Lyr Req/Add: Old Bell Cow (New Lost City Ramblers)

Subject: Moo The Bell Cow
From: GUEST,Andy in VT
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:26 PM

Does anyone have lyrics to "Moo The Bell Cow" recorded in the early 60's by Tom Paley, possibly with the New Lost City Ramblers?   Thank you.

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD BELL COW (from New Lost City Ramblers
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:43 PM

Add - no "moo" in this one, but I'll bet it's a version of what you want.

Old Bell Cow

Went down to the cornfield to pick a mess of beans,
Along come the bell cow a-pecking at the greens.

CHORUS:
Oh, the bell cow, catch her by the tail,
Oh, the bell cow, milk her in the pail,
Oh, the bell cow, catch her by the tail,
Oh, the bell cow, milk her in the pail.

Some of these days when I learn how,
I'm gonna milk that old bell cow.
(Chorus)

The milk ain't whipped and the butter ain't fat,
The darned old cow ate my best hat.
(Chorus)

The old bell cow, I milked her in a gourd,
I sold my milk and bought me a Ford.
(Chorus)

Way down yonder in Arkansas,
The bell cow whipped her mammy-inlaw.
(Chorus)

Some of these days when I learn how,
I'm gonna milk that old bell cow.
(Chorus)


from Old-Time String Band Songbook (Cohen/Seeger/Wood, Oak Publications, 1964 & 1976)
[originally published as the New Lost City Ramblers Songbook]

MIDI tune available on request

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Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on htis song:

Old Bell Cow

DESCRIPTION: Humorous description of a cow that's difficult to milk: "Went down to the cornfield to pick a mess of beans, Along come the bell cow a-pecking at the greens." "Some of these days when I learn how, I'm gonna milk that old bell cow."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (recording, Dixie Crackers)
KEYWORDS: farming work humorous animal
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 110-111, "Old Bell Cow" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
Dixie Crackers, "The Old Bell Cow" (Paramount 3151, 1929; on CrowTold01)
New Lost City Ramblers, "The Old Bell Cow" (on NLCR10) (NLCR16)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Bell Cow
Notes: It has long been a custom to tie a bell around a cow's neck so she can be found easily. - PJS
File: CSW110

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Subject: RE: Moo The Bell Cow
From: GUEST,Andy in VT
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 08:54 PM

Joe, thank you so much for the lyrics... those are the words I had been looking for.    Best wishes from Andy Leader (old folky from way back.. still out there playing.)

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Moo The Bell Cow
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 10:21 PM

The 1929 Dixie Crackers recording has one more verse, which I can't completely make out. Here's what I hear:

The old bell cow, she had a couple horns,
She ain't been milked since I was born.
Oh, the bell cow, catch her by the tail,
Oh, the bell cow, milk her in the pail.

(no repeat on chorus on the Dixie Crackers recording, or on the Mike and Peggy Seeger recording on Animal Folk Songs for Children)