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Father oh Father - looking for related songs

29 Apr 99 - 03:31 PM (#74360)
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN ADAIR^^^
From: Joe Offer

The Inimitable Art posted this song in the "lonely singles" thread. I swear I've heard other versions, but of course I can't find 'em. can anybody supply other versions of information about this song? Seems to me that it must have a colorful history.
-Joe Offer-
Case in point: I used to do a "love medley". I'd start with the chorus to "Careless Love" and go into "Frankie & Johnny"--then "Careless Love" chorus again--- then "My Sweetheart's A Mule In the Mine" ---then the chorus to "Careless Love" again--then "The Old Lady That Loved A Swine"--- "Careless Love" chorus again, then "Rye Whisky" & "C.L." then "No More Booze" & "C.L."---then "Cocaine" & "C.L." (many possibilities: "Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream", "I Hate War And So Does Elanore", "The Death Of Harry Simms", "John Henry", "Barbara Allen"-------and I'd always end with
"Father oh Father"

Father, oh dear father, I hope that you don't care,
I want to wed my lover--my lover John Adair,

Daughter, oh dear daughter, you're gonna have to find another,
You cannot marry John Adair, for he is your half brother.

(goes through several possible husbands with the same result. Then she tearfully goes to her mother.)

Mother,oh, dear mother--lord I am undone,
Every boy I love turns out to be my father's son!

Daughter, oh, dear daughter go ahead and take your vow,
It aint no sin 'cause you aint no kin to your daddy anyhow!!!

(Of course, that's followed by "CARELESS LOVE")

Love to you all,

Art Thieme

Related threads: Also see "Shame and Scandal" and "Johnny Be Fair" in the Digital Tradition Database.
-Joe Offer-

29 Apr 99 - 03:53 PM (#74363)
Subject: Lyr Add: JOHNNY BE FAIR^^^
From: MMario

such as this one?

Oh Johnny be fair
and Johnny be fine
he wants me for to wed.
And I would marry Johnny
but my father up and said.
"I'm sad to tell you daughter
what your mother never knew.
That Johnny to is a son of mine
and so he's kin to you."

Oh Billy be fair and Billy be fine. . .

Oh Jimmy be fair and Jimmy be fine. . .

Well you never seen a girl
so sad and sorry as I was.
The boys in town are all my kin
and my father is the cause.
If life should thus continue
I shall die a single miss
so I go to my mother
and complain to her of this.

Oh daughter didn't I teach you
to forgive and to forget.
Your father might have sowed his oats
but still you needn't fret.
Your father may be father to all the boys
but still....
He's not the one who sired you
so marry who you will.

and of course the corrsponding "Jenny be faire"

MMario

29 Apr 99 - 03:56 PM (#74364)
Subject: RE: Father oh Father - looking for related songs
From: MMario

Which of course I JUST found in the DT - after searching and NOT finding it...

MMario

29 Apr 99 - 05:36 PM (#74375)
Subject: Lyr Add: SHAME AND SCANDAL^^^
From: Uilleand

Long ago in girl scout camp I learned a song that had a similar story. We called it 'Shame and Scandal', but I don't know if that was the real title. It began something like this:

In Trinidad there was a family With much confusion as you shall see, There was a father and a mother And a son who was young Who wanted to marry Have a wife of his own.

Oh woe is me, shame and scandal on the family.

Then the young man proceeds to find all these girls. But every time he would present the girl to his father, the father would say that she is his sister (but you're momma don't know). Until finally he goes to his mom after having presented all the girls on the island, and his mom tells him that his 'papa ain't his papa, but his papa don't know.

29 Apr 99 - 06:27 PM (#74383)
Subject: RE: Father oh Father - looking for related songs
From: Lyle

There is a *very* similar one by Mike Cross called "Elma Turl" on his Live and Kicking album. If you want the words, let me know and I'll look them up.

Lyle