Origins: Bo-Bo?

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: GUEST,Joseph Scott
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 09:42 PM

"Georgia Bo-Bo" by Jo Trent and Fats Waller was copyrighted 4/23/26.
"Dixie Bo Bo" by Mike Jackson was copyrighted 7/21/27.
"Louisiana Bo Bo" by Ted Nixon was copyrighted 2/25/28.

Joseph H. Trent (1892-1954) reportedly grew up in Illinois and Ohio, so his "Georgia Bo-Bo" may have had little to do with the South. Other titles by Trent: "In Harlem's Araby," "Bottomland," "The Zulu Blues," "I Got Worry," "Jig Walk," "Yam Brown," "Wringin' And Twistin'," "Deacon Jazz."

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 04:12 PM

I see in one source, that a Bo-Bo "is an African name for a baby boy". I can't comment on the accuracy, but that is one given meaning.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 03:53 PM

A tune called Kitty Bo-Bo is in the Northumbrian Minstrelsy. It was used as rapper dance tune (and is nothing like any tune currently used for that).

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 03:09 PM

A totally different meaning probably, but a Bo-Bo can be a locomotive, with a certain arrangement of wheels see Wikki.
There may be other urban or cultural uses, but that is one use anyway.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: GUEST,catherine yronwode
Date: 20 Jul 15 - 11:49 AM

Beau Beau seems less likely than an African word retention. It always refers to a dance, as far as i know. That is, the "meaning" may be that it is the name of a specific dance move.

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 05:41 PM

BOBO is sometimes used as a shortening of Bourgeoise Bohemian but my reference doesn't indicate how old that usage is.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 05:25 PM

I remember anyone named Beauregard in the South ended up with the nickname Bo (or Bo Bo).
Add beau meaning handsome or pretty to that-
But it may just be a rhyme for Cajun 'fait do do".

Subject: RE: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: Inükshük
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 04:15 PM

How about the Good Brothers "Everybody Honks on Bo-Bo"?

Subject: Origins: Bo-Bo?
From: outfidel
Date: 01 Oct 03 - 04:03 PM

I saw this question on another forum, and I figured if anyone knows the answer, it would be a Mudcatter:

A number of Prewar groups recorded songs with the term Bo-Bo in the title.

King David's Jug Band - Georgia Bo-Bo
The Birmingham Jubilee Singers - Louisiana Bo-Bo
Taskiana Four - Dixie Bo-Bo
Norfolk Jazz And Jubilee Quartetes - Louisiana Bo-Bo

Does anyone know what Bo-Bo means?