The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #45929 Message #4059561
Posted By: and e
16-Jun-20 - 01:06 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The party at Newport
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The party at Newport
The lyrics of "Had a Little Party Down in Freeport" are often combinded with other songs of a "pop" nature, "Coney Island Baby" and "The Souse Family" evidently being the two most common. Texts have appeared in the IOCA Song Fest (1948, pp 38-39; beinging with the refrain "Oh we had to carry Carry from the ferry...), Air Force Airs (1957, p 191 as "The Party in Tacoma," combined with "The Souse Family"), and in Songs for Swingin' Housemothers (1961, p 83; the same segment as in the ICA Song Fest). Seven variants were collected at Michigan State University and one at Indiana University prior to this field collection, which are now in the Idianan University Folklore Archive. The earliest trace of this song that I can find is a 1944 Michagan State text, although the lyrics smack of a 1920's flavor.
The name of the principal individual varies from Harry to Carey (usually pronounced "Carry") or once in a while, Mary, and the town involved is most commonly Freeport or Newport, although other names may be used. A text collect by Sally Mrphy at Michigan State in 1956 has an additional stanza which does not appear to be too well known judging from the other extant texts available; and which perhaps is strictly of "pop" origins:
We all fall for some girl that dresses neat; Some girls that's got big feet. We meet then on the street. Then we'll join the army of barried boobs To the alter (just like leading lambs to the slaughter) When it's over, oh boy, we get it good. Bach'lor days we then recall (we then recall). Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief. We are all bound for __________.
Collected from Clay McMullen, Ray Brandell, and Forest Redding on December 6, 1963 [recording]. They said it was a popular number in their local Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Indiana University. This variant combines the lyrics with "Coney Island Baby."
Oh we had a little party down in Freeport, There was Harry, there was Carey, there was Grace. Ohe we had a little party down in Freeport, And we had to carry Carey from the place. Now we had to carry Carey to the Ferry And we had to carry Carey from the shore, Now the reason that we had to carry Carey Was that Carey coudn't carry any more, boom, boom,
Goodbye my Coney Island baby, Farewell my own true love, my own true love, Oh honey, I'm gonna stay away and leave you, Never gonna se you again--never gonna see you any... Never to return again. So goodby, so long, farewell forever, Barroomm, goodbye my Coney Island-- Barroomm, goodbye my Coney Island Baby.