The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #56919   Message #892747
Posted By: Uncle_DaveO
18-Feb-03 - 11:43 AM
Thread Name: Origins/ADD: The Swapping Song
Subject: Lyr Add: The Swapping Song
Here's a song I've sung for years, and was surprised not to find in the DT. It has similarities to "And the poor little thing cried Mammy", (in the DT) but is decidedly not identical.

^^
THE SWAPPING SONG

When I was a bachelor
I lived by myself
And all the bread and cheese I had,
I kept upon the shelf
CHORUS:
To my wing-wong waddle,
My John Paul faddle,
My bullfrog saddle,
To my long way home!

But the rats and the mice
They led me such a life
That I had to go to London
To get myself a wife
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

But the roads were so muddy
And the lanes were so narrow
That I had to bring her home
In an old wheelbarrow
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

So I swapped my wife
And I got me a horse
And then I rode
From cross to cross
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

Then I swapped my horse
And I got me a cow
And in that trade
I just learned how
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

Well, I swapped my cow
And I got me a calf
And in that trade
I just lost half
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

So I swapped my calf
And I got me a pig
He wasn't worth much
'Cause he wasn't very big
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

Then I swapped my pig
And I got me a cat
And then, b'gosh,
I was stuck with that!
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

Now me and the cat,
We live in the house
And we never see a rat
And we never see a mouse
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle (etc.)

So if the rats and the mice
Ever lead you such a life
Remember that a pussycat
Is better than a wife!
(CHORUS:) To my wing-wong waddle
My John Paul faddle
My bullfrog saddle
To my long way home!

Richard Dyer-Bennet sang this in the late 40's, I know.

DRO