Lyr Add: My Old Bandoliero

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MY OLD BANDOLIERO
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 21 Feb 13 - 09:33 PM

Mark Page, an interviewee of JM Carpenter, seems to have sung a variation of this song in the 1920s.

The recording in the Carpenter Collection is filed under "I put my hand upon her toe." And while that alone doesn't suggest any particular connection, Page's song has a refrain like "What is that my dearie-O". Even more exciting in my opinion, he seems to have sung "Toe Tamper" and "Knee Knocker" in the appropriate places.

On the Folktrax recordings, the song is titled "Victorio." I suspect due to this its origins may have been obscured, but forgive me if I am repeating something already discussed around here.

Page does not appear to have sung "bandoliero", but rather something like Johnny-O or Laddie-O (?) - it varies.

Still, the odd use of phrases like "Knee knocker" make a strong connection -- and they are phrases I'd probably never be able to decipher without a clue!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MY OLD BANDOLIERO
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 17 Nov 03 - 08:06 AM

Love the ad-links!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MY OLD BANDOLIERO
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 16 Nov 03 - 03:45 PM

The version with the first line, "Touched her on the toe-That's my share," is given in Randolph edit. Legman, "Roll Me in Your Arms, pp. 545-551, with sheet music.

TICKLE MY TOE

Touched her on the toe- That's my share,
That's my toe-tripper, you can play there.-
Toe-tripper, love my dear,
The more I love my knicker, draw near.

At every dash, the speaker changes, in this erotic game, the woman saying "That's my share,...". Appropriate moves are made with the hands.
It progresses through Toe-tripper, knee-a-knacker, thigh-a-thacker, funny-thing-a, navvel-stringer, breast-plate, rubber neck, chopper box, snotterbox, looker-atter, brain box. love my dear
The more I love my knicker, draw near.

Sung by Mr. R. K., Arkansas, 1954. The "knicker" suggests a British source; the American equivalent would be panties, or, formerly, bloomers, but there may be another explanation for the word.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: MY OLD BANDOLIERO
From: Stewie
Date: 16 Nov 03 - 02:24 AM

There's a thread on the related 'Touched Her On the Toe'/'That's My Share HERE.

--Stewie.

Subject: Lyr Add: MY OLD BANDOLIERO
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Nov 03 - 09:53 PM

Lyr. Add: My Old Bandoliero

First I touched her on the toe,
Said she, What's that my dear-O?-
That is my Toe Tinkler, my old Bandoliero.
Toe Tinkler, Toe Tinkler, my old Bandoliero,
That is my Toe Tinkler, my old Bandoliero....

Last I touched her on the neck,
Said she, What's that, my dear-O?-
That is my Neck Nacker, my old Bandoliero.

In progression (reverse here):

Neck Nacker, Breast Heaver, Belly Bumper,
Quim Cracker, Thigh Thumper, Knee Knicker,
Shin Shanker, Ankle Ankler, Toe Tinkler.
My Old Bandoliero;
This is my Neck Nacker, my old Bandoliero.

From "Camp Fire Songs," British Cavalry officers mimeographed song collection, Madras, India, 1939-1940.
The Bandoliero (cartridge belt) refers to a personal piece of ordnance. The song is a military variant of "Tickle My Toe," "Gently Johnny My Jingalo," "Mather the Miller," "The Corn Grinds Well," etc.
Reproduced in Randolph edit. Legman, 1992, "Roll Me In Your Arms," pp. 545-551.
@military @bawdy