Lyr Req: Polly Put the Kettle On

Subject: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From:
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 09:44 PM

I would like lyric for Polly or Molly Put the Kettle On. I hear the lyrics as a young child.

Subject: Lyr Add: POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON^^
From: alison
Date: 20 Mar 97 - 10:20 PM

Polly put the kettle on, (x3)
We'll all have tea.

Sukey, take it off again, (x3)
They've all gone away.

Hope this is what you want.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From: richardw
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 02:32 PM

As an interesting addendum to this old thread, I just came across a ref. to this being sung by a couple of drovers (cowboys) as they waited to be served in a rough road house in BCs Cariboo country in 1861. So I guess it has been around for awhile.

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From: MMario
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 02:37 PM

Bruce O could tell you

Subject: Lyr Add: POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON^^
From: Songster Bob
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 04:44 PM

I heard it that way while growing up, too, but have heard a stringband version (DaCosta Woltz's Southern Broadcasters, maybe?) with something like this:

Polly put the kettle on,
Ginny blow the dinner horn,
Polly put the kettle on,
We'll all have tea.

And a parody of same:

Polly plays the kettle drum,
Ginny blows the slide trombone,
Mama plays the clarinet,
And Daddy's leaving home!

Perhaps someone in one of the old-time music newsgroups or lists could help with this version.

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From: MMario
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 05:05 PM

according to another thread, published about 1771

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From: GUEST,Bruce O.
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 05:11 PM

Murray on Saltspring cleared up much on that. Search the forum for 'Help: History of', back on last Dec. 10.

Subject: Lyr Add: JENNY HANG THE KETTLE ON^^
From: Stewie
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 08:08 PM

Bob, the one you are thinking of is probably the Skillet Lickers' 'Molly Put the Kettle On'. It has the line you quoted, plus irreverent comments about preferring hard liquor and fiddle tune floaters. The Mississippi stringband, The Leake County Revelers, also recorded a spirited version. My favourite recording of this is a delightful banjo piece by Virgil Anderson on his album 'On the Tennessee Line'. It is titled 'Jenny Hang the Kettle On' and has a lyric along the lines of

'Way down yonder in the valley-o
Can't get around for calico
Jenny hang the kettle on
The big'un and the little'un
Jenny hang the kettle on
And we'll all drink tea.

Anderson's LP (County 777) is at the top of my wish list for CD reissue - glorious stuff!

Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyric Req: Polly Put the Kettle On
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 11:29 PM

Rightly or wrongly I have added some info re Jennie's Bawbee of the History of Children's Songs original thread. Regards, John

Subject: Lyr Add: POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON^^
From: Pete Peterson
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 11:37 PM

I know it via Allan Block who sang a modal version (Mixolydian; chords were G and F) which went

Polly put the kettle on the little one the big one
Polly put the kettle on we'll all take tea
Slice of buread and buttermilk is good enough for anyone
Choose the one you love the best and bring her home to me
Oh dear _____ (girl's name) how I love you
Nobody else do I love like I love you
Heart you have, hand I give you
One more kiss before I leave you

which is AT LEAST as much fun as Gid Tanner and not as well known./ Wonder where Allan got it. . . maybe I can ask him at NEFFA! PETE