Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O

Subject: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 09:50 AM

Hi,

I was wondering if we could try to find versions of the Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O for the DT.

"A popular 19th century fiddle and play party tune well remembered by older informants across the South" (Charles Wolfe).

Any early versions?

Is this song a minstrel song?

How does it relate to "Sugar in my Coffee-O." Same song?

How does it relate to "What'll we do with the Baby-O?"

I'll post some info,

Thanks

Richie

Subject: RE: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 09:58 AM

From Folk Index

Prettiest Little Girl/Gal in the County-O/Country/World [Me IV-D 5]

Rt - Old Aunt Jenny ; Turkey Buzzard
At - Prosperity Breakdown
Rm - Sugar in the Coffee(-o)
10. Blake, Norman and Nancy. Blind Dog, Rounder 0254-C, Cas (1988), trk# 3
11. Davenport, Clyde. Puncheon Camps, Appalachian Center Ser. AC 002, Cas (1992), trk# 11
12. Griffin, Mrs. G. A.. Morris, Alton C. / Folksongs of Florida, Univ. Florida, Bk (1950), p226/#136 [1934-39]
13. Phelps, Jake; and Street Butler. Titon, Jeff Todd / Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes, Kentucky, Bk/ (2001), p156/#129 [1965/08/10]
14. Tanner, Gordon. Rosenbaum, Art (ed.) / Folk Visions & Voices. Traditional Music & So...., University of Georgia, Bk (1983), p111 [1981/12/19]

Sugar in the Coffee(-o)

Rm - Prettiest Little Girl/Gal in the County-O/Country/World
6. Enloe, Lyman. Fiddle Tunes I Recall, County 762, LP (1977/1973), trk# 4
7. Holt, Bob. Got a Little Home to Go To, Rounder 0432, CD (1999), trk# 9b
8. Reed, Frank. Christeson, R. P. / Old Time Fiddlers Reportory, Vol. 2, University of Missouri, Bk (1984), #129 [1970s]
9. Stecher, Jody; and Kate Brislin. Our Town, Rounder 0304C, Cas (1993), trk# 3c

Subject: RE: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 10:00 AM

From Traditional Ballad Index:

What'll I Do with the Baby-O

DESCRIPTION: Song describes various things to do with baby: wrap him up in calico, put him in his cradle, wrap him in the table cloth, throw him in the hayloft, hang him in the tree top, etc. Also, "How in the world do the old folks know I like sugar in my coffee-O?"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1917 (Cecil Sharp collection)
KEYWORDS: drink food humorous lullaby playparty baby floatingverses
FOUND IN: US(Ap,MW,SE)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
SharpAp 228, "What'll we do with the Baby?" (1 text, 1 tune)
Ritchie-Southern, pp. 26-27, "What'll I Do with the Baby-O" (1 text, 1 tune)
Peters, p. 173, "What Will I Do with the Baby-O?" (1 short text, 1 tune)
Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 162, "What'll I Do with the Baby-O" (1 text, 1 tune)
Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 234, "Charlie, Won't You Rock the Cradle" (1 text)
Silber-FSWB, p. 407, "Prettiest Little Baby In The County-O"; 408, "What'll We Do With The Baby-O?" (2 texts)
DT, DOBABYO
ADDITIONAL: James P. Leary, Compiler and Annotator, _Wisconsin Folklore_ University of Wisconsin Press, 2009, article "Kentucky Folksong in Northern Wisconsin" by Asher E. Treat, pp. 249-250, "What Will I Do with the Baby-Oh?" (1 text, 1 tune, sung by Pearl Jacobs Borusky)
Roud #826
RECORDINGS:
Coon Creek Girls, "What Do I Do With the Baby-O" (Songs from Renfro Valley - Bell, mx. 2002, n.d., postwar)
Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers, "Sugar in my Coffee" (Crown 3075, c. 1930)
[G. B.] Grayson & [Henry] Whitter, "What You Gonna Do with the Baby?" (Victor V-40268, 1930; rec. 1929)
Happy-Go-Lucky Boys, "Whatcha Gonna Do With the Baby?" (Bluebird B-8391, 1940)
J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers, "What You Gonna Do With the Baby-O?" (King 538, 1946)
Frank Proffitt, "Baby-O" (Proffitt03)
Jean Ritchie & Roger Sprung, "What'll I Do With the Baby-O?" (on RitchieWatson1, RitchieWatsonCD1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Rock-A-Bye Baby" (words)
cf. "Sugar In My Coffee" (floating lyrics)
File: R565

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Subject: RE: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 10:02 AM

Andrew Kuntz (click):

PRETTIEST (LITTLE) GIRL IN THE COUNTRY(-O). AKA ‑ "Prettiest Little Girl in the County‑O," "Purtiest Gal in the Country." AKA and see "Old Aunt Jenny," "Prosperity Breakdown." Old‑Time, Breakdown with Vocals. USA, fairly common in the South. G Major. Standard. ABB (Titon): AABB (Rosenbaum). The tune is similar in its melodic countour to "What're We Gonna Do with the Baby‑O" and to "Turkey Buzzard." R.P. Christeson notes similarity to his "Sugar in the Coffee" (Old Time Fiddler's Repertory, vol. II, No. 129). "A popular 19th century fiddle and play party tune well remembered by older informants across the South" (Charles Wolfe). Jeff Titon says the tune is generally well known in the South, but not frequently found in the repertoires of Kentucky fiddlers. Alan and Elizabeth Lomax recorded the tune for the Library of Congress from the playing of fiddler George C. Nicholson. See also Thomas Tally's No. 41. Verses are commonly sung to the last line of the 'B' part, such as:
***
Cornstalk fiddle and pea vine bow,
Gwine take Sal to the party.
Swing 'em like you love 'em,
The boys are not above 'em.

Little more sugar in the coffee‑o,
Swing Sal to the party.
Prettiest little girl in the country‑o,
Mommy and Daddy told me so.    (Skillet Lickers)
***
Prettiest little girl in the country‑o,
Papa and mama both said so.
All dressed up in calico,
I'm gonna take her to the party‑o.

I can get her if I want her,
I can get her if I want her.   (Gordon Tanner)
***
Prettiest little girl in the county oh
How do I know, cause she told me so.   (Gene Goforth)
***
Sources for notated versions: Gordon Tanner (Dacula, Gwinnett County, Georgia) [Rosenbaum]; Jake Phelps and Street Butler (Pea Ridge, Todd County, Ky., 1965) [Titon]. Rosenbaum (Folk Visions and Voices: Traditional Music and Song in North Georgia), 1989; pg. 111. Titon (Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 129, pg. 156. Berea College Appalachian Center AC002, Clyde Davenport – "Puncheon Camps" (1992). Columbia 15315 (78 RPM), Clayton McMichen (1928). Davis Unlimited DU 32028, W.L. Gregory – "Homemade Stuff" (1978). Folkways FTS 31062, "Ship in the Clouds: Old Time Instrumental Music" (1978. Learned from the Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett recording). Rounder 1023, Gid Tanner and His Skillet Lickers (North Ga.) ‑ "The Kickapoo Medecine Show" (1980, originally recorded 1924). Rounder CD-0388, Gene Goforth – "Emminence Breakdown" (1997). Voyager VRLP 328‑S, "Kenny Hall and the Long Haul String Band" (learned from the 1924 Skillet Lickers recording). Recorded for the Library of Congress by W.A. Bledsoe (Meridian, Mississippi), 1939.

Subject: RE: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: BanjoRay
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 10:06 AM

Here's the only version I've heard, Richie. Lovely tune.
Cheers
Ray

from Dirk Powell - "Time Again" CD

Prettiest little girl in the county-o
Walked right up and told her so

Chorus
I'm gonna love her in the morning
I'm gonna love her in the evening
I'm gonna love her in the morning
I'm gonna love her in the evening

Prettiest little girl in the county-o
All dressed up in calico

Chorus

Swing em like you love 'em
Boys you ain't above 'em

Chorus

Prettiest little girl in the county-o
Her Daddy and mammy both told me so

Chorus

Subject: RE: Or:Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 06:23 PM

Can I reccomend the version recorded by The Monks on their CD Ragged but Righteous; Claudio Buchwald, Frank Hall, Abby Ladin and Sam Bartlett, They call it Prettiest Little Miss in the County-O.
It's on Yodel-Ay-Hee 045. Only recorded in 2002 but well worth a listen.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE COUNTY-O
From: Richie
Date: 04 Jan 07 - 10:37 PM

PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE COUNTY-O
Kenny Hall: "I learned it in 1942 from Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett."

Prettiest girl in the county-o,
Watch her sway, do-see-doe.
Prettiest girl in the county-o,
Watch her sway, do-see-doe.

CHORUS: Prettiest girl in the county-o,
I like sugar in the coffee‑o.
Prettiest girl in the county-o,
Pass that sugar with the coffee‑o.

Prettiest girl in the county-o,
I can't get her in the morning-o.
Prettiest girl in the county-o,
I can't get her in the evening-o.

Swing 'em like you love 'em,
Boys ain't above 'em.
Prettiest girl in the county-o,
I can't get her in the morning-o.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 05:16 PM

Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin sang a traditional song they called OLD COUNTRY STOMP that contains the phrase "Prettiest little girl in the county-o" on their album "Our Town." It's also on the Rounder collection "Hills of Home." Lyrics are posted here.

Subject: Lyr Add: SUGAR IN COFFEE (from Thomas W. Talley)
From: Azizi
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 06:06 PM

SUGAR IN COFFEE
Sheep's in de meader a' mowin' o' de hay.
De honey's in de bee-gum, so dey all say.
My head's up an' I'se bound to go.
Who'll take sugar in de coffe-o?

I'se de prettiest liddle gal in de country-o.
My mammy an' daddy, dey bofe say so.
I looks in de glass, it don't say no.
So I'll take sugar in de coffee-o.

Source: Thomas W. Talley "Negro Folk Rhymes", originally published 1922

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 06:54 PM

Try Dandy Jim From Caroline, 1844 for more similarities.

http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/minstrel/dandyjimfr.html

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Text below copy-pasted from Dale's link. -Joe Offer, 26 May 2014

Dandy Jim from Caroline Baltimore: F. D. Benteen, 1844   [This song was published in 1844 by at least six publishers, and in New York and Boston as well as in Baltimore. By different publishers it was attributed it to Chas. Reps, Dan Emmet, Geo. F. Bristow and J. T. Norton. The lyrics differ somewhat from publisher to publisher.]

I've often heard it said of late Dat Souf Carolina was de state, Whar handsome Niggars bound to shine, Like "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa tole me so, I was de best lookin Nigger in de County O, I look in de glass an I found it so, Jus what massa told me O. I drest myself from top to toe, And down to Dinah I did go, Wid pantaloons strapp'd down behine, Like "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c. De bull dog clar'd me out ob de yard, I tought I'd better leabe my card, I tied it fast to a piece ob twine, Signed "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c. She got my card an wrote me a letta, An ebery word she spelt de betta, For ebery word an ebery line, Was "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c. Oh, beauty it is but skin deep, But wid Miss Dinah none compete; She chang'd her name from lubly Dine, To Mrs. Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c. An ebery little one we had, Was de berry image ob he dad, Dar heels stick out tree feet behine, Like "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c. I took dem all to church one day, An hab dem christened widout delay, De Preacher christened eight or nine, Young Dandy Jim from Caroline. For my ole massa &c. An when de Preacher took he tea, He seem'd to be berry much perplex, For noting cum across he mine, But "Dandy Jim from Caroline." For my ole massa &c.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 11:35 PM

Thnaks for the additional recent posts everyone.

Dale- That's a great find.

Richie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: Richie
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 11:50 PM

From the MP3 of Sweet Dandy Jim of Caroline by Japher's "Original" SANDY RIVER MINSTRELS.

For my ole massa tole me so,
I was de best lookin *feller in de County O,
I look in de glass an I found it so,
Jus what massa told me O.

*edited

The Prettiest Little Girl originated from the chorus of Dandy Jim from Caroline (posted above). It was published in Baltimore by F. D. Benteen in 1844.

[This song was published in 1844 by at least six publishers,
and in New York and Boston as well as in Baltimore. By different
publishers it was attributed it to Chas. Reps, Dan Emmet, Geo.
F. Bristow and J. T. Norton. The lyrics differ somewhat from
publisher to publisher.]

Subject: ADD: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: GUEST
Date: 26 May 14 - 01:44 AM

Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
By Ten String Symphony

Prettiest girl in the County-O
All dressed up in calico.
I can't get her in the mornin'
I can't get her in the mornin'.

Cornstalk fiddle and a pea vine bow.
Gonna take Sal to the party-o.
I can't get her in the mornin'
I can't get her in the mornin'.

Swing her like you love her.
Boys, you ain't above her.
I can't get her in the mornin'
I can't get her in the mornin'.

Prettiest girl in the County-O.
Ma and Daddy both think so.
I can't get her in the mornin'
I can't get her in the mornin'.

Prettiest girl in the County-O
All dressed up in calico.
I can't get her in the mornin'.
I can't get her in the mornin'.

She's the prettiest girl in the County-O
Boy, my momma told me so.
Looked in the glass and found it so.
She's the prettiest girl in the County-O.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Prettiest Little Girl in the County-O
From: GUEST,#
Date: 26 May 14 - 09:59 PM

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/group.php?discussionid=3104&do=discuss

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Note from Joe Offer: this is a mirror of the Andrew Kuntz/Fiddler's Companion information that Richie posted above.