Origins: Mister Noah (Brother Noah)

Subject: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Iak
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 07:33 PM

Looking for lyrics to a particular song recorded long ago by Nina and Frederik. About a unicorn asking for a ride in Noah's ark, and being refused on the ground that there isn't any such thing as a unicorn. Had the words 'Mister Noah ... may I ride in the ark of the Lord?' and (after the refusal) something like 'well, you can go to the devil in your big old scow, for you know it ain't gonna rain no how'.

Subject: Lyr Add: MISTER NOAH
From:
Date: 06 Sep 03 - 11:23 PM

From Songs We Sing, but no unicorns....

Mister Noah

Mister Noah built an ark
The people thought it such a lark
Mister Noah pleaded so
But into the ark they would not go
 
Down came the rain in torrents .... SPLISH SPLASH!
Down came the rain in torrents .... SPLISH SPLASH!
Down came the rain in torrents
And only eight were saved
 
The animals went in two by two
Elephant, giraffe and the kangaroo
All that were safely stowed away
On that great and awful day
 
Down came the rain in torrents .... SPLISH SPLASH!
Down came the rain in torrents .... SPLISH SPLASH!
Down came the rain in torrents
And only eight were saved
 
Whenever you see a Rainbow
Whenever you see a Rainbow
Whenever you see a Rainbow
Remember God is love.

Subject: Lyr Add (partial): Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 03:33 AM

No, no.
I can only remember snippets from the Nina and Frederik concert in Wellington, NZ (it was almost 40 years ago) but this is sort of how it went.

Oh, Mr Noah, Mr Noah,
Please may I ride in the ark of the Lord
For it's getting mighty dark and it's spitting outside,
Doodle ee doo, doodle ee doo,
Doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doo.

No, you may not, sir,
No you cannot, sir.
You may not ride in the ark of the Lord
Tho' it's getting mighty dark and it's spitting outside,
Doodle ee doo, doodle ee doo,
Doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doodle ee doo.

I forget exactly what happens next but it continues with the question and answer format (always negative) for a few more verses and then ends with a spoken comment to the effect that..
"After all, everyone knows there's no such thing as a unicorn!"

---

Nina & Frederick performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IndkafbWvYA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 09:55 AM

I'm familar with that version of "Mr. Noah" but I never ran across a unicorn verse associated with it. It seems likely to me that it was an inspired add-on by Nina and Frederik.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Iak
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 11:01 AM

Thanks! The song recalled by Little Robyn is the one I'm after, give or take a word or two. Instead of 'it's spitting outside' I seem to remember N & F singing (on their LP) 'gonna rain like hell'. Maybe they changed that bit for their Wellington concert. Charley is right: there wasn't any unicorn verse, it was just that spoken twist at the end, as recalled by Little Robyn.

I'd love to get all the verses.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Mark Ross
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 01:12 PM

Van Ronk recorded it on his Prestige album DAVE VAN RONK, FOLKSINGER.

Mark Ross

Subject: Lyr Add: BROTHER NOAH
From: Dead Horse
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 04:55 PM

Didn't know unicorns were involved, and I don't remember where I got these lyrics :-

Brother Noah, Brother Noah,
May I come into the ark of the Lord.
For it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard.
Hallelue. Hallelue. Hallelue-eu-eu-eu-ya.

No you can't sir. No you can't sir.
You can't come into the ark of the Lord.
For you have committed sin, so you ain't a-coming in.
Hallelue. Hallelue. Hallelue-eu-eu-eu-ya.

Very well sir, Very well sir.
You can go to the devil with your darned old scow.
'Cos it ain't going to rain very hard, no how.
Hallelue. Hallelue. Hallelue-eu-eu-eu-ya.

That's a lie sir. That's a lie sir.
You can darn soon tell that it ain't no sell
For it's sprinkling now, but it's going to rain like hell
Hallelue. Hallelue. Hallelue-eu-eu-eu-ya.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:33 PM

The Happy! file usee this song for Cheshvan 17, 656 (on the Jewish calendar): Flood begins (Gen 7:11)

Dead Horse: Your version seems trad and is as printed in My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions by Frank Shay; Macaulay & Co, 1927. This is a collection of songs as sung in Greenwich Village in the 1920's.

Dave Van Ronk has made his version of "Oh Mister Noah" fairly well known. His is a further evolved one, with generally better & smoother word usage. But he has unfortunately lost the religious nature of the song in singing "Doodle-ee-doo" in the chorus instead of the more pious "Halleloo."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Sep 03 - 10:47 PM

Unicorns? Did someone get this song crossed with the Irish Rover's "The Unicorn?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederick)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 01:07 PM

Somewhere in the Gordon collection in the Library of Congress, Robert Gordon laments the fact that he'd heard the song at Harvard (I think) around 1917, thought it was hilarious, and FORGOT TO WRITE IT DOWN !
A decade later, all he had was a vague recollection. Note implied moral for folklore enthusiasts.

A few stanzas with a melody appear in The Songs My Mother Never Taught Me, by John Jacob Niles et al. (N.Y.: Macauley, 1929), as sung during World War I (though Niles may have fooled with it somewhat; see Niles threads).

Will post lyrics if someone doesn't beat me to it.

Subject: Lyr Add: RETALIATORY EVICTION DITTY
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Sep 03 - 04:25 PM

Once again there is a housing eviction parody for this ditty which made it into the best 100 songs collected for my draft Housing Songbook. According to my notes:

"This particular song should bring smiles to the most hard-nosed landlord. Oddly enough, it was composed by Ann Arbor Tenants Union members Dale Cohen and Hugh McGuinness, with some additional polishing by myself. It just goes to prove that not all songs in this collection are of redeeming social value."

(Written by Dale Cohen and Hugh McGuinness
As adapted by Charles Ipcar, 1981
Tune: traditional "Mr. Noah")

RETALIATORY EVICTION DITTY

(Written by Dale Cohen and Hugh McGuinness
As adapted by Charles Ipcar, 1981
Tune: traditional "Mr. Noah")

Oh, Mr. Landlord!
Oh, Mr. Landlord!
Can you fix the roof,
'Cause it leaks real bad?
I'm getting mighty wet
And getting mighty mad!

Chorus:

Doodle-ee-doo, doodle-ee-doo,
Doodle-ee, doodle-ee, doodle-ee, doodle-ee-do!

Oh, no, I can't, sir;
Oh, no I can't, sir;
I can't fix the leak'
'Cause I haven't got the time;
Just use a bucket;
It won't cost me a dime. (CHO)

Well, go to the Devil, sir!
Well, go to the Devil, sir!
I'll call the inspector
And withhold my rent;
I may get wet
But you won't get a cent. (CHO)

Now, young fella,
Now, young fella,
That's all damn bluff;
I don't like such sass;
If you don't pay the rent,
You'll be out on your ass! (CHO)

Cordially,
Landlady's Daughter, not to be confused with Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD NOAH (from Niles, Moore, & Walgren)
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 09 Sep 03 - 08:04 AM

From John J. Niles, Douglas S. Moore, & A. A. Walgren "The Songs My Mother Never Taught Me" (N.Y.: Macauley, 1929), pp. 137-40 [eccentric punctuation as in original] :

OLD NOAH
As sung by the crew of the U.S.S. Newton, cargo ship between New York and le Havre, 1918 and 1919

(Explaining the sex complexes of the animal kingdom)

Old Noah built himself an ark the good old Christian soul
He put his family in the deck and the animals in the hold
And as he sailed away from shore with all his kith and kin,
The neighbors gathered on the bank and merrily mocked at him :

[Chorus :] Go to Hell now, go to Hell now
Go to Hell with your damned old leaky scow,
For it ain't goin' to rain any how, any how,
For it ain't goin' to rain any how.

For forty days and forty nights the rain came down like Hell,
It covered everything about including hill and dale.
Old Noah walked upon the deck and looked through the window pane;
And said, "Where are those poor damned fools who said it wouldn't rain."

Chorus

Now Noah had his troubles with the animals forsooth,
For the females they did roll their eyes and the males they felt their youth.
The lions and tigers all took holts, 'twas as natural as can be,
But in due time old Noah knew each couple would be three.

Chorus

The ark was small and crowded too, old Noah tore his hair,
He tried to find some place to land, for sail he didn't dare.
And when, alas, the pigeon came with news of land ahoy,
Old Noah signaled hard by port and shouted "Attaboy."

Chorus

When all the animals came off old Noah swelled with pride,
For they had multiplied by ten while taking the boat ride.
Now gather round me, sailor men, and listen to my tale,
If you should ship two animals, be sure that they are male.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: GUEST,Barb
Date: 02 Oct 10 - 11:28 AM

My mother sang a song to me as a child. The only part I remember is the chorus which went like this:

Go to heck, sir.
Go to heck, sir.
Go to heck with your darned old scow.
For it isn't very dark, and it isn't going to rain.
Kaloo, kaloo, kaloo, kaloo.

Subject: ADD Version: Oh Noah (from Gordon)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 09:05 AM

While recording a Dave Van Ronk style version of Mister Noah, I found an interesting entry in Robert W Gordon's collected songs, among those too bawdy to publish at the time. These lyrics are date 1918.

OH NOAH

"Oh Noah, Oh! Noah, may I come into the ark of the Lord
For it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard?"
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

"Young fellow, young fellow, you can't come into the ark of the Lord,
Though it's growing very dark, and it's raining very hard."
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

"Go to Hell then, go to Hell then, go to Hell with your damned old
For it ain't going to rain very hard anyhow." [dinky scow,
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

"It's a lie, sir, it's a lie, sir, it's a lie for your life for you
That it's sprinkling now, going to rain like Hell." [know damn well
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

"Oh Noah, Oh Noah, you damned old son of a tightwad you.
I do not care to ride with you."
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

"Young fellow, young fellow, your plea for life ain't worth a shit
So get the Hell off my good ship,"
Tra la lu, tra la lu, tra la lu la.

Performance by Daniel Kelly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjY0OErsm0w

Gordon 'Inferno' (1917-33)

Also https://www.horntip.com/html/books_&_MSS/1910s/1917-1933_gordon_inferno_collection_(MSS)/index.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 10:03 AM

Outstanding. See post of 08 Sep 03.

According to Meade Minnegerode, in Dome of Many-Colored Glass (1955), he sang it at Princeton in 1893 as follows:

Mister Noah! Mister Noah! Won’t you let me aboard your Ark of the Lord: For it’s raining mighty hard and I want to get aboard.
                Let me in! Let me in! Let me in!

Poor sinner! Poor sinner! You can’t get aboard this Ark of the Lord.
If you want to get aboard you must get a passport.
                Get away! Get away! Get away!

Go to Hell, then! Go to Hell, then! Go to Hell, then,
                                                            with your damned old scow!
For it ain’t going to rain very long anyhow.
                Go to Hell! Go to Hell! Go to Hell!”

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Aug 19 - 10:11 AM

Oops.

Minnegerode gave a different version in 1921, almost exactly like Van Ronk's.

Post Wheeler was the author of the book mentioned, and he was the 1893 singer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 13 Aug 19 - 08:57 AM

So "forgot to write it down" was code for "it's in my stash of porn music".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Stevebury
Date: 14 Aug 19 - 12:51 PM

“Brother Noah” appears in Frank Shay’s ”American Sea Songs and Chanteys: from the days of Iron Men and Wooden Ships”, 1948, pp 200-201.
Unicorns seem to be a later addition.

Brother Noah, Brother Noah,
May I come into the Ark of the Lord
For it’s growing very dark and it’s raining very hard?
    Halleloo, halleloo, halleloo-oo-oo-oo-ia.

No, you can’t sir, no, you can’t, sir,
You can’t come into the Ark of the Lord,
Though it’s growing very dark and it’s raining very hard,
    Halleloo, halleloo, halleloo-oo-oo-oo-ia.

Very well, sir, very well, sir,
You can go to the dickens with your darned old scow,
’Cause it ain’t goin’ to rain very hard anyhow, [alt: no how]
    Halleloo, halleloo, halleloo-oo-oo-oo-ia.

That’s a lie, sir, that’s a lie sir,
You can darn soon tell that it ain’t no sell,
’Cause it’s sprinkling now and it’s goin’ to rain like hell.
    Halleloo, halleloo, halleloo-oo-oo-oo-ia.

According to The Ballad Index, it also appears in Shay's "Barroom Ballads" (1927-1928)

---

Note from Joe Offer (19 April 2022): These lyrics are also in Frank Shay's My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions, pp 30-31 (Macaulay Company, New York, 1927)

Subject: ADD: Mister Noah (Highwaymen)
From: GUEST,Anonymous
Date: 06 Apr 20 - 04:39 PM

I remember in 1963, a collegiate folk quintet called The Highwaymen recorded such a song for United Artists Records, it had a little bit of melody to it but it was mostly rhyming dialogue. Basically the same thing but it was recited a lot more realistically than most versions, especially with the guy playing the part of Noah freaking out at the Unicorn at the end. These were the lyrics.


MISTER NOAH
(credited to Nelson Kramer)

Mister Noah? Oh, Mister Noah? (Yes?)
May I ride in the ark of the Lord
For it's getting mighty dark
Going to rain very hard, doodly-doo.
(Doodly-doo?) Doodly-doo.
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

No, you can't, sir. No, you can't, sir.
No, you may not ride in the ark of the Lord
(Yeah, but- you don't- you don't understand-)
Though it's getting mighty dark
Gonna rain very hard, doodly-doo.
Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo.)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Well, you can go to the devil, sir!
(Now, just watch your language, young man.)
You can go to the devil, sir!)
You can go to the devil in your durned ol' scow
'Cause ya know it ain't a-goin' to rain, no-how, doodly-doo.
(Doodly-doo.) Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo!)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Now, listen here, young fella!
J-j-just forget the whole thing, I'll figure it out.
Listen here, young fella!)
That's the bluff of your life
'Cause ya know durned well
It's sprinkin' now, *chuckle* gonna rain like- (audience laughs) doodly-doo.
Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo!)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

Mister Noah? Oh, Mister Noah? (Yes?)
(Now, I told ya, son. You may not ride in the ark with us.)
(Aw, c'mon, now, Noah, let me ride in the ark, huh?)
(Ah! Don't be a drag, man! I just wanna get on the ark!!)
(THAT'S ALL THERE IS!! NOW STOP THAT FUSS!!!! DOODLY-DOO!!!!)
(ALRIGHT NOW, STOP SHOUTING! I'M GOING!)
(DOO-)
That's discrimination! That's what it is!!
(That's ridiculous.
Everybody knows there's no such thing as a unicorn.)

Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly...
(Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly...)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Doodly-doo!)

Highwaymen recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuBQsCUuRPw

Subject: Lyr Add: Brother Noah
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 05:15 AM

Not a shanty, but a sea song and not certain if this is even a forebitter. Five verses are given in Frank Shay's Amrican Sea SOngs and Chanteys. The additional verses are by Tony Goodenough and Phill Money of the Shanty Crew.

Although Shay did not provide any background notes to go with the song, Stan Hugill believed that there was a children's nursery rhyme with a similar theme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Brother Noah
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 05:38 AM

Brother Noah
(Trad arr Shanty Crew)

Brother Noah, Brother Noah,
May I come into the Ark of the Lord
'Cos it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard.

    Allelu, Allelu, Allelu-u-u-u-jah.

No you can't, sir, no you can't, sir,
You can't come into the Ark of the Lord,
Though it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard.

Very well, sir, very well, sir,
You can go to the Dickens in your darned old scow,
'Cos it ain't going to rain very hard anyhow.

That's a lie, sir, that's a lie, sir,
You can darn soon tell that it ain't no sell,
'Cos it's sprinkling now and it's going to rain like hell!

Brother Noah, Brother Noah,
Open the gates and let me toddle in,
'Cos I'm not too keen on drowning and I'm buggered if I swim.

No I won't, sir, no I won't, sir,
For your not in the bad of the chosen of the Lord,
And the sheep, goats and camels would be worried, so I've heard.

That's as maybe, Brother Noah,
But our four-legged friends need a touch of kindness too,
As your wife is fond of telling me, and so are all the crew.

She's a pillar of society,
And not one of salt, and her feet are not of clay,
So sod 'em and tomorra, well, they're gonna have to pay.

Well, I wish you'd let me in now,
For the dark clouds are coming and the sun's in short supply,
And the cats and the dogs are a-falling from on high.

Well I'm sorry, truly sorry,
But you've not seen the light, you've not heard the trumpet sound,
But I'll sell you this here raincoat and these wellies for a pound.

Oh but please, sir, oh but please, sir.
Now I've learned my lesson my ways I shall mend,
If you'll just lend me a passage to find the rainbow's end.

You're to late, sir, you're too late, sir,
Now why don't you push off and get your feet of my mat,
'Cos there's no way I'm going to take you to the mount of Ararat.

Brother Noah, Brother Noah,
May I come into the Ark of the Lord,
'Cos it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard.

    Allelu, Allelu, Allelu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-jah.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Brother Noah
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 05:43 AM

Who Built the Ark? is a song featured on Raffi's album More Singable Songs 1977.

Well, who built the Ark? Noah, Noah,
Who built the Ark? Brother Noah built the Ark

Now didn't old Noah build the Ark?
He built it out of hickory bark.

He built it long, both wide and tall,
Plenty of room for the large and the small

Well, who built the Ark? Noah, Noah,
Who built the Ark? Brother Noah built the Ark

In came the animals two by two
Hippopotamus and kangaroo

In came the animals three by three
Two big cats and a bumblebee

In came the animals four by four
Two through the window and two through the door

In came the animals five by five
Five little sparrows, doin' the jive

Well, who built the Ark? Noah, Noah
Who built the Ark? Brother Noah built the Ark

In came the animals six by six
The elephant laughed at the monkey's tricks

In came the animals seven by seven
Four from home and the rest from heaven

In came the animals eight by eight
Some were on time and the others were late

In came the animals nine by nine
Some were shoutin' and some were cryin'

In came the animals ten by ten
Five black roosters and five black hens

Then Noah says, "Go and shut that door,
The rain's started dropping and we can't take more!"

Well, who built the Ark? Noah, Noah,
Who built the Ark? Brother Noah built the Ark

Song Credits Traditional arrangement by Raffi and Ken Whiteley, published by Homeland Publishing. Ed Roth - Piano

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 10:18 AM

It looks as though the song was written around a well-known joke that was circulating even before the Civil War:

Official Proceedings St. Louis Railway Club, Feb. 14, 1902:

"You remember that Noah built himself a ship with the pleasant expectation of being the only man that would be afloat when the flood came, and the time came when the heavens opened and the rain fell, and Noah was afloat; and as usual with those who have the happy instinct of being able to get ready for'I told you so,' he looked out of the window one day and saw a gentleman swimming around ther, hanging on to a piece of stick, and the man says to him, 'Let me in.' 'Oh, no,' says Noah, 'I can't do that,' and the man says, 'Go on with your darned old scow, it is only a rain storm anyhow.' (Laughter.)"


Minnesota Pioneer (St. Paul), May 17, 1852:

"Although the treaty is our ark ofpromise and of hope, still if the Senate *will* close it up, we can say as the poor fellow said to old Noah, 'be off with your old scow; there will be only a sprinkle of a shower, any how.'"

Same, March 30, 1854:


“We recollect to have heard a story of a loafer in the days of Noah, who, after the rain had endured for some time, and the waters began to ‘spread themselves,’ made out to wade to the ark, and was very solicitous for a passage. Noah told him that the thing was impossible, the ark was fully freighted, and being closed, nothing more could be taken on board. The loafer became very urgent and insisted that as no other vessel would be putting out in the same direction for some time, and as the waters were entirely covering the land, so that the lives of those on shore were endangered, it was the duty of the ‘Captain’ to assist and save his fellow beings. All the arguments of the loafer, however, proved of no avail, and when he had satisfied himself that there was no chance whatever of obtaining a passage, and becoming convinced that if he remained much longer where he was, he would run a great risk of drowning, he turned from th uncouth craft, and giving it a kick, told Noah that he might go to the devil with his old scow, for he would not disgrace himself by traveling in it, - and from appearances, he did not believe there would be much of a shower any how.”

(Sour grapes plus wishful thinking.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 10:32 AM

The Siren (University of Illinois), December 1914:

                   NOAH CALLS HIS BLUFF.

'Mr. Noah! Mr. Noah!
May I come into the Ark of the Lord,
For it's getting pretty dark, going to rain very hard;
And I hate to get soaked, what do you say, Old Pard,
Kid, Noah?' Said Noah,

'No you can't, sir; no you can't, sir;
No you can't come into the Ark of the Lord,
Though it is getting dark, going to rain very hard,
And you're going to get soaked. Don't you call me 'Old Pard,'
Call me NOAH."

'Jump in the lake then, jump in the lake then.
Go jump in the lake with your darned old scow
For it ain't going to rain very hard anyhow,
For if it was, it ud've started before now,
Old Noah.' Said Noah,

'Young fellow, young fellow.
It's the bluff of your life that you're trying to tell —
That it ain't gaing to rain; why, you know darned well
That it's sprinkling now, going to rain like ----."

(Splash, splash, splash.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 10:39 AM

The Book of Navy Songs (1926):

Mr. Noah, Mr. Noah,
Can we come into your big ark,
We're very much afraid
It's going to rain before dark,
High lee-ee, high lo—o.

Young fellow, young fellow,
Can't come into this ark,
If you don't know how to swim,
Go get a piece of bark,
High lee-ee, high lo—o.

Go to hell then, go to hell then,
We don't want to ride in your darned old scow,
It's not going to rain
Very hard anyhow,
High lee ee, high lo — o.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mister Noah (Nina & Frederik)
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Apr 22 - 11:05 AM

Daily Graphic (N.Y.C.), Aug. 21, 1875:

"No more can I listen gravely to that grand old oratorio...of which I can quote only a few lines from memory:

'O Noah! O Noah! Won't you let us in?'
'I cannot, with any degree of consistency whatsoever, let you in!'
'Go the ----- with your ------ old scow!
It ain't a-goin' to rain much anyhow!'"

Subject: Lyr ADD: Mr Noah (Dave Van Ronk)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Apr 22 - 01:09 AM

MISTER NOAH
(as recorded by Dave Van Ronk)

Oh, Mr. Noah,
Oh, Mr. Noah:
May I take a ride
In the Ark of the Lord
'Cause it's gettin mighty dark
Gonna rain mighty hard.
Doodly Do
Doodly Do
Doodly doodly doodly
Doodly doodly do.


Oh, no, you can't, sir
Oh, no, you can't, sir
No, you may not ride
In the Ark of the Lord
'Tho it's gettin mighty dark
And gonna rain mighty hard.
Doodly Do, etc.

Well, go to the devil, sir
Well, go to the devil, sir
You may go to the devil
In your durned old scow,
'Cause you know darn well
It won't rain anyhow
Doodly Do, etc.

Well, listen, young feller.
Well, listen, young feller.
That's the bluff of your life,
'Cause you know darn well,
It's sprinklin' now;
Gonna rain like Hell.
Doodly Do, etc.


There are many recordings of this song - Nina and Frederick, The Highwaymen, Daniel Kelly - but the simplest one is by Dave Ran Ronk. "Midchuck" posted the lyrics from memory in another thread and did a very good job, but here's my transcription from the Dave Van Ronk recording from the 1967 Folksinger album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42WUFlwkN_s

And here's a 1987 live recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaiHTszI7Qg

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Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Brother Noah

DESCRIPTION: "Brother Noah, Brother Noah, May I come into the Ark of the Lord, For it's growing very dark and it's raining very hard." Noah says that the other cannot come aboard. The rejected man curses Noah and predicts light rain. Noah says it will rain like hell
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Shay-BarroomBallads/PiousFriendsDrunkenCompanions)
KEYWORDS: religious ship rejection
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Shay-AmericanSeaSongsAndChanteys, pp. 200-201, "Brother Noah" (1 text, 1 tune)
Shay-BarroomBallads/PiousFriendsDrunkenCompanions, pp. 10-11, "Brother Noah" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #8821
File: ShaSS200

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