The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

I WANT A BEER

I WANT A BEER, JUST LIKE THE BEER
THAT PICKLED DEAR OLD DAD.
IT WAS A BEER, AND THE ONLY BEER
THAT DADDY EVER HAD.
A GOOD OLD FASHIONED BEER WITH LOTS OF FOAM,
IT TOOK TEN MEN TO CARRY DADDY HOME.
OH I WANT A BEER, JUST LIKE THE BEER
THAT PICKLED DEAR OLD DAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: FRATERNITY SONGBOOK

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS

THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS HAS DYED HER HAIR,
AND NOW IT'S FIERY RED.
SHE DRINKS, SHE SMOKES, AND SHE TELLS DIRTY JOKES,
SHE HASN'T A BRAIN IN HER HEAD.
THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS IS A CIGARETTE FIEND,
SHE DRINKS MORE BOOZE THAN I,
BUT THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS AIN'T AS DUMB AS SHE SEEMS,
SHE'S THE SWEETHEART OF SIX OTHER GUYS.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: FRATERNITY SONGBOOK

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DRUNKARDS ODE

HOW WELL DO I REMEMBER,
'TWAS IN THE LATE NOVEMBER,
I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREET QUITE FULL OF PRIDE,
MY HEART WAS ALL A-FLUTTER
AS I SLIPPED DOWN IN THE GUTTER,
AND A PIG CAME THERE AND LAID DOWN BY MY SIDE;
AND AS I LAY THERE IN THE GUTTER
ALL TOO SOUSED TO EVEN MUTTER,
A LADY PASSING BY WAS HEARD TO SAY:
ONE MAY TELL A BRUTE THAT BOOZES,
BY THE COMPANY HE CHOOSES.
HEARING THIS THE PIG GOT UP AND WALKED AWAY.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: FRATERNITY SONGBOOK

Keyword(s): PROBABLY A DRINKING SONG

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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OH, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE

IN A CAVERN, IN A CANYON,
EXCAVATING GOT A MINE,
DWELT A MINER, FORTY NINER,
AND HIS DAUGHTER, CLEMENTINE.

CHORUS:
OH MY DARLING, OH MY DARLING,
OH MY DARLING, CLEMENTINE
YOU ARE LOST AND GONE FOREVER
DREADFUL SORRY CLEMENTINE.

LIGHT SHE WAS AND LIKE A FAIRY
AND HER SHOES WERE NUMBER NINE
HERRING BOXES WITHOUT TOPSES
SANDLES FOR MY CLEMENTINE.
SHE DROVE DUCKLINGS TO THE WATER
EVERY MORNING JUST AT NINE,
HIT HER FOOT AGAINST A SPLINTER
FELL INTO THE FOAMING BRINE.

RUBY LIPS ABOVE THE WATER
BLOWING BUBBLES SOFT AND FINE
ALAS FOR ME! I WAS NO SWIMMER
SO I LOST MY CLEMENTINE.
IN A CHURCHYARD NEAR THE CANYON
WHERE THE MYRTLE DOTH ENTWINE
THERE GROW ROSES AND OTHER POSIES
FERTILIZED BY CLEMENTINE.

THEN THE MINER, FORTY-NINER
SOON BEGAN TO PEAK AND PINE
THOUGHT HE OUGHT TO PINE HIS DAUGHTER
NOW HE'S WITH HIS CLEMENTINE.
IN MY DREAMS SHE STILL DOTH HAUNT ME
ROBED IN GARMENTS SOAKED IN BRINE
THOUGH IN LIFE I USED TO HUG HER,
NOW SHE'S DEAD I'LL DRAW THE LINE.
 

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; FRATERNITY SONGBOOK

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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