No Fun at the Ball tonight

Subject: No Fun at the Ball tonight
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 12:33 PM

I have thought long and hard about posting this request but all avenues have been exhausted so here goes. I apologise in advance if I offend anyone with this enquiry.
For some years I have been trying to find a copy of the melody to a song which dates from the early 19th century. I have seen a facsimile of the sheet music cover so know it was published but I have only a half remembered set of lyrics. These are of the 'plantation' variety and are as follows;
'Where has that n****r Josey gone?
Look for him everywhere,
There'll be no fun at the ball tonight
If Josey isn't there.'
I would like to find the tune to this which was used as a dance tune by 'plough-lads' in East Yorkshire in the early years of the 20th century. Can anyone help?
Paul

Subject: RE: No Fun at the Ball tonight
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 02:25 PM

This
site has the following entry, said to be from 1920
        ' Between Martinmas and Christmas was a generally slack time for farmers, and it was during this time that the young farmhands went 'plough ladding'. Many are the tales told in the district about Plough Lads. Delicious fear struck the breasts of the young girls when they heard the lads coming down the street in the darkness. "We could hear them coming up the road from East Hill, singing and shouting. 'Oh, the Plough Lads are coming!' we cried and ran into the cottage' The lads has blackened faces, wore strange clothes; one ws usually dressed up as a woman, and one as a doctor. They had bells on their boots, and played melodeons or mouth organs to the accompaniment of rattling spoons or dried sheeps rib bones which they called knick-knacks. They sang loudly and danced, and knocked boldly on cottage doors asking for some money, drink, a kiss or all three!
We're niggers from the south , ha! ha!
We cannot shut our mouth
We took him to the tailors shop
To get his mouth made smaller
a popular song in Aldborough, and from nearby Garton
Where is that nigger Josey gone
Look for him everywhere
There'll be no fun at the ball tonight
If Josey isn't there '

Subject: RE: No Fun at the Ball tonight
From: GUEST,Chris P
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 03:57 PM

Hah! Paul's probably familiar with that quote since it comes from his own website ;-)

Subject: RE: No Fun at the Ball tonight
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 06:18 PM

Whoops! I should have checked! Thought I had discovered something. . . .

Subject: RE: No Fun at the Ball tonight
From: Paul Davenport
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:42 AM

Thanks guys, UNfortunately, as Chris pointed out, I've got the quote. Its the tune i'm after. It was performed and possibly written by/for a group called the 'Mohawk Minstrels' around the 1880s i discover. Still need help though.