Origins: Bobby Shafto and La-La-Chik-a-La-Li-O ?

25 Jan 00 - 09:47 PM (#168390)
Subject: Bobby Shaftoe
From: GUEST,T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)

A set of words, with the title "Bobby Shafto" (cross-referenced to another set called "Coulter's Candy") appears in the DT, but without music. Perhaps this is the tune.

X: 1
T: Bobby Shaftoe
C: 19th c. Northumbrian, from John Stokoe, ed., Northumbrian Minstrelsy (pipe), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1882, p. 35
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
K: G
|: c2 ed/c/ | gc e2 | dB/c/ dB | gB d2 | c2 ed/c/ | gc e2 | f/e/d/c/ B/c/d/B/ | c2 G2 :|
|: e/f/g ec | e/f/g e2 | dgdB | dg d2 | e/f/g/f/ e/f/g/f/ | e/f/g/f/ ec | f/e/d/c/ B/c/d/B/ | c2 G2 :|

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18 Aug 21 - 12:05 PM (#4116976)
Subject: Origins: Bobby Shafto and La-La-Chik-a-La-Li-O ?
From: derekpiotr

Dear All,

was collecting songs today in York, UK and was sung "Bobby Shafto(e)" by a lady. I immediately was reminded of Almeda Riddle's "La La Chick-A-La-Li-O"; does anyone have any evidence that the two might be related?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f31GP3bkmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMx4GStygEs

particularly the lines

"    Bobby Shafto's gone to sea,
    Silver buckles at his knee;
    He'll come back and marry me,
    Bonny Bobby Shafto!"


"He'll come a-sailing across the sea,
La la la chicka la leo,
Then come a-riding home to me,
La la la chicka la leo."

a bonus: there's only one other variant of Riddle's tune documented by a different singer: https://home.lyon.edu/wolfcollection/songs/dillonla1240.html

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18 Aug 21 - 02:01 PM (#4116984)
Subject: RE: Origins: Bobby Shafto and La-La-Chik-a-La-Li-O ?
From: Steve Gardham

Hi Derek
Looks like you might have something there.

The tune is related to all sorts of children's rhymes and bawdy pieces:
Michael Finnigan
In and out the Woods and Bluebells
Caviar comes from the virgin sturgeon
and possibly the Fling at Mallow.

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