Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band"
Date: 04 Nov 13 - 10:16 AM

A not un-usual chorus heard in the clubs back in the day:-

"Johnny get your oats, my son!"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Gurney
Date: 03 Nov 13 - 11:02 PM

Mary Lou, if you sang this in an English folk club, you'd be more likely to hear the MMario's chorus from any shantymen who were there. Lots of variants about lady-parts, it was sung as a shanty and forebitter, seemingly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Nov 13 - 04:06 PM

ASH CAKES
A simple recipe for ash cakes, hoe cakes.

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients together. Knead together into a ball of dough. Separate into four parts.
Flatten each part into a disc and place on glowing coals on a fire. When edges darken, turn over and cook the other side.
Remove from fire, brush off ashes.
Serve hot with butter and honey. (Grease or drippings in the old days)

Oven- "Jen's Favorite Cookies." About 15 minutes at 350 F, flipping once after about 10-12 minutes.

Directions from the above Jen's recipe. A pioneer favorite. Jen's book is full of Utah recipes.

We used a similar recipe, and cooked them on the lid of a Dutch Oven on camping trips.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Lighter
Date: 03 Nov 13 - 01:55 PM

The rude version's chorus of "Jenny keep your a***hole warm" may have been suggested (in least in part) by an innocent variant of the minstrel-song's chorus quoted in the Macon [Ga.] Daily Telegraph (Feb. 6, 1866), p. 3: "Jenny get your ash cake done."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 04:36 PM

Glad I renewed. Trainguard answered my question- hoecakes were turned into oatcakes when the song crossed the pond.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:28 PM

versio I learned was "Jenny get your tailpiece warm!"

Subject: Lyr Add: JENNY GET YOUR OATCAKES DONE
From: GUEST,Trainguard
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:25 PM

This is the version that I learned.

The pilot stands and he looks ahead,
And a crewman swings the sounding lead,
We'll soon be off the old Pier Head,
So, Jenny get your oatcakes done!

Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
With a pig-tailed sailor, hanging down behind,
Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh Jenny get your oatcakes done!

(Some people sing 'Go and get your oats, old son!')

And now we have reached Cape Clear,
To Holyhead now we must steer,
So roll your hammocks and stow your gear,
And, Jenny get your oat cakes done!

Chorus

Now we we have quit Holyhead,
No more salt beef or weevil bread,
A heading for the Great Orme head,
And, Jenny get your oat cakes done!

Chorus

When we've cleared the Great Orme,
No more tossing in the storm,
To Point of Ayr now we must come,
And, Jenny get your oat cakes done!

Chorus

Oh, Point of Ayr is on in our right,
Mockbeggar Bank will be in sight,
We'll be in Liverpool town tonight,
So, Jenny get your oatcakes done!

Chorus

And now we've reached the old Pier Head,
And Canning basin is dead ahead,
And hungry bellies will be fed,
For Jenny's got her oatcakes done!

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Sep 03 - 11:20 PM

refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: JENNY GET YOUR HOECAKE DONE
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 01:26 PM

Verse 3- Astor House ((famous for fine food at the time)
Hoeing out corn (logical, but not 100% sure)
The rest ??

The Bodleian has the song in their collection, but it is really another song- "I Left Ole Virginny One Fine Day"- with the chorus lines "Jenny Get Your Hoecake done, My lady Jenny get your hoecake done----" grafted on.

Lyr. Add.: JENNY GET YOUR HOECAKE DONE

I left Ole Virginny one very fine day,
The sea was wide, and I sail'd all the way
The wind blew high, & blow'd so cold,
It blow'd the ship to ole Liverpool,
O, Jenny get your hoecake done, my lady
Jenny get your hoecake done.

One night there came a mighty storm,
Which gave the nigger great alarm,
I see the Captain run on deck,
I thought ole nigger would be shipwreck.
O, Jenny etc.

Next morn we anchored in the stream,
It seem'd to me just like a dream-
I call'd a boat, and row'd ashore,
And swore they'd catch me at sea no more.
O, Jenny, etc.

I jump off the boat I landed on the pier,
My feet felt so funny, & my head so queer
My head and heels they kept in such a motion,
I thought I was still sailing on the ocean.
O, Jenny, etc.

Then I went uptown, and a street did cross,
I stept just as high as an old blind hoss,
The people look'd and saw my figure,
And they said, 'there goes a mighty tall figure'.
O, Jenny, etc.

One white man say I make a fuss,
So he took me off to the Custom House,
And then they would not let me go,
'Till I paid the duty on the old banjo.
O, Jenny, etc.

Now white folks I'll have you know,
There is no music like the old banjo,
And if you want to hear it ring,
Look at the fingers on the string.
O, Jenny, etc.

Bodleian Library, Ballads Catalogue, Harding B 15(146a), no date (18--), Printer Neesom, London.
Probably made up for an English tour. Wonder what the English made of hoecake? A scone?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 12:20 PM

Way back in the late 60s or so I sang a parody of this, something about spacemen. Sadly I can't remember much of it. Anyone out there remember this?

I remember the last two lines of the chorus are:

Those two headed gals are the gals for me
Keep on your orbit Son.

ZM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From:
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 10:42 AM

I'm sure you will be, Mary Lou. Welcome to the fun/mad house known as the House of the 'Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 10:17 AM

"Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done" and "Whoop Jamboree" are both minstrel songs which date back to the 1840's. While the verses and choruses aren't directly related in these two minstrel songs, the traditional sea shanty apparently picked up elements of both:Link to Whoop Jamboree-Minstrel Song

What fun!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 08:38 AM

I'm camping at an old time musician's gathering this weekend and "Jenny" is the first minstrel tune I've ever heard...a bit different from the modal tunes I've been trying to learn...will be a fun change of pace.

I'll be on the lookout for Gaelic while I'm there - will I recognize it when I hear it . I'll have to ask about songs that sound "diferent".

I just became a member of mudcat - hope I can be of help to someone else sometime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From:
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 08:24 AM

Sort of. I'm into Gaelic songs, which is old. I'm just a very curious person.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: GUEST,Mary Lou Good
Date: 30 Aug 03 - 08:10 AM

Thanks so much for the response. A friend is teaching me this, but couldn't remember all the words...great song! Someone said that mudcat was a good source of information - I'd never heard of it before. I'll report to them they were right.

Thanks again. It looks like your a collector of old music?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From:
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:45 PM

For the sheet music, The LEvy Collection's pages are found at:

Jenny Get Your Hoe-Cakes Done
Jenny Get Your Hoe-Cakes Done 1 of a set of Ethiopean Quadrilles
Jenny Get Your Hoe-Cakes Done 1 of a set of Corn-Crackers

Subject: Lyr Add: JENNY GET YOUR HOECAKES DONE
From:
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:27 PM

Whip Jamboree with MP3

Discussion on Banjo-L: Jenny Get Your Hoe-Cakes Done
From Jenny Get Your Hoe Cakes Done

Jenny Get Your Hoe Cakes Done
(1840)The Celebrated Banjo Song, as sung with great Applause at the Broadway Circus, by Joel Walker Sweeney, ca. 1810 - 1860[Source: 020/003@Levy]

1.
De hen and chickens went to roost,
De hawk flew down and hit de goose
He hit de ole hen in de back
I really believe dam am a fac,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done.
 
2.
As I was gwain lond de road,
Past a stump dar wad a toad.
De tadpole winked at Pollewog's daughter,
And kick'd de bull frog plump in de water.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
3.
High heel boot widout any strap,
Hand me down my leghorn hat,
Ise gwine to de Astor [b???] to dine,
I won't be back till half past nine
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
4.
Massa and Missus gwain away,
Left home for de break ob day,
Den you har de white folks say,
Stan clar and det de banjo play --
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
5.
Apple cider, un percimmon beer,
Christmas comes but once a year,
Ginger puddin and pumkin pie,
Gray cat kick dat black cat's eye
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
6.
Massa un Misse promise me
When dey died to set me free,
Now dey both are dead and gone,
Left ole Sambo [haeing?] out corn
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
7.
Old Massa, and Misse [- - -];
Da left home one [morn'ing?] great about day;
And den you har dat nigger say,
Gi me down de banjo and let de nigger play!
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
8.
You eat me sugar, and drink my tea,
And ran about de old [field?] and talk about me;
Dare was a nigger in de gutter and turned right about
And up stept [Jo?] and got his [- - -],
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
9.
Dare was a frog jumped out de spring,
It was so cold he couldn't sing,
He tied his tail to a hickory stump,
He rared an pitched but he couldn't make a jump,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
10.
The old hen and chickens at the stack,
And old hawk flew down amongst de pack,
And struck the old hen whack [amidlle?] ob de hack,
And I really do believe dat tis a fact.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!
 
11.
Now white folks, I'd hab you to know,
Dare is no music like de old banjo,
And if you want to hear it ring,
Jist watch this finger on de string.
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done my dear,
   Oh, Jenny get de hoe cake done, love!

Subject: Lyr Add: WHIP JAMBOREE
From:
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 11:06 PM

From http://www.geocities.com/songs2play/whip.htm

Whip Jamboree

(Amin)Now Cape (C)Clear it (Amin)is in (G)sight
We'll be (Amin)off Holy(G)head by to(Amin)morrow (G)night,
And we'll (Amin)shape our (C)course for the(Amin) old Rock (G)Light,
Oh (Amin)Jenny get your (G)oat cake (Amin)done.

Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, you long-tailed black man, poke it up behind me,
Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Now, my boys, we're off Holyhead;
No more salt beef, no more salt bread.
One man in the chains for to heave the lead,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, you long-tailed black man, poke it up behind me,
Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Now, my lads, we're round the Rock,
All hammocks lashed and chests all locked.
We'll haul her into the Waterloo Dock,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, you long-tailed black man, poke it up behind me,
Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Now, my lads, we're all in dock
We'll be off to Dan Lowrie's on the spot;
And now we'll have a good roundabout,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done.

Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, you long-tailed black man, poke it up behind me,
Whip jamboree, whip jamboree,
Oh, Jenny, get your oat cake done

Subject: Lyr Req: Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done
From: GUEST,Mary Lou
Date: 29 Aug 03 - 10:45 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics for Jenny Get Your Hoecakes Done? Thanks in advance for any help.