Barry, I read that thread, but am still not convinced that the 'mishearing' theory should necessarily be rejected. Is Black Samson's 'Tie-Shuffling Chant' given in 'AB&FS' the earliest appearance of 'Eloise' in print?

Bud Russell seems to have been the Texas equivalent of Tennessee's long-chain man, Joe Turner (Turney). I recall Alan Lomax commenting somewhere that he was referred to as 'Uncle Bud'. Is there any connection with the Uncle Bud who was the subject of ribald songs?

--Stewie.