Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD DOLLAR MAMIE (prison song)
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 09:48 PM

I can't remember who led this one at the Prison Songs Workshop.

OLD DOLLAR MAMIE

Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a
Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a
Old Dollar Mamie told-a,
Old Dollar Bob well-a,
Well the dress she wanted cost-a,
Dollar a yard, well-a,
Dollar a yard, baby,
Dollar a yard, well-a.
Well the dress she wanted cost-a,
Dollar a yard, well-a.

Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well, you hush, hush, Mamie, don't you,
Don't you say nary a word, well-a,
Well you shall have it, if it's,
In this world, well-a,
In this world, baby,
In this world, well-a,
Well you shall have it, if it's,
In this world, well-a.

Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
Old Dollar Mamie turned her,
Turned her head and cried, well-a,
You could hear her call, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a,
You could hear her call, well-a,
For a level mile, well-a.

Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Well, I'm going to Memphis, well-a,
When I get my 'role, well-a.
Stand on the levee, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a.
Stand on the levee, well-a,
Hear the big boats blow, well-a.

The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
The Katy left Memphis with-a,
With a hundred men, well-a.
In Arkansas City, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a.
Didn't have but ten, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a,
In Arkansas City, well-a,
Didn't have but ten, well-a.

Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
Well you raise 'em higher, let 'em,
Let 'em drop on down.
You won't know the difference, when the,
When the sun goes down, well-a.
When the sun goes down, well-a,
When the sun goes down, well-a.
You won't know the difference, when the,
When the sun goes down, well-a.


From Alan Lomax's Prison Songs, Historical Recordings from Parchman Farm, 1947-48, Volume One: Murderous Home.

Roger in Baltimore

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Oct 99 - 10:14 PM

Hi Roger, That was great, eh. It was Ken Schatz (of the NexTradition) who sang it. We (Finn & Haddie) did a set of prison worksongs in concert at Mystic, with Ken & Allison, it had to be one of the best times we've ever had on stage ever. Barry

Subject: Old Dollar Mamie/Mammy (Barry Finn video)
From: Genie
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 04:19 PM

Is it "Mamie" or "Mammy?"

The way Barry Finn sings it, it sounds like "Mammy," not "Mamie."

Barry Finn - Old Dollar Mamie


(Great rendition of the song, by the way, Barry!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:22 PM

At Parchman, 'Mamie' would sound very like 'Mammy'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie
From: Genie
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 09:29 PM

OK.
Thanks for 'splainin'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 12:02 AM

Those are both the same sounding words to my Bostonian ear.

Just like short & shot

or horse, hoarse or hoss

Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: Genie
Date: 19 Oct 09 - 12:27 AM

Ah, yes. : D

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: GUEST,schlimmerkerl
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 11:14 AM

Ken is still doing it, ably assisted by Andrus Nichols and group.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: Megan M
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 06:49 PM

Yeah, I googled "Dollar Mamie lyrics" after hearing Ken sing it, and this thread was like WOAH TIME-TRAVELING LYRICS FROM THE PAST...

...which is pretty much everything we sing. But still.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: RTim
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 07:50 PM

No one could sing it like Barry Finn - hell no!!!!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 19 Sep 11 - 08:39 PM

Lord, I miss that man.
Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Dollar Mamie (prison song)
From: My guru always said
Date: 20 Sep 11 - 03:31 AM

I can still hear Barrie all the way over here! Anyne have any news of Neil or Justine?