The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #9770   Message #4213699
Posted By: and e
18-Dec-24 - 05:13 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Little Ball of Yarn
Subject: RE: Origins: Little Ball of Yarn
Ball of Yarn

Was a sunny day in June
All the flowers were in bloom
And the birds were singing oh so merrily
When I spied that little lass
Just lighting in the grass
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

Well she gave me her consent
And behind the barn we went
Never dreaming that I could do her any harm
I laid her on the ground
And I lifted up her ground
And I rolled out that little ball of yarn

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

It was nine months after that
In the waiting room I sat
Never dreaming that I'd done her any harm
When the nurse all dressed in white
Said, "Young man, you won your fight."
When you rolled out your little ball of yarn."

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

It was nine weeks after that
In the pool room where I sat
Never dreaming that I'd done her any harm
When the cop all dressed in blue
Said, "Young man I've come for you."
'Cause you rolled out that little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

It was nine days after that
In the court room where I sat
Never dreaming that I'd done her any harm
When the judge all dress in black
Said, "Young man you won't be back
'Cause you rolled out that little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

It was nine days after that
In the electric chair I sat
Never dreaming that I'd done her any harm
When the man behind the glass
Shot the juice right up my leg
'Cause I rolled out that little ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
Ball of yarn (ball of yarn)
I rolled out that little ball of yarn

It was nine seconds after that
Down in Hades where I sat
Never dreaming that I'd done her any harm
Well they wrapped my jewels in wire
And they tossed them in the fire.
'Cause I'm the father of a nine pound ball of yarn.

Ball of yarn
Ball of yarn
'Cause I'm the father of a nine pound ball of yarn.

1983. Transcribed from the singing of Walt Robertson. Recorded at an informal session on a Sunday morning
at the breakfast table of a home on the Hood Canal,
Washington. From the audio archives of Bob Nelson.

Listen here: http://pnwfolklore.org/audiofiles/WaltRobertson-BallOfYarn-1983.mp3