The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37822   Message #530536
Posted By: Stewie
17-Aug-01 - 08:38 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
Subject: Lyr Add: HAND ME DOWN MY WALKIN' CANE
I have found the following on this page:

Click

Given the ambiguous note, however, it is difficult to know whether these are Bland's original verses or not.

HAND ME DOWN MY WALKIN' CANE

This is another of James Bland's great contributions to the age of minstrelsy. It has known many verses. In fact, we have added a few for good measure.

1. Oh, hand me down my walkin' cane,
Oh, hand me down my walkin' cane,
Oh, hand me down my walkin' cane,
I'm gonna catch the midnight train
'Cause all my sins are taken away.

2. Oh, hand me down my old buzz saw,
Oh, hand me down my old buzz saw, oh,
Hand me down my old buzz saw,
I'll need it down in Saginaw,
'Cause all my sins are taken away.

3. Oh, hand me down my old banjo,
Oh, hand me down my old banjo,
Oh, hand me down my old banjo,
I'm gonna play for the U.S.O.,
'Cause all my sins are taken away.

4. Oh, if I die in Tennessee,
Oh, if I die in Tennessee,
Oh, if I die in Tennessee,
Just send my bones back C.O.D.,
'Cause my sins are taken away.

On the subject of verses added 'for good measure', the 'Folksinger's Wordbook' gives these extra ones not noted above:

But if I should die in New York State
Just ship my body back by freight

The devil chased me round a stump
I thought he'd catch me at every jump

Now some folks say it ain't no fun
When a song like this goes on and on

Yes, on and on, and on and on
On and on and on and on
--Stewie.