Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?

Subject: Out in the wild world kitty
From: songs2play
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 09:49 AM

Any help with the song which has a refrain something like - Out in the wild world Kitty, Pretty Kitty. Out in the wild world Kitty, far across the sea.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:00 AM

Lyrics are posted here. I found a site that has the chords, I'll be right back with those.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:02 AM

Click here for chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:02 AM

"Kitty" by Joan Baez & Bill Wood is posted at this thread: Lyr/Chords Req: Out in the Wide World, Willie (Scroll down).

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:05 AM

Two minutes late.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:07 AM

I can't believe Baez wrote that song! It was performed by Josef Marais and Miranda -- it is Rhodesian or South African, I think -- before Joanie ever cut a record!

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 10:10 AM

But chords don't define a melody, even when they suggest one.

So can anyone find a sound file for this, or some indication of the tune? (I've got a daughter called Kitty, and I'd really like this song.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 02:25 PM

Recorded by Marais and Miranda, way back before Joan was a gleam in her daddy's eye. Probably one of Josef Marais' translations from Africaans.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Amos
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 02:32 PM

Kevin

If I can steal some time I'll cut a rough of it for you so you know the tune -- it is loverly.

A.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 02:41 PM

Definitely Marais and Miranda, under the title Pretty Kitty. The line is "Out in the wide world, Kitty." Printed in Folk Song Jamboree by M & M.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 04:11 PM

But "out in the wild world" instead might be the kind of happy accident that the folk process is all about.

Like "Deep Blue Sea", where instead of "It was Willie what was drownded in the Deep Blue Sea" it sometimes gets sung "It was Willie walked up drownded from teh Deep Vlue Sea"; or "When All Men Sing" gets sung as "When Old Men sing". One word changing, through a mondegreen, and a song takes on a wholly other colour and meaning. I ike it when that happens.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Don Firth
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 04:43 PM

True indeed. I wasn't trying to be "the folk police," I just thought that if someone wanted to do a "google search," it may produce more results. But no. It still didn't turn up anything much.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 05:24 PM

Thanks for that. Amos - I'll look forward to hearing it. (But no hurry, I've waited long enough not to be impatient.)

And I didn't mean to imply a criticism Don, I was just making an observation. For searches and so forth, strict attention to details like that do matter a lot.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 07:59 PM

My brother and I always assumed Joseph Marais and Miranda were singing a lullaby about kitty cats, and became one of our favorite songs growing up.

I'd be curious what if anything Joan Baez added. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Jul 02 - 08:04 PM

Ugh! You would think she could come up with something better than that!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tune Add: Kitty
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 03:39 AM

X:1
T:Kitty
M:4/4
K:C
E2EEF2E2|CE7|B,D7|CE7|E2EEF2E2|CE7|D2C2B,2B,2|C6||c|c2B2A2A2|G2F2E2E2|D2F2E2D2|G6c2|c2B2A2A2|G2F2E2E2|C2^F2A2A2|G2-F2D4-|D8||

One of the members of Wigan Folk Club sings this. He says he got it from an early Joan Baez album, and it was stated there as traditional.

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: chip a
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 09:33 AM

I have this at home by Joan and Bill. The album title is "Folk Singers 'Round Harvard Square". This is a wonderful early Baez record. Does anyone know when it was recorded?

Chip

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: songs2play
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 09:55 AM

Hey Up, Joan From Wigan, Where abouts is the Wigan Folk Club, and I can go and listen to Kitty being sung.

I don't suppose it's in The Ben Johnson on Warrington Road by any chance ?

Thanks for all the comments, songs2play (from Wigan)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 18 Jul 02 - 02:43 PM

Hi, songs2play! Wigan Folk Club meets twice a week: Tuesdays at the Fox & Goose, Wigan Lane WN1 1XR; and Thursdays at the Seven Stars, Wallgate WN3 5AR (by Wigan Pier). Both evenings start around 9pm, and both run as singarounds. It's Terry who sings "Kitty" - he's the one playing left-handed classical guitar. You'll be very welcome, I'll look forward to meeting you (I'm the one with red hair playing right-handed classical guitar...)

Joan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: cetmst
Date: 19 Jul 02 - 07:09 AM

Folksingers 'Round Harvard Square, Veritas Cultural Records, original tapes recorded by Stephen Fassett in Boston, May 1959, songs by Joan Baez, Bill Wood and Ted Alevizos.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jul 02 - 07:33 AM

But in this case "songs by" means "songs sung by" apparently. Confusing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wild world kitty
From: cetmst
Date: 19 Jul 02 - 09:40 AM

yes, can list other cuts if anyone is interested - Chuck Taylor

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: GUEST,Evon
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 06:46 AM

The song is much older than Baez,
I seem to remember there are 4 stanzas, Baez sings only the last 2 :

His Kitty sailed away from him to far and distant land
And when he asked a goodbye kiss
She said oh no, shake hands

   Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty
   Out in the wide world Kitty
   Far across the sea

When Kitty left, she said she'd write
He promised her the same
But his adress somehow got lost
And she forgot his name


Will try to onearth the first two

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 04:47 PM

I've just spent the past hour looking around the Marais and Miranda website
Fascinating.
I didn't find any words for Kitty there but they're an interesting couple.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 05:51 PM

Aha! Found it!
Marais & Miranda Folksong Jamboree c1960, published by Ballantine Books.
Pretty Kitty written by Josef Marais c1946 and 1956.
Page 48!

Pretty Kitty   
Chorus:
Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty,
Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.

My Kitty sailed away from me to strange and distant lands
And when I asked a goodbye kiss, she said, "Oh no, shake hands!"

When Kitty left, she said she'd write, I promised her the same,
But her address somehow got lost, and she forgot my name.

Refrain:
Kitty, Kitty, pretty Kitty, Will she be coming back to me?
Chorus:

Afrikaans origin. This was evidently a children's game:

Ver in die wereld, Kitty, liefste Kitty,
Ver in die wereld, Kitty, Kitty oor die see.
Sy laat haar draai, sy laat haar swaai,
Maar sy laat haar nie verrai.

Literally:
Far in the world Kitty, dearest Kitty,
Far in the world Kitty, Kitty over the sea.

She lets herself be turned, She lets herself be swayed,
She does not let herself be betrayed.

Robyn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Feb 12 - 08:44 PM

Thanks, Robyn.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Dec 19 - 08:41 AM

The whole album Folksingers round Harvard Square is available on the album Songbird by Joan Baez. It's just called Kitty and gives no information on its writer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Out in the wide world, Kitty?
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 13 Dec 19 - 05:14 PM

Here is the song sung in Afrikaans. Please note the remarks in the 'see more' thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih4f0bBE5KQ