Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown

01 Oct 03 - 12:36 PM (#1027343)
Subject: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I'm looking foir the complete lyrics to the song Goin' downtown. It starts something like this:
I'm goin' downtown, I'm a-goin' downtown, I'm a-goin' down to Bedford town to carry my tabaccer down.

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01 Oct 03 - 01:03 PM (#1027354)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: Charley Noble

Sounds like a whole family of songs with various town names. I think you'll find more verses if you search the DT (Digital Tradition database) for "Lynchburg Town."

Wish I had a big fat horse,
Corn to feed him on,
Pretty little girl to stay at home,
Feed him when I'm gone.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

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01 Oct 03 - 01:06 PM (#1027358)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: Charley Noble

Here's a "Blue Clickie" to one version of Lynchburg Town:Transport

There are a lot of different versions discussed in the "threads." Happy hunting!

Charley Noble

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01 Oct 03 - 01:09 PM (#1027360)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: EBarnacle1

It can also be found on the NexTradition's album.

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01 Oct 03 - 02:12 PM (#1027393)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Several versions in thread 47009: Lynchburg

Also commonly called Jonny Boker, Goin' Down To Town and other names. Appeared in print in 1840 as a minstrel song, but could be older; Appalachian-Piedmont or Negro secular.

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01 Oct 03 - 11:07 PM (#1027694)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: humorous song: Goin' downtown
From: GUEST,Joe Benkert

Thanks for all the help!!!
Mr. Nobel's stanza and the lyrics for "Lynchburg" on this site match the rhythm of the version I'm looking for but though the words of "Jonny Boker" have similar meaning the tune and rhythm are quite different. I'm looking for the tall tale version sung by Ed McCurdy on "an introduction to folk music & folk lore".
Try as I might, I can only figure out about half of the words. My copy of the LP is pretty beat-up and Mr. McCurdy sings it fast.

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