as drunk could be,
He saw an ass upon the bed, where his ass ought to be.
"My dear wife, my sweet wife, my pretty wife," says he,
What means this ass upon the bed, where my ass ought to be?"
"O you poor fool, you damn fool, you son of a bitch," says she,
"It's nothing but two loves of bread, my granny sent to me."
"O I've travelled over land and sea, and pissed on every shore,
But loaves of bread with shit between, I've never seen before."

A sailor man came home one night, as drunk as drunk could be,
He found a thing, within the thing, where his thing ought to be.
"My dear wife, my sweet wife, my pretty wife," says he,
"What means this thing, within the thing, where my thing ought to be?"
"You poor fool, you damn fool, you son of a bitch," says she,
It's nothing but a rolling pin, my granny sent to me."
"O I've travelled over land and sea, and pissed on every shore,
But a rolling pin, with balls upon, I've never seen before.

L. C. Lockley

395

I'M A WEAVER

I am a bachelor, and I live all alone,
And I work at the weaver's trade.
And the only, only thing that I ever did wrong
Was to woo a fair young maid.

One night she came to my bed side,
"When I was fast asleep.
She cried, she sighed, she damn near died,
So what was I to do,
But take her into bed, and cover up her head,
Just to keep her from the foggy, foggy dew.

I am a bachelor, and I live with my son,
And we work at the weaver's trade.
And every, every night I look into his eyes,
He reminds me of the maid
That I once took into bed, to cover up her head,
And to keep from the foggy, foggy dew.

"This song was gotten from a young man of about twenty
who picked it up while with a gang of laborers working for
the Pacific Improvement Company on the Monterey Peninsula.
He was indefinite as to which laborer or laborers he got it
from--said they all knew it and sang it. There were both
Americans and foreigners among them. He got it from them
about three years ago."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923.

399

The steward want below
Whoo-oo-oo
To light the cabin lamp
Whoo-oo-oo
The lamp it would not burn
Whoo-oo-oo
Because the wick was damp
Whoo-oo-oo, whoo-oo-oo.

The captain went below
To kick the steward's ass
Fire up, you son of a bitch,
The Golden Gate is past.

"This song I picked up at a Fraternity House, where
I heard the whole group of men around the table sing.
The melody is only two notes, sung very slowly, with a
measured beat, much as a dirge, the 'Whoo-oo-oo' after
each line like a hoarse fog-horn in the night. I have
no idea where they got it, and none of them seem to know,"

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

400

Oh mother, oh mother, have you a daughter
Snap-oo, snap-oo,
Oh mother, oh mother, have you a daughter,
To sleep with a sailor from over the water,
Snap-oo, snap--ee--tah, fie-nanny-go-eat-ah,
Snap-oo,

Oh no, oh no, my daughter's too young
To sleep with that dirty old son of a gun.

Oh mother, oh mother, I'm not too young,
I've dona it before with finger and thumb.

So that son of a bitch ha took her to bed,
And crammed it in from its roots to its head.

Oh, six months came, and six months past,
The rim of her belly hung down to her ass.

Oh nine months came, and nine months past,
And a jolly young sailor rolled out of her ass.

"I got this song from a group of college boys of normal
age who had not the slightest idea where they had gotten it,
or how long they had known it. Two of them said that they
thot there were two or three more stanzas, but they did not
know them, The fourth stanza was offered by only one of them;
the others said they had never heard it before. It is
probably original with him."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

401

The Canoneers they have no fears
They piss thru leather britches
And knock their cocks 'gainst jagged rocks
Those hardy sons of bitches.

They masterbate from morn till late
Till their bloody foreskin twitches
Next morn at ten they begin again
Those hardy sons of bitches.

When tail is rare, they rape the bear
In dusky nooks and nitches
Nor give a care for sand or hair
Those hardy sons of bitches.

They crawl and creep upon a sheep
And fuck her while she pitches
Nor give a damn if it be a ram
Those hardy sons of bitches.

They scrouge a cow and care not how
The shit sticks to their breeches
And fergle a bull and fill him full
Those hardy sons of bitches.

The Canoneers have hairy ears
For care now much it itches
To wipe their ass on broken glass
Those hardy sons of bitches.

"These stanzas came from a man who was a private in an
artillery battery, and hence the adoption of 'canoneers'.
He was about twenty-two or three, and said that he had picked
them up while in quarantine for spinal menemgitis, and that
many many more were made up at that time that had slipped his
memory, for all that was to be done all day long was to lie
in bed and think up rhymes. Several of these were new to me
but I had already heard more than half of them from others."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

402

THE SPANISH COUNTILIO

There once was a Spanish Countilio
Who lived in a Spanish Castilio
He was proud of his tra-la-la—lilio
And the works of his tweedle-dum-dee.

He once met a young sanorita
And asked her to be his senora
He showed her his tra-la-la-lilio
And the works of his tweedle-dum-dee.

He took her into his Castilio
And laid her down on the sofilio
He rammed in his tra-la-la-lilio
To the works of his tweedle-dum-dee.

Next morn he felt rather sickilio
The doc said he had syphilio
All over his tra-la-la-lilio
And the works of his tweedle-dum-dee.

How he sits in his Spanish Castilio
With a handfull of cotton wadilio
Swabbing his tra-la-la-lilio
And the works of his tweedle-dim-dee.

"This was taken from a college boy who had gotten it
from another from some other college (I couldn't determine
where)."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

403

FRANKIE AND JOHNIE

Frankie and Johnie were lovers
Lawdy, oh God, how they loved,
Swore to be true to each other
As true as the blue sky above.
Ha was her man,
But ha was doin' her wrong.

Frankie she worked in a hump-house
A hump-house with only two doors,
Gave all her money to Johnie
Who spent it on the parlor-house whores
Damn his soul,
For he was doin' her wrong.

One night when Frankie was lonely
Nobody came out to call
Frankie put on her kimonie
And went out to the nickel crawl
Lookin' for the man
That was doin' her wrong.

Frankie blew down to the corner
Ordered herself up some beer
Said to the gentle bar-tender
"Have you seen my lovin' Johnie here?
For he's my man,
But he's doin' me wrong.11

"I don't want to tell you no story
I don't want to tell you no lie
But Johnie was here about an hour ago
With that fat bitch Nellie B1y.
He's your man,
But he's doin' you wrong."

Frankie blew back to the hump-house
This time 'twasn't for fun
Under her dirty kimona
She packed a big 44 gun
Lookin' for the man
That was doin' her wrong.

Frankie blew into the hump-house
Didn't even ring the bell
Said, "Look out, all you pimps and whores,
Or I'll blow you all straight to hell.
I'm lookin' for the man
That's doin' me wrong."

403

FRANKIE AND JOHNIE (2)

She want on back thru the hall-way
Looked over a transom so high
There she saw her lovin' boy
Finger-fucking Nellie Bly
God damn her soul,
But he was doin' her wrong.

Johnie saw Frankie a-comin'
Said, "My God, Frankie, don't shoot."
But Frankie pulled out her big 44 gun
And the gun went root-i-toot-toot.
She shot the man
That was doin' her wrong.

"Bring on your rubber-tired hearses
Fill 'em up plumb full of maques
For they're taking my Johnie to the cemetery
And they'll never bring his penis back.
Beat part of the man
That was doin' me wrong."

"This song is pure negro. I got it from a man that
has played in cafes, and he said that is universal among
the negroes."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

404

THE BASTARD KING OP ENGLAND

The minstrels sing of an English king of many years ago
How he ruled the land with an iron hand tho his mind was "weak and low
He was wild and wooley and full of fleas
And his terrible tool hung down to his knees.
So God bless the bastard king of England.

His only nether garment was a woolen undershirt
With which he tried to hide his hide but he couldn't hide the dirt
He loved to chase the bounding stag thruout the royal wood
And he dearly loved to pull the royal pud.

Now the Queen of Spain was a sprightly dame, an amorous dame was she,
She longed to fool with his Majesty's tool so far across the sea
So she sent a note to England by a special messenger
For the king to come and spend a month with her.

When Philip of Prance was told of this he cried unto his court
"She much prefers my rival because my horn is short."
And he sent the Duc de Siphensac
To give the queen a dose of clapp
"Which wouldn't do a thing to Merrie England.

Sow whan the news of this foul deed arrived at Windsor's halls
The king he swore by the shirt he wore he'd eat the Frenchman's balls
And he promised half his kingdom and the hand of Queen Hortense
To anyone who would nut the king of France.

So the noble Duke of Suffolk betook himself to France
He said he was a fruiter and the king took down his pants
Then over his prong he slipped a thong
And mounted his horse and galloped along.
And dragged him before the bastard king of England.

The King threw up his breakfast and fainted on the floor
For during the ride the Frenchman's pride had stretched a rod or more
And all the ladies of London Town had gathered around the castel grounds
And shouted, "To hell with the British Crown
And down with the bastard king of England."

So Philip of France usurped the throne
His sceptre was his royal bone
With which he browned the bastard king of England.

"I got this from a man who is turn had gotten it from some
members of the Harvard Law School in 1914. He said that that was
the only place that he had heard it, except once, in a slightly
different version, while in the army. If he recollected correctly,
there it was sung by an old veteran sergiant who sung it when tight."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

406

Toodle um toodle um too
That's what he played on his horn
Toodle urn toodle um too
He played it from midnight till morn
Toodle-um toodle um too
And now I will tell it to you
He won the hand of his Mary Ann
With his hand on her toodle um too.

"These fragments came from an art student that had
picked them up in the Art Students' League in New York
City in 1917."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

407

Floating down the river
Sitting on the stern
She had a-hold of hisen
He had a-hold of hern.

"These fragments came from an art student that had
picked them up in the Art Students' League in New York
City in 1917."

Songs and Fragments Common Among Young Men,
Berkeley, California, 1923

246

September 17, 1923

SHE WAS POOR BUT SHE WAS HONEST

She was poor but she was honest
Victim of a village crime
Of the Squire's guilty passion
And she lost her own good nyme.

Then she went right up to Lunnon
For to hide her ghastly shyme
And she met another squire
And she lost her nyme agyne.

She was poor but she was foolish,
Victim of a rich man's whim,
He seduced her, then he left her,
She'd a little child by him.

You'll find her in the theayter
See her sitting in the stalls
And at home an hour lyter
Plying with some strynger's balls.

You'll see her in her limoosin
In the park and people say
All the squires and nobby people
Stop to pass the time of day.

In a quiet country cottage
There her aged parents live
Drink the champagne that she sends them
But they never can forgive.

You will find her in the gutter
Selling matches by the box
For a tanner you can up her
Ten to one you get the pox.

See him passing in his carriage
With his fyce all wreathed in smiles
See her sitting on the pyvement
Which is bloody bad for pyles.

See him passing to the Commons
Making laws for rich and pore
See her walking of the pyvements
Nothing but a bloody hore.

It's the syme the whole world over
It's the poor they always blyme
And the rich they takes their pleasures
Isn't it a bloody shyme.

E. S. Fowlds

246
September 17, 1923

INKY DINKY PARLEZ VOUS

Madamoiselle from Armenteers, parlez vous,
Mademoiselle from Armenteers, parlez vous,
Madamoiselle from Armenteers,
She hadn't been tamped for umpteen years
Inky-dinky-parlez-vous .

The general won the Croix de Guerre
And the son of a bitch was never there.

Madamoiselle from Say Paree
She had the crabs and she gave 'em to me.

The French they are a funny race
They fight with their feet and they f--- with their face.

"and then of course the stock one sung by any army in
reference to any other."

The ------- are hairing a hell of a time
Winning the war behind the line.

(or)
F------ the Waacs, behind the line.

E. S. Fowlds

246
September 17, 1923

BOLLOCKY BILL THE SAILOR

Who's that knocking at the door?
Said the fair young maiden
Who's that knocking at the door?
Said the fair young maiden.

O it's your lover come home from sea
Said Bollocky Bill the sailor.
O it's your lover come home from sea
Said Bollocky Bill the sailor.

When will you be back once more.
O never again, you poxy old whore.

E. S. Fowlds

246

September 17, 1923

Mama, malade, Papa ZigZag,
Moi, refugie Bully-Grenay.

E. S. Fowlds

[246]

September 17, 1923

FRANCIE AND JOSIE

Josie went down to the corner
To get her a glass of beer
She said, "Mr. Bartender,
Have you seen my Francie here?
For he's my man,
Though he's doing me wrong."

"Now I ain't a goin' to tell you no stories
And I ain't a goin' to tell you no lias
But I seen your man going out of here
With a yallsr girl names Lise
And if he's you man
Why, he's doin' you wrong."

Josie went down to the pawn shop
She didn't go there for fun
But she laid down fourteen iron men
For a great big forty-five gun
For he was her man

Josie went down to the hore house
And rang that hore house bell
And said, "Stand aside, you hores and pimps,
Or I'll blow you all to hall,"
For she wanted her man
Who'd been doing her wrong.

Roll out your rubber tired carriages
Roll out your rubber tired hack
For there's fourteen pimps to the cemetery going
And there's one not coming back.

E. S. Fowlds

246

September 17, 1923

LA SOMBRA DE UN PALMAR

Soy huerfanita Ay.
No tengo padre ni madre
Hi una amiga Ah.
Qua me venga a consolar.

Mia ojitos van y vienen
Como las olas del mar
Mis ojitos van y vienen
Como las olas del mar.

E. S. Fowlds

246

September 17, 1923

A las Poches de California
No les gusta la tortilla
Que les gusta en la mesa
Es el pan con mantequilla.

E. S. Fowlds

246

September 17, 1923

LADY LIL
She was the best the camp produced.

E. S. Fowlds

246

September 17, 1923

LA CUCURACHA

Todas las mujeres tienen
En el pecho una esperanza
Y mas abajito tienen
Un retrato de Carranza.

La Cucuracha, La Cucuracha,
Ya no puede caminar
Por tiene falta, por que la falta
Marihuana que fumar.

E. S. Fowlds

265
October 20, 1923

Never let a sailor boy get an inch above your knee.
I'd dress him up in a sailor suit and sent him off to sea.

(request)

John L. Bracken

271
November 15, 1923

Sister you'll be called upon
For some of that your sittin' on.

(request)

D. C. Stearns

333
May 8, 1924

THE LITTLE DUTCH SOLDIER FROM OVER THE RHINE

Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Margarite,
Saint Paul, Saint Peter, John Jones.

"We used to have in circulation, when I was a kid, a
bawdy song, with a refrain that varied in different
localities, one being the above."

E. S. Lawson [on envelope]

365
November 10, 1924

SALLY BROWN

Oh Sally Brown my love grows bigger
But for Heavens sake don't f-ck that nigger.

J. N. West

365
November 10, 1924

ROLL THE COTTON DOWN

Oh, when last I was in Frisco Town
Roll the cotton down,
I never ever will forget
Oh, roll the cotton down.

I was drinking steam beer all day long
Until I could drink no more, no more.
And I felt in my mind full inclined
That I would go to sea no more.

Oh, last night I slept with "Angelina"
An' she was afeared and wouldn't turn in.
But when I woke up next morning
All my clothes and money then had fled.

Oh, when I was walking down the street
All the whores and pimps were roaring.
See there goes poor Jack to sea once more
So I went down to a boarding house.

Which was kept by Mister "Shang Haj" Brown
Says he, I'll give you a chance and take your advance.
And send you to sea once more
So he shipped me on a whaler.

Who was bound for the cold antartic seas
An' I had no money to buy clothes.
And Lord almighty how I froze.

"I cannot remember some lines that are missing and
anyway this whole thing seems garbled to me but that's
how I heard it from an old Irishman.

J. N. West

365
November 10, 1924

Every ship has a capstan, has a capstan, has a capstan,
Every good ship has a capstan and a capstan has pawls
And every young girl likes a young man
With a big pair of balls.

Sheet out your main t'gan't'sail, your main t'gan't' sail,

your main t'gan't' sail,
Sheet out your main topgallant sail and let the good ship go free,

(request)
J. N. West

365
November 10, 1924

A LONG TIME AGO

I wish to God that I'd never been born
To me way-hey-heyan.
To go rambling round and round Cape Horn,
A long time ago.

Around Cape Horn where the wild winds blow,
Around Cape Horn through sleet and snow.

It's a long, long time since I've had a glass rum
Oh, if I was the skipper I'd give the crew some.

Oh, it's a long, long time since I've had a "short time".

[This and some more lines of like character were repeated twice.]

Oh, it's a long, long time since I've had a good "f-ck",
Oh, it's a long, long time since I've had a good "f-ck".
And it's a long, long time since I've had a sore cock.
And it's a long, long time since my last "chancre" went.
Oh, it's a long, long time since I've had a "whole night".

J. N. West

385
May 1, 1925

DIRTY OLD BROWN

There was an old lady
I'd have you know
Who went up to London
A short time ago.
She liked it quite well
And she thot she would stay
The neighbors were tickled
When she went away.

Singing Brown, Brown,
Dirty Old Brown.

Now when this old lady
Retired for the night
She said Oh gor blime
I believe I must shit
There's no use in talking
About things that have past
So up went the window
And out went her ass.

There was an old watchman
Who chanced to pass by
Looked up got a chunk of shit
Right square in the eye
He put up his hand
To see where he was hit
He says Oh gor blime
I'm blinded with shit.

Now this poor old watchman
Was blinded for life
He had five healthy children
And a fine fucking wife
On a London street corner
You may now see him sit
With a sign on his chest
Reading blinded with shit.

H. W. McCormick

448
December,, 1927

There once was a gay Don d'Ilio,
Who lived in a high white castilio
And he played with his Trototoilio
And the works of his Raggle de bam
Bam! Bam!

One day to that high white castilio
There came a gay young senorio
And she played with his Trototoilio
And the works of his Haggle de bam
Bam! Bam!

Next day that gay Don d'Ilio
Laid her down on a soft sofailio
And he eased in his Trototoilio
And the works of his Haggle de bam
Bam! Bam!

Nine days later that gay Don d'Ilio
Gnashed his teeth with rage at the senoric
And gazed with sorrow on his Trototoilio
And the works of his Haggle de bam
Bam! Bam!

He went to see Dr. Gonzalio
Who told him he had the clapilio
And he gave him a bottle of Castorio
For the works of his Raggle de bam
Bam! Bam!

Theodore Lancaster

448
December, 1927

LULU

The first time I saw Lulu
She was tall and thin
A settin' on a box-car
Playing with a couplin-pin.

Bang away my Lulu
Bang away good and strong
O, what're you gonna do for banging
When your Lulu's dead and gone.

The next time I saw Lulu
She was short and fat
Some son of a bitch had knocked her up
Now what do you think of that?

My Lulu got arrested
Ten dollars was her fine
She said to the judge, "You son of a bitch,
Take it out of this ass on mine."

My Lulu had a baby
She called him Sunny Jim
She put him in the shit-pot
To see if he could swim.

I wish I was a diamond ring
Upon my Lulu's hand
Then every time she wiped her ass
I'd see her promised land.

O, you ought to see my Lulu
She is the Tillage queen
Her ass is full of buttermilk
Her cunt is full of cream.

Theodore Lancaster

474

THE JOLLY FISHERMAN

Oh, I say jolly fisherman, I love you very well
Holy Moses, ain't it cold?
Oh, I say jolly fisherman, I lore you very well
Have you any deep sea crabs for to sell?
Singin' one eye, two eye, die.

Oh, I got that deep sea crab by the very backbone
And I russled and I tussled till I got the bugger home.

When I got in the house, the old lady was asleep
So I put that deep sea crab in the piss pot for to keep.

In the middle of the night, she got up to do her due
And that deep sea crab grabbed her by the ding dang doo.

"Oh