Lyr Req: Old Bob Ridley

Subject: Lyrics: Robert Ridley/Bob Ridley
From: Ole Bull
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 06:25 PM

I'm looking for lyrics (the earliest ones I can find) for the 19th century banjo song "(O)(Old)Robert(Bob)Ridley"

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD BOB RIDLEY (Charles White, 1855)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 06:38 PM

The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music has it:

OLD BOB RIDLEY
"Composed & sung by Chas. White at his Opera House, 49 Bowery, New York."
Publication: New York: Firth, Pond & Co., 1 Franklin Square, 1855.

1. Now, white folks, Ill sing you a ditty.
I'se from home but dat's no pity.
Oh, to praise myself it am a shame,
But Robert Ridley is my name.

CHORUS: Oh, Bob Ridley ho,
Oh, Bob Ridley ho,
Oh, Bob Ridley! Oh!
Oh, Bob Ridley ho.

2. Oh, white folks, I have crossed de mountains.
How many miles, I didn't count 'em.
Oh, I'se left de folks at de old plantation
And come down here for my education.

3. De first time dat I ever got a lickin'
'Twas down at de forks ob de cotton pickin'.
Oh! it made me dance. It made me tremble.
I golly it made my eyeballs jingle.

4. New York City am a mighty fine one.
For beauty and location it ain't behind 'em.
Oh! de ladies all look so sweet and gidley.
Wonder dey don't fall in love wid old Bob Ridley.

Subject: Lyr Add: Old Bob Ridley (mummers)
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 09:07 AM

This is one of the songs that 19th century mummers in Warwickshire used to end their performance with Not for Joe aand Camptown Races were others). The version that the Shakespeare Mummers use goes as follows:

A possum sat on a cinnamon tree
Looking cunning down on me
I picked up a stick all on the sly
And I hit him - ZIP - right in the eye.

Old Bob Ridley ho, HO!!
Old Bob Ridley ho, HO!!
Old Bob Ridley ho, HO!!
What made you treat that possum so.

The master say he never see
A possum half as big as he
We ate and we ate and we ate all night
And we never ate him up till the morning light