Origins: Goodbye Liza Jane

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Gene
Date: 23 Sep 97 - 12:05 AM

I have 'Goodbye LIza Jane' by Bob Wills ....somewhere..

Have to look for it and will post the lyrics later...

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jan
From: Nathan Sarvis
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 10:48 PM

Peter T., thanks for the comment. You're obviously a man of breeding, with impeccable taste. I've been delighted with all the response to this one.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Will
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 07:49 PM

I believe that I read somewhere that some people used this song as a game in situations where singing wasn't allowed because of religious observance. So rather than view it as a song, they used it as an active response type game, such as miming "picking up sand" and "blacking boots" and so forth.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 05:06 PM

Just a note of thanks from a common citizen who can be of no help or assistance, but gee you guys are doing a hell of a lot of work. What a pleasure to read your contributions. Thanks again. Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Peter T.
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 04:58 PM

Just a note of thanks from a common citizen who can be of no help or assistance, but gee you guys are doing a hell of a lot of work. What a pleasure to read your contributions. Thanks again. Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Nathan Sarvis
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 04:17 PM

The "new made road" verse reminds me of one William A. Owens collected for "Sally Goodin" in his book "Tell me a story, sing me a song". Sal went up the public road I went up behind her; She stooped down to tie her shoe And I seen her sausage grinder. He relates how, at a gypsy show, the singer "left the ladies shocked and the men laughing" after singing only the first line, then leaving the stage, leaving the audience to fill in the rest with their imaginations.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOING DOWN TO CAIRO
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 03:15 PM

OK, here's the version from Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson.

GOING DOWN TO CAIRO

CHORUS:
Goin' down to Cairo (goodbye, goodbye)
Goin' down to Cairo (goodbye, Liza Jane)
Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye,goodbye
Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye, Liza Jane

1. Oh, how I love you, and ain't it a shame
Oh, how I love you (goodbye, Liza Jane)
Got no time to kiss you now, I'm sorry, sorry
Got no time to kiss you now, I'm sorry, Liza Jane.
(CHORUS)

2.She went up the new-made road, I went down the lane
Hung my foot on a hollow stump 'n out jumped Liza Jane
It's a rough old road and a sorry team,goodbye,goodbye
Rough old road and a sorry team, goodbye, Liza Jane
(CHORUS)

3. Saddle up the yellow mule, curry down his mane
Throw the bridle over his head, Let's go see Liza Jane
Got an old hat and it's got no rim(goodbye, goodbye)
Got an old hat and it's got no rim (goodbye Liza Jane)
(CHORUS)

4. Oh, I'm goin' to leave you (goodbye, goodbye)
Oh, I'm going to leave you (goodbye, Liza Jane)
But I'll be yours if you'll be mine (goodbye,goodbye)
I'll be yours if you'll be mine (goodbye, Liza Jane)
(CHORUS)

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, LIZA JANE
From: rich r
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 11:45 PM

Here's a couple more versions to choose from:

I.

Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Shiloh
Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Liza Jane

CHORUS: Oh how I love her, Oh Liza Jane
Oh how I love her, Goodbye Liza Jane.

Black those shoes and make them shine, Shiloh, Shiloh etc.

A hump-back mule I'm bound to ride....

Hopped up a chicken and he flew upstairs...

II.

Liza up in the 'simmon tree, and the possum on the ground
Possum said, "You son of a gun, shake them 'simmons down."

CHORUS: Whoopee Liza, pretty little girl
Whoopee, Liza Jane.
Whoopee, Liza pretty little girl
She died on the train.

Cheeks are like the cherries, cherries like a rose.
How I like that pretty little girl, goodness gracious knows.

The old folks down in the mountains, grinding sugar cane.
Making barrels of molasses, for to sweeten old Liza Jane.

Whiskey by the gallon, sugar by the pound,
A great big bowl to put it in and Liza to stir it round.

I went to see my Liza Jane, she was standing in the door
Shoes and stockings in her hand and her feet all over the floor.

Her head is like a coffee pot, her nose is like a spout
Her mouth is like an old fireplace with the ashes all raked out.

I wouldn't marry a poor girl, I'll tell you the reason why.
She'd have so many poor kinfolks, she'd make my biscuits fly.

The hardest work I ever done, was a-brakin' on a train.
The easiest work I ever done, was huggin' little Liza Jane

The second version is from the singing of Bradley Kincaid. He was a professional entertainer who did mostly traditional based songs. He spent some time on the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. This version is a blend of "Liza Jane" and "Possum Up a 'Simmon Tree" which were both minstrel songs. Note that many of the verses are not unique to "Liza Jane" but show up in versions of "Cindy" and "old Joe Clark". The second verse bears a resemblance to "Colorado Trail", and the fourth verse is similar to one in "Mary Anne". In the 1880's Eddie Cox, a minstrel show performer, published "Good-bye, Liza Jane" however he didn't claim any credit for writing it, just arranging it. In 1903 the Tin Pan Alley composer, Harry von Tilzer, published "Good-Bye, Eliza Jane" which was a different song altogether. In 1917 Cecil Sharp collected "Liza Anne" in Kentucky that also seems to blend Liza and the Piossum. Another version called "Liza Jane" was published in 1931 by Jean Thomas in a book "Devil's Ditties"
rich r

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Jun-02.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Ferrara
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 03:48 AM

Hi. Nathan, I'm sorry I haven't found those words yet. I'm going to have to transcribe them again. That's fine -- now that you've reminded me of the song, I want to sing it again! It's a lot of fun. I promise -- I'll have it up by the end of the weekend.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Nathan Sarvis
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 05:45 PM

Ferrara, I think that's the one I'm after. Dale's fits the chorus of the tune I know, but I can't seem to get any of the others to fit. Thanks to all contributors anyway; I'm enjoying all the variants.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Ferrara
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 11:46 AM

Any chance that you could be looking for the song with this chorus:

Goin' down to Cairo, goodbye, goodbye,
Goin' down to Cairo, goodbye Liza Jane.
Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye,goodbye.
Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye Liza Jane.

It's on the "Two by Four" album by Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson. I don't know the fiddle tune, can't say if it's the same song. If you think it might be, I'll type it in. I'd have to look up my (handwritten) transcription, there are lots of verses.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Dale Rose
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 01:00 AM

Correction for Goodbye Liza Jane. Chorus substitution should be sweet for Miss, not little. I meant to add that to the previous post. Oh well, it didn't take you all that much longer to read them both.

Subject: Lyr Add: MISS LIZA, POOR GAL
From: Dale Rose
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 12:57 AM

The whole Liza Jane family of songs could probably make a good thesis. Here is another great old Liza song~~Miss Liza, Poor Gal as done by the Tenneva Ramblers on August 4, 1927. If the date sounds familiar, it is because that was the date of the famous Bristol sessions. The Tenneva Ramblers and Jimmie Rodgers were preparing to record, but they had a disagreement over whether to call the group the Tenneva Ramblers or the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers. I guess you could say that the Ramblers "won" that little battle, but Jimmie Rodgers went in to record by himself, and the rest, as they say, is history. This is taken from the album, The Tenneva Ramblers, Puritan 3001, released in 1972. Your chances of finding a copy are slim, but if you do find one, it is worth the effort, as it contains some fine old time songs.

Miss Liza, Poor Gal

Oh, Miss Liza, poor gal, oh, miss Liza Jane,
Oh, Miss Liza, poor gal, ?too late to catch the train?.

I went to see Miss Liza, Miss Liza wasn't at home,
Her old man took the broomstick and dragged it o'er my bones.

That's it. repeat it as many times as you feel like it. The song is primarily a fiddle/banjo piece, with instrumental breaks after every two lines. Their version repeats the first two lines four times, and the second two lines three times. As far as the too late to catch the train phrase is concerned, I am pretty certain that is not right, but even after more than 20 years of listening to the song, I still can't tell. I guess this could qualify for mistakes made while listening to songs.

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, LIZA JANE
From: Dale Rose
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 05:33 PM

This is from County lp 516 The Legend Of Charlie Poole This was widely available at one time, and you might still find a copy or a cassette somewhere. County has issued two CDs of his material, but did not include this song. Despite listening intently many times, there are a few words that still defy my attempts to figure them out. I have put ? by those I am unsure of, and ???? where whole words are beyond me.
There are extended fiddle breaks in the song. I will put up Miss Liza, Poor Gal later.

Goodbye Liza Jane
Looka here Liza, listen to me,
You're not the gal that you promised to be,
Didn't you say you'd always be true?
You went out driving (with) Mr. Brown,
I am the laughing stock of the town.
People said to never trust you.

Chorus:
Though I'll be ???? babe, I'm a gonna go,
I was a good man while I had the dough,
So it's good bye, Miss Liza, I'm going to leave you.
You know when I go, I'm the fellow with the dough, dough, dough.
So sing a little song, travel along, yes, travel along,
Bid you good day, babe, I'm on the way.
Goodbye, sweet Liza Jane.

Give me here my gold watch and chain,
Give me your umbrella, said it might rain,
Give me the clothes that I paid for too.
Dive? in the trunk, and hand me them things.
Give me here my diamond ring
And give Mr. Brown the dress you all ????

Chorus, then repeat last five lines of chorus, substituting sweet for little

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Dale Rose
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 04:46 PM

After reading the first two comments, I went to dig through my records to find Goodbye Liza Jane by Charlie Poole, and Miss Lisa, Poor Gal by the Tenneva Ramblers. By the time I had dug them out, Barry had added his comment. I have located them, and am in the process of transcribing them right now. For those of you who know Charlie Poole, you know what a chore that can be. The words are totally different than those found by Barry. BRB

Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, LIZA JANE^^
From: Barry
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 03:58 PM

GOOD-BY LIZA JANE (according to sandbag/songburg) was a minstrel song, traveling the mid west circus route on the program for Rutledge & Rogers.

Our horse fell down the well around behind the stable (2x)
Well he didn't fall clear down but he fell, fell, fell, fell, fell, fell,
As far as he was able. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane

Our goose swallowed a snail, & his eyes stuck out with wonder (2x)
For the horns grew through his tail, tail, tail, tail, tail, tail,
And bust it all asunder. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane.

My gal crossed the bridge, so she wouldn't get her feet wet (2x)
Well she didn't cross the bridge, but she (would 6x)
But the bridge it wasn't built yet. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane.

There are a couple of other Liza Janes: Liza Jane, Liza In The Summertime (or She Died On The Train) both dealing with a chorus of dead Lizas, then there's Mountain Top, I've also heard it as a fast reel, but never heard it done as well as the one Gene has above done by the Manhaden Chanteymen.
Barry

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Jun-02.

Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: OldTimer
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 03:06 PM

Goodbye Liza Jane is different tune from L'il Liza Jane. I know GLJ as an instrumental and can't remember hearing any lyrics- though surely someone has put some to it. I have heard a song with a different name put to the same tune as GLJ, and if I can think of it I will put it up for you Nathan.

Subject: Lyr Add: L'IL LIZA JANE
From: Gene
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 12:12 AM

Here's a few verses I have collected...

L'IL LIZA JANE

I've got a gal and you've got none, l'il Liza Jane
I've got a gal that calls me [hon], l'il Liza Jane.

CHORUS: Oh Eliza, l'il Liza Jane; Oh Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.

Liza Jane done come to me; l'll Liza Jane
We're as happy as we can be; l'il Liza Jane.

Come my love and live with me; l'il Liza Jane
I will take good care of thee; l'il Liza Jane.

Get a house and lot in Baltimore; l'il Liza Jane
Lots of children runnin' out the door; l'il Liza Jane.

More verses to: L'IL LIZA JANE

I know a gal that I adore, l'il Liza Jane.
'Way down south in Baltimore, l'il Liza Jane.

CHORUS: Oh, Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.; Oh, Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.

Down where she lives, the posies grow; l'il Liza Jane.
Chickens 'round the kitchen do' (door); l'il Liza Jane.

I wouldn't care how far we roam; l'il Liza Jane.
Where she's at is home sweet home; l'il Liza Jane..

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Jun-02.

Subject: Goodbye Liza Jane
From:
Date: 08 Sep 97 - 10:15 PM

Looking for lyrics to this fiddle tune. I think there are probably floating verses, and I think this has "floated" into other tunes--I found "Shiloh" with the phrase "Goodbye Liza Jane" in the chorus, but assume that was borrowed from the fiddle tune. Any help is appreciated.