The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172468   Message #4174319
Posted By: Vonhoother
10-Jun-23 - 07:42 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Boogaboo
Subject: Lyr Add: The Boogaboo
This is yet another variant of "The Foggy Dew," collected by Guy Logsdon from the singing of Riley Neal and published in _"The Whorehouse Bells Were Ringing" and Other Songs Cowboys Sing"_ (University of Illinois Press, 1989). "Boogaboo" is pronounced "boo gah boo." The tune is lovely, Mixolydian, and unique; I'll add it to the thread when I have time.

THE BOOGABOO

When I was a young and roving blade,
I followed the reckless trade,
But all the harm that ever I done
Was to court a pretty fair maid.

I courted her all summer and part of the winter, too,
My love she had but one weakness,
She was afraid of the Boogaboo, boo, boo,
She was afraid of the Boogaboo.

My love she came to my bedside
Where I lay fast asleep
My love she came to my bedside
And bitterly did weep.

She wrung her hands and wept and cried, and she was full of woe,
"Oh! Jump in the bed, you pretty maid,
For there is the Boogaboo, boo, boo,
For there is the Boogaboo."

All in the first part of the night
How we did romp and play.
All in the latter part of the night
Within my arm she lay.

The night passed off, the dawn came on, [sic, incomplete]
"Rise up, young maid and don't be afraid,
For the Boogaboo is gone, gone, gone,
For the Boogaboo is gone."

All in the first part of the year,
My love grew thick around,
And in the middle part of the year,
She scarcely could sit down.

And in the last part of the year, she brought me a very fine son,
So you can see as well as I
What the Boogaboo has done, done, done,
What the Boogaboo has done.

I courted her and I married her,
And I loved her as my life.
I courted her and I married her,
And she made me a virtuous wife.

I never told her of her faults and be darn'd if ever I do,
But ever time she smiles on me,
I think of the Bugaboo, boo, boo,
I think of the Bugaboo.