I think I'll paste in the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index, so we have something to build on. Note that this song is NOT the song we have in the Digital Tradition, Ida Red/Shootin Creek....or is it?
-Joe Offer-
IDA RED/SHOOTIN CREEK
Ida red, Ida green, purtiest gal I ever seen
Ida red Ida red I'm just crazy about Ida red
Goin up to shootin creek goin in a run
Goin up to shootin creek have a little fun
Ida red she lives in town
Weighs three hundred and forty pounds
Ida red, Ida blue, Ida bit a hoecake half in two
If I'd a-listened to what Ida said, I'd a-been sleeping in Ida's bed
filename[ IDARED
BL
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Ida Red (I)
DESCRIPTION: "Ida Red, Ida Red, I'm in love with Ida Red." Verses often concern Ida, but are frequently silly and exaggerated: "Ida Red, she ain't a fool, Bigger'n an elephant, stronger'n a mule."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (recording, Charlie Poole)
KEYWORDS: love nonballad humorous
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,SE,So,SW)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Randolph 442, "Ida Red" (1 text, 1 tune)
Silber-FSWB, p. 36, "Ida Red" (1 text)
Rorrer, p. 83, "Shootin' Creek" (1 text, with verses from this song but music and chorus from "Cripple Creek (I)")
MWheeler, p. 14, "Ida Red" (1 text, 1 tune, somewhat removed from the standard version but too close to list as a separate song)
DT, IDARED
RECORDINGS:
Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers, "Shootin' Creek" (composite, with tune and chorus from "Cripple Creek (I); Columbia15286-D, 1928; on CPoole01, CPoole05)
Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, "Ida Red" (Vocalion 05079, 1939)
Pete Steele, "Ida Red" (on PSteele01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Cripple Creek (I)" (floating verses)
Notes: Wheeler's version has the chorus, "Ida Red, I'm gettin' tired uv eatin' that shortnin' bread." Not enough reason to call it a separate song, to my mind. - RBW
File: R442Go to the Ballad Search form
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