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Origins: Pete Seeger: Abiyoyo

22 Jan 12 - 07:08 AM (#3294340)
Subject: Seeger Abi Yoyo
From: Tigger the Tiger

I saw him perform this at a story-telling workshop in Newport 1966. What record was this on?Does anyone have a video of him doing this story?He had a great time with this.Thanks.

22 Jan 12 - 07:41 AM (#3294350)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: Dave Hanson

It's certainly on the album ' Pete Seegers Greatest Hits ' I've still got it on vinyl.

Dave H

22 Jan 12 - 09:41 AM (#3294408)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: EBarnacle

It's available as a book and is also paired with "The Foolish Frog." Pete has a book out of folk tales and storytelling. I believe both stories can also be found there.

22 Jan 12 - 10:56 AM (#3294444)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: GUEST,999

There's a half dozen of Pete Seeger doing Abiyoyo on Youtube. Go to YouTube and search

Abiyoyo, Pete Seeger

(For a second I thought Bob Seger was doing it.)

22 Jan 12 - 11:02 AM (#3294449)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: Leadfingers

The Thread title confused me too !

22 Jan 12 - 11:09 AM (#3294452)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: Leadfingers

But here is Pete in 1993

22 Jan 12 - 11:12 AM (#3294455)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: Bettynh

This CD at Smithsonian Folkways has it. You can download a PDF of the transcription without buying the album.

22 Jan 12 - 11:34 AM (#3294471)
Subject: RE: Seger Abi Yoyo
From: Tigger the Tiger

Sorry about the mistake in spelling;I was busy trying to guess how to spell the song name. Thanks so much to all of you for sending the information about videos.Glad to see this again.

23 Jan 12 - 03:16 AM (#3294830)
Subject: RE: Seeger Abi Yoyo
From: Joe Offer

You'll find the entire text of the story in Pete Seeger's book, Where Have All the Flowers Gone? - A Singalong Memoir. I won't post the story - Bettynh gave a link above to liner notes that have the entire text. But here's what Pete has to say about it in the "Flowers" book:
    In a book of African folk tunes notated by J.N. Maselwa snd Rev. H.C.N. Smith, published (with no copyright of any sort) by St. Matthew's a missionary college in South Africa, I came across a lullaby. A footnote explained that it was sung as part of a story about a monster named Abiyoyo. "The parents get the giant dancing, and when it falls down in a fit, it is dispatched by the parents." From that hint, I improvised a new story for my own children, not realizing at the time how closely the symbolism hit home.
    They wanted to hear the story the next night. And the next. I tried telling it to other kids at a summer camp, and acting it out more. Little did I know I'd tell the story, and sing the song, a thousand times in the next half century.
-Joe-