Dear Joe (no relation - see below!)
I found your site when searching for the origin of a family song which my mother used to sing regularly at appropriate moments during my childhood in the 50s and later, which I would like to pass on to my children. The lyrics are as follows:

"Oh Joe!         Tell them to stop!"
That was the cry of Mariah.
(But) The more she said whoa, he told them to go,
And the boat went a little a bit higher.

It provides a vivid picture of a damsel in distress, conjuring up all sorts of fates that await the poor Mariah, which appealed to all our family, but particularly to my mother. The tune had the 1-2-3 tempo of the waltz.

I should be most grateful if you could shed any light on it, and/or point me to where I might pursue my research.

Many thanks, and Happy Christmas.
Miles R