Jim, I love it. There definitely needs to be a jug band in this. I can just hear that WHOOMP WHOOMP rhythm under every downbeat.

I favor your first line...who cares if it's accurate or not, it's got flair. This is, after all, a no-holds-barred song, first manipulator to cross the line wins. Its Ms. Jones or the singer, winner gets to do something unspeakable to the loser, if any loser survives.

"Pop goes the jug band, it's her or me." Wow. I'm enchanted.

Seriously, the first word did sound to me like "pop" at first hearing. Only reason I went to "hop" was, I couldn't think what "pop" could lead to. It's still a distinct possibility.

"Shout to the knee"is a real possibility, if it's not "short." "Crop" probably isn't it.

Oh boy, Burl sure did leave us a snarly one, huh? Thanks for your help...and it sure would be nice to locate some sheet music. (Although oddly enough every now and again you run into sheet music that only compounds the problem, printing crazy stuff that probably isn't on the record or in the original song.)

Like, what if the sheet music says:

"Shop for a javelin, shivered in three?" or...

"Chop to the Jung Mang [I figure it's an ancient Chinese tong society] schooner at sea?" or...

"Bop to the jump, man, crooner is me?" or...

Gee, and I thought chess by mail was like pulling teeth. Cheers, Bob