The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #142768 Message #3292983
Posted By: Azizi
19-Jan-12 - 03:22 PM
Thread Name: Ranky Tanky (Old Lady From Brewster)
Subject: LYR ADD "Little Old Lady From Booster
From http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/folkways/FW03840.pdf
album -St John's Island, South Carolina: It's People And Songs
This song was collected during field work in 1970 that was conducted by City College, New York professor Henrietta Yurchenco and her students.
Lyrics & Performance (as quoted from that website]
Side 1 Band 1 – Old Lady From Booster
A line game. The players stand with their feet slightly apart. Throughout this game, both feet tap out the following pattern: left, right, left, right, right moving slightly to the right on the last tap. The last tap then becomes the first tap of the second pattern, thus, line 5 has the right, left, right, left left moving slightly to the left on the last tap. Continue the foot patterns to the rhythm of the song until the end. Place hands on the different parts of the body mentioned in the song.
Old lady comes from Brewster
Had to hens and a rooster
The rooster died, the old lady cried
She couldn't get eggs like she used to.
Oh ma, you look so
Oh, pa, you look so
Well, who's been here since I been gone
Two little boys with their blue caps on.
Hang them on a hickory stick
Ranky tanky, button my shoes.
ranky tanky
Bufflalo boy gonna buy me a bag.
Pain in my head, ranky tanky
Pain in my shoulder
Pain in my hands
Pain in my thighs
Pain in my knees
Pain in my legs
Pain in my foot
Pain all over me
Pain all over me.