The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #61780 Message #3349286
Posted By: GUEST,T J MAYES
10-May-12 - 04:54 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: The T and P Line
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The T and P Line
I have been searching for years...I just had my 82nd birthday....for someone who knew something about this little song. My Mother sang it to my sister and me - and I to my kiddos and grandchildren, but could never find out where it came from. She told me she used to sit on her grandfather's lap and he sang this song to her..that would have been about 1910 or 1911. Because he also told her that he lived with an Indian tribe in South Texas in the 1850's and 60's, she thought it was something that came from his early life. Sure wish I could hear the melody that the words are sung to. My Mother had a beautiful voice and she sang this as he taught her. Now...I hope you will respond .....email to tj.mayes@yahoo.com
Here are the words as I learned them...they differ a bit and I just found a site where LulaBelle & Scotty did it in 1946. It was "jazzed up" a little with all the tom toms and yells in the background...but very close.
INDIAN NAPONEE
WAY OUT ON AN INDIAN RESERVATION FAR AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION WHERE THE PALEFACE SELDOM TROD.
WHITE MAN WENT TO FISH ONE SUMMER MET AN INDIAN MAID OF HONOR'S DAUGHTER OF THE BIG CHIEF "SPARE THE ROD".
WHITE MAN THREW SOME LOVING GLANCES TOOK THIS MAIDEN TO WARRIOR DANCES SMOKED HIS PIPE OF PEACE TOOK CHANCES LIVING WITH HER IN A TEPEE MADE OF FUR.
HE RODE WITH HER ON AN INDIAN PONY GAVE HER DIAMOND RINGS OF PHONY AND HE SANG THESE LOVING WORDS TO HER.
"YOU'RE MY PRETTY LITTLE NAPONEE WON'T YOU TAKE A CHANCE AND MARRY ME YOUR FATHER'S A CHIEF AND IT'S MY BELIEF FOR A VERY MERRY WEDDING
HE'LL AGREE THOUGH YOU'RE A DARK LITTLE INDIAN MAID AND I'LL SUNBURN TO A DARKER SHADE WEAR FEATHERS ON MY HEAD PAINT MY FACE AN INDIAN RED IF YOU'LL BE MY NAPONEE"
SORRY TO SAY, BUT HE'S DONE GONE AND CAUGHT HER SOON HE WAS MARRIED TO THE BIG CHIEF'S DAUGHTER HAPPIEST COUPLE MOST EVER DID YOU SEE.
THEN PAPOOSES CAME IN NUMBERS RED SKIN YELLS DISTURBED HIS SLUMBERS AND THE FEATHERS DROOPED UPON HIS HEAD.
INDIAN WARRIERS KILLED AND RAIDED NAPONEE GREW OLD AND FADED JUST ABOUT LIKE ANY OTHER SQUAW.
TOO LATE NOW, BUT STILL HE'S A WISHING THAT HE'D NEVER GONE A FISHING MET THIS INDIAN MAID AND SANG THESE LOVING WORDS TO HER.
(REPEAT CHORUS....YOU'RE MY PRETTY LITTLE NAPONEE, ETC.
I hope all of this makes sense....as I told you, I'm an old woman..ha..and when old, old memories are revived, it's a good feeling when you can review them. I was never aware that this "little ditty" was actually recorded and sung for the public for so many years. I would be interested to hear any comments you have.