OH, WHAT A HELL OF A WEDDING
Fishermen, rowing, work song.

Oh, what a hell of a wedding over Congo River,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey married to baboon's daughter,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

What do you t'ink dey had for dere dinner?
Mosquito gall and a sandfly liver,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

The father fish went to stake de key,
Baboon say he might cake alone,
At lunch he get up to shade de rice,
Monkey say, "Leave de rice alone."
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey an' baboon have everyt'ing for themselves,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Gonna have the biggest wedding over Congo River,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey married to baboon' daughter,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Everyt'ing in de feas' he had,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey and baboon take all for themselves,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Nobody take a tas'e from them,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

Monkey and baboon they na share whe they have,
Wo, ho, ho, me bully boy.

With musical score, 6/8.
Work song, derived in part from the 19th century music hall song, which also was popular with sailors.
A fragment is in the DT ("Congo River"). See post of song from Sandburg, above, Barry Finn post.

Rodger D. Abrahams, 1975, Deep the Water, Shallow the Shore, American Folklore Society, University of Texas Press.