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P- If a query has come in to which there is no answer, as yet, that
songtitle will appear in _boldface, _and in red.

PANTS HIS MOTHER MADE FOR HIM

PAPA GOING OFF TO SEA

PAPINO YOU LITTLE MOUSE (Pepino, The Italian Mouse)

(A) PARENT AND CHILD ARE ALONE IN A CABIN

PATSY OREE AY - anyone know a recording? Or mp3 source?

PEANUT BUTTER - more verses wanted

PEAS IN MY EARS

PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY (see “O” page for ONE DAY IN LATE OCTOBER)

PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA (see Lay That Pistol Down on “L” page)

PIONEER WOMAN

PIZZA PIE

PLAY (STAY) IN YOUR OLD BACKYARD

PLAYMATE, COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME,

PLEASE MR. CONDUCTOR

POLLY WOLLY DOODLE

POOR LITTLE ROBIN WALKING TO MISSOURI

 

PANTS HIS MOTHER MADE FOR HIM

from Jeff C : When I was a kid my mother had a hand written song book which
she used to sing from. One song she sang was a bout a little boy who wore
pants his mother made for him. I just remember the phrase "in the little
pants my mother made for me" I believe this was part of the chorus.

A second song I would like information on is one we had on a 78 that was
called "Burnt horse flesh" ( see on “B” page). Do you know anything about
this song?

Any information you might be able to provide on these two songs would be

greatly appreciated.

thank you,

Jeff

Q PAPA GOING OFF TO SEA

Q PAPINO YOU LITTLE MOUSE

from mjbruha: Do you remember a silly little song Called Papino you little
mouse? If so do you know where I might find a recording of it?

_A_ an answer that sounds right from Candis B. — it’s a bi-lingual song!
Thank you, Candis

Could "Pepino the Italian Mouse" be this song? I found several cd's and a
couple of vinyl lps available on eBay.

 

“Pepino, The Italian Mouse” by Lou Monte

 

Pepino, oh, you little mouse

Oh, won't you go away

Find yourself another house to run around and play

You scare my girl, you eat my cheese, you even drink my wine

I try so hard to catch you but you trick me all the time

 

Cesta no surecillo a basoccella dinda mur

Ogna sere quella esce quanda casa scura

Endo dindo la cucina balla sulasu

A parrano malandrino pura un gabo sapaur

 

Pepino suracill ana parta scubari

Managa suracill a casa ma dai

Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar

A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa

 

The other night

I called my girl

I asked her could we meet

I said let's go to my house

We could have a bite to eat

And as we walked in through the door

she screamed at what she saw

There was little Pepino

Doin' the cha, cha on the floor

 

Pepino suracill ana parta scubari

Managa suracill a casa ma dai

Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar

A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa

 

Quella non ci piace u formaggio American

Quella va trova no poca Parmesan

La fatto ghiata ghiat gusto ena cor

Quando cella camina para probino caladur

 

Pepino suracill ana parta scubari

Managa suracill a casa ma dai

Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar

A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa

 

 Q A PARENT AND CHILD ARE ALONE IN A CABIN

From Dawn: The plot to it is that a parent and child are alone in a cabin,
and it's the middle of winter. The parent goes out to get food, and the fire
dies while a parent and child are alone in a cabin,they're gone. By the time
they get back, the child has frozen.

 

PATSY OREE AY

From: Robert L. Hi, I was at a party and the band played this Irish folk
song about "working on

the railroad". It contained lyrics like "Patsy Hoary Hoary Aye" (Spelling is
probably wrong). Thanks for your help. Bob

 

[Ed. Note Hi Bob, Here's one version from
+my

own version in [brackets]. About as many folks sing "fillimoru. . ." as
"patsy ore. . ." but no

one worries about the spelling [:>)! Enjoy,Phyl]

 

PATSY OREE AY

In eighteen hundred and fifty one

American railroad had just begun [I put my corduroy britches on]

American railroad just begun [I put my corduroy britches on]

Working on the railroad.[To work upon the railway]

 

Cho: Patsy-o-ree-o-ree-ay [Fillimoru-moru-moray]

      Patsy-o-ree-o-ree-ay

      Patsy-o-ree-o-ree-ay

      Working on the railroad.

 

repeat verse and chorus, using:

 

1852 looking around for something to do [I found myself with nuthin' to do]

1853 railroad company accepted me ['Twas then I met sweet Betsy McGee ---An

    elegant wife she's been to me]

1854 found my back was mighty sore

1855 found myself more dead than alive

1856 stepped on a pile of dynamite sticks

1857 found myself on the way to heaven

1858 pickin' the lock at the pearly gate

1859 floating around in the clouds sublime

[18 "hundred fifty ten" I started in all over again. . .]

 

From Bob: Thanks for the Patsy Oree Ay lyrics. Do you know of a good audio
CD with this song on it or where I can download a legal MP3? Thanks!!!! Bob

 

PEAS IN MY EARS

 

    Q. From S. (. . . looking) for a song called "Peas in my Ears," or "My
Roof's Got a Hole in It" ( see “M” page) I have been searching and searching
for these 2 silly songs.

    A. Beans In My Ears --- I think that you are probably searching for a
song called "Beans In My Ears". One source for "Beans In My Ears" is a book
titled "Rise Up Singing," (a Sing Out Publication available at most
bookstores), and I know that Pete Seeger recorded a version on an album
called, I believe, "Dangerous Songs."

 

[Ed Note: I must warn you NOT to use this song with young children. Many
years ago I sang it with a kindergarten class, wherein I had a table set up
for a "pouring" activity using a large quantity of beans. Of course, one of
the children immediately went to that table, poked several beans into his
ears, and had to be taken to Emergency at the nearest hospital to have them
removed. His parents were not amused, to say the least, and I never used it
in a classroom or with any young children again [:>)]. But, with that
warning, here are the lyrics:

 

Momma told me not to put beans in my ears,

Beans in my ears, (2x)

She said " You can't hear your teacher if you put beans in your ears,

Beans in your ears."

. . . I said "I can't hear you 'cause I've got beans in my ears. . ."

. . . She said "That's very nice dear, but don't put beans in your ears. .
."

. . . Sometimes I think all grownups have got beans in their ears. . .

 

[Follow-up: Dear Phyllis,

Thank you, SO much! I think I WAS mixing up my peas with my beans...While I
am an educator, I wasn't thinking of using these songs with young children.
(My brother also tried putting a bean in his ear --- not pleasant...) I just
wanted to share them with my 21 year old son . . .]

 

 

PEANUT BUTTER

From:   Jim K: Can you help me find the lyrics to two songs ? the first one
is called

Peanut Butter ? and the 2nd one is called A Dog Named Blue ? (see Old Blue
on “O” page) The song goes like this:

Peanut ,Peanut Butter Peanut, Peanut Butter.

I like Peanut Butter, You Like Peanut Butter

We all like Peanut Butter too.

Went to a party and what did they serve

Peanut Peanut Butter .

 

Can’t remember the next few verses ? Can you help ?

Thanks,

Jim

 

(THE) PIG GOT UP AND SLOWLY WALKED AWAY (see “O” page for ONE DAY IN LATE
OCTOBER)

 

    Q. From Nanapatw: Where would I try to find a song my grandmother sang
to me 60 years ago, something like a "saloon" song. It is about a drunk who
stumbles out of a bar, falls into the gutter, and "The Pig Got Up and Slowly
Walked Away?" I'm not good on figuring out how to search on the computer but
am trying to find this song.

    Thanks, Pat

[Ed Note: The first is the version that I know, the second is an extended
version, see “O” page for yet another]

 

            One day in late November,

            So late I can't remember,

            I was walking down the street in joy and pride,

            When I lay down in the gutter,

            So drunk I could not utter, and

            A piggy came and lay down by my side.

              

            As I lay there in the gutter,

            So drunk I could not utter,

            A lady passing by was heard to say,

            "You can tell the man who boozes by the company he chooses,"

            And the gosh darn pig got up and walked away.

 

PIG AND THE INEBRIATE (Long Version)

 

One evening last October, when I was far from sober

And dragging home a load with manly pride

My feet began to stutter and I fell down in the gutter

And a pig came up and parked right by my side

 

Then I mumbled, "It's fair weather when good comrades get together"

Till a lady passing by was heard to say,

"You can tell a man that boozes by the playmates that he chooses"

Then the pig got up and slowly walked away

 

I began to scratch the gravel, on my all fours I did travel

I rambled down the road the best I could

When I awoke next morning, just as the day was dawning

I was in a hog pen away out in the woods

 

Then the hogs began to grumble, I started and I stumbled

I fell right in their midst and there I lay

Then one by one they started, till all the herd departed

Yes, every hog got up and walked away

 

Now lately I've been thinking that I will quit my drinking

I'm going to leave off whiskey, beer and grog

For there's no consolation, but only aggravation

You can't even find friends with a hog

 

printed in Folksongs of the Blue Ridge Mountains

collected from John Daniel Vass, who may have written the last 3

     verses

 

PIONEER WOMAN

From Lu K.

I am looking for the words to is about a pioneer woman home along with her
children when the Indians come -- they light the house on fire and she hides
under the floor with her children.

 

It's too bad that there was so much sadness during the pioneer days -- but
these are the songs I most associate with the time I spent with my dear
Granny.

 

 

PIZZA PIE:

From Janet J.

 

        Q.I am looking for a song I remember only part of, I don't even know
if it's a real song but if you could help me out it would be great. What I
remember is:

 

Mama ma jolly's pizza pie

a what's the matter with you?

if you no like a my pizza pie

Then I no like a you

 

"PLAY IN YOUR OLD BACKYARD"

From: Mkat: Subject: Lyrics to "Play in Your Old Backyard"

 

When we were kids out grandmother would sing a couple of songs that always
left us sobbing because they were so sad. The lyrics to the first, "Nobody's
Child" (about a little blind orphan boy), I easily found online. However,
the other song, "Play in Your Own Backyard" (about a little Afro-American
boy shunned by his white neighbor kids) must be quite obscure. I've never
heard anyone but my grandmother sing it. I have tried entering snippets of
the lyrics in search engines but nothing comes up. Some lyrics are:

 

"So, honey, go and play in your own back yard,

don't mind what them white children say" . . .

 

and the last line is:

"Go out and play as much as you please, but stay in your own back yard".

 

In case it was a regional song, my grandmother and her mother before her
were born and raised in Iowa. Has anyone heard anything similar to this
song?

 

From: William S _(I think he’s from Pennsylvania): _Not regional, My
grandmother sang it also. "Little pickinny, crying so hard..."

 

[Ed. Note: an answer to this heartbreaking song, and a reminder of that
not-too distant time when such attitudes were common-place

 

A From Gillian A: Phyl, I'm not sure when the entry about "Play In your Old
Backyard" was placed, but I too spent a lot of time looking for these
lyrics, because this is a song my grandad's mother used to sing for him and
I wanted to find him it for Christmas. I've since found the complete lyrics
and the proper song title (see below). If you could pass this on to Mkat and
also thank them because it was those lyrics, combined with my memory of
"Mammy's at her little cabin door" which helped me to find the song.

 

Thank you for your wonderful site Phyl, (_we gracefully accept the plug
[:>)!_

Regards, Gillian

 

PLAY (STAY) IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

(aka Mama's Little Alabama Coon)

(Music by: Lyn Udall / Lyrics by: Karl Kennett) - 1899

 

Ah's mama's li'l Alabama coon

And ah ain't been born very long

Ah's remember one big round moon

Ah's member singin’ one sweet song

When they took me down to the cotton field

There I tumbled and I rolled in the sun

Daddy picking cotton; mama watch me grow

This was the old song she sung

 

Lilac trees are bloomin’ in the garden by the gate

Mammy's at her little cabin door

Curly headed picanniny comin’ home so late

Cryin’ cuz his little heart is sore

 

All the children play around

With skins so white and fair

None of them with him would ever play

So mammy in her lap, took that weeping little chap

And crooned him in her kind old way

 

Why don't you play in your own backyard

Never mind what the white chile do

Nobody ever would want to play

With a little black coon like you

 

Go out and play as long as you please

But Honey don’t you cry so hard

Go out and jump on the high board fence

But stay in your own backyard

 

Go to sleep my little picanny

Brer fox catch you if ya don't

Slumber on the bosom of your ol' mama Jinny

Mama goin to swap yo if you don't

Ah-loo-ah-loo-ah-looah-loo-ah-loo

Underneath the sunny southern moon

Lullabye, Rockabye Mama's li'l baby

Mama's li'l Alabama Coon

 

PLAYMATE, COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME, (TWO LITTLE GIRLS USED TO DRESS JUST
ALIKE - which see on T page) (TYING APPLES ON A LILAC TREE - which see on T
page)

 

    Q. From J.M. I found your site while searching for words of older songs
my 90 year old mother was trying to remember.....One ended: tying apples on
a lilac tree..

    Also....we were looking for words to: Playmate, come out and play with
me,...........apple tree......slide down my celler door...........and we'll
be friends forever more.

    And another: you can't holler down my rain barrel (see version 3
below),....you can't climb my apple tree, you can't........................,
if you can't be good to me. Have you ever heard of any of these I may have
confused and mixed up these lyrics of two, three or more songs. I have never
heard any of the songs you list.....

    A. HERE'S PLAYMATE, version 1:

 

    Playmate, come out and play with me

    Come bring your dollies three

    Climb up my apple tree

    Climb up my rain barrel

    Slide down my cellar door

    And we'll be happy friends

    For ever more

    Playmate, I cannot play with you

    My dollie has the flu

    Boo hoo hoo hoo

    Can't climb your rain barrel

    Can't slide your cellar door

    But we'll be happy friends

    Forever more.

    [note: a 1940s rewrite of I Don't Want To Play in Your Yard ]

 

from brenda j.: These are the words I knew as a child. version 2

 

    Play mate come out and play me and bring your dollies 3, climb up my
apple tree,

    slide down my rain barrel, climb up my cellar door and we'll be jolly
friends forever more.

      

    No no no play mate I can't come play with you, my dolly got the flue,
boo

    who,who,who ,who, who who. Ain't got no rain barrel ain't got no cellar
door but

    we'll be jolly friends forever more.

 

from Eileen H. The PLAYMATES song being requested, as I learned it, version
3

 

    Play-mate, come out and play with me

    And bring your dollies three, Climb up my apple tree

    Holler down my rain barrel, Slide down my cellar door

    And we'll be jolly friends, for-ev-er-more

 

    Play-mate, I can't come play with you

    My dollie's got the flu

    Boo hoo, boo hoo, boo hoo

    Ain't got no rain barrel, ain't got no cellar door

    But we'll be jolly friends, for-ev-er-more.

 

 

From:   Tina H -version 4 of PLAYMATES : This is a great resource! I
couldn't remember a piece

of the "Playmate -- come out and play with me" song, but once I read the
versions posted here, it all came flooding back. Just FYI, here's the
version I learned as a child in Iowa:

 

Say say oh playmate, come out and play with me

And bring your dollies three

Climb up my apple tree

Slide down my rain barrel

And through my cellar door

And we’ll be jolly friends

Forever more

So sorry playmate, I cannot play with you

My dollie has the flu

Chicken pox and measles too

Ain’t got no rain barrel

Ain’t got no cellar door

But we’ll be jolly friends

Forever more.

             Thanks! Tina

 

And yet another —as a hand-clapping game:

 

From:   Carol O: The Playmate song we used to sing while doing those silly
hand games where

you shake and slap each others hands in a rhythm. This is the Lyrics I
remember:

 

Ce-ce my playmate, come out and play with me

And bring your dollies three, Climb up my apple tree

Slide down my rainbow, into my cellar door

And we'll be jolly friends, for-ev-er-more

 

Ce-Ce my Play-mate, I can not play with you

My dollie's got the flu

Boo hoo, boo hoo, boo hoo

Ain't got no rainbow, ain't got no cellar door

But we'll be jolly friends, for-ev-er-more.

 

the latest addition:

From Deborah F. I now have a 5 year old granddaughter and remembered this
song so I looked on the net to see if there were more lyrics... Guess not. I
was surprised to see so many versions.

We're from New England and I was born in the 50's. This is the way my mother
and grandmother taught the song to me:

 

Playmate come out and play with me,

Bring your dollies three, climb up my apple tree-

Climb in my rain barrel, slide down my cellar door,

And we'll be jolly friends forever more, not 2 but 4.

 

It was a rainy day,

She couldn't come out and play,

With tearful eyes, she breathed a sigh,

And this is what she said....

 

I'm sorry playmate, I cannot play with you,

My dollies have the flu, Boo hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo

Aint got no rain barrel, aint got no cellar door,

But we'll be jolly friends forever more- not 6 but 8

 

(I don't know what the numbers were for except maybe a filler or they
couldn't remember

the correct words)

Deb F.

 

And From Emily L. Jolly Friends song (aka PLAYMATES)

             Thank you for your website. memory lane is such a sweet place.
My version of the "Jolly Friends" song has another verse that I wish I could
sing for you...

 

Playmate, come out and play with me

and bring your dollies three

we'll climb the apple tree

climb up your rain barrel

slide down your cellar door

and we'll be jolly friends

for evermore

 

well it was a sunny day

but she couldn't come out and play

with tearful eyes

she breathed a sigh

and i could hear her say (you don't take a breath here)

 

I'm sorry playmate

I cannot play with you

my dolly's got the flu

boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

ain't got no rain barrel

ain't got no cellar door

but we'll be jolly friends

for evermore

 

Emily from Illinois originally and now Washington State, (but my version is
from Wood River, Illinois)

 

PLEASE MR. CONDUCTOR

From Elaine Z. 

My mum used to sing a sad song to me as a child. Can only remember some
lyrics. Do you know any more?

'A little boy sat by the station, reading a letter he had. It was plain to
be seen by the tears in his eyes, the contents of it were sad.

Please Mr. conductor, don't put me off of this train. My very best friend in
the world,

sir, is waiting for me in vain. She's expected to die any moment, she may
not live

through the day. I must get to dear mother before she passes away.'

 

The little boy obviously didn't have a ticket to ride the train. If you know
who wrote this song, or any more lyrics I would be most obliged if you could
let me know.

Many thanks

Elaine

 

 

PLEASE MR. CONDUCTOR

 

The Lightning Express from the depot so grand

Had just pulled out on its way;

All of the passengers who were on board

Seemed to be happy and gay,

Except a young lad in a seat by himself,

Reading a letter he had;

'Twas plain tobe seen by the tears in his eyes

That the contents in it made him sad.

 

The stern old conductor who passed through the car,

Taking tickets from everyone there,

Finally reached the little boy's ride

And gruffly demanded his fare;

"I have no ticket," the boy replied,

But I'll pay you back some day."

"I'll have to put you off the next station," he said,

But stopped when he heard the buy say:

 

cho: "Please, mister conductor.

     Don't put me off of your train,

     For the best friend I have in this whole wide world

     Is waiting for me in vain;

     Expected to die any moment,

     And may not live through the day:

     I want to bid mother goodbye, sir,

     Before God takes her away."

 

A little girl in a seat close by

Said, "To put that boy off, it's a shame."

So taking his hat, a collection she made,

And soon paid his way on the train.

"l'm obliged tu you, miss, for your kindness to me

"You're welcome. I'm sure, never fear."

Each time the conductor came through the car

These words seemed to ring in his ear: Cho:

 

 

_POLLY WOLLY DOODLE_

_Q._ From:           Belvin S:I remember an old silly song when I was young
that someone recently asked about. It was something like 'Polly Wolly
Doodle'. It went this way:

 

Behind the barn down on my knees, singing polly wolly doodle all day.

I thought I heard a chicken sneeze, singing polly wolly doodle all day.

Can you help me out with the title and the full song.

Thank you, Belvin Sweatt

 

_A_ _Here are a few(!) verses (I’ve omitted the repeat lines for each verse
—v.1 in italics) I’ll bet there are lots more “zip in” verses, too!_

 

Oh, I went down South for to see my Sal

_Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day_

My Sal, she is a spunky gal

_Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day_

 

Chorus: Fare thee well, Fare thee well,

Fare thee well my fairy fay

For I'm going to Lou'siana for to see my Susyanna

Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day

 

Oh, my Sal, she is a maiden fair

With curly eyes And laughing hair _(sic) _ CHO

 

Behind the barn down on my knees

I thought I heard a chicken sneeze CHO

 

He sneezed so hard With the whooping cough

He sneezed his head and the tail right off CHO

 

Oh, a grasshopper sittin' on a railroad track

A-pickin' his teeth with a carpet tack CHO

 

Oh, I went to bed but it wasn't any use

My feet stuck out like a chicken roost CHO

 

 

     Q1 POOR LITTLE ROBIN WALKING TO MISSOURI

From Frances Sutter

There is an old song about "A Poor Little Robin Walking to Missouri," I
would like to know all the words if possible.

 

Q2 From M.B. Am looking for the song with the words "Poor Little Robin,
walking, walking, walking to Missouri" in it. What is the name of the song,
who performed it and where can I find the words to the whole song?

 

Q3 From Phyllis C. Do you think there is any hope of ever finding my
favorite version of the

song and lyrics? I love nonsense and silly songs of all kinds and was
delighted to find your web site.

 

A few years ago I recalled the song Walking to Missouri from the late 1950s.
Believe it or not, my "recording" of the song was pressed onto the outside
of a box of cereal as a premium (probably Wheaties or Corn Flakes.). You cut
out the cardboard record circle and it played surprisingly well on a regular
turntable. I'm sure the song was intended for children, but I think I
enjoyed it more than my little kids.

 

When I searched for the lyrics on the Internet, all I could find was the
Sammy Kaye version. The lyrics were similar, but I remember so well
".....the sun was hot and his wings got burned that's how this poor robin
learned it's foolish to try to fly too high...."

 

This morning I stumbled onto your web page and found a reference to "my
version" of the song. The comments are shown under the under the title Poor
Little Robin Walkin' to Missouri. I am delighted to learn that I'm not
crazy. LOL

 

 A1 From JK: I too was looking for the lyrics to "Poor Little Robin," which
was on a children's record I listened to all the time in the early 50s. I
found the original lyrics, sung by Sammy Kaye, but found they weren't the
ones I remembered. I'm thinking that the record producers may have toned
down the song for the children. I'd like to find my version, which included
the lines: "...but he got burned and that's how poor Robin learned it's
foolish to try to fly too high." I'm still looking, but in the meantime,
here are the Sammy Kaye lyrics:

 

Walkin' To Missouri, Words and music by Bob Merrill, 1952

         as sung bySammy Kaye

 

CHORUS: Poor little robin walkin', walkin', WALKIN' TO MISSOURI;

He can't afford to fly.

Got a penny for a Poor little robin, walkin' walkin' WALKIN' TO MISSOURI

Got a teardrop in his eye.

 

Verse1. I hope my story don't make you cry,

But this birdie flew too high;

He flew from his old Missouri home.

He fell right into the city ways, like dancin' in cabarets,

From party to party he would roam. (Chorus)

 

V2. He met a birdie who looked so nice,

A real bird of paradise,

Good lookin' but fickle in the heart.

She gave him kisses and gave him sighs,

But oh, how she told him lies,

'Cause she loved another from the start. (Chorus)

 

V3. His dreams are battered, his feathers bent,

Now he hasn't got a cent;

He feels like his heart is gonna break.

So if he ever walks up to you,

Please throw him a crumb or two,

'Cause you could have made the same mistake.

 

From Karen W. I'm not sure if you already found these but here are the words
to Poor Little Robin as my mom sang them to me:

 

Poor Little Robin, walkin' walkin' walkin to Missouri

He can't afford to fly

Got a penny for a, Poor little robin, walkin' walkin' walkin' to Missouri

Got a teardrop in his eye.

 

This birdie decided that he would roam

He left his Missouri home

but he flew too far up in the sky

 

The sun was hot and his wings got burned

and that's how this robin learned

it's foolish to try and fly too high

 

Last revised: 28 October 2016.  Conditions of Use.
Copyright © 2001-2016 by The Jack Horntip Collection.

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