Lyr Add: Lass of Mohee

Subject: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:13 PM

I'd be interested myself in learning more about where this one came from:

THE LASS OF MOHEE

As I went a-walking for pleasure one day
In sweet recreation all care cast away
As I was amusing myself on the grass
Who should happen along but a young Indian lass

She sat down beside me took hold of my hand
Saying "you look like a stranger that's far from his land
If you want to follow, you're welcome to come
You may live by yourself in a snug little home"

I said "Dearest maid, that never can be
For I have a sweetheart in my own country
And I ne'er will forsake her though in poverty
For her heart is as pure as the Lass of Mohee"

The sun it was setting far o'er the sea
As I rambled along with that pretty Mohee
We rambled together and together did rove
Till we came to her home in the coconut grove

Early next morning at the dawn of the day
I grieved this fair maiden when she heard me say
"I'm going to leave you, so farewell my dear
The ship is now ready, for home I must steer"

The last time I saw her was down on the sand
And as I passed by her she waved back her hand
Saying "When you get home to the one that you love
Forget not the girl in the coconut grove"

Now I am safe back on my own native shore
Where friends and companions now greet me once more
But there's no one around me, or no one I see
That I love half so well as the Lass of Mohee

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: MMario
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:21 PM

see also Little Mohee

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: MMario
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:24 PM

also this post by Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:37 PM

Jen, be sure to tell us where you got yours from.
thanks.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: Amos
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 02:58 PM

Hiya, Jen!

I learned this from an early Burl ives recording. As you can see from the other threads on it, it's first-cousin to a number of better known songs, and in fact as I recall the tune used was the same as On Top of Old Smoky or very close to it.

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: JenEllen
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 03:46 PM

Thanks for the alternative titles/lyrics, all. My copy came from that same folio that the Daughters of the Pioneers was throwing out. There was no author listed, only that Alfred Durham had "arranged" it. The only information about him listed was "Mr Durham is a son of a pioneer musician, Thomas Durham, and a pioneer mother, Caroline Mortensen Durham, both of whom came across the plains in handcart companies in the year 1856". Apparently, he pulled a Lomax and collected these songs from other pioneer musicians, so a lot of the dates/authors and tunes/lyrics are sketchy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 08:38 PM

Gale Huntington in his "Songs the Whalermen Sang" states that in it's present form it's "undoubtedly" originated from the whalermen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: Deckman
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 09:52 AM

Hi Jen Ellen, This was the second folksong I ever learned. It was taught to me in 1950 by the late Bill Higley (Willi Waw Willy) of Alaska and Westport, Washington fame. Later today I'll have time to dig out my notes on the song. I know the version I was taught is somewhat different, but it is clearly the same song. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 03:12 PM

Also compare with "Rolling Down to Old Mohee" in the DT.

No one seems to have pointed this out, but on Capt. James Cook's map of the Sandwich Islands, Maui is spelled Mohee.

Oahu is Woahoo and the Big Island of Hawai'i is Owhyhee. These were the common pronunciations of the English and Americans who visited the Islands before the era of the missionaries and a more scholarly approach was taken to the language. The glottal stop was difficult for the sailors.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: LASS OF MOHEE
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 03:50 PM

Sorry, it was spelled Mowhe on Cook's Map. Mohee appeared later; I have lost the reference to whose map that was on. Pronounced the same, however.

Subject: ADD: The Lass of Mowee
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Aug 12 - 01:45 PM

LASS OF MOWEE
William Histed, Ship Cortes,, 1847

As I was a-roving for pleasure one day
For sweet recreations and sore cast away
I sat in a tavern and by me a glass
There happened to come in a young Indian lass
2
She stepped up to me and took hold of my hand
Saying you look like a stranger away from your land
But if you will follow you are welcome to come
And I live by myself in a snug little home
3
Just as the sun set behind the blue sea
I wandered alone with my little Mowee
Together we rambled together we rove
Until we came to her house in a coconut grove
4
With fondest expressions she said unto me
If you will consent to live along with me
And never shall go roving upon the salt sea
The language I'll learn you is of the Isle of Mowee
5
To which I replied that never can be
For I have a sweetheart in my own country
And I never will forsake her in her poverty
She has a heart that is as true as the lass of Mowee
6
Early next morning by the dawn of the day
I grieved her to the heart when these words I did say
I am going to leave you so farewell my dear
My ship has weighed anchor and for home we will steer
7
The last time I saw her she was down on the strand
As my boat passed by her she waved her hand
Saying when you get home to the girl that you love
Remember the maid in the coconut grove
8
Now I am safe landed in my own native shore
My friends and relations gather round me once more
Not one that comes round me not one do I see
That can be compared with the lass of Mowee
9
This young Indian was handsome she was modest and kind
She acted her part to the heavens devine
For when I was a stranger she took me to her home
So I'll think on the Mowee as I wander alone.

This song, obviously from "The Indian Lass" which is in broadsides c. 1850, usually has the spelling Mohee. This is the version with the earliest assigned date, from the MS. of songs collected by William Histed, Ship Cortes, New Bedford, 1847 (MS in New Bedford Public Library).

I couldn't find that this version has been posted.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lass of Mohee
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 12 - 02:48 PM

Here's a version sung forty years ago in Maine:

http://history.presqueisle.lib.me.us/omeka/exhibits/show/allagash/aaron---rosie-jackson/songs

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lass of Mohee
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 08 Aug 12 - 04:09 PM

That was me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Lass of Mohee
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 23 - 02:00 PM

the first version of this song came in 1937 by the hall brothers a group ho had a guest singer called george renee a blind singer him self. oliver hood was a teacher at the blind school from 1907 and one of his pupils was george renee. he formed a group called the hall brothers and in 1927 they did the first version of the little mohee in 1936 they did a second take on the song and if you want to haer this recording i have got it from joe