Lyr ADD: Horsie / Horsey Keep Your Tail Up

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 05:23 PM

"Horsie Keep Your Tail Up," sung by Lew Childre, can be heard on YAZOO 2051 - The Story the Crow Told Me, Early American Rural Children's Songs, Vol. 1 (classic recordings from the 1920s and 30s. Dick Greenhaus has the CD at Camsco and you can get it through the Mudcat shop. There are two volumes, this being the first. The second is 2052, I think. Both are highly recommended! Caroline and I love 'em!

Sandy

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: harpgirl
Date: 01 Jul 00 - 03:51 PM

refried

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: lingolucky
Date: 14 Jul 98 - 10:10 PM

i have a recording, can't lay my hands on it right now, very short nonsense verse.

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: Ferrara
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 10:32 PM

By the way -- Mom only sang the one verse of "Horsey keep your Tail Up" that you typed in above. But she also sang a weird fragment to the tune of My Dear Old Buffalo Boy: "I walked home from the buggy ride, the buggy ride, the buggy ride; I walked home from the buggy ride, 'cause horses carry tails. " It had to do with a young man making "improper advances", I think.

As far as the horse keeping his tail up, I always thought it was just supposed to be silly. No implications at all about horse behavior or misbehavior. Just a silly wish that probably lots of people thought of when they were driving along and the sun was in their eyes.

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: Ferrara
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 10:25 PM

Harpgirl, no, your grandma didn't make the song up! -- My mother grew up in the country in Georgia, and she sang it.

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: Bert
Date: 13 Jul 98 - 11:06 AM

I seem to remember my Dad singing a line.
....Keep it up or off it goes, horses tails make fiddle bows....

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: harpgirl
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 10:31 PM

Barbara, I know nothing about horses and frankly, they scare me but Belle Isle is in the Detroit River. The Bob Lo boat went down stream to Bob Lo Island, as I recall. I guess I'll have to make up some more lyrics. I always thought thatit was a precious song handed down from ancestors past, like the Growler Song..but maybe my grandmother made it up to keep me from crying about riding those dang horses...harpalong

Subject: RE: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: Barbara
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 09:35 PM

Well, uhm, isn't one verse enough?
Would that be the Belle Isle you get to on the Boblo boat?
And, the daughter's horsey raises her tail when (1) she's eliminating, (2)she's in heat and (3)when she's in a fine old mood and running around the meadow or dancing while she waits. She's an Arabian, and I gather that this is a characteristic of the breed, to hold their tails high. (As in the movie, the Black Stallion).
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: lyr.req:Horsey keep your tail up
From: harpgirl
Date: 12 Jul 98 - 10:35 AM

...dreaming of my Indiana grandmother last night I remembered the song we sang on the poney carts at Belle Isle:

Horsey keep your tail up, keep your tail up, keep your tail up, oh horsey keep your tail up keep the sun outa my eyes.It took me a few years to see the irony of the horse with his tail up! anyone know any more lyrics? harpgirl