The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #14837   Message #129670
Posted By: katlaughing
29-Oct-99 - 08:15 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Lizzy Borden / Fall River Hoedown
Subject: ADD : Lizzy Borden ^^^
Here ya go, as found on metacrawler. I think it was just posted by a fan, so Massachusetts is spelled wrong, but I did not change it. Did you see the tv movie in which Elizabeth Montgomery acted as Lizzie? Quite well-done. kat

"Lizzie Borden"

(Sung by the Chad Mitchell Trio)

Yesterday in old Fall River, Mr. Andrew Borden died,
And they got his daughter Lizzie on a charge of homicide
Some folks say she didn't do it others say of course she did
But they all agree, Miss Lizzie B. was a problem kinda kid

'Cause you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes(sic)
Not even if it's planned as a surprise
No, you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
You know how neighbors love to criticize

Well, she got him on the sofa where he'd gone to take a snooze,
And I hope he went to heaven, 'cause he wasn't wearing shoes
Lizzie kinda rearranged him with a hatchet so they say
Then she got her mother in that same old fashioned way

But you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
Not even if you're tired of her cuisine
No can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
You know it's almost sure to cause a scene

Oh they really kept her hoppin on that busy afternoon
With both down and upstairs hoppin while she hummed a ragtime tune
They really made her hustle and when all was said and done
She removed her mother's bustle when she wasn't wearing one

Now can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
And then blame all the damage on the mice
No you can't chop your mama up in Massachausettes
That sort of thing just isn't very nice.

Now it wasn't done for pleasure and it wasn't done for spite
And it wasn't done because the lady wasn't very bright
She'd always done the slightest thing that mom and papa bid
They said, "Lizzie, cut it out!" so that's exactly what she did!

But you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
And then get dressed and go out for a walk
No you can't chop your papa up in Massachausettes
Massachausettes is a far cry from New York

Shut the door and lock and latch it - here comes Lizzie with a brand new hatchet!

Such a snob I heard it said, she met her pa and cut him dead!

Jump like a fish - jump like a porpoise, all join hands and habeas corpus!


words and music by Michael Brown, 1952^^^