The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45593 Message #1054845
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
16-Nov-03 - 03:08 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: I put me hands upon her calves
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I put me hands upon her calves
According to Reeves (Idiom, 114) reported in Ed Cray, "The Erotic Muse," the Yo Ho version was the one that Sharp completely recast into "Gently Johnny....". Sharp got it from an unnamed Somerset singer.
The Yo Ho version also got to North America and is reported in two variants from Kentucky.
Cray gave this version from Morgan 2, "More Rugby Songs" (pp. 64-65):
He put his hand upon her toe, yoho, yoho, (2x)
He put his hand upon her toe,
She said "Marine, you're might[y] slow.
Get in, get out, quit ******* [fucking] about,"
Yoho, yoho, yoho.
The Oscar Brand recording of the song is on "G. I.- American Army Songs," Riverside 12-639.