Hi,

This New England version of "Seventeen" may be very old. It's taken from "Country Dance and Song," No. 9, 1978. Also found in Warner's "Traditional American Folk Songs" and Flanders recording Track 20a: Hi Rinky Dum (Seventeen Come Sunday) - voice performance by Lena Bourne Fish at E Jaffrey (Nh.). Classification #: LAO17. Dated 1-16-1940.

Warner's version is missing the 2nd stanza-- he points out this is related to "The Milkmaid," a different song with a similar opening and courting dialogue. It is a composite of both songs only because of the ending stanza which resembles the ending of "The Milkmaid." The Brown Collection notes begin, "This song of the milkmaid, still remembered in England. . ." which is not an accurate statement and we will look at the Milkmaid later.

Hi Rinky Dum- as sung by Grammy Fish of New Hampshire in 1940.

As I was walking down the pike
One summer's morning early,
I met a charming blue-eyed lass
With her hair all crisp and curly.
CHORUS: Hi rinky dum, hi rinky dum,
Rinky, dinky, hi down.

Her dress was blue her shoes were new,
With buckles shining brightly.
Her eyes were bright as the stars above,
That shine in the heavens brightly.

"Where are you going my pretty maid
My little blue-eyed daisy?"
"I am not going very far
For really I am lazy."

"I'm in love with you my pretty maid
What is your age my honey?"
She replied with a bewitching smile
"I'll be seventeen next Sunday."

"Are you not tired of the single life
Will you be the wife of Sammy?"
She answered me regretfully
"I cannot leave my mammy."

"Yet I should like to be your wife
For you are so good looking
But I will never wash your shirts
Or never do your cooking."

"Then you shall never be my wife
For you've not learned life's lesson."
"I never asked to be your wife
'Twas you that popped the question."

* * * *

Richie