Lyr Req/Add: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)

Subject: Lyr Req: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: Eddie Figures
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 06:57 PM

Hi, Mudcat folks... I just joined 'cause I'm tryin' to find lyrics for a song called Hopali, recorded in the 30's or 40's by Alan Lomax. Any info, interpretation of the lyric would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks...
Eddie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: Peace
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:36 AM

Refresh

Subject: ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax, 1934)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 01:49 AM

from the Rounder Lomax Deep River of Song Series CD, Alabama: From Lullabies to Blues

20. HOPALI (HOP-A-LEE) (AFS 88-93)
Performed by eight unidentified girls (vocals).
Recorded by John A, Lomax and Ruby Terrill Lomax at the Kirby Industrial School in Atmore, Alabama, circa October 1934.

A clapping play song recorded in a schoolyard near Mobile features what is known in the vernacular as "stepping it down," which requires singers to place one foot down without shifting their weight while clapping repetitively. "Hopali" almost certainly comes from "hop light," as in a dance step. Considered to be more than games, songs such as these often contain subversive elements or expressions offering a social critique. Some play songs provided an outlet for resentment and statements of indignation. Performed by both adults and children, they also provided an ambit in which children could enact songs with precocious adult content under socially sanctioned conditions.

Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)

When I marry (hopali),
Gonna move upstairs. (Hopali!)
Gonna teach my children (hopali)
How to put on airs. (Hopali!)

Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)

Got a range in my kitchen (hopali),
They stay nice and brown (hopali).
Take a man I love (hopali)
To turn my damper down. (Hopali!)

Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali), (2x)
Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)

Take a rocking chair to rock me (hopali),
Take a rubber ball to roll me (hopali),
Take a man I love (hopali)
To soothe my mind. (Hopali!)

Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali), (2x)
Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)

Oh, Miss Bell (hopali),
Promised me (hopali),
Before she died (hopali)
She'd set me free. (Hopali!)

Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali), (2x)
Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)

When I marry (hopali),
Gonna move upstairs. (Hopali!)
Gonna teach my children (hopali)
How to put on airs. (Hopali!)


Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali), (2x)
Oh, Miss Bell (hopali), (2x)
Hopali, Miss Bell, (Hopali!) (2x)


...and the pronunciation is hoppa-LIE

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: GUEST,Masato at work
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 02:13 AM

Also titled "Hop-a-Lee."

Subject: ADD: My Stove's In Good Condition
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 02:15 AM

I think we could do quite a study on "range in my kitchen." Take a look at Rattlesnakin' Daddy.

Here's another, from Blues Lyrics Online:


Lil Johnson was accompanied on this 1936 recording by Black Bob, piano; Big Bill Broonzy, guitar; unknown string bass. The last line of the second verse is incomplete... please help!!! This song is also included on the CD Raunchy Business: Hot Nuts & Lollypops

MY STOVE'S IN GOOD CONDITION
(Lil Johnson)

I've got a range in my kitchen, sho' bakes nice and brown (x 2)
All I need is some good daddy, who turns my damper down

And my stove is automatic, you don't have to burn wood or coal (x 2)
I got [to strike your] match baby, and stick right in the hole

And it's yas yas baby, my stove is all cleaned out (x 2)
I always keep it in good condition, you know what I'm talkin' about

Mmmmm... my pot is boiling low (x 2)
If you can't keep it percolatin', Baby I swear you'll have to go

I don't want no charcoal, if you can't bake my biscuits brown (x 2)
When my wood gets too hot, I swear you'll have to turn my damper down.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 01:54 PM

I was looking for one a while back-
Blind Willie McTell, "This is not the stove to brown your bread."

It was on a download site, but my server scared me off.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 01:45 PM

HELLO to "Q", "Peace", "Joe Offer", and "Masato at work" - to all of you I thank you effusively!

I was wondering about the phrase "range in my kitchen" - I wasn't aware that the word "range" was used prior to 1955 or 60 - I always thought that the word "stove" applied to any non-electrical kitchen stove used for cooking...

And about the lyric: I thought it was "Hopali me a spell", not "Hopali me, Miss Bell" - but the quality of the recording makes it difficult to hear; and I thought that the lyric was

"Hold me a spell,
He promised me,
Before he died,
He'd set me free"

which, if this is indeed the lyric, points to some kind of relationship between a slave owner and a female consort who was a slave... and, as someone stated in another thread, many of these children's rhymes do have an element of mystery and sexual overtones, not to mention other adult themes such as violence, abuses of power, and unwanted pregeancies and so forth...

Eddie Figures

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Jun 07 - 02:52 PM

Trivia
Range:
1660- Pepys Diary, 1660- "An iron of our new range, which is already broke."
1862- Catal. International Exhibition; "The whole top of the range is a flat iron platform, which may be covered with vessels for boiling, stewing, etc."

Range is one of those words with umpteen meanings, and which sends me to the OED to find out about usages.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: GUEST,Eddie Figures
Date: 17 Jun 07 - 02:48 PM

Thanks, Q - I guess I shoulda looked that up myself...
So, now the lyric is making more sense:

"Got a range in my kitchen,
[keep 'em] nice an' brown..."

What about the "Oh, Miss Bell" and "hold me a spell" - do you have any thoughts on that? Anything at all would be of great interest to me...

Eddie Figures

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Hopali (recorded by Lomax)
From: GUEST,Nathan
Date: 11 Apr 19 - 03:19 PM

Interesting to compare the Lomax recording of "Hopali" with Fred Ramsey's 1954 recording of "Blind Child," also made in Alabama (if northern vs. southern). Leader sings in the refrain: "I'm a blind child / I won't be wild," to which the chorus responds with what sounds equally like "Hopali" and "I'm blind."