Here's a version of Animal Fair from Thomas W. Talley's 1922 book
"Negro Folk Rhymes". I believe that this answers CapriUni's question upthread from 04 Oct 01 - 12:46 AM.

Has you ever hearn tell 'bout de Animal Fair?
Dem birds an' beasts wus all down dere.
Dat jaybird a-settin' down on 'is wing!
Has you ever hearn tell about sitch a thing
As what 'us at dat Animal Fair?

Well, dem animals had a Fair.
Dem birds an' beast wys dere.
De big Baboon,
By de light o' de moon,
Jes comb up his sandy hair.

De monkey, he git drunk,
He kick up a red hot chunk.
Dem coals, dey 'rose;
An' bu'nt 'is toes!
He clumb de Elephan's trunk.

I went down to de Fair.
Dem varmints wll wuz dere.
Dat young Baboon
Wunk at Miss Coon;
Dat curled de Elephan's hair.

De Camel den walk 'bout,
An' tromped on de Elephan's snout.
De Elephan' sneeze,
An' fall on his knees;
Dat pleased all dem monkeys.

I'd be interested in knowing if there are any earlier published versions of this song.

---

Also, I would love more information about the cumulative elephant song that CapriUnit mentioned in his 28 Sep 01 post. Guest Barry on : 25 Mar 04 - 09:12 AM said that this was a well-known children's song here in Costa Rica and gave these words.

"Un elefante se balanceaba
Sobre la tela de un arana."
--
Would someone translate these Spanish words, please {if they aren't nonsense words} And does anyone have any more information about this song and Costa Rica. For instance, did the song come from Costa Rica, or from elsewhere and then was picked up in Costa Rica?

Finally, Little Robyn 25 Mar 04 mentioned that "We used to watch the Elephant Show on telly - Bram, Lois and Sharon.
Their theme song at the start was;
'One elephant went out to play,
Upon a spider's web one day....'"

Little Robyn, do you remember if that television song had the same cumulative words as the song that CapriUnit's uncle sung?

I would love to use this song in my children's programming, and would appreciate any information on its' history.

Thanks.