First published in 1915, "The Old Gray Mare" melody has enjoyed various sets of lyrics (as an 18th century black spiritual, an 1860 campaign song for Abe Lincoln, and a 20th century civil rights anthem). The earliest published use of the melody that I know of is 1867, as an Oklahoma play-party song "Go In The Wilderness".

Sam Hinton collected this parody of "The Old Gray Mare" as a boy in growing up in East Texas in the early 1930's:

"The old gray mare went swimming in the Delaware
In her yellow underwear and said she didn't give a care
The old gray mare went swimming in the Delaware
Many long years ago."

Please post the parodies of "The Old Gray Mare" that you grew up with and indicate the approximate year and region or state in which you learned it.

Thanks,
-Adam Miller