To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=40167
13 messages

Lyr Req/Add: Jerusalem Donkey/Jerusalem Cuckoo

15 Oct 01 - 11:58 PM (#573075)
Subject: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: July4thbby

Does anyone know the words of an old song that starts something like this: I am a donkey driver, the best one in the land. I don't know the next line but the name of the donkey in the song is "Jerusalem cuckoo". I think the song was from the late 19th Century.

Thanks, Cookie

16 Oct 01 - 06:06 AM (#573183)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: GUEST,MCP

Go to the Bodleian broadside collection - you'll find two copies there under the title Jerusalem Cuckoo

Mick

16 Oct 01 - 06:57 PM (#573732)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: July4thbby

Thank you Mick. Cookie

16 Oct 01 - 07:10 PM (#573746)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: nutty

Here's a link to the best copy of the song

JERUSALEM CUCKOO

16 Oct 01 - 11:18 PM (#573927)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: July4thbby

Thank you so much Nutty. I couldn't find the lyrics anywhere.

Cookie

17 Oct 01 - 06:04 AM (#574044)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: masato sakurai

According to Brunnings, Folk Song Index (Garland), there's another title: "I Am a Donkey Driver."
~Masato

08 Jan 02 - 11:19 PM (#623890)
Subject: Lyr Add: JERUSALEM CUCKOO
From: Jim Dixon

Transcribed from the image at Nutty's link above:

JERUSALEM CUCKOO

I am a donkey driver. I'm the best that's in the line.
There's no donkey on the road that can come up to mine.
Talk about Kafusalem and other donkeys too,
No donkey on the road can beat Jerusalem Cuckoo.

CHORUS:
Shout, boys, Hurrah! My troubles they are few.
No donkey on the road can beat Jerusalem Cuckoo.

My donkey 'tis a beauty, his color rather pale.
His ears are long and graceful with a beautiful curly tail.
You have only got to whistle and he knows what he's to do.
A stunning ear for music has Jerusalem Cuckoo.

One day I took my donkey across to Brighton sand.
A lady she got on his back as they passed a German band.
The donkey he got frightened. The lady off he threw,
While loud above the band was heard the voice of my Cuckoo.

I thought my donkey smart enough to run in any race.
I took him to the Derby, and backed him for a place.
The signal it was given and off the horses flew.
First horse at the latter end was Jerusalem Cuckoo.

I always am contented. Not a cross word do I say.
I always get a bit of meat and the donkey gives the bray.
And if he kicks the bucket, I'll tell you what I'll do:
I'll lay me down and die beside Jerusalem Cuckoo.

08 Aug 03 - 02:35 PM (#999064)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jerusalem Donkey ???
From: GUEST,Ken Turner

Thanks for the Info

I know the song from my father who learnt it from his father in the 1930s
(Stansted Mountfichet ,Essex UK)

The last line I know is

"I'll make a sealskin jacket from Jerusalem Cuckoo"

Does anyone know of this version

05 Jun 10 - 11:03 PM (#2921583)
Subject: Re: Donkey Driver
From: Artful Codger

According to an notice quoted by Sminky in the "Origins: Down in a Coal Mine" thread, "Donkey Driver" was written by J.W. Rowley (at least partly--assuming the same song is meant). He also claimed at least partial credit for "Down in a Coal Mine".

23 Jun 10 - 02:31 AM (#2933046)
Subject: ADD: Donkey Driver/Jerusalem Cuckoo
From: Artful Codger

Ray Padgett sent me his recording of a variant of this song, as well as the lyrics for it.


DONKEY DRIVER (Jerusalem Cuckoo)

I am a Donkey Driver I'm the best one on the line,
There is no other donkey that can come up to mine.
I've travelled all over Engaland and other countries too,
But no donkey on the line can beat Jerusalem Cuckoo!

        Chorus:
   Then shout boys Hurrah, for me troubles they are but few,
   But no donkey on the line can beat Jerusalem Cuckoo

I took me donkey to Brighton for a week at the Grand Huzzah,
And there a fat lady came up to me she wanted a tuppeny ride.
She mounted up quite easily 'til the German band struck up,
Then the donkey threw the lady off and turned her the wrong way up!

I thought me donkey was good enough to go into a race,
I took him to the Derby and there I found a place,
The signal was given for starting and away me donkey flew,
And the first one at the winning post, it was Jerusalem Cuckoo.

I always am contented not an angry word I say,
So long as I gets a drop of beer me donkey gets his hay,
And if he kicks the bucket, I'll tell you what I'll do,
I'll have a sealed skin jacket made out of me old Cuckoo.

  X:1
  T:Donkey Driver
  C:Folk variant; original lyrics by J.W. Rowley.
  S:From the singing of Ray Padgett, Barnsley, UK.
  Z:Artful Codger
  M:6/8
  L:1/8
  Q:3/8=92
  K:B
  HF3 | D2 D D2 D | F2 F F2 F, | C2 C B,2 A, | B,3-B, z F |
  w: I am a don-key driv-er, I'm the best one on the line._  There
  G2 E E2 G | B3 A2 G | G2 F F2 D | F3-F z B, |
  w: is no oth-er don-key that can come up to mine._  I've
  G G G G2 F | G2 A HB2 G | G2 F F2 D | HF3 B,2 C |
  w: tra-veled all o-ver Eng-a-land and oth-er coun-tries, too, But no
  D2 D D2 D | F2 F F2 D | C2 B, A,2 C | HB,3 F3 |
  w: don-key on the line can beat Je-ru-sa-lem Cuck-oo!  Then
  G3 E2 G | B3 A2 G | F F F F2 D | F3 B,2 C |
  w: shout, boys, Hur-rah! For me trou-bles they are but few. But no
  D2 D D2 D | F2 F F2 D | C2 B, A,2 C | HB,6 |]
  w: don-key on the line can beat Je-ru-sa-lem Cuck-oo!
This tune appears to be related to those used for the sea song "According to the Act" (aka. "The Lime Juice Ship") and the American post-Civil War song "I'm a Good Old Rebel." At least one Aussie version of "Lime Juice Ship" begins the chorus with "Shout, boys! Hurrah!" The song "Wallaby Stew" borrowed the sea song's tune, and no doubt the tunes of other songs are closely related.

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

23 Jun 10 - 12:45 PM (#2933317)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Jerusalem Donkey/Jerusalem Cuckoo
From: r.padgett

Many thanks for this!

The abc should play in the likes of concertina.net

I have to admit the source is from Harry Upton who the sleeve notes (Green Grow the Laurels) on Topic 1976 say inherited a collection of songs texts from his parents. Harry was borne on 1900 the son of a Shepherd on the South Downs near Brighton

Further notes say that the song was in the repertoire of George Belton, (now)of Chichester. Of further interest may be "Jerusalem's Dead" referred to here in the sleeve notes sung by Albert Chevalier, concerning the death of a Costermongers's moke!
Ray

23 Jun 10 - 05:43 PM (#2933529)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Jerusalem Donkey/Jerusalem Cuckoo
From: Joe Offer

MIDI posted - (click).
Thanks to both Ray Padgett and Artful Codger.

-Joe-

25 Jun 10 - 06:49 AM (#2934485)
Subject: RE: req/ADD: Jerusalem Donkey/Jerusalem Cuckoo
From: GUEST, Sminky

See also the version in the Axon Broadside Collection which gives more info than the Bodleian one, above.