Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar

12 Aug 02 - 07:50 AM (#763749)
Subject: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: GUEST,pavane

These two songs seem to be versions of a common story in which one party gives the other a series of gifts, each of which may turn out to be faulty in some way.

Mockingbird (e.g. recording by Carly Simon & James Taylor)

If that mocking bird don't sing
I'm going to give her a diamond ring...

(Childrens skipping rhyme)
Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Jews
Bought his wife a pair of shoes..

Is there a single 'name' for this group of songs? Are there many variants?

Are they related to the Riddle song or the Lovers tasks (Scarborough fair group of songs)?

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13 Aug 02 - 08:39 AM (#764337)
Subject: RE: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: masato sakurai

This type is called "chain songs" HERE, in which "the verse is expanded either by starting each new line with the last words of the previous one or in a question-response form."

~Masato

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13 Aug 02 - 08:54 AM (#764346)
Subject: RE: Mockingbird/nebuchadnezzar
From: masato sakurai

There's a similar (but different) type which is called "Call-and-Answer Songs" HERE. "Many French folksongs are sung in a call-and-answer style. Each verse contains two lines and (usually) a French equivalent of "tra la la". Each successive verse starts with the last last line of the previous verse, (usually) repeats it, and introduces a new line. Thus a leader can sing the new line at the end of each verse and the whole group can sing the rest."

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