Hi, Found this at Bruce O's "Scarce Songs" site. Here's the link so you may go listen to the actual tune. Hope this helps:American: "Katy Cruel," said to date from before the Revolutionary War, and to be 'native' American in The American Heritage Songbook, p. 14-15, 1969, with a tune. Text only and citation of original source. Rosa S. Allen's Family Songs, (1899) in Flanders and Brown, Vermont Folk-songs and Ballads, pp. 123-4, 1939 (reprinted 1969). I am grateful to Lani Herrmann for information about the book and note of its present location at The Jackson Homestead, Newton, Mass. Is Katy a prostitute? See "Fancy Lad" following.
Katy Cruel
They called me the "Roving Jewel,"
Now they've changed their tune,
And call me "Katy Cruel"
Oh, diddle lully day,
Oh, de little li-o-day,
Oh, that I was where I would be,
Then should I be where I am not;
Here I am where I must be,
Where I would be I cannot.
Oh, diddle lully day,
Oh, de little li-o-day,
When I first came to town,
They brought me bottles plenty,
Now they've changed their tune,
And bring the bottles empty.
I know whom I love,
I know who does love me;
I know where I'll go,
And I know who'll go with me.
Through the woods I'll go,
Through the boggy mire,
Straightway on the road,
Till I come to my heart's desire.
Oh, that I was where I would be,
Then should I be where I am not:
Here I am where I must be,
Where I would be, I cannot.
Eyes as bright as coal,
Lips as red as cherry;
And 'tis her delight
To make the young folks merry.
Play: S1, KATYCRL For the chorus see the Opie's Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, p. 231. [A poetical piece commencing identically is in Bodleian MS Malone 19, p. 119, but unfortunately it is not available on microfilm.]