The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #4300   Message #1268254
Posted By: celticblues5
10-Sep-04 - 12:52 AM
Thread Name: Children's Street Songs
Subject: RE: Children's Street Songs
My kids did several of those mentioned above, such as Miss Mary Mack and the sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G song. They also adored -

"There's a place in France
Where the naked ladies dance
And the men can see it all
Through a hole in the wall
But the men don't care
'Cause they're in their underwear
And the ladies are wearing
Their B-R-As!"

I think kids are still getting a lot of the traditional songs, thanks in part to groups like Sharon, Lois, & Bram, and thanks in part to elementary teachers - those school song books still have a lot of the oldies.

Some years ago I heard Jean Redpath (maybe on PHC) sing a medley of traditional street songs, starting with "Up Against the Wall, the London Ball," and ending with "I've a Laddie in Americay." In between was a little bit of a song that had to do with a child who was taking her dad some dinner - wonder if anyone knows the complete lyrics - all that I can remember are little bits -

"[name] stole me new topcoat, me new topcoat, me new topcoat, [name] stole me new topcoat, and [name] tore the linin"

and "ah ha ha, ye needna run, ye needna run, ye needna run, ah ha ha, ye needna run, for ye'll get yer licks in the mornin'

and "My mother says that I must go with my father's dinner-o" and something about a "bawbee bake."

Possibly these are two different songs and I'm just merging them in my memory. Can anyone help with the lyrics to this (these)? Also, I was under the impression that a bawbee was a coin - ? Did I hear the word incorrectly in the Redpath song, or are they two different words or the same word with two different meanings?

Thanks!