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AFTERWORD |
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For he could dance and he could sing,
Sing (&c.) And make de woods around him ring,
Sing (&c.)
Chorus: — (as before.)
Of one of the children's game-songs, Professor Kittredge notes:
Mr, Banks he loves sugar, etc. A good bit of this song is certainly from the white folks. Cf. Halliwell, Nursery Rhymes, ist ed., 1842, p. n:
Over the water, over the lee, Over the water to Charley. Charley loves good ale and wine, Charley loves good brandy, Charley loves a little girl As sweet as sugar candy.
There are varieties in plenty. Here is a version which my mother (born in Massachusetts in 1822) gave me about 1887 as known to her when a girl:
Charley, will you come out to-night?
You know we 're always ready. When you come in, take off your hat, And say, "How do y' do, Miss Betty!"
Charley loves good cake and wine, Charley loves good brandy, Charley loves to kiss the girls As sweet as sugar candy.
My aunt (about the same time) gave me a variant of the last two lines (known also to my mother):
Take your petticoats under your arm And cross the river to Charley.
For another jingle that refers to the Pretender Charley, see Newell, Games and Songs, ist ed., no. 121.
/ Had a Little Rooster is an old white ditty.
Zaccheus. Cf. the rhyme in the New England Primer:
Zaccheus he Did climb a tree His Lord to see.
This I have often heard quoted by old people in New England.
Shoo Fly is a minstrel song. I well remember its popularity. |
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