The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #74176   Message #1291730
Posted By: Joybell
07-Oct-04 - 07:54 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The Dodger Song
Subject: Origins: The Dodger Song
It's here in the database under this title. Not to be confused with the song about draft dodging.(Sorry I thought I'd mastered clickies but I haven't). The Almanac Singers recorded it. It was collected by several people including Vance Randolph. Sometimes it's called "We're All Dodging". It is based on an earlier song - according to some sources from the singing of Oklahoma farmers.

I've been researching a certain 19th Century character for about 6 years now and in the process I came across this little piece of information.

From about the 1840s many performers, among them Sam Cowell, John Lawrence Toole and George Coppin, were including a character in their acts called "The Artful Dodge(er)" (The same fellow Dickens used) His song was called "We're all Dodging". Sam Cowell and George Coppin (and most likely others) took this character from the UK to America. George Coppin used him in Australia.
Here in Australia a song called "We're all Cheating" seems to be related.
Anyway I believe this song comes from the singing of these early Musichall performers - for what it's worth.