Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar

Subject: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: GUEST,pavane
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 07:50 AM

These two songs seem to be versions of a common story in which one party gives the other a series of gifts, each of which may turn out to be faulty in some way.

Mockingbird (e.g. recording by Carly Simon & James Taylor)

If that mocking bird don't sing
I'm going to give her a diamond ring...

(Childrens skipping rhyme)
Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Jews
Bought his wife a pair of shoes..

Is there a single 'name' for this group of songs? Are there many variants?

Are they related to the Riddle song or the Lovers tasks (Scarborough fair group of songs)?

Subject: RE: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 08:39 AM

This type is called "chain songs" HERE, in which "the verse is expanded either by starting each new line with the last words of the previous one or in a question-response form."

~Masato

Subject: RE: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Aug 02 - 08:54 AM

There's a similar (but different) type which is called "Call-and-Answer Songs" HERE. "Many French folksongs are sung in a call-and-answer style. Each verse contains two lines and (usually) a French equivalent of "tra la la". Each successive verse starts with the last last line of the previous verse, (usually) repeats it, and introduces a new line. Thus a leader can sing the new line at the end of each verse and the whole group can sing the rest."