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30 Jun 04 - 01:10 PM (#1217113) Subject: ADD: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer Sometimes, Gargoyle inspires me to greatness. His Kartoffel thread inspired me to think of potato songs, and one of the first songs I thought of was "Sweet Potatioes," which I learned from a Bill Staines Children's CD called The Happy Wanderer. I thought we had a thread on this song, but all I could find was one message from Judy in another thread:
Posted By: judy 07-Nov-97 - 01:49 PM Thread Name: Songs to celebrate a new baby Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET POTATOES^^ A long time ago I found a record in the library called "You can sing it yourself Vol.2" with Robin Christenson (Folkways FC 7625) that had a terrific song called "Sweet Potatoes". I then found it again in a book called "Twice 55 Community Songs" listed as a Creole lullaby. The chorus can be sung separately or as a round with the verse: Chorus: Roo, roo roo roo, roo roo, sing hoaky dinkum Roo, roo roo roo, roo roo, roo roo Verse I Soon as mammy's cooked sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes Soon as mammy's cooked sweet potatoes, we eat 'em right straight up. Sorry I can't put the tune in here. Roo, roo doesn't do it without the music. You can see how this is an add-your-own-lyrics-until-the-baby-or-you-are-asleep song. congradulations judy Here are the lyrics Bill Staines uses. I see there's a copyright on them, but I'm betting this song is traditional. SWEET POTATO chant: Roo roo roo roo, roo roo, sing ho de dinkum Roo roo roo roo, roo roo, roo roo Soon as we all cook, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes Soon as we all cook, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes We eat them right straight up, sweet potatoes.... Soon as supper's et, mamma hollers, mamma hollers... Get along to bed, mamma hollers... Soon's we touch our heads, to the pillow, to the pillow... We go to sleep right smart, on the pillow, on the pillow.... Mamma whispers "Pleasant dreams", "Pleasant dreams".... words: H.W. Loomis Music: traditional © 1940 Birch Ltd. |
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30 Jun 04 - 01:21 PM (#1217129) Subject: ADD Version: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer There's a different version in the Rise Up Singing Songbook, and I like it better. I think this is the way Pete Seeger sings it - so I guess I learned it from Seeger, not Staines. You'll find this same version in The Fireside Book of Fun & Game Songs. Sweet Potatoes 1. Soon as we all cook sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes Soon as we all cook sweet potatoes, eat 'em right straight up! (counter melody)Roo roo roo roo, hoo roo, sing ho de dinkum! Roo roo roo roo, hoo roo, hoo roo! 2. Soon as supper's et, mammy hollers...get along to bed 3. Soon's we touch our heads to the pillow...go to sleep right smart 4. Soon's the rooster crow in the mornin'...got to wash our face 5. Soon's the school bus stops on the highway...got to go to school 6. Soon’s the school bell rings in the afternoon...then we go right home 7. Soon as we all cook sweet potatoes...eat 'em right straight up! — English lyrics: H.W.Loomis, additional verse Pete Seeger — Music: trad (descant Hector Spaulding) © 1940 Birch Tree Group, Ltd. Note that it still has the attribution to H.W. Loomis - for "English lyrics." I guess the original is Creole. Can we find it? -Joe Offer- Last two verses (in italics) from the Pete Seeger 1963 Carnegie Hall Concert album, We Shall Overcome |
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30 Jun 04 - 02:05 PM (#1217162) Subject: RE: lyrics: Sweet Potatoes From: Q (Frank Staplin) "Sweet Potatoes," Pete Seeger. On his Carnegie Hall concert set. Anyone have this one? Many southerners call this tuber a yam. This may be the reason there are so few songs about the 'sweet potato.' It appears mostly in minstrel songs. This one ain't it: "Chicken Reel," 1911. Way down in Carolina where the sweet potatoes grow There lives a dusky maiden by the name of Liza Snow. Ect. American Memory and Levy Sheet Music. About genuine potatoes: Tis my last, last potato! Yet boldly I stand With the calmness of cato My fork in my hand. Not one in the basket Must you also go? (With sorrow I ask it Shall I peel ye or no?) Tune- The Last Rose of Summer. "My Last Potato," at American Memory. And "Nelly Bly"- Nellie Bly hab a voice like de turtle-dove I hears it in de meadow and I hears it in the grove Nelly Bly hab a heart as warm as a cup of tea And bigger dan the sweet potato down in Tennessee. (A deathless bit of composition) |
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30 Jun 04 - 09:45 PM (#1217404) Subject: RE: lyrics: Sweet Potatoes From: open mike yams are darker orange and sweeter sweet potatoes are a lighter color |
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30 Jun 04 - 10:22 PM (#1217414) Subject: RE: lyrics: Sweet Potatoes From: Q (Frank Staplin) Yams so-called (USA only) were pushed into the market in the 1930s. Both the darker 'Louisiana yam' and the lighter 'sweet potato' grown in the USA are just varieties of each other. The true yam needs a very long season and is imported for foreign food outlets, NOT grown here. It belongs to a different plant group entirely. The name 'yam,' however, has pretty well pushed the name 'sweet potato' into the background. See Sweet Potato This Texas A&M University site also has some good recipes! |
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01 Jul 04 - 01:40 PM (#1217743) Subject: RE: lyrics: Sweet Potatoes From: Roger in Baltimore Washington, D.C. folks may remember that local star Donal Leace had a "hit" with this song. Yes, he had only one "d" in his first name. Roger in Baltimore |
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21 Oct 06 - 06:16 PM (#1865286) Subject: RE: Lyrics to "Sweet Potatoes" From: GUEST,GE There is a beautifully sung version of this song on a folk album by a relatively unknown lady: "Lynn Gold" (self titled) released as Warner Brothers LP W1495, 1963 |
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21 Oct 06 - 09:54 PM (#1865384) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Q (Frank Staplin) Geoff and Maria Muldauer sang this song on an album issued in 1972. A Japanese company has re-issued the album in a limited edition cd of the title, "Sweet Potatoes." Only ten tracks, and listed at US$51.99 by Amazon.com. "Sweet Potatoes" was a ragtime March (slow drag) composed in 1906 by Justin Ringleben, Seminary Music Co., NY. Sheet music at the Univ. Colorado (Boulder) Digital Libraries. NO lyrics. I doubt that either of these has anything to do with the Seeger etc. song. |
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25 Oct 06 - 04:40 PM (#1868578) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Artful Codger The "Sweet Potatoes" performed by the Muldaurs (actually, Maria Muldaur, vocals and Jeff Gutcheon, piano) is a slow, sultry, chromatic, bluesy love song - not one of the ones mentioned above. It begins: I get by without a try As long as I have you, dear Don't know just what I would do If you were ever gone... and ends: I've been stuck on my sweet potatoes Ever since I learned to see, And you sure have been a Good old habit to me. (This is the only mention of sweet potatoes in the lyrics.) The album cover lists the performers for each track, but doesn't provide attributions of authorship. I got my copy second-hand, so I'm probably missing liner notes. The album is worth hunting down for this song alone, but it also features great renditions of "Blue Railroad Train", "Havana Moon", "Lazybones", "Cordelia", "Dardanella", "Lover Man" and "Hard Time Killin' Floor". Also a rollicker everyone should get to hear at least once, "Kneein' Me": You're kneein' me in the balls, You're ballin' me in the knees, You're doin', doin' whatever you please! |
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26 Oct 06 - 07:04 AM (#1868982) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: GUEST,Felipa do you mean to tell me you didn't all learn this song in primary school, as I did? (NOT the Maria D'Amato Muldaur song!) one group would sing the verse and the other the chorus simultaneously As an adult I've taught this song to some people, but sometimes have difficulty getting the timing right |
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26 Oct 06 - 11:12 AM (#1869143) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Cool Beans I recall hearing different words sung to the same tune: "When the sun comes up in the morning, Up in the morning, In the morning, When the sun comes up in the morning, Blues around my bed." The singer may have been Leon Bibb. |
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27 Oct 06 - 08:19 AM (#1869863) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: GUEST,Bob Coltman "Swee' Petatehs" is a Creole traditional song. I have not seen the Creole words, but H.W. Loomis' lyrics are an English translation. I first heard a version from Lulu McGraw (Lou Breitenbach), Hanover, NH 1959. The version below, though, is the Loomis original, though I've reduced the dialect a bit. Other verses introduced above are apparently the performers' additions to the basic song. The "roo roo" chorus is sung against the verses as a countermelody. Bob SWEE' PETATEHS Cho Roo, roo roo roo, Roo roo, sing ho, kadinkum, Roo, roo roo roo, Roo roo, roo roo. Soon as Mammy cooks sweet potaters, Cooks sweet potaters, cooks sweet potaters, Soon as Mammy cooks sweet potaters, Eat 'em up right quick! Soon as supper's et, Mammy hollers, Et, Mammy hollers, et, Mammy hollers, Soon as supper's et, Mammy hollers, Git to bed right quick! Soon's we put our heads to the piller... Go to sleep right quick! Soon's the rooster crow in the mornin'... We get up right quick! |
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05 May 12 - 07:32 PM (#3347308) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Dave Rado I know the words Joe Offer posted, in the version sung by Pete Seeger, which you can listen to here. Glorious. I don't understand why this lovely song isn't more well known. Interesting to learn that it's a traditional Creole song. Any idea how long ago it dates to roughly? |
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05 May 12 - 08:00 PM (#3347315) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Dave Rado Actually the Pete Seeger lyrics are slightly different from those Joe posted - he sings: Soon as supper's et, mammy hollers...time to go to bed and Soon's the rooster crow in the mornin'...got to get right up. |
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16 Jun 16 - 08:44 PM (#3796170) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: GUEST,Libby Browning This melody and descant appear in a piece by Louis Marie Gottschalk that occasionally plays on the classical music station. I always wonder whether he borrowed the folk melody, or whether some folk singer dreamed up words to go with the catchy tune. |
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17 Jun 16 - 08:17 AM (#3796217) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Stilly River Sage It's Louis Moreau Gottschalk. The amazing thing about how modern his music sounds, he was more or less a contemporary of Chopin. |
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23 Jun 16 - 05:56 AM (#3797186) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer Anybody know the name of the Gottschalk piece that uses the melody of this song? |
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23 Jun 16 - 06:06 AM (#3797187) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: GUEST,Felipa we sang this song at school so I thought it was really well known. One group would sing "Soon as we all cook sweet potatoes... " and other verses while the other group would sing the chorus at the same time, harmonizing. I'd like to teach this to other people but am not too confident about the timing. I see I gave this same information 10 years ago! |
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23 Jun 16 - 11:48 AM (#3797249) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Vashta Nerada If you can find a version of Pete singing the song you have in mind, Joe, we can go compare as we wallow in Gottschalk works on YouTube. :-) These days Gottschalk's most prominent piece is A Night In the Tropics. The part in particular one hears played as an excerpt is the Fiesta criolla from near the end of the larger piece. This shows you that like a lot of composers of his day, he incorporated local melodies into his larger works. I am pleased to see a variety of his pieces uploaded. The 2012 thread link above is to an expired My Space page. |
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17 Feb 18 - 01:03 PM (#3906317) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: GUEST,Julibooh The Gottschalk piece that incorporates "Sweet Potatoes" is called "Bamboula". |
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17 Feb 18 - 02:47 PM (#3906337) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer Ah, now I can waste the day listening to Gottschalk as I defrost the freezer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOYnuC6twfI The notes on the video are helpful:
pain, Bamboula ultimately became one of his signature pieces. To learn more about Gottschalk visit - http://www.gottschalk-pianist.com/> |
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17 Sep 24 - 10:17 PM (#4208496) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer I've only heard this song from Bill Staines, but I love it. Here's Bill's recording. Anybody know of others? It's not in the Traditional Ballad Index....yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYwVFHprAz0 |
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21 Sep 24 - 01:04 AM (#4208664) Subject: ADD: Quan’ Patate La Cuite From: Joe Offer Ted Warmbrand emailed me to ask if I knew about the Creole version of "Sweet Potatoes," and I couldn't help him. So he kept digging, he found this at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette: QUAN' PATATE LA CUITE Quan’ Patate La Cuite Nava mange, nava mange Quan’ Patate La Cuite Nava mange, nava mange li. Many of you may recognize this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUvBu7pqEpk Also see this fascinating article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboula_(Gottschalk) |
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23 Sep 24 - 04:43 PM (#4208771) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Joe Offer from https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6611&c=222 |
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23 Sep 24 - 05:27 PM (#4208776) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sweet Potatoes From: Monique You can also find a comment about it in Mina Monroe's book Bayou ballads : twelve folk-songs from Louisiana along with a sheet music. |