Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County

Subject: Lyr Add: SUGAR IN COFFEE (from Thomas W. Talley)
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 06 - 06:54 AM

SUGAR IN COFFEE
"Negro Folk Rhymes", edited by Thomas W. Talley {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968; p. 30; originally published by The Macmillan Comoany, 1922}

Sheep's in de meader a-mowin' o' de hay.
De honey's in de bee-gum, so dey all say.
My head's up an' I'se boun' to go.
Who'll take suar in de coffe-o?

I'se de pretiest liddle gal in de county-o.
My mammy an' daddy, dey bofe say so.
I looks in de glass, it don't say, "No."
So I'll take sugar in de coffee-o.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GAL IN THE CABBAGE LINE
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 10:12 PM

I found this song "The Gal in the Cabbage Line" at American Memory. It's a parody on "Dandy Jim from Caroline" which has the same melody as "The Prettiest Gal in the County O."

It seems this is the likely the original lyric source for source for the "The Prettiest Gal in the County O."

Any thoughts? Here it is:

The gal in the cabbage line.
H. De Marsan, Publisher, 60 Chatham St., N. Y. [n. d.]
IMPRINT: New York, New York: H. De Marsan
NOTES: A parody on "Dandy Jim from Caroline."
SHELF LOCATION: American Songs and Ballads, Series 1, Volume 1

LYRICS: THE GAL IN THE CABBAGE LINE
A Parody on "Dandy Jim from Caroline."

My darling Jane, I'd have you know,
Is the beauty of the city, oh,
She doesn't dress so very fine,
But she's the darling of the cabbage line.

For my old Mommy told me, oh,
I was the best looking gal in the city, oh,
I looked in her face, I found it so,
Just as my Mommy told me, oh!

Every morning early, oh,
You'll find her in the market, oh,
The cabbages she sells are fine,
For she is a bully in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

I loved her for her virtues, oh,
I'd married her but for butcher Joe,
But butcher Joe he beat my time,
He stole this gal in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

To Joe a challenge I did write,
He said he'd show me a fist fight,
He'd bung my eye up so prime,
To avenge this gal in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

At the back of Moyamensing prison.
We met, he took me by the wizen,
His second said I couldn't shine,
'Twas this female in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

The constables they grabbed us three,
Deprived us of our liberty,
They locked us up in no time,
This comes of being in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

Moral.

Now city boys a warning take,
Or you'll repent when it's too late,
In prison I am for no crime,
But for loving in the cabbage line.

My old Mommy told me, oh, &c.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Girl in the County O
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 08:48 AM

Thanks Peace and Joe-

Any verions of Old Aunt Jenny?

Here's some info from Ceolas:

This is not a minstrel tune from Emmett- That info is incorrect.

DANDY JIM FROM/OF CAROLINE [1]. AKA - "Dandy Jim." AKA and see "Chicken Foot and Sparrow-Grass" (Pa.), "Old Aunt Jenny." American, Reel or Breakdown. USA, southwestern Pa. G Major. Standard. AABB. Bayard (1981), Southern (1983) and others identify this tune as coming from the American minstrel tradition of the mid-19th century. Nathan Dan Emmett dates the stage tune to c. 1844 and says the words and perhaps the tune were composed by minstrel Dan Emmett. As with many minstrel tunes there is confusion as to whether Emmett wrote the music or simply adapted a found folk tune, but Bayard says the tune crops up "everywhere" in American music (including play-party songs) in many guises under a variety of titles. Bayard has also found the tune in the British Isles in Kerr's collection (Vol. 1, pg. 29 as "American Air") and in Roche's collection (Vol. 2, No. 297 as the second figure of the second tune in the quadrille "The Orange and the Green"). Source for notated version: Hiram Horner (Westmoreland/Fayette Counties, Pa., 1944) [Bayard]. Bayard (Dance to the Fiddle), 1981; No. 326, pgs. 291-192.

OLD AUNT JENNY. AKA and see "Dandy Jim From Caroline." Old-Time, Breakdown. G Major. Standard. AABB. The tune appears to be a variant of the 1844 American minstrel song "Dandy Jim of Caroline," lyrics perhaps composed by Dan Emmett.
** *
Who's been here since I've been gone? (x3)
Old Aunt Jenny with her nightcap on. {Ford}
***
Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; pg. 48.

Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTIEST LITTLE GIRL IN THE COUNTY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 03:27 AM

Here are the versions form the site Peace linked to:

Prettiest Little Girl in the County From originally unissued September 1924 recording of Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett. Co 140002. On Rounder LP 1023. Kickapoo Medicine Show. Actual pitch on LP is ~F# so presumably being played in G; (unlike full Skillet Lickers recording which seems to be in A) Three parts. Sing on Low part

Cornstalk fiddle and pea vine bow
Gwine take Sal to the party

Swing em like you love ‘em
The boys are not above ‘em

Prettiest little girl in the County-o
Mammy and daddy told me so
I can get her if I want to
I can get her if I want her

Little more sugar in the coffee-o
Swing Sal to the party

Swing em like you love ‘em
The boys are not above ‘em

  

Prettiest Little Girl in the County From The Skillet Lickers Volume 2. DOCD 8057. 14 6004-3 Co 15315-D.April 1928. Pitch a little flat of A; so presumably being played in A with fiddles GDAE or AEAE; (unlike the unissued 1924 recording of Gid Tanner and RileyPuckett which is probably in G)

Prettiest little girl in the County-o
Mammy and daddy wrote me so
I can get her if I want her
I can get her if I want her

 

Cornstalk fiddle and pea vine bow
Going to take Sal to the party-o

Prettiest little girl in the County-o
?Up to the glass in the parasol?
I can get her if I want her
I can get her if I want her

Swing em like you love ‘em
The boys are not above ‘em
Prettiest little girl in the County.
I can get her if I want her
Little more sugar in coffee-o
Girls dressed up in calico
?Goodness loves her cally-o?
I can get her if I want to go

Spoken:
Swing six, three in a bunch
Promenade all, take a chew tobaccer
Go left, calicos on the wall
Swing your opposite lady

Little more sugar in the coffee
Girls dressed up in calico
Huh

Spoken:
Swing that girl with the red dress on

Prettiest little girl in the County-o
Mammy and daddy told me so
I can get her if I want her
I can get her if I want her

Spoken:
I hope I get that red ear of corn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Girl in the County O
From: Peace
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 01:28 AM

Scroll down. Three versions with discography.

Subject: Lyr Req: Prettiest Girl in the County O
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 28 Oct 06 - 01:05 AM

Hi,


I found the "Girl in the Cabbage Line" on-line and it seems like it may be the originator of the "Prettiest Girl/Gal in the County O"
lyrics.

There's a version a Ceolas but none in the DT. The melody I believe is derived from minstrel Dandy Jim from Caroline song.

I know the Skillet Lickers did it. Anyone have the lyrics? Other versions?

Does anyone have any "Old Aunt Jenny" lyrics? Do you consider this to
be the same melody?


Thanks,

Richie