Barbara, my idea was to find as many 19th century songs about rousters as I could and put them together, so all are welcome. Some, like "Limber Jim," have a long and informative thread already, so reference to the thread is sufficient. It is more a song known to the rousters than it is a song about them, but it is not always easy to separate the two. Limber Jim Here are some from Botkin, but he tended to edit and leave out parts he thought would not be accepted in print by a refined, white audience. Moreover, he left out sources of most of them, so it is dificult to tell which are true rouster songs and which are fragments from other lines of work, and which are minstrel creations never used by the rousters. This one has some verses that seem to fit, but the first verse, at least, was not part of a rouster song. I would guess that it was put together to make a minstrel recitation-song:
Lyr. Add: NUMBER NINETY-NINE
You may talk about yer railroads, Yer steamboats and can-el, If it hadn't been for Liza Jane, There wouldn't be no hell.
Chorus: Oh, ain't I gone, gone, gone, Oh ain't I gone, gone, gone, Oh ain't I gone, gone, gone, Way down de ribber road. (or- Way down to Rockingham)
Whar do you get yer whiskey? Whar do you get yer rum? I got it down in Bucktown, At Number Ninety-nine.
I went down to Bucktown, Nebber was dar before. Great big niggah knocked me down, But Katy barred the door.
She hugged me, she kissed me, She told me not to cry; She said I wuz de sweetest thing Dat eber libbed or died.
Yonder goes the Wildwood, She's loaded to the guards, But yonder comes de Fleetwood, An' she's de best for me.
Bucktown was on the river at Cincinnati.
Lyr. Add: MOLLY
Molly was a good gal and a bad gal, too, Oh, Molly, row, gal. Molly was a good gal and a bad gal, too, Oh, Molly, row, gal.
I'll row dis boat and I'll row no more, Row, Molly, row, gal. I'll row dis boat and I'll go on shore, Row, Molly, row, gal.
Captain on the biler deck a-heaving of the lead, Oh, Molly, row, gal. Calling to the pilot to give "Turn ahead," Row, Molly, row, gal.
SHAWNEETOWN
Shawneetown is burnin' down, Who tole you so? Shawneetown is burning down, Who tole you so?
Cynthe, my darlin' gal, Who tole you so? Cynthie, my darlin' gal, How do you know?
How the hell d'ye 'spect me to hold her, Way down below? I've got no skin on either shoulder, Who tole you so?
De houses dey is all on fire, Way down below. De houses dey is all on fire, Who tole you so?
My ole missus tole me so, Way down below. An' I believe what ole missus says, Way down below.
After being flooded out several times (due more to the Engineers working on flood control, I believe), the town was moved to higher ground. When I went through there years ago, the carcases of some old stone buildings were still on the old site. The town had lost its importance. Shawneetown is referred to in other threads.
This one could have been used when moving cotton from the holding area to the planks. Belle-a-Lee's got no time, Ob, Belle! Oh, Belle! Robert E. Lee's on railroad time, Oh, Belle! Oh, Belle!
Wish I was in Mobile Bay, Oh, Belle! Oh, Belle! Rollin' cotton by de day, Oh, Belle! Oh, Belle!
I wish I was in Mobile Bay, Rollin' cotton by de day, Stow'n' sugar in de hull below, Below, belo-w, Stow'n' sugar in de hull below!
De Natchez is a new boat; she's in her prime. Beats any oder boat on de New Orleans line, Stow'n' sugar in de hull below, etc.
Engineer, t'rough de trumpet, gives de firemen news, Couldn't make steam for de fire in de flues. Stow'n' sugar in de hull below, etc.
Cap'n on de biler deck, a scratchin' of his head, Hollers to de deck hand to heave de larbo'rd lead. Stow'n' sugar in de hull below, etc.
May have been a rouster song made into a minstrel song. Possibly made of two songs.
All of the above from Botkin, B. A., 1975, "A Treasury of Mississippi River Folklore," pp. 589-592.