Kemo Kimo info

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 11:53 PM

Several versions seem to have been extant in the mid-1850s.
Sheet Music only, no lyrics- In 1855, Winner and Shuster, Philadelphia, published a group of minstrel melodies under the title "Black Swan Set" (at American Memory:
Few Days
Keemo Kimo
Wait For the Wagon
Pop Goes the Weasel
Jordan Am a Hard Road
Hop De Doo

"Keemo Kimo Polka" by Charles C. Converse was published in 1856 by Wm. Hall and Son, the same publisher who printed the 1854(?) sheet music and lyrics posted above by Jim Dixon

Other song sheets were published by Andrews and de Masran. as 'composed' by Charles White and sung by 'Old Dan Emmit' at White's Melodion, 53 Bowery, NY.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 11:15 PM

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 11:15 PM

Threads on this song include:
1681- 1681
6853- 6853
46177- 46177
52342- 52342
53292 (this one)

Subject: Lyr Req: KEEMO KIMO (Christy and Wood, 1854)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 10:19 PM

Here are the lyrics from The Library of Congress American Memory Collection:

KEEMO KIMO
"Geo Christy and [Henry] Wood's celebrated banjo song"
arranged by [A.] Sedgwick. [1854?]

In South Car'lina de darkies go
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Dat's whar de white folks plant de tow.
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Cover de ground all over wid smoke
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
And up de darkies' heads dey poke
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!

CHORUS: Keemo, Ki'mo! Dar! Oh, whar?
Wid my hi, my ho, and in come Sally singing
Sometimes penny winkle, lingtum, nip-cat
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!

2. Milk in de dairy nine days old
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Frogs and de skeeters getting mighty bold
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Dey try for to sleep but it ain't no use
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Dere legs hang out for de chickens to roost.
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!

3. Dar was a frog lived in a pool
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
Sure he was the biggest fool
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
For he could dance and he could sing
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!
And make de woods around him ring.
    Sing song Kitty can't you ki? Me oh!

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 11:07 PM

Ed McCurdy sings a version of Keemo Kimo on "Children's Songs" accompanied by Billy Faier, an Everest Records Production, recorede by Cue Recordings in 1958. 1958.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 20 Oct 03 - 11:51 AM

Guest Sally's verse reminds me that in the 1950s a working colleague gave me a single nonsense verse he used to sing as a kid:

Coyney nair-oh/Kilt a care-oh/ Coyne-ee
With a bin strin stranna bonna fiddle or a ring
And a ring ding bully dinny coynee.

The tune wasn't related to any version of Kemo Kimo that I've ever heard, but a performance of that song is described and written out in full in J Ewing Ritchie 'The Night Side of London' 1857, as sung by Mrs Caulfield at the Canterbury Hall in Lambeth, London. He gives three verses starting with 'Down in Skytown...' and with the 'Sing song Polly' chorus.

Canterbury Hall was a pioneer music hall of the 1850s and Mrs Caulfield was one of its early stars. Another Canterbury star was the great Sam Cowell, mentioned twice in this thread as a 'minstrel vocalist'. I have never heard him so described and I don't think he ever appeared blackface - and if he sang this song, it wasn't one he was well known for. He was certainly the best known, if not the first, singer of 'Villikens and his Dinah' and 'The Ratcatcher's Daughter' and he popularised 'Billy Barlow' in England.

Kilgarriff's 'Sing Us One of the Old Songs' gives Mrs Florence as another singer and notes a version of Keemo Kimo published in 1854 attributed to George or Edwin P Christy, with music by Woods.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 01:35 PM

Guest Sally, so many nonsense versions, one would never find them all.
However, a version with penny whistle and some of the other lines that ou give at: Keemo Kimo
or go to Index page, http://www.grandfolkies.com/qsandas.htm and look for Kemo Kimo under K.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 11:47 AM

IN 1947 I attended a one room rural school in Gordonville, Mo (near Cape Girardeau, in the southeast part of the state. We sang Kimo Kimo much like the Doc Watson version posted by Richie.

'Way down yonder on Beaver Creek
Sing a Song Kitty, won't you ki-me-O!
The darkies grow to be 6 feet
Sing a song Kitty, won't you ki-me-O!

Ch: Kimo, Kimo, Keero ark!
Mehe, mehi, me humdrum penny winkle
Tip tap, pitty pat, brown eyed pussy cat
Sing a song Kitty, won't you ki-me-O!

They go to sleep, but it aint no use
Sing a song Kitty, won't you ki-me-O!
Their feet stick out for the chickens to roost
Sing a song Kitty, won't you ki-me-O!

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,guest, Sally
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 12:24 PM

This is how I remember the song as my father sang it to me in the early 50s. I never heard any verses, just the chorus. As a preschooler, I probably misunderstood some of the words, but here's the pseudo-phonetic best I can do:

Karo, kiro, me dairy-o
Me-ha-me-ho
Rum-a-stick-a-bum-a-diddle
Soot-a-pack-a-penny-whittle
Nipkin, catnip, sing a song
Kitchie, kitchie ki-me-oh

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 Dec 02 - 05:46 PM

In the Bodleian Library is a broadside printed ca. 1845-1859 by A Ryle and Co., Seven Dials and Portsea, England, with the exact words of the version from American Memory posted by Richie, 05 Nov. 02, 12:45. The heading is "POLLY Won't you try me O." Firth b26(235).

It says it was sung by Mrs. Florence, at Drury Lane Theatre. I wonder how the audience understood "For Jordan's a hard road to travel I believe."

Subject: Lyr Add: SING SONG KITTY (from Doc Watson)
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 11:23 PM

Lry. add: SING SONG KITTY
Doc Watson At Gerdes Folk City; Cut 5

(guitar inst.)

Way down yonder and not far off,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.
A jaybird died with the whoppin' cough,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

CHORUS 1: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Ram tom a-doodle-snake a-rank tank a rattle bug,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

Way down yonder on Beaver Creek,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.
The gals all grow to be six feet,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.

CHORUS 1: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Ram tom a-doodle-snake a-rank tank a rattle bug,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.

(guitar inst.)

My cow won't give the milk in the summer,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.
So we've got to take it from 'er,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.

CHORUS 2: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Rip tap a-pitty pat, a blue-eyed pussycat,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

(guitar inst.)

Mama's in the garden siftin' sand,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.
Sally's in love with the hog-eye man,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.

CHORUS 2: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Rip tap a-pitty pat, a blue-eyed pussycat,
Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o.

Cabbage in the garden, bees in the gum.
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.
Sally won't you come and smooch me some
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

CHORUS 2: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Rip tap a-pitty pat, a blue-eyed pussycat,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

(faster) CHORUS 2: Hemo hymo, beetle-bug jingo,
Meehee, myho, pretty penny winko,
Rip tap a-pitty pat, a blue-eyed pussycat,
Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o.

Note: Doc sings two different choruses and sings, "Sing song kitty can't ya kime-e-o" and sometimes "Sing song kitty can ya kime-e-o" instead.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:34 PM

If you think you're good at singing lyrics try singing these seven refrains to "Kemo Kimo" in a row!

Teemy tim-o in the land of neo Pharoah said a rat trap peeny winkle timey doodle rattle buggy rat trap peenie winkle tie me oh

Kemo kimo, dare awa Ma high, ma ho Rump sump sack a nickels Poop-dag, nip-cat Polly won't you kimeo.

Karo, Karo, give to Flayro, Flaro Flaro, Flaaaa-rooooo, Aaaaaany wink-ee flemm-ee doodle yellow bug to my rat-trap a bottom-itchy Kai-m-bo.

Hello naro he's my caro, Hello caro narrow, Ring ting bottom ditty boat around Ring ting bottom and a kymo.

Kero kiro gilt and garo Kero kiro karo Rap jack pennywhinkle flammydoodle yellow buckle Rain down bonny mish ki-me-oh.

Tim a rang tang bottom tim a kimo come a nedro, Keep my caro rum a tum bum stumpy tum dido bodey, Round tim a rang tang bottom a my kimo.

Karo kiro daro boys M'haim M'home M'hime Boomasicle lopasicle along came knick knack sing song kitty wont you kie me oh.

Is this an early form of rap music?

-Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 10:14 PM

I generally agree with Irish sergeant about the Frog in the well origin. Here are some of my private notes (sorry about the rank jokes-corporal punishment is deserved):

Spaeth reports that one H. Wood published a song called "Keemo Kimo" in 1854 (George Christy and Wood's Melodies (New Song Book) copyright 1854). "The refrain is not originally Negro, but is an old English nonsense rhyme- Prof. Kittredge in JAFL, xxxv, 396." The "Kemo" refrain probably was based on the "Frog in the Spring/Frog in the Well" songs which is the "Puddy in the Well" offshoot of Froggie:

There lived a puddy in a well,
Cuddy alone, Cuddy alone
There lived a puddy in a well
Cuddy alone and I

There lived a puddy in a well
And a mousie in a mill
Kickmaleerie, cowden down
Cuddy alone and I.

The "Cuddy alone and I" is also where "Kitty Alone" songs originated:

There was a frog lived in a well,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone;
There was a frog lived in a well;
Kitty alone and I!

There was a frog lived in a well,
And a merry mouse in a mill.
Cock me cary, Kitty alone,
Kitty alone and I.

"Froggie" comes in two distinct forms. One has the un-huh or hum refrain, while the other has a nonsense lyric refrain that often includes the word "kemo" or other nonsense syllables:


A froggie went a courting and he did ride
King kong kitchie kitchie ki-me-o
with a sword and a pistol by his side
King kong kitchie kitchie ki-me-o.

Chorus: Ki-mo-ke-mo ki-mo-ke,
Way down yonder in a hollow tree
An owl and a bat and a bumble bee
King kong kitchie kitchie ki-me-o.

"Kemo (properly "Keemo") Kimo," because of its popularity and wide oral circulation in the mid to late 1800's in the minstrel era, created a mystifying array of syllables sung to the Chorus. The song was also popular in England in the 1800's by the minstrel vocalist Sam Cowell. The English Morris Dance Tune (2/4 time) version came from the United States minstrels (who got it from the English settlers!)

There is a Keemo Kimo Schottisch composed by James Bellak, 1854, and a version arranged for the cotillion in the on-line Levy Collection (also the 1854 original sheet music).

-Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 09:48 PM

Bev and Jerry- thanks for posting Chubby's version. I actually have it (from somewhere on-line)but I didn't know what it was. Here's two additions to you post:

1) Verse 6: I have, "Mister Frog brought the suitors to the floor,"

2) It's obvious to most people but King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O
is sung after each line of the verse:

He rode 'til he came to Miss Mouse's door,
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O.
And there he knelt upon the floor,
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O.

I feel like I've really put my foot in my mouth with that "toe" question. I guess you could say I only put my "tow" in my mouth!

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: KING KONG KITCHIE KITCHIE KI-ME-O
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:24 PM

KING KONG KITCHIE KITCHIE KI-ME-O

Chubby Parker and his old time banjo, New York,
August 13, 1928 - from the Harry Smith Collection

1. Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O
With a sword and a pistol by his side
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O

CHORUS: Kimo keemo kimo kee
Way down yonder in a holler tree
An owl and a bat and a bumble bee
King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O

2. He rode 'til he came to Miss Mouse's door
And there he knelt upon the floor

3. He took Miss Mouse upon his knee
And he said, 'Miss Mouse will you marry me?"

4. Miss Mouse had suitors three or four
And there they came right in the door

5. They grabbed Mister Frog and began to fight
In a holler tree 'twas a terrible night

6. Mister Frog drug(?) the suitors to the floor
With his sword and his pistol, he killed all four

7. They went to the parson the very next day
And left on their honeymoon right away

8. Now they lived far off in a holler tree
Where they now have wealth and children three

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 04:20 PM

According to the sources i've found (Mostly other musicians) The tune comes from an old marching song called "Frog in The Well" In most if not all of our wars up to and including the Civil War, Some slaves accompanied their master to war. Though there is no proof for it I would like to think the tune was adapted by one such slave. Whoever he or she was, they would have made a hell of a song plugger. ANd just for your information, it works very well as a march and would likely have been adapted as a work song. Kindest regards, Neil

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:45 PM

White put this verse with Keemo Kimo. Not sure that it belongs there:

I went up to town to get a cake of cheese,
The skippers and the maggots and a long-tailed mouse,
Yonder come a nigger with a bucket full o' souse,
Just come down from the white folks house.
Ms. of J. E. Hillhouse, AL, 1915, in White, p. 176.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:30 PM

Newman I. White reported this verse from the MS. of J. H. Drake, heard in Auburn, AL, 1915. By this time, other songs were mixed up with Keemo Kimo.

Milk in the dairy gettin' mighty old,
Skippers and the mice working mighty bold,
Sing song Kitty can't yer kinny meo
Keymo ki mo doro hi me hi me ho.
In come Sally singing, sometimes
Penny with a wink turnings cat.
Sing song Kitty can't yer ki meo
Key mo ki mo doro hi, me hi me ho.

American Negro Folk Songs, N. I. White, p. 176

Keemo Kimo was an old English nonsense rhyme, picked up by the minstrels, among others. See Kittredge, JAFL, xxxv, p. 396 (From White, p. 175) Question- what was this song called in the British Isles? Was it about Kitty or Sally? Does anyone have access to the article?

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:00 PM

According to my info "Kemo Kimo" was around since the early 1840's as a minstrel tune. It was popular during the Civil War and also in the repertoire of minstrel performer Sam Cowell.

Is it possible that originally it was "toe" and that was misheard as "tow." Since "tow" makes sense it was used by the songsters in the 1850's.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:52 PM

-Masasto thanks for the links,

If you look at the links above both "Kitty Kimo" songs have "Sing Song Polly." How did they get that title when there's no "Sing Song Kitty" in the song?

-Richie

Subject: Lyr Add: SING SONG POLLY WON'T YOU TRY ME OH?
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:45 PM

I guess I figured that if you plant a toe the rest of the body might
sprout, "And up de darkies' heads dey poke." I have two versions with "toe" in them.

Here's my favorite from American Memory that is a ballad and also use the "Jordan is a hard raod to travel" line:

Lyr. Add: SING SONG POLLY WON'T YOU TRY ME OH?

Down in Skytown liv'd a maid,
Sing song Polly won't you try me oh?
Churning butter was her trade,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
She loved a feller whose name was Will,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
His dad he used to own the mill,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?

CHORUS: Kemo kimo where? oh, there! my high, my low,
Then in comes Sally, singing,
Sometimes, medley, winkum lingtum nip cat,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?

She wanted Will for worse or better,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
She'd have married, but dad wouldn't let her,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
And so she went and got a knife,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
She broke her heart and lost her life,
Sing song Polly, won't you try me oh?

CHORUS: Kemo kimo where? oh, there! my high, my low,
Then in comes Sally, singing,
Sometimes, medley, winkum lingtum nip cat,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?

Then Josh he felt his dander risin',
Sing song Polly won't you try me oh?
So he went and swallowed pisin,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
The village folks laughed in their sleeve,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?
For Jordan's a hard road to travel I believe,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?

CHORUS: Kemo kimo where? oh, there! my high, my low,
Then in comes Sally, singing,
Sometimes, medley, winkum lingtum nip cat,
Sing song Polly won't you try me, oh?

-Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:40 PM

The word tow in the sense of fiber goes back to the 14th century. "The original sense may have been textile fibre generally. OED.
Newspapers used the word in price quotations for raw materials used in making cloth throughout the 19th century. An article in 1822 spoke of "tow-cloth" being made for family use. This was cheap, poor quality cloth.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:16 PM

"Tow" is material used to make fiber, such as hemp or flax (nowadays synthetics). "Plant de tow" is accurate.

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: masato sakurai
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:49 AM

For reference:

Title: Keemo Kimo. Geo. Christy Wood's Celebrated Banjo Song.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Arranged by Sedgwick.
Publication: New York: William Hall & son, 239 Broadway, 1854.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: In South Car'lina de darkies go Sing song Kitty cant you ki'me oh!
First Line of Chorus: Keemo Ki'mo! Dar! oh whar?
Performer: As Sung by P.H. Keenan.
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Hays N.Y.
Plate Number: 2852
Subject: African Americans
Subject: Caricatures
Subject: Nonsense songs
Subject: Ethnic stereotypes
Subject: Dialects
Call No.: Box: 022 Item: 098

Title: Keemo Kimo : Geo Christy and Wood's celebrated banjo song / arranged by [A.] Sedgwick. (Originally published: New York : William Hall & Son, [1854?]) ["First line of text: In South Car'lina de darkies go. /
First line of chorus: Keemo Ki'mo! Dar! oh whar?"]

Kemo, Kimo. (Thomas G. Doyle, Bookseller, Stationer, and Song publisher, Md. [n. d.]) ["'Way down South where I was born, / Sing song Kitty, can't you Kimeo, / Chopped the wood and husked the corn, / Sing Song Kitty, can't you Kimeo."]

Kitty Kimo. (Composed and arranged by Charles White, and sung nightly by Old Dan Emmit, with thunders of applause. H. De Marsan, Publisher, 38 & 60 Chatham Street, N. Y. [n. d.] )

Kitty Kimo. (Composed and arranged by Charles White. Andrews', Printer, 38 Chatham Street, N. Y.)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:38 AM

I've found one version of "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O."

I'm also looking for the lyrics to Chubby Parker's 1928 version "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O."

Thanks,

Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:25 AM

The above verse is from the Levy site. The other 4 versions I have are from the American Memory Collection site.

I just think "tow" is a mistake.

-Richie

Subject: RE: Kemo Kimo info
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 11:03 AM

See the Lester Levy sheet music collection (Mudcat's links) for facsimile copies.

Subject: Kemo Kimo Info
From: GUEST,-Richie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 10:55 AM

I'm studying Kemo Kimo/Sing Song Kitty:

Here's the 1854 version:

In South Carolina de darkies go,
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki' me, oh!
Dat's whar de white folks plant the tow.
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki' me, oh!
Cover the ground all over with smoke,
Sing song Kitty, can't you ki' me, oh!
And up de darkies' heads dey poke.
Sing song, Kitty, can't you ki' me, oh!

Shouldn't the second verse be, "Plant the toe" Is there something I'm missing here?

Why isn't it named "Keemo Kimo"?

The notes on the sheet music for Kitty Kimo from American Memory (Same lyrics as Camo Kimo) say: Composed and arranged by Charles White, and sung nightly, by Old Dan Emmit, with thunders of Applause. If you want to spend a pleasant evening and enjoy a hearty laugh, go to White's Melodeon, 53 Bowery.

However there's no "Kitty Kimo" in this version but it is "Kitty Kimo" in the "Kemo Kimo" vrsion. Is this a mistake in the American Memory Collection?

Thanks for your imput,

Richie

Subject: RE: LYR/TUNE ADD: Kemo Kimo
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 10:04 AM

See, I told you there were lots more words out there, and we got a NAME for the tune!! Whee, BTW, mine came from the "Wee Sing" Fun n' Folk booklet. Pub. by Price, Stern, Sloan in Los Angeles, US.

Subject: Lyr Add: KEMO KIMO
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 09:19 AM

Sorcha: I had never heard those lyrics The ones I have are Kemo Kimo:

In South Carolina the Darkies go, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
That's where the white folks plant the to, Sing song Kitty, can't you ki' me oh!
Cover the ground all over with smoke, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!

Chorus;
Kemo, Kimo, there oh Where"
With my hi, my ho and in come Sally singing;
Sometimes, pennywinkle, lingtum, nipcat,
Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!

Sometimes things just go all wrong, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
Cotton grows short instead of long, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
What ya gonna do when the rain don't fall? Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
Crops grow short instead of tall, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!

There's milk in the dairy nine days old, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
Frogs and the 'skeeters getting mighty bold, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
They try to sleep but it ain't no use, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
They hop all around in the Chicken roost, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!

There was a frog who lived in a pool, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
Sure he was the biggest fool, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
For he could dance and he could sing, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!
And make the woods around him ring, Sing song Kitty can't you ki' me oh!

It's a very popular song in my reenacting circles. It works both as a campfire song and as a marching song. The tune comes from the 18th century marching tune "The Frog in the Well." Kindest regards, Neil

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 19-Feb-02.

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: KEMO KIMO^^
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 00 - 12:39 AM

What is in the DT is a different set of words than what I have, and the notes to the file say that it is a forerunner to the blackface song Kemo,Kimo. Here are the words I have, and the tune. I am sure there a LOTS more.

KEMO KIMO

There was a frog, lived in a spring,
Sing, song kitty catch a kimee-o.
He could dance and he could sing,
Sing, song, kitty catch a kimee-o.
Chorus:

Kee mo, kimo, day-ro dime,
Hey, ho, subble bubble, sip so,
Periwinkle soap fat,
Pennywinkle nip cat,
Kitty catch a ki mee-o.

O, what you gonna do when the rain don't fall?
Sing, song, kitty catch a kimee-o,
Crops grow small instead of tall,
Sing, song kitty catch a kimee-o

X: 1
T:KEMO KIMO
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:140
K:F
C2| F2 F2 F2 C2| D2 D2 C4| F2 F2 AG FG | A2 G2 G4 | F2 F2 F2 C2| D2 D2 C4 | F2 F2 AG FG | A2 G2 F4|| A2 c2 c2 c2 |A2 c2 c4 | B4 A4 |GG C C G2 C2 | GG CCG2 C2 | GG CC G2 C2 | GG GB A2 G2 F4 z2 |]

http://www.mudcat.org/!!-supersearch99.cfm?MaxHits=1&Command=search&NumLines=4&file=fall99&request=%5BKEMO+KIMO%5D [ PUDDYWL3

^^

Subject: RE: Background on Kemo Kimo Please
From:
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 10:35 PM

There is a recording by Chubby Parker in 1928 (so later than what Dale mentions). It is in the "Anthology of American Folk Music". Here is what my book on the "Anthology" says:

Sharp has eleven versions of "The Frog Went A-Courtin'" but none with this fantastic mind-boggling chorus. Chubby Parker, a Kentuckian, and a star of the centrally important radio show "WLS National Barn Dance, recorded this fine children's song with the five string banjo for Columbia in 1928

There the title of the song is spelled "King Kong Kitchie Kitchie Ki-Me-O"

So you should probably look at Cecil Sharpe's collection of folk songs to see more "original" versions.

Murray

Subject: RE: Background on Kemo Kimo Please
From: Dale Rose
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 12:16 AM

Go to this thread, and you will find out all I know, and a bunch that I don't. Make sure that you listen to the real audio sample by Harry C. Browne and the Peerless Quartet! By the way, it is from the Origins of Bluegrass, Tape 2. My guess is that it was recorded before 1920.

Subject: Background on Kemo Kimo Please
From:
Date: 24 Feb 99 - 05:13 PM

Can anyone give me some background on Kemo Kimo and how it relates to Frogy went a courting and puddy and the mouse? Thank you.