The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #76201   Message #1347668
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
04-Dec-04 - 08:28 PM
Thread Name: Origin of Aunt Jenny Died?
Subject: RE: Origin of Aunt Jenny Died?
Northern Ireland version. A line of children advances singing the questions which are answered by another child, behind whom Jinny Jo is hiding.

Jinny Jo

Come to see Jinny Jo, Jinny Jo, Jinny Jo,
Came to see Jinny Jo, is she within?
Jinny Jo's washing clothes, etc., can't see her today.
Ironing clothes, etc.

Sick in bed, etc.
Dead and gone, etc.

What shall we dress her in, etc., Shall it be red?
Red is for soldiers-
Blue is for sailors-
Black for mourners-
White is for the dead and gone, dead and gone, dead and gone,
White is for the dead and gone so that will just do,

Ends up much like the Newell version, printed one hundred years earlier.

Alice Kane, ed. by Edith Fowke, 1983, "Songs and Sayings of an Ulster Childhood," pp. 76-77. "Jenny Jones" is one of the songs mentioned by James Joyce.