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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Barry straight & sober song circle (54* d) Lyr Add: MICHAEL ROY 21 Sep 97


I was being tongue and cheek when I mentioned The Bad Girl being sung to the tune of The Streets Of Laredo/Libido.

In 1856, Michael Roy appeared published in songsters. In 1888 it appeared in a collection compiled by Evert Wendell with an added last verse. This seems to be a composite of two earlier songs "The Charcoal Man" and "My Boy With The Auburn Hair.”

In Brooklyn City there lived a maid, and she was known to fame.
Her mother's name was Mary Ann, and hers was Mary Jane.
And every Saturday morning she used to go over the river
To Fulton Market where she sold eggs and sausages, likewise liver.

CHO. For O, for O, for he was my darling boy.
For he was the lad with the auburn hair and his name was Michael Roy.

She fell in love with a charcoal man. McCloskey was his name.
His fighting weight was 7 stone 10 and he loved sweet Mary Jane.
He took her to ride in his charcoal cart on a fine St. Patrick's day,
But the donkey took fright at a Jersey man and he started and ran away.

They both did holler with all their might for the donkey for to stop,
But he overturned Mary Jane, wagon and all, right into a policy shop.
When McCloskey saw his heart moved to pity,
So he stabbed his donkey with a piece of charcoal and started for Salt Lake City.

Now ladies all take warning by the fate of Mary Jane,
And never get into a charcoal cart unless you step out again.
The latest news from o'er the plain comes straight from Salt Lake City:
McCloskey he has 45 wives and is truly an object of pity.

From June Lazare's Folk Songs Of New York City" 1966-Folkways
Barry Finn


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