American Nine Times A Night

Subject: American Nine Times A Night
From: GUEST,Ian Kirkpatrick
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 04:36 PM

I just found an American version of Nine Times a Night by Blaine Stubblefield of Ohio recorded by Alan Lomax in 1938. The song became popular for AL Lloyd's version, and many have suggested they would have believed Lloyd wrote it without the broadsides from the 1800s of the song. I am including the lyrics here for those interested. Fascinatingly, there is a whole 2nd half of the song that could stand on it's own.


I came to this country without fame or renown
And I settled down alone in a quiet little town
The people didn’t know my name, of course I told them right
I belong to that family called Nine Times A Night

There was a lovely girl, got anxious to know
And she sent around her waiting maid, unto my bungalow
The maid came and called me, before it was daylight
Enquiring for this young man, Nine Times A Night

Well I went to the lady’s house, and there we went to bed
And there we lay a-sporting, and I stole her maidenhead
I went to her 8 times, before it was daylight
but she just started hinting on her 9 times a night

You were boasting of the courage of the family you belong
And I took you by your name, and I think you did me wrong
You were boasting of your family, and you knew it wasn’t right
And you knew you couldn’t do it to me 9 times a night

I wasn’t boasting of my courage, now you understand me wrong
I was boasting of the courage of the family I belong
If you took me by my name then I didn’t do you right
I admit I couldn’t do it to you 9 times a night

I have failed to do you justice, although I am a man
But I vow and declare I have a brother who can
He always does it willingly and always does it right
And he always makes an average of his 9 times a night

Now he went to a milkmaid, so charming and so gay
She was always invited to a ball or a play
She had the mind to work, and the mind to play
And a mind of a miss for to go to the wake

When you go to the wake, beware take care
Take care, beware, Mr. Rogers will be there
He’ll hug you and he’ll kiss you and he’ll roll you in his arms
And you’ll be sorry coming home from the wake in the morn

Well she went to the wake, Mr. Rogers he was there
He hugged her and he kissed her and he rolled her in his arms
He rolled her on the ground, and he rolled her in the corn
Then she was sorry coming home from the wake in the morn

They were going through a cornfield at the break of day
When Rogers says to Nellie we will stop a while and play
We will stop a while and play, and we’ll have a little chat
And I’ll teach you the game that they call Shoot the Cat

Well 6 months went and 7 months passed
And her apron wouldn’t tie and her corset wouldn’t latch
And she laid it to the game that they called Shoot the Cat

8 months passed and nine months gone
and Nellie was relieved of a charming young son
Then momma said Nellie we will name him for your sake
We will call him Shoot the Kitten Coming Home From the Wake

When this young lad grew up to be a man
He’d run around the city with his poker in his hand
And when he had to piddle, all the ladies he would shake
And he’d say I’m Shoot the Kitten Coming Home From the Wake

Subject: RE: American Nine Times A Night
From: Reinhard
Date: 11 Jun 21 - 06:14 PM

The second half indeed is another song, Nellie the Milkmaid / Coming Home from the Wake (Roud 1606).