The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Found a Peanut

To the tune of "Clementine"

Found a peanut, found a peanut,
Found a peanut just now
I just now found a peanut
Found a peanut just now.

Cracked it open, cracked it open
Cracked it open just now
I just now cracked it open
Cracked it open just now.

Found it rotten, found it rotten
Found it rotten just now
I just now found it rotten
Found it rotten just now.

Ate it anyway, etc.

Got sick, etc.

I died, etc.

Went to heaven, etc,

Played the harp, etc.

Broke a string, etc.

Went to hell, etc.

Shoveled coal, etc.

Woke up, etc.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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The Runaway Logging Train

From Maverick to McNerney, only sixteen miles away
Came a heavily loaded logging train one cold December day.
There was a fireman Pete O'Beuren, and Wayle Jones, the engineer
The conductor's name was Wesley Clark, a man who knew no fear.

'Twas on the Apache Railway Lines, the trip was a routine run,
"We'll be back home," said Wesley Clark, "before the setting sun."
But little did he know what fate had planned for them that day,
A few mile farther down the line, that's where the brakes gave way.

The logging train was gathering speed, her whistle pierced the air,
And though Wayley Jones threw on the brakes, they wouldn't take the air.
Then terror gripped those three stout men who were the engine's crew
"We'd better jump!" cried Wesley Clark, "there's nothing more to do."

He thought of all the folks ahead in that peaceful little town,
And he knew many would die that day if he couldn't slow her down.
He started to jump, then he changed his mind, as a thought raced 'cross his brain,
Though it cost my life, it's worth the risk, I'll stay right with the train.

The two men jumped, but Clark stayed on and breathed a silent prayer,
"Oh God," he thought, "Please give me strength," as he threw on the air.
The brakes at first did not respond, though he tried with might and main.
But his prayer was heard and the brakes took hold, and he stopped the runaway train.

Wes Clark was just a simple man, but his heart was brave and true,
With plenty of chance to save his live, he chose to see it through.
And though he's been rewarded with money and with fame,
His greatest reward is yet to come, for God will know his name. (alternate last line, depending on your mood)
His greatest reward is yet to come, when they get him out from under that train.

Submitter comment:

One of the camping "standards" that we sung every time we were out.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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Ballad of Springhill

In the town of Springhill, Nova Scotia,
Down in the dark of the Cumberland Mine,
There's blood on the coal and the miners die
On the roads that never saw sun nor sky,
On the roads that never saw sun nor sky.

In the town of Springhill you don't sleep easy,
Often the earth will tremble and roll.
When the earth gets restless, miners die.
Bone and blood is the price of coal,
Bone and blood is the price of coal.

Down in the coal face the miners working,
Rattle of the bell and the cutler's blade,
Rumble of rock and the walls close round
The living and the dead men two miles down,
The living and the dead men two miles down.

Twelve men lay two miles from the pitshaft,
Listen for the drilling of a rescue team.
Six hundred feet of coal and slag,
Hope imprisoned in a three-foot seam,
Hope imprisoned in a three-foot seam.

Eight days passed and some were rescued,
Leaving the dead to lie alone.
Through all their lives they dug their graves,
Two miles of earth for a marking stone,
Two miles of earth for a marking stone.

Submitter comment:

I first heard this song (ballad) from a high school friend who used to play it on his guitar quite often. As is fairly obvious, many verses are missing. Only the key ones do I remember.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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Devilish Mary (English Origin)

I once dressed up and went to twon
To court a fair young lady.
I inquired about her name,
Her name was Devilish Mary.

Chorus
Come-a fa-la-ling, come-a ling, come-a ling
Come-a fa-la-ling come-a dairy.
Repeat

Me and Mary began to spark,
And she got in a hurry,
We fixed it up that very night,
We'd marry the very next Thursday.

We hadn't been married but about two weeks,
When she got mean as the devil,
And every time I said a word,
She hit me with a shovel.

She washed my clothes in old soap suds,
She filled my bath with switches,
She let me know right from the start,
She was going to wear my britches.

One day I said to Devilish Mary,
"I think we'd best be parted."
Just as soon as I said the words,
Out the door she started.

Now if I ever marry again,
It'll be for love not riches,
Marry a gal about two feet tall,
So she can't wear my britches.

Submitter comment:

Origin mother and father (she thinks).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FITZGERALD PLAYGROUND ; DETROIT

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Song

Frog went a-courtin, and he did ride Ah hum, Ah hum,
Frog went a'courtin, and he did ride with his sword and pistol by his side, Ah hum, Ah hum.

Rode up to Miss Mousey's door,
Rode up to Miss Mousey's door, and he knocked and he knocked till his fists got sore, Ah hum, Ah hum.

Took Miss Mousey on his knee, Ah hum, Ah hum,
Took Miss Mousey on his knee, and he said Miss Mousey will you marry me? Ah hum, Ah hum.

Miss Mousey said I can't do that, I'll have to ask my brother rat,
Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

Now Brother Rat has gone to town, Ah hum
Now Brother Rat has gone to town
To buy Miss Mousey a wedding gown, Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

The Wedding took place in an old Oak Tree,
With all the birds and the bees and all the folks now if you please,
Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

First to come was Mr. Snake, Ah hum.
First to come was Mr. Snake, And he wrapped his tail around the cake, Ah hum, Ah hum, ah hum.

Next to come was Mr. Chick, Ah hum, Ah hum.
Next to come was Mr. Chick, And he ate so much that he got sick, Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

The last to come was Dr. Fly, Ah hum, Ah hum
The last to come was Dr. Fly, And he said Mr. Chick would surely die, Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

Now Miss Mousey has gone to France, Ah hum, Ah hum
Now Miss Mousey has gone to France, And that is the end of a big romance, Ah hum, Ah hum, Ah hum.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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There Was an Old Lady

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider.
It wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
Etc.

There was an old lady who swallowed a cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
Etc.

There was an old lady who swallowed a dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed  a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
Etc.

There was an old lady who swallowed a goat.
How remote to swallow a goat.
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
Etc.

There was an old lady who swallowed a cow.
I don't know how she swallowed a cow.
She swallowed the cow to catch the goat.
How remote to swallow a goat.
She swallowed the goat to catch the dog.
What a hog to swallow a dog!
She swallowed the dog to catch the cat.
Imagine that! She swallowed  a cat.
She swallowed the cat to catch the bird.
How absurd to swallow a bird.
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't iknow why she swallowed the fly.
Perhaps she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a horse.
She died, of course.

Submitter comment:

Learned this song from his father.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector share the same surname.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK ; from father

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Eddie Cuchie Catchie

CHORUS:
Eddie Cuchie Catchie Coma Tosa Ira Tosa Noma Soma Cama Wackie Brown
Fell into the well, fell into the well,
Fell into the deep, dark well.

Suzie Jones milking in the barn saw him fall
And ran inside to tell her mom that
CHORUS

Suzie's ma, making crackling bread told her pa
Who hobbled into town and said that
CHORUS

From the town, everybody came, what a shame
It took so long to say his name that
(sing name)
WHO?
(repeat name)
Drowned.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

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The Water Is Wide

The water is wide I cannot get o'er, neither have I wings to fly. Give me a boat that can carry two and both shall cross, my true love and I.

I leaned my back against an oak, thinking it was a mighty tree. But first it bent and then it broke, so did my love prove false to me.

I put my hand in some soft bush, thinking the sweetest flower to find. I pricked my finger to the bone and left the sweetest flower behind.

Oh, love is handsome and love is kind, gay as a jewel when it was new. But love grows old and waxes cold, and fades away like morning dew.

The water is wide I cannot get o'er etc.

Submitter comment:

Originally part of a long Scots ballad "Lord Jamie Douglas." All that remains is the emotional core of the ballad.

Where learned: SCOTLAND ; Joan Baez tape

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Titanic

They built the ship Titanic
To sail the ocean blue
And they thought they had a ship
That the water would never go through
But the good Lord raised his hand
Said the ship would never land
It was sad when the great ship went down.

CHORUS:
It was sad, so sad, it was sad, alleluia,
It was sad when the great ship went down
To the bottom of the sea.
Husbands and wives and little children lost their lives.
It was sad when the great ship went down.

They were off the Greenland shore
When the water began to pour
And the rich refused to associate with the poor.
So they put them down below
Where they'd be the first to go.

Lady Astor turned around
Just to see her husband drown
As the ship Titanic
Made a gurgling sound.
So she wrapped herself in mink
As the boat began to sink.

They put the lifeboats out on that dark and stormy sea
And the band played on with
"Near My God to Thee" (sing slowly)
The captain sent a wire
But the lines were all on fire.

Submitter comment:

This song became popular at so many camps that it was banned by the American Camping Association in 1968.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; CYO CAMP ; CARSONVILLE

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The Titanic

Oh they built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue
And they thought they had a ship that the water'd never go through
But the good Lord raised his hand said "This ship will never land"
It was sad when the great ship went down, down, down.

REFRAIN:
It was sad, so sad, it was sad, alleluia
It was sad when the great ship went down
To the bottom of the sea
Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives
It was sad when the great ship went down.

They were nearing Greenland's shore when the water began to pour
And the rich refused to associate with the poor
So they put them down below
Where they'd be the first to go
It was sad when the great ship went down.

They put the lifeboats out on the dark and stormy sea
And the band struck with "Near My God to Thee"
Husbands and wives, little children lost their lives
It was sad when the great ship went down.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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Drinking Song--Sweet Violets

Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses
Covered all over from head to toe
Covered all over with sweet violets.

There once was a farmer who took a young miss,
In back of the barn where he gave her a . . .
Lecture on horses and chickens and egga,
And told her that she had such beautiful . . .
Manners that suited a girl of her charms
A girl that he wanted to take in his . . .
Washing and ironing and then if she did
They could get married and raise lots of . . .

Sweet violets, sweeter than all the roses
Covered all over from head to toe
Covered all over with sweet violets.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

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