Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo

Subject: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Turlough
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 08:37 AM

About a year ago, I was fortunate enough to find myself in a small pub in Ennistymon, Ireland, just when it was filled with singers...
They sang so many songs that were unfamiliar to me, that I really can't remember what I heard (The one about Trimble's Pimple was great, but that's already in the archives), but there is one song that I really liked. The only lines I remember form the chorus:

"My cock a doodle doo
it has nothing to do with you
...... ..... and take a look
at my cock a doodle doo"

Sounds familiar?

Turlough

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 08:51 AM

Likely from the Music Hall originally. I first heard it in a pub in Sheffield back in the 1970s, sung by an old chap called "Surrey George"; he died not long after and I never got the words. It turns out that it's still quite well-known among "country singers" and Travellers, but you don't hear it so very often because it's not appropriate for all kinds of company. Walter Pardon of Norfolk used to sing it, and there's a set in one of Sheila Douglas' books, so it's evidently known in Scotland too. I'll post Walter's set later on if someone else hasn't.

Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DO (Walter Pardon)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:10 AM

Well, it's not long. I'll do it now.


COCK-A-DOODLE-DO
(Walter Pardon, Knapton, Norfolk)

When walking out the other day, along Victoria Park
Along with a very old friend of mine, we went out for a lark
We saw a man a-selling fowls, he had a lovely stock
I gave him a half-crown, he handed me a...

Cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do,
Hickety, pickety, you know what, 'tis quite enough for you
Cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do,
Hickety, pickety, you know what, 'tis quite enough for you.

I put the old cock under my arm, a-walking along the street
Along with a very old friend of mine, my Judy I did meet
She put her arm around me and she gave me quite a shock
She put her hand right up my coat and then she got hold of my...

I took the old cock home with me, and I put him in a cage
Along with another old hen of mine, and they went in a rage
Some lady friends were passing by and thought it quite a lark
And one of them, she said to me, the hen had got hold of the...

Kind friends, what I am telling you is only a bit of chaff
The reason why I'm here tonight is just to make you laugh
And when I come this way again, I'll have a better stock
And just to please you, one and all, I'll show you all my...

Cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do,
Hickety, pickety, you know what, 'tis quite enough for you
Cock-a-doodle-do, cock-a-doodle-do,
Hickety, pickety, you know what, 'tis quite enough for you.


Walter Pardon, Put a Bit of Powder on it, Father: the other songs of Walter Pardon. Musical Traditions CD 203-6, 2000. The song is no.3464 in the Roud Folk Song Index.

There is also a transcription in Sam Richards & Tish Stubbs, The English Folksinger, and I'll add the tune later. "Surrey George", incidentally, sang the chorus more as you heard it than as in Walter's set.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Cluin
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 09:34 AM

On a only-slightly-related note, there's a line in Tom Russell's great song "Gallo Del Cielo", where Carlos Zaragoza:

"...rode into El Sueco; stole a rooster called Gallo Del Cielo
Then he swam the Rio Grande with that fighter nestled deep beneath his arm"


How did he make and lose so much money with a drowned rooster?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Turlough
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:47 AM

Thank you, Malcolm

that's probably it. And I also thought it sounded very much like a Music Hall song. Still, it's a shame I don't have the more 'adult' chorus (as yet). In that pub, it was a bit of a relief to hear such a 'dirty' song amongst all those songs about drowned lovers and sorrow and pain...

T.

Subject: Tune Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 08:44 AM

I said I'd post the tune; here it is. Sam sang the first verse a little differently that time, so note that the words are slightly different from the text above.

X:1
T:Cock-a-Doodle-Doo
S:Sam Larner, Winterton, Norfolk.
Z:Tish Stubbs & Sam Richards, 1977.
B:The English Folksinger. Collins, 1979.
L:1/8
Q:1/4=100
M:6/8
K:D
A|A2 F A 2F|c c2 c2 B|A2 A GFE|D3-D2
w:When walk-ing out the oth-er day a-long Vic-to-ri-a Park_
E|EEE EEE|c2 c c2 B|A2 A A2 A|A3-A2
w:A-long with a ve-ry old friend of mine we went out for a lark_
F|A2 A A2 A|c c2 c2 B|A2 A G2 E|D3-D2
w:We saw a man there sel-ling fowls, he had a love-ly stock_
E|E2 E E2 E|E2 E c2 B|A2 A G2 E||
w:I hand-ed him a half-a-crown and he gave me a...
|:D2 A A2 A|A3 z3|D2 B B2 B|B3 z3|
w:Cock-a-doo-dle-doo, Cock-a-doo-dle-doo
ccc ccc|c2 c c2 B|A2 A G2 E|D6:|]
w:Hick-et-ty pick-et-ty you know what, it's quite e-nough for you.

Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO (from George McWIlliam)
From: Shonagh
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:46 PM

I know different version of this. This is George McWilliams' version:


COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO
(sung by George McWIlliam, Elgin)

1. Ae Seterday aifterneen, I gaed oot for a walk.
I walked right up to the Overgate and I cam upon a shop.
The lady was selling birds. She was sellin' her final stock.
I handed her a half a croon she handed me a—

CHORUS: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
It's nothing tae dae wi you.
It's a jolly fine bird and it's aa' I've got.
It's ma cock-a-doodle-doo!

2. I thocht I wid tak it hame, so I stuffed in it ma coat.
I hadnae gone sae very far when the cock began tae craw.
I wifie wis passing by. She got sic an affa shock.
She says, "Hey Jock, ma lad, yer gaun tae lose yer—"

3. Tae get ma rooster hame I got ontae a bus.
I sat doon in a corner seat awa fae aa the fuss.
The folk cam crowdin on. I squeezed up tae the top.
"Excuse me, madam, " I shouted. "Ye've sat doon upon ma—"

4. I went oot in a boat. The boat began tae rock.
I fell intae the water and a fish got a huad o ma—" *

5. But at last I got it hame. I stuck it in a cage
Beside an auld grey feathered hean. They baith flew in a rage.
The wifie next door cam in. She says, "What's the matter, Jock?"
Says I, "That auld grey feathered hen is scratchin' at ma—"


*Singer only sang 2 lines for this verse. The melody begins on the final note of line 3.

The notes say: A song in the music-hall tradition, where humour sometimes was a bit raunch, but there never has been anything wrong with a good belly laugh now and then! Its the kind of comic song to be sung straight-faced or with an expression of outraged innocence when the audience laughs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Turlough
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 02:07 PM

Shonagh,

thanks for this other version. It's only getting more and more interesting now. As the guy who I heard singing this song had an obvious British (COCKney-ish, wahaha) accent, I've always associated it with England. This Scottish version was a nice surprise... Thank you!

T.

Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO (trad nursery rhyme)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 03:07 PM

Can't find the nursery rhyme song of that name in DT or Forum, so-

COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
My dame has lost her shoe
My master's lost his fiddling stick
And don't know what to do!

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
What is my dame to do?
Till master finds his fiddling stick
She'll dance without her shoe.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
My dame has found her shoe
And master's found his fiddling stick
Sing cock-a-doodle-do!

Cock-a-doodle-do!
My dame will dance with you
While master fiddles his fiddling stick
For dame and doodle-doo.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Dame has lost her shoe
Gone to bed and scratched her head
And can't tell what to do.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Don't know the source.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 03:45 PM

Only the first two verses are found in "The Real Mother Goose," 1916, with wonderful illustrations by Blanche Fisher Wright.

The remaining verses are perhaps add-ons.

"The Real Mother Goose" is online at Mother Goose

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:27 PM

Shonagh: where did you get the George McWilliams set? Is it the one in Sheila Douglas' book? Very few versions have appeared in print, so it would be good to know. Does the tune he used bear any resemblance to the one I posted earlier (which is related, but not especially close to, the one I vaguely remember from 25 years back)?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Shonagh
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:38 PM

Hi Malcolm. Aye, I got this version from the "Come gie's a sang" book which was edited by Sheila Douglas and im sure the TMSA had something to do with it as well. I think the tune that I know is a wee bit different to yours though. I would post it here as well but im just back from folk club and a wee bit tired so i'll try and do it tomorrow!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 21 Aug 03 - 01:28 PM

Reminiscent of the Watersons' song, "I Went to Market," which does not seem to be in the DT or Forum. First verse and chorus:

Why, I went to market to buy a cock
And the cock did very well please me
Every time I fed me cock
Well, I fed her all under a tree.

And me cock went cock a cock a doodle doo
And after every farmer's cock did my cock crow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Bob Bishop Chessington Surrey.
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 09:30 AM

My Dear old Father in law used to sing this song at family reunions all were Londoners born an bred, I beleive the words went like this.

One Sunday afternoon I went to take a walk
I walked as far as Petticoat Lane and there I had a talk
To a man who was selling birds; I asked for a view of his stock.
I handed over half a crown and he gave me back a ...

Chorus : Cock-a-Doodle Doo. It's nothing to do with you.
It's a very small cock, but it's all he's got
And it's nothing to do with you.

I put the cock under my coat to shelter it from the rain.
When half way down the lane the cock began to crow.
A lady was passing by, she gave me a bit of a shock:
She placed her hand beneath me coat and grabbed the end of me ...

Chorus :

My friends I must away for I can no longer stay.
If I did not stay I'd be miles away
But before I go there is something I'd like to know.
Is there any young lady here tonight who would like to borrow me ...

CHO :

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 09:38 AM

Does anyone know the one that ends each chorus
'here's good luck to all the chicks who make my cock go doodle do'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 09:41 AM

Then there's the mississippi John Hurt song 'Richmond Woman'

Yeah cuz the red rooster said, "Cockle-doodle-do-do"
The Richmond woman says, "Any dude'll do"
Hurry down, sweet daddy, I'm blowin' your horn
If you come too late, no, no, your mama will be gone

Subject: Lyr Add: ONCE I HAD A HEN
From: RTim
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 09:45 AM

You mean - Once I Had an Old Hen - I sing this occasionally.
I got it from an old Bob Davenport recording nearly 40 years ago!!
Francis Shergold of Bampton Morris used to sing a version.

Tim Radford


ONCE I HAD A HEN.
Once I had an old hen
This hen did very well please me
And every time I feed my hen
I feed her all under the tree, tree

Hen went chicky shack
Cock went doodle-do
HereÕs luck to all the hens
That make me cock go doodle do.

Duck --- Quack, Quack
Cat --- Meaow, Meaow
Dog --- Bow Wow
Cow --- Moo, Moo
Horse ---Neigh, Neigh
Wife --- Nag, Nag

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 05:03 PM

Re. Bob Bishop's post above.
Thanks for posting that. All I remember hearing my aunt sing at family parties in the east end of London was the chorus differing slightly from yours;

Cock a doodle do
It's nothing to do with you
Leave it alone and play with your own
Cock a doodle do.

Hoot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 11:33 AM

Thanks Tim, that was the one.

Subject: Lyr Add: I BOUGHT MYSELF A COCK
From: Mick Tems
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 06:33 AM

"...I've always associated it with England. This Scottish version was a nice surprise... Thank you!"

How about a Welsh version? Doing the 1970s, I heard this version from a Cardiff Docks seaman they called Tugboat Bill. I've always thought of it as a music-hall song with a very local flavour! I have recorded it in my South Wales Archive project, in conjunction with St Fagans National Museum Of Welsh Life, Trac (the all-Wales body fot folk development) and Dafydd Idris Edwards, chairman of the Welsh Folk Song Society:

I BOUGHT MESELF A COCK

It was just a year last Thursday, I never shall forget,
When I walked into a public house, my aching throat to wet,
This sailor he comes to me as I walked down by Bute Dock,
He says: "Take a look under me overcoat – Do you want to see me cock?"

CHORUS:        Well, I'm just a plain old working man, as you plainly see,
        And whether I get much from life, it matters not to me.
        Now they talks about me all the way from Splott to Lavernock:
        With neat little wings and a flaming crest – I bought meself a cock.

Well, I handed him a shilling, for well we did agree,
And I took the old cock under me coat to go along with me:
But sitting in the public house, I thought me tongue would lock –
I says: "Look here, who's drunk me beer?" The landlord says: "Your cock."

CHORUS

So I put my old cock under me coat, and homeward we did go,
My pretty little cockerel, he made a handsome show,
But Mrs Dare from Loudon Square, she give me such a shock,
When she says to me: "Get running – me old dog is after your cock."

CHORUS

Now when you work in Cardiff Docks, be careful of the drink,
For once you slip and in you go, it's likely that you'll sink.
But the gaffer says to me one day, as they hauls me from the dock:
"You know what kept you floating? Just the strength of your cock."

CHORUS

And now I must be on me way, for I've much to do tonight,
I know a little boozer where the lights are shining bright.
And if you don't believe me, when your eyes on mine they lock,
With a gesture and a flourish – I'll show youse all me cock.

CHORUS

Mick Tems

Subject: Lyr Add: COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO (Gloucestershire)
From: GUEST,Fair Ellender
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 01:02 PM

This is the version I know - very similar to Walter Pardon's, but I have this from George Spicer on the 'Down In the Fields' Veteran compilation.

Cock-a-doodle-do (George Spicer, Gloucestershire)

I only had three and six
I thought I'd buy some stock
I handed this man me three and six, he gave me back a

(Chorus)
Cock-a-doodle-do, it's nothing to do with you
It's a jolly fine cock, you all know what, it's me cock-a-doodle-do

Now I put me cock under me arm
Went walking down Laws Row
I gave me arm a bit of a twist, me cock began to crow
A lady passing by
She got a terrible shock
She said, 'young man, if you don't look out you're going to lose your...' (Chorus)

Now I put me cock in the back yard
Along with another old hen
Me cock got into an awful rage and fluttered on top of the hen
So I called me mother to look
Me head she gave such a knock
She said 'you fool, why can't you see me hen's got under your...' (Chorus)

Now kind friends I must be going
I can no longer stay
For if I sing you another song like this it'll take me half the day
But before I finish this song
The door I'm going to lock
Is there any young lady in the room would like to look at my... (Chorus)

This song has always made me laugh so much, so it was really interesting to see so many different versions on here, of which I was unaware. Thanks everyone!

Fair Ellender

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Tradsinger
Date: 06 Sep 10 - 02:15 PM

(She was only the parrot keeper's daughter. but she's seen a cockatoo).

I recorded a chap in Gloucestershire singing this song,

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Terry Mann
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 09:38 AM

Hey, Dr Price -

That is an awesome song! Can you hum it me so I can record it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,John Jones
Date: 07 Sep 10 - 09:55 AM

I had thought what I called The Cock Song was very local to Cardiff Docks (or Tiger Bay or Butetown, depending which area we came from.) Thank you Dr Price and Mudcat for educating me (although this thread had already taken 8 years!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,bry444
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 06:04 PM

thank you to everyone who has input to this i have heard this song many years ago in Aberdeenshire but only sung never written down i'm away to my keyboard now to have a singsong ( no minors present lol )

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,GUEST,Bill121
Date: 31 Oct 11 - 03:56 PM

I find most of the versions listed very awkward to sing, and so I have tried to do a version which is a bit easier. What does anyone think?


COCK A DOODLE DO

One Sunday afternoon, I went out for a walk
I went as far as Petticoat Lane and there I had a talk
To a man who was selling birds, I asked to see his stock
I handed over half-a-crown and he gave me his cock
Chorus
(a doodle do)
And its nothing to do with you.
It's a very small cock but it's all that I've got
And its nothing to do with you

I put it under my coat and I began to walk
I hadn't got so far when it began to squawk
A lady passing by, gave me a hell of a shock
She put her hand under my coat and grabbed right hold of my cock (a doodle do)
Its nothing to do with you
I said "my cock is my own so leave it alone"
Its nothing to do with you

I put my cock in my mum's back yard
Along with her old hen
What a hullabaloo, Oh! what a to do
My knees began to knock
What a terrible job getting my old mums hen
From underneath my cock

Chorus

And now my song is done, I can no longer stay
No point in staying here, I must be on my way
Just one more thing to ask, before the door I lock
Is there any young lady in the room who would like to see my cock.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 07 Nov 12 - 02:47 AM

i recall a verse :I went to Windsor Castle,Just to see the Queen,I looked in to a sentry box,she's nowhere to be seen,When i looked again i had such a terrible shock,there was Tommy Atkins showing the Queen his cock. Chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,bartholomew
Date: 05 Mar 13 - 02:46 AM

Does anyone have a link they could share for the tune? I saw Paul Sartin sing this in a Bellowhead after gig session last year and have forgotten it!

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST
Date: 18 May 15 - 11:52 AM

Wow your post is from 2003,but I found a great version of that song from Newfoundland by Jennie & Josie. It's on YouTube. Hope I've helped you. Enjoy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 18 May 15 - 03:53 PM

A chorus I heard went
Cock-a-doodle-do, if it's all the same to you,
Me cock's me own so leave it alone
Sing cock-a-doodle-do.

The chorus form is almost that of Limerick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Jocelyn
Date: 12 Apr 19 - 05:45 PM

Can remember my dad and his mates singing it in the pub when I was younger I can't remember the words properly but it went
Cock-a-doodle-do nothing to do with you
A jolly fine cock you all know what
My Cock-a-doodle-do

In the middle bit
I went to Winson green
I went to see the queen

And the ending was
So if your lady wants a baby
You know what to do !

It seems everywhere has a different version

Great memories

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: GUEST,Isabel
Date: 22 Jan 22 - 11:26 AM

The one I knew, way back …
When I was crossing a river, the boat began to rock
When I fell into the water, a fish got hold of me
Cock a doodle, cock a doodle, lost the seat of me drawers,
Cock a doodle cock a doodle, somebody lend me yours.

There was more, but I have forgotten it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Cock a doodle doo
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 22 Jan 22 - 01:21 PM

Hi, one for Billy Weeks perhaps. I have the sheet music cover for Edward Righton's 'Cock-a-doodle-doo' but there's no indication that would pinpoint whether this was our song or not. As we have seen there are several songs that share this title. Kilgarriff gives the Wrighton song reference also. At the very least we could do to match it to Righton or eliminate that one.

I can eliminate 2 other earlier songs on broadsides.

1836 FL 'Not far from town in a village cot.'

1865 FL 'I much regret old English sports are going out of date.'

Both use this singular title.