The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #37249   Message #4103127
Posted By: Lighter
22-Apr-21 - 12:39 PM
Thread Name: Origins: My Johnny Was a Shoemaker
Subject: RE: Origins: My Johnny Was a Shoemaker
Baltimore Sun (Feb. 10, 1907), p. 15:

"Many readers will recall Mrs. Florence in 'The Young Actress,' in which she sang, 'My Johnny was a Shoemaker.'

   
   My Johnny was a shoemaker,
      But now he's gone to sea,
   With nasty tar to sile his hands
      And to sail upon the rolling sea-ee-ee
         My Johnny was a shoemaker."


"The Young Actress," by the Irish playwright Dion Bourcicault (1820-1890), was presented in Boston in 1857 ("Boston Semi-weekly Atlas," March 14, 1857, p. 2). In it, Malvina Florence played six different characters.

One of them sang "And I am Bound for the Sea, Mary Ann."