The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #25627 Message #1432989
Posted By: GUEST,Bob Coltman
12-Mar-05 - 09:01 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Soldier's Joy
Subject: RE: Origins: 'Soldier's Joy'?
The widely known Love Somebody / I Am My Mama's Darling Child uses the first strain of Soldier's Joy, but most versions don't use the 2nd (high part). Verses follow from Georgia banjo picker Land Norris' sly 1920s Okeh recording (excuse me if this duplicates anything in the DT). Second strain is sometimes used for "Eyes are blue" verse:
I love somebody, yes I do, I love somebody true, I love somebody, yes I do, I love somebody but I won't tell who. [some sing it "I don't love you."]
I am my mama's darling child (3) I ain't gonna marry for a good long while.
I am my mama's darling pet (3) I'm not a-gonna marry for a good long whet.
Eyes are blue, cheeks are red, (3) Lips as sweet as gingerbread.
A crosseyed dog and a one-eyed hoss (3) My old lady is the boss.
NOTE: "whet" means yearning, as in honing. But you could make it a little less archaic by singing "a good while yet,"if you think hearers won't get it (they most likely won't, unless they're DTers of course.