The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #116137   Message #2508137
Posted By: Richie
04-Dec-08 - 07:16 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The authors of the 'Carter Family songs'
Subject: Lyr Add: KISSING IS A CRIME
Kissing Is a Crime was recorded by the Carters in 1935. "I'll not Kiss You Anymore" was recorded in 1930 but unissued.

It was collected as a folk song in Alabama. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZG_VpWAciWsC&pg=PA166&dq=%22I+know+a+pretty+little+girl%22&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html

It resembles the Scottish song "Some Say that Kissing's a Sin" published in 1829. AP clearly changed "sin," a word he could't use, to "crime."

I KNOW A PRETTY LITTLE GIRL
Sung by Eunice Yeatts MacAlexander at her home in Meadows of Dan, Patrick County, VA. Eunice learnt it as a young girl from a neighbour's daughter, who may have picked it up from the Carter Family.

I know a pretty little girl,
And I want her for my wife.
She's neat, she's sweet, she's pretty little feet,
And she's never kissed a boy in her life.
I ask her for a kiss.
She says, 'You're such a beau.
I'll kiss you now, but I'll vow and declare,
I'll never do so anymore.'

'For I'm going to be a better girl,
And never kiss again.
For fear my momma might find it out,
And cause her, oh, such pain.'
'You may walk, you may talk,
You may hold my hand.
But kissing is a crime.
I never expect to kiss you again,
Until the next time.'

I went to see her the other day,
But I didn't go to stay.
She leaned her head upon my breast,
Saying, 'The old folks are far away.'
I kissed her a dozen times,
Till someone came to the door.
She kissed me then,
And there declared she'd never do so anymore.

Repeat verse 3 Repeat verse 4

KISSING IS A CRIME- Carter Family 1935

    I know a little girl
    And I want her for my wife
    She's pretty and sweet, and neat little feet
    Never been kissed in her life
    You can ask for a kiss
    She never got a beau
    And every time she vows and cries
    She'll never do so anymore

Going to be a better girl and never kiss again
Afraid my maw might find out and cause her great pain
You may walk and talk and hold my hand
But kissing is a crime
I'll not kiss you anymore until next time

      [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK]

    I called at her house one night
    But I didn't intend to stay
    She laid her head on my shoulder and said
    The old folks are away
    I kissed her a dozen times
    Someone came to the door
    And every time she vows and declares
    She'll never do so anymore

Going to be a better girl and never kiss again
Afraid my maw might find out and cause her great pain
You may walk and talk and hold my hand
But kissing is a crime
I'll not kiss you anymore until next time