Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister

Subject: Lyr rqst: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From:
Date: 30 May 97 - 10:15 PM

On a Tom Glazer children's record at least 50 years ago, there was a song that started

"Monkey married the baboon's sister,
gave her a hug and then he kissed her,
kissed so hard he raised a blister,
she set up yell.
Bridesmaids stuck on some court plaster,
stuck so fast it couldn't stick faster,
surely 'twas a sad disaster,
but it soon got well.

I looked here and got Johnny Booker, but that's not it. I'd love to have the rest of the lyrics. (In fact, I'd love to have the lyrics to all the songs on that record, but will settle for this one : ) ) Thanks. Lila Henry

Subject: ADD: The Monkey's Wedding
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 May 97 - 01:23 AM

Lila
If you look up Congo River (2) in the DT or under (sailor)
you'll find the West Indian rowing shanty a version of what
you're looking for."The Monkey's Wedding" as follows coomes
from Carl Sandburg's 'American Songbag'.


THE MONKEY'S WEDDING


The monkey married the baboon's sister
Gave her a ring & then he kissed her
She set up a yell
The bridesmaid stuck on some court-plaster
It stuck so fast it couldn't stick faster
Surely 'twas a sad disaster
But it soon got well

What do you think the bride was dressed in
White gauze veil and a green glass breast-pin
Red kid shoes quite interestin
She was quite a belle
The bridegroom blazed with a blue shirt-collar
Black silk stock that cost a dollar
Large false whiskers the fashion to follow
He cut a monstrous swell

What do you think they had for supper
Chestnuts raw & boiled & roasted
Apples sliced & onions toasted
Peanuts not a few
What do you think they had for a fiddle
An old banjo with a hole in the middle
A tambourine & a worn-out griddle
Hurdy-gurdy too

What do you think were the tunes they danced to
What were the figures they advanced to
Up & down as they chanced to
Tails they were to lomg
"Duck In The Kitchen," "Old Aunt Sally,"
Plain cotillion, "Who Keeps Tally"
Up & down they charge & rally
Ended is my song.

Subject: RE: Lyr rqst: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 02 Jun 97 - 08:36 PM

Thanx Barry-- I'd forgotten that one.

Subject: RE: Lyr rqst: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From: Max
Date: 28 Mar 11 - 09:46 PM

In The DT

I play it in C.


THE MONKEY'S WEDDING
       C
The monkey married the baboon's sister,
G
Gave her a ring and then he kissed her;
C
Kissed her so hard he raised a blister,
F         G    C
She set up a yell.
                                     G
The bridesmaid stuck on some court-plaster,
    F                      C
It stuck so fast it couldn't stick faster;
F                     C
Surely it was a sad disaster,
F       G            C
But it soon got well.

What do you think the bride was dressed in?
White gauze veil and a green glass breast pin,
Red kid shoes quite interestin',
She was quite a belle.
The bridegroom blazed with a blue shirt-collar,
Black silk stock that cost a dollar,
Large false whiskers, the fashion to follow;
He cut a monstrous swell.

What do you think they had for supper?
Chestnuts raw and boiled and roaster,
Apples sliced and onions toasted,
Peanuts not a few.
What do you think they had for a fiddle?
An old banjo with a hole in the middle,
A tambourine and a worn-out griddle,
Hurdy-gurdy too.

What do you think were the tunes they danced to?
What were the figures they advanced to,
Up and down as they chanced to?
Tails they were too long!
"Duck in the kitchen," "Old Aunt Sally,"
Plain cotillion, "Who keeps Tally?"
Up and down they charge and rally!
Ended is my song.

Subject: RE: Lyr rqst: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From: My guru always said
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 02:25 AM

Ah, a Monkey song. Not sure they got across to the UK till quite recently...

Subject: RE: lyr req: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From: breezy
Date: 29 Mar 11 - 03:12 PM

I have a copy with a few variants

like e.g. verse 3 starts

what do you think they had for supper

'fresh fried fish-eggs boiled in batter'

'fruit in the frying pan all a flutter

pickled onions too'



I collected my version from Pete and Marion Grey who performed around 1962-65 and were support for the Quaggy-siders at Downe folk club near Biggin Hill Kent

At the time I thought it was an east end music -hall song

Subject: ADD Version: THE MONKEY'S WEDDING (1860)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 01:05 AM

Here's the oldest version I can find, from The Shilling Song Book by W. E Tunis (Niagara Falls: W. E Tunis, 1860), page 16:


THE MONKEY'S WEDDING.

The monkey married the baboon's sister;
Smacked his lips, and then he kissed her;
He kissed so hard he raised a blister;
She set up a yell.
The bridesmaid stuck on some court-plaster;
It stuck so fast it couldn't stick faster;
Surely 'twas a sad disaster;
But it soon got well.

What do you think the bride was dressed in?
White gauze veil, and a green glass breastpin,
Red kid shoes, — she was quite interesting;
She was quite a belle.
The bridegroom swelled with a blue shirt-collar
Black silk stock that cost a dollar,
Large false whiskers, the fashion to follow;
He cut a monstrous swell.

What do you think they had for supper?
Black-eyed peas, and bread and butter,
Ducks in the duck-house all in a flutter,
Pickled oysters too;
Chestnuts raw and boiled and roasted,
Apples sliced, and onions toasted;
Music in the corner posted,
Waiting for the cue.

What do you think was the tune they danced to?
"The Drunken Sailor," sometimes "Jim Crow;"
Tails in the way, and some got pinched, too,
'Cause they were too long.
What do you think they had for a fiddle?
An old banjo with a hole in the middle,
A tambourine made out of a riddle, —
And that's the end of my song.

Subject: RE: lyr req: Monkey married the baboon's sister
From: Arkie
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 06:49 PM

Mac Wiseman recorded an enjoyable version of this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 10:28 AM

Here's a version of "The Monkey Married The Baboon's Sister" from The Turks & Caicos Islands (West Indies)

CONCH STYLE
Monkey married to baboon sister
Kiss his lips and make it blister
What you think they had for dinner
Black eye peas and monkey liver
Conch style, oh aunt Johnny
Conch style, oh aunt Johnny

Source: David Bowen, Cultural Officer, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board ; Rediscovery the Hidden Culture- Folk Songs; (Turks & Caicos Islands)
http://www.timespub.tc/2002/06/rediscovering-the-hidden-culture-folk-songs/ ; posted summer 2002

[Hat tip to MorwenEdhelwen1 who included that article's link on a recent Mudcat thread on the Caribbean song Lyr Add: Big Big Sambo Gyal (jamaica)]

Here's information from David Bowen about this Turk & Caicos version of "Monkey Married The Baboon's Sister":

"The song "Conch Style," taught to me by my aunt, Mrs. Mary "Titta" Quelch of Overback, Grand Turk, is a good example of a humorous folk song. The "Conch Style" is also a folk dance where the dancer hooks one foot around the back of the other ankle with a quick shuffle step in-between to change legs. Hooking the foot represents the claw or foot of the conch."

-snip-

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y46np6ciLbs for a video of "The Monkey's Wedding" [also known as The Monkey Married The Baboon's Sister] The tune of "The Monkey's Wedding" is the same one that is used for the American children's song "Paw Paw Patch". I'm not sure if the "Conch Style" song has the same tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Azizi
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 04:01 PM

I should have written that I think that the some portions of the tune of "The Monkey Married The Baboon's Sister" (as sung on that YouTube video whose link I provided)is similar in "Paw Paw Patch". Those same portions also remind me of part of "Frog Went A Courtin".

It also occurs to me that The verses about "what do you think they had for dinner"? (what do you think they had for supper?) is also like "what will the wedding supper be" in "Frog Went A Courtin".

Given those similarities (in tune and lyrical structure) has there been any documentation of any connection [variant, parody or otherwise] between "The Monkey Married The Baboon's Daughter" and "Frog Went A Courtin" songs?

Also, what date was given for the West Indian rowing song entitled "Congo River 2" and mentioned by Barry Finn in this thread. Was it collected after the 1860 date that Jim Dixon mentioned as the date for the earliest version of "Monkey Married..."? Unfortunately, no date was given for that version from the Turks & Caicos Islands. I'm presuming that this song originated in the USA and was taken to the West Indies by Black sailors by others. Is that the same assumption that others here have?


And given that the date of the earliest documented version of "The Monkey Married..." is the 1860s, is it the prevailing assumption that this song was composed by blackfaced minstrels in imitation of African American social dance songs, many of which featured characters who were animals or birds?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 04:52 PM

Sandburg noted that the tune was similar to that of many Irish and English jigs, also that the song was widespread in America.

It appears in De Marsan song sheets, and the Traditional Ballad Index lists Brown and Scarborough (a. o.) as well as Sandburg, none older than the one found by Jim Dixon.
"Black-eyed peas" in the song suggests an American origin.

The Zimbabwean singer Netsayi called her latest album "Monkey's Wedding." The song probably travelled with English-speakers all over the world.
In meteorology, a sunshower is called a monkey's wedding. It is also applied to any unusual combination.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 05:28 PM

Click here for a fascinating YouTube recording of this song by a familiar character bearing the unfamiliar name of Milo Swerve.... (Azizi posted this link before I did)

As Milo says, the Dan Zanes recording of this is terrific. Zanes has a CD titled Parades and Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected by Carl Sandburg. I'd highly recommend it.

Oh, and of course I'd recommend ALL the recordings of Milo Swerve.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST,Seonaid
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 05:36 PM

When I learned the song, the fourth line was different:

"Monkey married the baboon's sister,
Hugged her first and then he kissed her,
Kissed her so hard it raised a blister,
It began to swell...."

I guess that could have caused her to yell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Siste
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:17 PM

Thank you Azizi

If is nice to see back and posting the http and time, date

It will help future researchers if you also note the mudcat links for Barry Finn and Jim Dixon that you mentioned above.

You are "almost there" for every hour you have invested - it could be premium "gold" if you just went the extra mile.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

You have some good "stuff" - AND with CAREFUL references - you could become a "secondary source." (THAT IS a GOOD Thing.) Coco Jams is nice...but a mess. No serious researcher can use most of your material. LOCATION (Georgraphic) OBSERVER (Name) WHEN (year, month, day, time)HOW (digital, paper, memory) URL references with http address and date/time

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Jun 11 - 02:14 AM

I guess the beginning of tune is the same as "Michael Finnegan" - any song that completely shares the tune of "Monkey's Wedding"?

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr. Add: Oh, What a Hell of a Wedding (W. Indies)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:56 PM

OH, WHAT A HELL OF A WEDDING
Fishermen, rowing, work song.

Oh, what a hell of a wedding over Congo River,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey married to baboon's daughter,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

What do you t'ink dey had for dere dinner?
Mosquito gall and a sandfly liver,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

The father fish went to stake de key,
Baboon say he might cake alone,
At lunch he get up to shade de rice,
Monkey say, "Leave de rice alone."
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey an' baboon have everyt'ing for themselves,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Gonna have the biggest wedding over Congo River,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey married to baboon' daughter,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Everyt'ing in de feas' he had,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey and baboon take all for themselves,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Nobody take a tas'e from them,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey and baboon they na share whe they have,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

With musical score, 6/8.
Work song, derived in part from the 19th century music hall song, which also was popular with sailors.
A fragment is in the DT ("Congo River"). See post of song from Sandburg, above, Barry Finn post.

Rodger D. Abrahams, 1975, Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore, American Folklore Society, University of Texas Press.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 03:33 PM

This song is mentioned in The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency stories (Alexander McCall Smith) as being sung in Botswana.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 05:30 PM

Sung everywhere English (and Americans) went.

Subject: A big baboon by the light of the moon sat curling
From: GUEST,carrie
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 12:17 AM

sang this song in grade school and can't remember the rest was a real fun song we loved it.   Does any one know it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Aug 11 - 11:21 PM

Well, as Azizi and I said above, there's a YouTube recording by my folk hero Milo Swerve here (click).

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:07 AM

>Sandburg noted that the tune was similar to that of many Irish and English jigs.

The resemblance escapes me.

Can anyone name even one such Irish or English "jig" that the tune sounds like?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 02:22 PM

In Milo Swerve's version, the tune starts like 'Bobby Shafto'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 04:47 PM

Cousin Emmy, bck in the 1940's, used the verses in "Johnny Booker"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 12 - 12:04 PM

Regimental march of US 9th (Colored) Cavalry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 15 May 13 - 02:09 AM

****
From: GUEST,Lighter - PM
Date: 19 Aug 11 - 09:07 AM

>Sandburg noted that the tune was similar to that of many Irish and English jigs.

The resemblance escapes me.

Can anyone name even one such Irish or English "jig" that the tune sounds like?
****

Lighter, are you thinking of the reel tune of "Drunken Sailor"?

Drunken Sailor reel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 13 - 08:41 PM

Doing historical transcription of a woman's reminisces-she remembers her brother singing this song to her when she was very young probably around 1865. She was born in 1860.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Aug 13 - 06:08 PM

Sheet music for THE MONKEY'S WEDDING can be seen at The Levy Collection. (And a second copy is here.) Lyrics are identical to those I posted earlier, from The Shilling Song Book. No author/composer is given, and no date that I can see, but I'm guessing it is roughly contemporaneous with The Shilling Song Book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Monkey Married the Baboon's Sister
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Sep 13 - 01:14 AM

To Jim Dixon: This is the version that my mom sang to me when I was very little. She was from Indiana, if that means anything. My mom just recently passed away so it warms my heart to have found all this info on this song.