Lyr Req: Melinda (She Was Handsome...Grandpa Jones

Subject: Lyr Req: Grandpa Jones: Melinda (She Was Handsome
From:
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:35 AM

Might some kind Mudcatter send me the lyrics to the Grandpa Jones
classic, Melinda (She Was Handsome)?

I learned it 40 years ago and have been singing it. I plan
to record it next month and want to get the words right.

Also if someone has copyright info, I will appreciate it.
I have assumed it's public domain, but.....

Thanks,

Rick
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grandpa Jones: Melinda (She Was Handsome
From: RangerSteve
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:42 PM

Melinda, she was handsome, the fairest in the land,
Her nose was like an old hoe cake, her (Something) like a ham,
She was six feet and over, her hair a beautiful red,
She used to stand upon a chair when she wanted to scratch her head,

Chorus:
Don't you cry, Melinda, don't you cry for me,
I'm going away to leave you way down in Tennessee,
but I'll be back again my dear when the corn is in the ear,
Play upon my old banjo for you, Melinda, dear.

Now if I was an elephant, how happy I would be,
I'd lock Melinda in my trunk and throw away the key,
If I was an alligator, and went out for a swim
I'd open up my alligates and scoot ol' 'Linda in,

Chorus

There may be another verse or two, but I don't remember them.
I've heard Grandpa's version, but I don't think I have a copy of it.
The above version was sung by Bob Siggins and an old Electra anthology of old-time banjo music. I'm pretty sure it's the same as Grandpa's.

Subject: Lyr Add: DO ROUND MY LINDY (Fiddlin' John Carson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Jul 04 - 09:47 AM

This discography says that DON'T YOU CRY, MELINDA, performed by Bob Siggins and Bill Vanaver, appears on the various-artists album "Old Time Banjo Project," Elektra EKL-276 (mono)
= EKS-7276 (stereo), 1964.

The Folk Music Index lists DON'T YOU CRY, MELINDA and says it is related to DO ROUND MY LINDY, recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson and Ray Knight, and DON'T YOU CRY MY HONEY by The Skillet Lickers.

Barnes & Noble has a sound sample of The Skillet Lickers' DON'T YOU CRY MY HONEY:

"Now, my honey, don't you cry.
I'll see you by and by."

Honking Duck has a complete sound file of Carson's DO ROUND MY LINDY:

CHORUS: Do round, my Lindy. Do round my Jane.
For I'm a-goin' away with a purty little girl, but I'm comin' back again.

My Lindy is handsome. My Lindy she's stout,
But she broke my new suspenders and she set down on my hat. CHORUS TWICE

I wish I was an alligator that when I went to swim,
I'd open my mouth as wide as I could and I'd scoop my Lindy in. CHORUS THREE TIMES

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Melinda (She Was Handsome...Grandpa Jones
From: GUEST,G. Drew
Date: 15 Oct 14 - 10:47 PM

In regards to your Melinda lyrics, her neck was like a ham. The second verse is as follows :
The first time that I met her I never will forget
She threw her arms around my neck and set me to her lips
She whispered to me gently you are a handsome chap
She broke my new suspenders when she sat upon my lap.

Hope this works for you.

Subject: Lyr Add: MELINDA (Grandpa Jones)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Oct 14 - 10:16 AM

My transcription from Spotify. I have tried to represent some of his dialect by spelling.


MELINDA
As sung by Grandpa Jones on "Strictly Country Tunes" (1959)

1. Oh, Melinda, she was handsome, the fairest in the land.
Her nose was like a big hoecake, and her cheeks was like a ham.
She was six feet and over, her hair a beautiful red.
She used to stand upon her chair when she wanted to scratch her head.

CHORUS: Oh, don't you cry, Melinder; now, don't you cry for me.
I'm a-goin' away to leave you way down in Tennessee,
But I'll be back again, my love, when the corn is in the ear,
To pick upon my old banjo for you, Melinder, dear.

2. The first time that I met her, I never will forget.
She put her arms around my neck and pressed me to her lips.
She whispered very gently: "You are a handsome chap."
She broke my new suspenders when she set upon my lap. CHORUS

3. If I were an elephant, how happy I would be!
I'd lock Melinder in my trunk and throw away the key.
If I was a alligator, and went out fer a swim,
I'd open up my allergate and scoot ol' 'Linder in. CHORUS TWICE