The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #72263 Message #2313478
Posted By: GUEST,JudyBug
12-Apr-08 - 02:35 AM
Thread Name: Folklore/Linguistics: What's a Rinktum?
Subject: RE: Folklore/Linguistics: What's a Rinktum?
My Grandmother, born about 1875 near Eros, Arkansas, used to sing a nonsense song which included the word, "rinktum." I think it was a version of Froggy's Gone A'Courtin' and sounded something like this, "Laddie go t'Rinktum, Kinero." She also sang a version of "Barbary Allen" which is different from the ones I have seen and heard collected.
I was born in 1935 and heard her sing that song often, but I can't remember it well. The word "rinktum" was never used in conversation when I was growing up in Rogers, AR and I heard it only in the song. I always assumed it was a place or a happening, maybe like a "playparty" which she mentioned many times as a gathering for the young people to get together and have a good time with music and games. I have no idea whether "kinero" is combination of syllables or a nonsense word. The song was definitely meant to be funny and the tune sounded to me like Froggy's Gone A'Courtin'.