Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases two YouTube examples of Langston Hughes' 1951 poem "A Dream Deferred". This post also includes information about Langston Hughes and his "Dream Deferred" montage which contains the poem that begins "What happens to a dream deferred". The complete words to that short poem are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, historical, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Langston Hughes for his creative legacies. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
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INFORMATION ABOUT LANGSTON HUGHES
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes
"James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance."...
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From http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83
..."[Langston] Hughes, who claimed Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman as his primary influences, is particularly known for his insightful, colorful portrayals of black life in America from the twenties through the sixties. He wrote novels, short stories and plays, as well as poetry, and is also known for his engagement with the world of jazz and the influence it had on his writing, as in his book-length poem Montage of a Dream Deferred (Holt, 1951). His life and work were enormously important in shaping the artistic contributions of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Unlike other notable black poets of the period—Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, and Countee Cullen—Hughes refused to differentiate between his personal experience and the common experience of black America. He wanted to tell the stories of his people in ways that reflected their actual culture, including both their suffering and their love of music, laughter, and language itself."...
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INFORMATION ABOUT LANGSTON HUGHES'S "MONTAGE OF A DREAM DEFERRED"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montage_of_a_Dream_Deferred
"Montage of a Dream Deferred is a book-length poem suite published by Langston Hughes in 1951. Its jazz poetry style focuses on descriptions of Harlem (a neighborhood of New York City) and its mostly African-American inhabitants.[1] The original edition was 75 pages long and comprised 91 individually titled poems, which were intended to be read as a single long poem.[2] Hughes' prefatory note for the book explained his intentions in writing the collection:
In terms of current Afro-American popular music and the sources from which it progressed— jazz, ragtime, swing, blues, boogie-woogie, and be-bop—this poem on contemporary Harlem, like be-bop, is marked by conflicting changes, sudden nuances, sharp and impudent interjections, broken rhythms, and passages sometimes in the manner of a jam session, sometimes the popular song, punctuated by the riffs, runs, breaks, and disc-tortions of the music of a community in transition.[3]
The primary motif of the poem is the "dream deferred", which represents the opposition between Harlem of the 1950s and the rest of the world.[4] Other motifs include boogie-woogie and discrimination against African-Americans. The poem is characterized by its use of the montage, a cinematic technique of quickly cutting from one scene to another in order to juxtapose disparate images, and its use of contemporary jazz modes like boogie-woogie, bop and bebop, both as subjects in the individual short poems and as a method of structuring and writing the poetry.[5] The poem is divided into five sections (although some editions contain six); each section represents a different time of day in Harlem, moving from dawn through the night to the dawn of the following day. The poem begins and ends with the same two lines: "Good morning, daddy! / Ain't you heard?".[5] Montage of a Dream Deferred was Langston Hughes' first major publication following the end of World War II.[5] Its themes include the subjugation of the black community, African-American racial consciousness and history, and the need for social change to resolve the injustices faced by the residents of Harlem."
-snip-
The short poem that begins "What happens to a dream deferred" is part of this montage.
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WORDS TO THE POEM: DREAM DEFERRED (HARLEM)
By Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79YjXKYeWCk
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
Example #1: "Dream Deferred (Harlem)" Langston Hughes poem GREAT EXAMPLE of Harlem Renaissance literature
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Tim Gracyk, Published on Jul 2, 2013
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Example #2: A Dream Deferred
Huntington Theatre Company, Published on Feb 13, 2013
What happens to a dream deferred? LeRoy McClain ("Walter Lee Younger" in the production) performs the classic poem by Langston Hughes. The Huntington's production of Lorraine Hansberry's timeless family story A RAISIN IN THE SUN, directed by Liesl Tommy, plays March 8 - April 7, 2013 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun to read about the 1959 play A Raisin In The Sun
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Bioshock 2 & Bessie Smith's "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out"
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post presents a sample of comments that mention Bioshock 2 that were posted to the discussion thread of a video of Bessie Smith's 1929 rendition of a Blues song. That song, "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out", was included in the Bioshock 2 video game.
This video is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. These comments are presented for cultural and sociological purposes. Read more about my reasons for showcasing these comments in the section below.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Bessie Smith for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend
RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Jun 4, 2009
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (1929)
-snip-
Click http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm for information about Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS AND YOUTUBE COMMENTS
It's my position that certain YouTube video viewer comments can be considered cultural artifacts that can provide information about a particular subject or subjects and/or reveal societal attitudes about people, places, or things. Presenting a sample of YouTube comments from the same viewer comment thread can give a sense of some of the ways that interactions occur on YouTube comment threads. YouTube viewer comments also demonstrate the ways that language is used -including the use of slang and text talk - and the customs that people use in self-selecting internet user names. Because I take a folkloric approach in editing pancocojams, a number of pancocojams blog posts include selected examples of YouTube comments about its featured videos. In addition, a few pancocojams posts focus on particular categories of user names that YouTube commenters give themselves.
However, the way that YouTube comments are presented makes responses to comments and conversations between commenters difficult to follow. In large part this is because comments are usually posted in descending order with the newest comments posted first. As a result, when reading the comment thread from top to bottom which is the usual way that threads are read, comments written in response to a particular comment are often found before that comment. One way that a response to a comment is identified is when the responder begins his or her comment with "@ ____ [the name of the person who wrote the comment which is being responded to]. However, some responders don't use that format. Adding to the possibility for confusion in reading YouTube video comments is the fact that some commenter’s names have changed because of YouTube’s promotion of people using their real names instead of screen names. Consequently, some responses to comments refer to the original commenter's screen name instead of the person's "real name". It also appears that some commenters have exchanged one "made up" user name for another "made up" user name. Furthermore, YouTube has changed their viewer comment format, deleting the "like" and "dislike" options (around the end of 2013), but those options are still mentioned in older comments.
It should also be said that a major problem with many YouTube viewer comment threads (including this showcased video's comment threads) is that a number of the comments include profanity. Readers of many YouTube viewer comment threads should also be advised that those threads may contain racist language, homophobic language, sexual explicit content and other objectionable content.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COMPILATION
The viewer comment thread for the video "Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend" is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo
As of 11:50 AM. Feb 28, 2014 there were 985 comments. At least ½ of the comments refer to Bioshock 2, Bioshock, some other specific videogame, or videogames in general.
These selected comments are grouped by the year that they were posted on YouTube, with the oldest comments presented first (along with any comments that are or appear to be posted in response to that comment). However, with the exception of that sub-group, these comments aren't presented in any consecutive order. In some cases, responding comments are given without the comment that they respond to.
The only examples of profanity that I include in the comments in this compilation is what I consider to be the mild profanity "damn", "ass", and "hell". Other examples of profanity within these comments are represented by the phrase in brackets "profanity deleted"].
These comments are numbered for references purposes only and are given as is without any editorial comments.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
2009
1. anthonyvvs
lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course)
**
2. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
3. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
4. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
****
2010
5. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
**
6. Fernando Blake
Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D
**
7. Craziness714
Thanks Bioshock and Fallout, for introducing to some amazing music I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. =)
**
8. Nunya DirtySanchez
Youre a DAM FOOL if Bioshock brought your young ass here and you should be ashamed..now that youve learned.. go teach your friends :D
**
9. Justin Huffman
Warning: if you actually purchase the Bioschock 2 Sountrack, this song IS NOT there... i don't get it. They do include the second best song: the trouble with me is you, though. I downloaded it just for this song and it's not there... [profanity deleted]??
**
10. sagat4
It is possible that game developers are trying to rekindle interest in these great lost songs. I play games occasionally and have never heard good music like this. I know my stuff but life is a learning experience:)
**
11. samtheposter
in reply to WEJIRC
@WEJIRC Hi there, the music was used as a loading screen for Bioshock 2. The game itself is excellent and the way the music compliments the theme of the game is superb. In many ways it has brought back quite a few older songs into todays lifestyle and a lot of gamers will never forget the music now. I myself have searched youtube for all of the songs from the game and have stumbled on some real legends :-)
**
12. Emma Pinkney
this song makes me want to play bioshock 2 all day!!
**
13. Phazonin
Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.
**
14. thecatman00
in reply to Phazonin
@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames
**
15. thedogisoflove
I love this dang stupid song. I of course first heard it on Bioshock 2. For a minute, I was like: "Is that Billy Holiday?" Then I thought, "Nooooooo! That's definately not her." Now I know who it is! I love it if you let Grace live, and you go back down to the last floor to gather Adam, you can hear Grace singing this song over the PA too.
**
16. Justin Huffman
this is Grace Holloway not Bessie Smith
**
17. tjovaughn
in reply to Justin Huffman
@aspacelot ....grace holloway is a VIDEO GAME CHARACTER. Bessie Smith is REAL. got it? eh? not so hard to figure out smart-[profanity deleted]. gawd.
**
18. TGCVugi
iwe heard this song @ my friend, his kid played bioshock 2,, and i will tell you something, it's so damn true, this song touches me in the heart!
**
19. F14ace
6 people have no musical taste whatsoever. This song is great for BioShock because it basically describes the story of Rapture. Well, except for the genetically spliced nutjobs running around everywhere. There is also a good lesson to be learned from this song.
**
20. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
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2011
James Last
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy bioshock is a game based in the 20's-30's i think. its not to bad kinda intence at points though
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21. Bonbeck100
Thumbs up if you're here not because of bisoshock, just because you love Bessie Smith
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22. 420Cannabis
why are you guys so proud of needing a video game to discover good music?
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23. Dee Lazarus
Personally, I have no idea what 'Bioshock' is, nor do I care to discover. I think it's great that peoples end up here listening to this, regardless of the source of their original interest, but I would query why these same folks have this burning need to proclaim "The Simpsons brought me here!!!" and then say nothing of the singer and song. Come on guys and gals - can and should do better. Best wishes for the future, PP. x
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24. alen mathew
thumbs up if [profanity deleted] bioshock DIDNT bring you here..and you have REAL taste in music..
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25. Skirlasvoud
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Oi! How's real taste in music defined by the way it came to you? :P Maybe the makers of Bioshock had enough taste to select this particular piece for their game, making it a real tasteful game? Let's reach a middleground after I bought a CD with this stuff, THANKS to Bioshock: We BOTH love this music and at least we're nog listening to Carla Bruni.
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26. 0m
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 who cares whether or not bioshock turned people onto this music or not? (a) that's beside the point, because the music's still lovely, and (b) if a modern classic sci-fi/horror story can instill interest in this music for new generations, where's the harm in that? you ever played the bioshock games? because not only are they super fun to play, the plots are unbelievably genius. it's genuine storytelling up there with huxley, bradbury and their ilk. don't hate. bioshock rules. :-P
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27. Cleaver Mama
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Why does Bioshock bringing someone here mean that they don't have a 'real' taste in music? Shouldn't you be happy that they know about the song at all, and are giving a talented artist the recognition she deserves, rather than worrying about how they found the song?
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28. Cyconik
Music like this needs to be spread. If its being spread to youth by a video game, so be it. I actually just happened across this song. I didn't know it was in Bioshock, but I've played it before too. Come on people, as long as its being spread, its being spread!
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29. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
**
30. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to Raphael Stoker
@AstinTheDawg same here, that was my favorite level in bioshock2. Loved the idea of a gehto in Rapture, now I love this music, gotta get some of her stuff. Back when music had meaning in the words.
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31. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy Best game of 2007. But this is from the sequal. The game was about an underwater city that was supposed to be absent in government, but went to hell. One hell of a good story, I highly recomend it.
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32. sonicscreamingblue
What the [profanity deleted] is Bioshock and why do people keep alluding to it on a blues video?
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33. HERBLANDZ
in reply to sonicscreamingblue
@sonicscreamingblue a video game that plays that palys 20 and 30s music while u kill people underwater or some [profanity deleted] i never liked that game but its pretty huge in sales
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34. ReptilianWhisperer
I played Bioshock and it did not bring me here, but I still ended up here. I guess I just got lucky. Legendary voice...Miss Bessie Smith
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35. Ray De La Peña
it shouldn't matter where people get their music source, as long as they listen and like it at some point in time.. i think.
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36. drivenedge007
but you have to admit,younger folks would not get any exposure to "real" music if it weren't for those video games......good music at any means necessary...
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37. kwilli93
Thumbs up if you're happy Bioshock educated thousands of gamers to Bessie Smiths greatness.
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38. Wafflehaus
I don't care if it took a video game to bring you here.. if you enjoy the song that's good enough in my book. Hopefully the song can spark an interest in blues/jazz history.
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39. Reverb Twang
idk what bioshock is but welcome to the world of Bessie Smith !!!!!
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40. PunkRockFreak09
in reply to Reverb Twang
@moondog50002000 It's a video game that takes place in about 1960's and plays this kind of music. In fact Bioshock notorious for using music like Bessie's. I'll say Bioshock did not bring me here, which is odd because I played it before I discovered Bessie, but it is a good game to find good music. Hell I wouldn't never even thought of this music before it.
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41. Riitzni
lol'ing at people looking down their nose at games. For those of you oblivious to society, some games introduce songs like this to people that would otherwise never hear them. That's more than most of you sitting on your computers whining about it can say. I understand though that having a person or radio bring you this song is a far better way to hear about it. Oh wait, it's the same. Idiots.
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42. cwcwful
in reply to Nathan Sanchez [posted in 2012]
@thesickdancer I am not asking to be a jerk, but what is Bioshock? Just curious. For what it's worth, I promise not to get involved in the debate.
**
43. Dattebayo04 [posted in 2012]
in reply to cwcwful
Bioshock is a popular steampunk video game
**
44. Nozomi
I'm sad that this song wasn't on the Bioshock 2 official soundtrack. It took me a while to find it.
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2012
45. Shishio Makoto
Merci Bioshock pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette artiste! Un jeu magnifique pour une chanteuse magnifique!
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FunkyTownGhost
46. I was listened this song on Bioshock 2. It's "Pauper's Drop's" theme music. These words, this voice... I'm really, really love that angel voice- women...
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47. 63toes
I don't care where you from, what brought you here, or where you going. Let's just enjoy this sweet sad music
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48. buttercupfirefly
hearing this song or any other song does from a video game or tv show does not make you any less "with it" cool or intelligent then someone who was brought up listening to it. Everyones music taste is due to outside influence- media, family or seeking it out yourself. I just think that people who say "i knew this before Bioshock" really need to get a life
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49. jasonvoorhees12345
If I lived in rapture. I would have gone down to just hear her sing everyday
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2013
50. gun1987gunn
It doesn't matter if people heard this on Bioshock and love it. Let them appreciate a great song. Game developers introducing the younger generation to old classics is a good thing. Stop you moaning and let everyone enjoy the song.
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51. gnarles trevor
I didn't realize that I absolutely love listening to music like this until I played Bioshock haha
**
52. TearShatter
Bioshock <3 Introduced me to so much great older music.
**
53. Zé Maconha
in reply to TearShatter
When this song played, I used to wait and stare at the loading screen until the end of the song
****
2014
54. Juan Vazquez
Thank you bioshock 2 for introducing me to this amazing voice
**
55. mondenkindqueen
Me too. I know some folks will get on to you for that, but people shouldn't care how a fellow fan is introduced to a great artist. If it weren't for Bioshock 2, I'd be missing out on this blues legend.
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post presents a sample of comments that mention Bioshock 2 that were posted to the discussion thread of a video of Bessie Smith's 1929 rendition of a Blues song. That song, "Nobody Loves You When You're Down And Out", was included in the Bioshock 2 video game.
This video is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes. These comments are presented for cultural and sociological purposes. Read more about my reasons for showcasing these comments in the section below.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Bessie Smith for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend
RagtimeDorianHenry, Uploaded on Jun 4, 2009
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (1929)
-snip-
Click http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_smith_bessie.htm for information about Bessie Smith (1894-1937)
****
GENERAL OVERVIEW ABOUT YOUTUBE COMMENT THREADS AND YOUTUBE COMMENTS
It's my position that certain YouTube video viewer comments can be considered cultural artifacts that can provide information about a particular subject or subjects and/or reveal societal attitudes about people, places, or things. Presenting a sample of YouTube comments from the same viewer comment thread can give a sense of some of the ways that interactions occur on YouTube comment threads. YouTube viewer comments also demonstrate the ways that language is used -including the use of slang and text talk - and the customs that people use in self-selecting internet user names. Because I take a folkloric approach in editing pancocojams, a number of pancocojams blog posts include selected examples of YouTube comments about its featured videos. In addition, a few pancocojams posts focus on particular categories of user names that YouTube commenters give themselves.
However, the way that YouTube comments are presented makes responses to comments and conversations between commenters difficult to follow. In large part this is because comments are usually posted in descending order with the newest comments posted first. As a result, when reading the comment thread from top to bottom which is the usual way that threads are read, comments written in response to a particular comment are often found before that comment. One way that a response to a comment is identified is when the responder begins his or her comment with "@ ____ [the name of the person who wrote the comment which is being responded to]. However, some responders don't use that format. Adding to the possibility for confusion in reading YouTube video comments is the fact that some commenter’s names have changed because of YouTube’s promotion of people using their real names instead of screen names. Consequently, some responses to comments refer to the original commenter's screen name instead of the person's "real name". It also appears that some commenters have exchanged one "made up" user name for another "made up" user name. Furthermore, YouTube has changed their viewer comment format, deleting the "like" and "dislike" options (around the end of 2013), but those options are still mentioned in older comments.
It should also be said that a major problem with many YouTube viewer comment threads (including this showcased video's comment threads) is that a number of the comments include profanity. Readers of many YouTube viewer comment threads should also be advised that those threads may contain racist language, homophobic language, sexual explicit content and other objectionable content.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR COMPILATION
The viewer comment thread for the video "Bessie Smith (Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, 1929) Jazz Legend" is found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MzU8xM99Uo
As of 11:50 AM. Feb 28, 2014 there were 985 comments. At least ½ of the comments refer to Bioshock 2, Bioshock, some other specific videogame, or videogames in general.
These selected comments are grouped by the year that they were posted on YouTube, with the oldest comments presented first (along with any comments that are or appear to be posted in response to that comment). However, with the exception of that sub-group, these comments aren't presented in any consecutive order. In some cases, responding comments are given without the comment that they respond to.
The only examples of profanity that I include in the comments in this compilation is what I consider to be the mild profanity "damn", "ass", and "hell". Other examples of profanity within these comments are represented by the phrase in brackets "profanity deleted"].
These comments are numbered for references purposes only and are given as is without any editorial comments.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS
2009
1. anthonyvvs
lol I heard of her from Bioshock 2 as well... Funny how a good video game can make someone so much more popular and bring their works back to the current times (more than it already is, of course)
**
2. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
3. fiury5i
people who havent played the first bioshock loves bioshock 2, however people who played first one dont find the sequal at the same level as the first one
**
4. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
****
2010
5. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
**
6. Fernando Blake
Thanks bioshock thanks 4 show me this amazing music :D
**
7. Craziness714
Thanks Bioshock and Fallout, for introducing to some amazing music I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. =)
**
8. Nunya DirtySanchez
Youre a DAM FOOL if Bioshock brought your young ass here and you should be ashamed..now that youve learned.. go teach your friends :D
**
9. Justin Huffman
Warning: if you actually purchase the Bioschock 2 Sountrack, this song IS NOT there... i don't get it. They do include the second best song: the trouble with me is you, though. I downloaded it just for this song and it's not there... [profanity deleted]??
**
10. sagat4
It is possible that game developers are trying to rekindle interest in these great lost songs. I play games occasionally and have never heard good music like this. I know my stuff but life is a learning experience:)
**
11. samtheposter
in reply to WEJIRC
@WEJIRC Hi there, the music was used as a loading screen for Bioshock 2. The game itself is excellent and the way the music compliments the theme of the game is superb. In many ways it has brought back quite a few older songs into todays lifestyle and a lot of gamers will never forget the music now. I myself have searched youtube for all of the songs from the game and have stumbled on some real legends :-)
**
12. Emma Pinkney
this song makes me want to play bioshock 2 all day!!
**
13. Phazonin
Her voice is incredible. So powerful... thank you Bioshock 2 loading screen.
**
14. thecatman00
in reply to Phazonin
@Phazonin It's incredible the way you can cultivate good art to help make other good art, I am especially impressed by said connection between blues and videogames
**
15. thedogisoflove
I love this dang stupid song. I of course first heard it on Bioshock 2. For a minute, I was like: "Is that Billy Holiday?" Then I thought, "Nooooooo! That's definately not her." Now I know who it is! I love it if you let Grace live, and you go back down to the last floor to gather Adam, you can hear Grace singing this song over the PA too.
**
16. Justin Huffman
this is Grace Holloway not Bessie Smith
**
17. tjovaughn
in reply to Justin Huffman
@aspacelot ....grace holloway is a VIDEO GAME CHARACTER. Bessie Smith is REAL. got it? eh? not so hard to figure out smart-[profanity deleted]. gawd.
**
18. TGCVugi
iwe heard this song @ my friend, his kid played bioshock 2,, and i will tell you something, it's so damn true, this song touches me in the heart!
**
19. F14ace
6 people have no musical taste whatsoever. This song is great for BioShock because it basically describes the story of Rapture. Well, except for the genetically spliced nutjobs running around everywhere. There is also a good lesson to be learned from this song.
**
20. jackram2h2
in reply to Shelly Wilkinson
@shellybelly2895 Bioshock is a an extremely good first person shooter.It takes place in the under sea city called rapture.Thats another story....But the reason why people are commenting about Bioshock is because it takes place in The 50's and 60's and on each loading before the level begins the play these types of songs.This one specifically.They also have old record players lying around playing this music.It's games like Bioshock that got me to like this music :)
****
2011
James Last
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy bioshock is a game based in the 20's-30's i think. its not to bad kinda intence at points though
**
21. Bonbeck100
Thumbs up if you're here not because of bisoshock, just because you love Bessie Smith
**
22. 420Cannabis
why are you guys so proud of needing a video game to discover good music?
**
23. Dee Lazarus
Personally, I have no idea what 'Bioshock' is, nor do I care to discover. I think it's great that peoples end up here listening to this, regardless of the source of their original interest, but I would query why these same folks have this burning need to proclaim "The Simpsons brought me here!!!" and then say nothing of the singer and song. Come on guys and gals - can and should do better. Best wishes for the future, PP. x
**
24. alen mathew
thumbs up if [profanity deleted] bioshock DIDNT bring you here..and you have REAL taste in music..
**
25. Skirlasvoud
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Oi! How's real taste in music defined by the way it came to you? :P Maybe the makers of Bioshock had enough taste to select this particular piece for their game, making it a real tasteful game? Let's reach a middleground after I bought a CD with this stuff, THANKS to Bioshock: We BOTH love this music and at least we're nog listening to Carla Bruni.
**
26. 0m
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 who cares whether or not bioshock turned people onto this music or not? (a) that's beside the point, because the music's still lovely, and (b) if a modern classic sci-fi/horror story can instill interest in this music for new generations, where's the harm in that? you ever played the bioshock games? because not only are they super fun to play, the plots are unbelievably genius. it's genuine storytelling up there with huxley, bradbury and their ilk. don't hate. bioshock rules. :-P
**
27. Cleaver Mama
in reply to alen mathew
@amathew711 Why does Bioshock bringing someone here mean that they don't have a 'real' taste in music? Shouldn't you be happy that they know about the song at all, and are giving a talented artist the recognition she deserves, rather than worrying about how they found the song?
**
28. Cyconik
Music like this needs to be spread. If its being spread to youth by a video game, so be it. I actually just happened across this song. I didn't know it was in Bioshock, but I've played it before too. Come on people, as long as its being spread, its being spread!
**
29. Raphael Stoker
Oh Bioshock 2 brought me here, but Bessie Smith kept me here. People need to realise that some 'games', such as bioshock and L.A Noire, should be held in as high regard as some films. It's art. Sorry to change the subject, this song really is lovely.
**
30. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to Raphael Stoker
@AstinTheDawg same here, that was my favorite level in bioshock2. Loved the idea of a gehto in Rapture, now I love this music, gotta get some of her stuff. Back when music had meaning in the words.
**
31. Stephenthecupcake101
in reply to khal eesi
@jujabyummy Best game of 2007. But this is from the sequal. The game was about an underwater city that was supposed to be absent in government, but went to hell. One hell of a good story, I highly recomend it.
**
32. sonicscreamingblue
What the [profanity deleted] is Bioshock and why do people keep alluding to it on a blues video?
**
33. HERBLANDZ
in reply to sonicscreamingblue
@sonicscreamingblue a video game that plays that palys 20 and 30s music while u kill people underwater or some [profanity deleted] i never liked that game but its pretty huge in sales
**
34. ReptilianWhisperer
I played Bioshock and it did not bring me here, but I still ended up here. I guess I just got lucky. Legendary voice...Miss Bessie Smith
**
35. Ray De La Peña
it shouldn't matter where people get their music source, as long as they listen and like it at some point in time.. i think.
**
36. drivenedge007
but you have to admit,younger folks would not get any exposure to "real" music if it weren't for those video games......good music at any means necessary...
**
37. kwilli93
Thumbs up if you're happy Bioshock educated thousands of gamers to Bessie Smiths greatness.
**
38. Wafflehaus
I don't care if it took a video game to bring you here.. if you enjoy the song that's good enough in my book. Hopefully the song can spark an interest in blues/jazz history.
**
39. Reverb Twang
idk what bioshock is but welcome to the world of Bessie Smith !!!!!
**
40. PunkRockFreak09
in reply to Reverb Twang
@moondog50002000 It's a video game that takes place in about 1960's and plays this kind of music. In fact Bioshock notorious for using music like Bessie's. I'll say Bioshock did not bring me here, which is odd because I played it before I discovered Bessie, but it is a good game to find good music. Hell I wouldn't never even thought of this music before it.
**
41. Riitzni
lol'ing at people looking down their nose at games. For those of you oblivious to society, some games introduce songs like this to people that would otherwise never hear them. That's more than most of you sitting on your computers whining about it can say. I understand though that having a person or radio bring you this song is a far better way to hear about it. Oh wait, it's the same. Idiots.
**
42. cwcwful
in reply to Nathan Sanchez [posted in 2012]
@thesickdancer I am not asking to be a jerk, but what is Bioshock? Just curious. For what it's worth, I promise not to get involved in the debate.
**
43. Dattebayo04 [posted in 2012]
in reply to cwcwful
Bioshock is a popular steampunk video game
**
44. Nozomi
I'm sad that this song wasn't on the Bioshock 2 official soundtrack. It took me a while to find it.
****
2012
45. Shishio Makoto
Merci Bioshock pour m'avoir fait découvrir cette artiste! Un jeu magnifique pour une chanteuse magnifique!
**
FunkyTownGhost
46. I was listened this song on Bioshock 2. It's "Pauper's Drop's" theme music. These words, this voice... I'm really, really love that angel voice- women...
**
47. 63toes
I don't care where you from, what brought you here, or where you going. Let's just enjoy this sweet sad music
**
48. buttercupfirefly
hearing this song or any other song does from a video game or tv show does not make you any less "with it" cool or intelligent then someone who was brought up listening to it. Everyones music taste is due to outside influence- media, family or seeking it out yourself. I just think that people who say "i knew this before Bioshock" really need to get a life
**
49. jasonvoorhees12345
If I lived in rapture. I would have gone down to just hear her sing everyday
****
2013
50. gun1987gunn
It doesn't matter if people heard this on Bioshock and love it. Let them appreciate a great song. Game developers introducing the younger generation to old classics is a good thing. Stop you moaning and let everyone enjoy the song.
**
51. gnarles trevor
I didn't realize that I absolutely love listening to music like this until I played Bioshock haha
**
52. TearShatter
Bioshock <3 Introduced me to so much great older music.
**
53. Zé Maconha
in reply to TearShatter
When this song played, I used to wait and stare at the loading screen until the end of the song
****
2014
54. Juan Vazquez
Thank you bioshock 2 for introducing me to this amazing voice
**
55. mondenkindqueen
Me too. I know some folks will get on to you for that, but people shouldn't care how a fellow fan is introduced to a great artist. If it weren't for Bioshock 2, I'd be missing out on this blues legend.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Toyin Adebola - "Kabi O Osi O" (Nigerian Gospel) with lyrics
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a video of Toyin Adebola singing the Nigerian Gospel song "Kabi O Osi O". That song's lyrics, and comments about the meaning of the Yoruba words "Kabi O Osi O" are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Toyin Adebola for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO:
Toyin Adebola'Kabi O Osi'
MOA Music, Uploaded on Jun 27, 2011
****
LYRICS - KABI O OSI O
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiOosi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
come on raise your voice and sing
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
we praise You we praise You
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
(You are You are) You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
we praise You
we praise You
You are worthy
There is no God beside You
You are not a man that You should lie
Neither the Son of man that You should repent
we bow before You
we bow before You
Kabi O si o
Posted by ojo kehinde on http://frontlyrics.blogspot.com/2013/03/kabi-o-osi-o.html
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF "KABI O OSI"
From http://nigerianpraise.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/kabio-osi-o/#comments
Posted by Landry on August 24, 2011 at 5:09 pm
"Kabio Osi O what does it mean"
Reply
Posted by tosin2010 on June 23, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Ki’a (for us to) bi (question) o (you)
O si (it can’t happen).
For us to question you, it can’t happen."
****
From http://www.nairaland.com/298215/whats-favorite-name-god/3
Re: What's Your Favorite Name For God? by amf(f): 1:33pm On Sep 14, 2009
"KABI O OSI meaning unquestionable cos nobody can questioning HIM for anything"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post showcases a video of Toyin Adebola singing the Nigerian Gospel song "Kabi O Osi O". That song's lyrics, and comments about the meaning of the Yoruba words "Kabi O Osi O" are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Toyin Adebola for this powerful song. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO:
Toyin Adebola'Kabi O Osi'
MOA Music, Uploaded on Jun 27, 2011
****
LYRICS - KABI O OSI O
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiOosi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
come on raise your voice and sing
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
we praise You we praise You
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
(You are You are) You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O o si o
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
KabiO osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
You are the King above all the earth
Kabi O o si o
Kabi O osi
we praise You
we praise You
You are worthy
There is no God beside You
You are not a man that You should lie
Neither the Son of man that You should repent
we bow before You
we bow before You
Kabi O si o
Posted by ojo kehinde on http://frontlyrics.blogspot.com/2013/03/kabi-o-osi-o.html
****
COMMENTS ABOUT THE MEANING OF "KABI O OSI"
From http://nigerianpraise.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/kabio-osi-o/#comments
Posted by Landry on August 24, 2011 at 5:09 pm
"Kabio Osi O what does it mean"
Reply
Posted by tosin2010 on June 23, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Ki’a (for us to) bi (question) o (you)
O si (it can’t happen).
For us to question you, it can’t happen."
****
From http://www.nairaland.com/298215/whats-favorite-name-god/3
Re: What's Your Favorite Name For God? by amf(f): 1:33pm On Sep 14, 2009
"KABI O OSI meaning unquestionable cos nobody can questioning HIM for anything"
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Florocka (Nathan Akiremi) - "Twale" (Nigerian Gospel)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a sound file of the Nigerian Gospel song "Twale" by Florocka (Nathan Akiremi). Also included in this post are the song's complete lyrics, the words to Twale's chorus with an analysis of its Yoruba language meaning, and two bonus videos of "Twale".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Kabiyesi Olu Olorun! Thanks to Nathan Akiremi and his singers & musicians. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: FLO - TWALE
Charles Anjorin, Published on Jun 12, 2013
This is a beautiful and powerful song by Flo and I hope you enjoy it. (I been looking forever for this and couldn't find it, so I uploaded it myself)
****
LYRICS: TWALE
(Nathan Akiremi)
VERSE 1
If I was an eagle, I would lift myself Spread my wings and fly
If I was a lion, I would run into the jungle And give the loudest growl
And if I was the sun, yes I would rise early in the morning And shine my light so bright
If I was an angel, I would sound the alarm For the whole of creation to bow at your feet..
CHORUS
Kabiyesi Olu orun, I have come to give you twale
To give you worship
Kabiyesi Olu orun, I have come to give you twale
To give you worship
VERSE 2
If I was a little child, I would sing and shout for joy
If I was a stallion o, I would use my four horse power
If I was a shining star, I would illuminate everywhere
And if I was the son of a governor
I would make everybody troway salute o
And if I could control the times, I would go back to the garden of eden
I will give you the worship that only you deserve, YES!
I will look for beautiful names like Alade wura o
Yes I will go on soun and patewo iye Gbe oruko re ga o
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Only a fool will look into the heavens and say there is no God
Only a mad man will look into the sea And claim that the fishes are a mistake
Even the babalowos can testify that there is only one Jehovah
So who are you to tell me that my Yahweh, my Tsidkenu doesn’t exist
He is a consuming fire o,
Yes He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah
He alone shall I serve For the rest of my days
CHORUS to FADE
Source: http://gmusicplus.com/flo-twale-dowload-song-lyrics-remix/
****
AN ANALYSIS OF TWALE'S TITLE AND CHORUS
[Please add to and correct any information and please correct any pronunciation errors that I've made in this post. Thank you.]
The song "Twale" is sung in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, West Africa.
Here are two quotes about the word "twale" (pronounced TWAH-lay):
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=409644762443875&story_fbid=462060100535674
"a Nigerian word, meaning to salute, or give due respect,......Dear God we give you Twale!!"
**
http://www.nairaland.com/104810/teach-me-naija-slang-please/2
Twale= "I salute"
****
Here are three quotes about the word "Kabiyesi" (pronounced kah-be-YEH-see)
From: Yoruba Creativity: Fiction, Language, Life and Songs
books.google.com/books?isbn=1592213367
Toyin Falola, Ann Genova - 2005 - Yoruba (African people)
"Irrespective of dialect divide, Yoruba salute their oba "kabiyesi" meaning that his authority is not subject to question from anyone as all powers belong to him."
**
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highness
"For example, the Yoruba people of West Africa usually make use of the word Kabiyesi when speaking either to or about their sovereigns and other royals. As such, it is variously translated as Majesty, Royal Highness or Highness depending on the actual rank of the person in question, though a literal translation of the word would read more like this: He (or She) whose words are beyond questioning, Great Lawgiver of the Nation."
**
From http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/why-i-dont-want-to-be-addressed-as-kabiyesi-oba-akiolu/ Why I don’t want to be addressed as ‘Kabiyesi’ –Oba Akiolu
by MURITALA AYINLA on Jan 17, 2013
...."His words: “Let’s look at the meaning of the word ‘kabiyesi’ which means unquestionable King. Those calling themselves ‘kabiyesi’ are deceiving themselves. Either rightly or wrongly, the kings are sometimes taken to court and removed.
“So, only Almighty God deserves the accolade ‘kabiyesi.’ He is the King of all kings.
I would rather like to be addressed as ‘Alayeluwa, Olowo Eko,’ Oba Akiolu, not ‘kabi o osi’,” he added."
****
Here is information about the Yoruba words "Olu Orun":
Olu Orun (oh-loo) orun (oh-roon) are Yoruba words which mean "God in heaven"
Source: http://www.nigerianchurchonline.com/blog/names-god-yoruba-language-oruko-ati-oriki-olorun "The Names of God in Yoruba Language"
-snip-
As such "Olu Orun" refers to the Yoruba's traditional Supreme God and also refers to the Christian God "Jehovah".
-snip-
"Olu" is a clip of the word "Oluwa". Here's a quote about the word "Oluwa"
http://findaname.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/a-to-z-of-yoruba-names/
"Olu/oluwa; means God. They are used interchangeably."
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/various-interpretations-of-ise-oluwa.html "Various Interpretations Of The Song "Ise Oluwa".
**
Here's a quote about Olorun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olorunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olorun
"Olòrún is the Yorùbá name given to one of the three manifestations of the Supreme God in the Yoruba pantheon. Olorun is the owner of the heavens and is commonly associated with the Sun. The vital energy of Olorun manifests in humans as Ashé, which is the life force that runs through all living things.[1] The Supreme God has three manifestations: Olodumare, the Creator; Olorun, ruler of the heavens; and Olofi, who is the conduit between Orun (heaven) and Ayé (earth).
No gender is typically assigned to Olorun because Olorun transcends human limitations. Olorun rules Orun (the heavens), whereas humans live in Ayé (the earth). Typically, humans do not interact directly with Olorun but they receive the life-giving energy from the sun and recognize the power of Olorun over their lives."
****
OTHER EXPLANATIONS:
Explanation of the line "Even the babalawos can testify that there is only one Jehovah"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalawo
"Babalawo (Babaaláwo in full and pronounced Baba-a-láwo, literally meaning 'father or master of the mysticism' in the Yoruba language) is a Yorùbá chieftaincy title that denotes a Priest of Ifá. Ifa is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Orisha Orunmila, the Spirit of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of God. The Babalawo claim to ascertain the future through communication with Orunmila. This is done through the interpretation of either the patterns of the divining chain known as Opele, or the palm nuts called Ikin, on the traditionally wooden divination tray."
**
Partial Explanation of the line "I will look for beautiful names like Alade wura o"
The name "Alade" means "the crowned one" http://findaname.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/a-to-z-of-yoruba-names/
****
BONUS VIDEOS
Example #1: Flo (The African Praise Experience 26-Jul-13)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsZZHETM6rk
[This is a live performance of Flo singing "Twale". Embedding disabled by request
****
Video #2: Twale
emmanuel john, Published on Sep 25, 2013
-snip-
This is a dance interpretation of the song "Twale".
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post showcases a sound file of the Nigerian Gospel song "Twale" by Florocka (Nathan Akiremi). Also included in this post are the song's complete lyrics, the words to Twale's chorus with an analysis of its Yoruba language meaning, and two bonus videos of "Twale".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Kabiyesi Olu Olorun! Thanks to Nathan Akiremi and his singers & musicians. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: FLO - TWALE
Charles Anjorin, Published on Jun 12, 2013
This is a beautiful and powerful song by Flo and I hope you enjoy it. (I been looking forever for this and couldn't find it, so I uploaded it myself)
****
LYRICS: TWALE
(Nathan Akiremi)
VERSE 1
If I was an eagle, I would lift myself Spread my wings and fly
If I was a lion, I would run into the jungle And give the loudest growl
And if I was the sun, yes I would rise early in the morning And shine my light so bright
If I was an angel, I would sound the alarm For the whole of creation to bow at your feet..
CHORUS
Kabiyesi Olu orun, I have come to give you twale
To give you worship
Kabiyesi Olu orun, I have come to give you twale
To give you worship
VERSE 2
If I was a little child, I would sing and shout for joy
If I was a stallion o, I would use my four horse power
If I was a shining star, I would illuminate everywhere
And if I was the son of a governor
I would make everybody troway salute o
And if I could control the times, I would go back to the garden of eden
I will give you the worship that only you deserve, YES!
I will look for beautiful names like Alade wura o
Yes I will go on soun and patewo iye Gbe oruko re ga o
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Only a fool will look into the heavens and say there is no God
Only a mad man will look into the sea And claim that the fishes are a mistake
Even the babalowos can testify that there is only one Jehovah
So who are you to tell me that my Yahweh, my Tsidkenu doesn’t exist
He is a consuming fire o,
Yes He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah
He alone shall I serve For the rest of my days
CHORUS to FADE
Source: http://gmusicplus.com/flo-twale-dowload-song-lyrics-remix/
****
AN ANALYSIS OF TWALE'S TITLE AND CHORUS
[Please add to and correct any information and please correct any pronunciation errors that I've made in this post. Thank you.]
The song "Twale" is sung in the Yoruba language of Nigeria, West Africa.
Here are two quotes about the word "twale" (pronounced TWAH-lay):
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=409644762443875&story_fbid=462060100535674
"a Nigerian word, meaning to salute, or give due respect,......Dear God we give you Twale!!"
**
http://www.nairaland.com/104810/teach-me-naija-slang-please/2
Twale= "I salute"
****
Here are three quotes about the word "Kabiyesi" (pronounced kah-be-YEH-see)
From: Yoruba Creativity: Fiction, Language, Life and Songs
books.google.com/books?isbn=1592213367
Toyin Falola, Ann Genova - 2005 - Yoruba (African people)
"Irrespective of dialect divide, Yoruba salute their oba "kabiyesi" meaning that his authority is not subject to question from anyone as all powers belong to him."
**
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highness
"For example, the Yoruba people of West Africa usually make use of the word Kabiyesi when speaking either to or about their sovereigns and other royals. As such, it is variously translated as Majesty, Royal Highness or Highness depending on the actual rank of the person in question, though a literal translation of the word would read more like this: He (or She) whose words are beyond questioning, Great Lawgiver of the Nation."
**
From http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/why-i-dont-want-to-be-addressed-as-kabiyesi-oba-akiolu/ Why I don’t want to be addressed as ‘Kabiyesi’ –Oba Akiolu
by MURITALA AYINLA on Jan 17, 2013
...."His words: “Let’s look at the meaning of the word ‘kabiyesi’ which means unquestionable King. Those calling themselves ‘kabiyesi’ are deceiving themselves. Either rightly or wrongly, the kings are sometimes taken to court and removed.
“So, only Almighty God deserves the accolade ‘kabiyesi.’ He is the King of all kings.
I would rather like to be addressed as ‘Alayeluwa, Olowo Eko,’ Oba Akiolu, not ‘kabi o osi’,” he added."
****
Here is information about the Yoruba words "Olu Orun":
Olu Orun (oh-loo) orun (oh-roon) are Yoruba words which mean "God in heaven"
Source: http://www.nigerianchurchonline.com/blog/names-god-yoruba-language-oruko-ati-oriki-olorun "The Names of God in Yoruba Language"
-snip-
As such "Olu Orun" refers to the Yoruba's traditional Supreme God and also refers to the Christian God "Jehovah".
-snip-
"Olu" is a clip of the word "Oluwa". Here's a quote about the word "Oluwa"
http://findaname.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/a-to-z-of-yoruba-names/
"Olu/oluwa; means God. They are used interchangeably."
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/01/various-interpretations-of-ise-oluwa.html "Various Interpretations Of The Song "Ise Oluwa".
**
Here's a quote about Olorun:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olorunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olorun
"Olòrún is the Yorùbá name given to one of the three manifestations of the Supreme God in the Yoruba pantheon. Olorun is the owner of the heavens and is commonly associated with the Sun. The vital energy of Olorun manifests in humans as Ashé, which is the life force that runs through all living things.[1] The Supreme God has three manifestations: Olodumare, the Creator; Olorun, ruler of the heavens; and Olofi, who is the conduit between Orun (heaven) and Ayé (earth).
No gender is typically assigned to Olorun because Olorun transcends human limitations. Olorun rules Orun (the heavens), whereas humans live in Ayé (the earth). Typically, humans do not interact directly with Olorun but they receive the life-giving energy from the sun and recognize the power of Olorun over their lives."
****
OTHER EXPLANATIONS:
Explanation of the line "Even the babalawos can testify that there is only one Jehovah"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babalawo
"Babalawo (Babaaláwo in full and pronounced Baba-a-láwo, literally meaning 'father or master of the mysticism' in the Yoruba language) is a Yorùbá chieftaincy title that denotes a Priest of Ifá. Ifa is a divination system that represents the teachings of the Orisha Orunmila, the Spirit of Wisdom, who in turn serves as the oracular representative of God. The Babalawo claim to ascertain the future through communication with Orunmila. This is done through the interpretation of either the patterns of the divining chain known as Opele, or the palm nuts called Ikin, on the traditionally wooden divination tray."
**
Partial Explanation of the line "I will look for beautiful names like Alade wura o"
The name "Alade" means "the crowned one" http://findaname.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/a-to-z-of-yoruba-names/
****
BONUS VIDEOS
Example #1: Flo (The African Praise Experience 26-Jul-13)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsZZHETM6rk
[This is a live performance of Flo singing "Twale". Embedding disabled by request
****
Video #2: Twale
emmanuel john, Published on Sep 25, 2013
-snip-
This is a dance interpretation of the song "Twale".
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Jola (Diola) Music & Dance (West Africa)'s Hand Held Percussion Instrument
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update -April 22, 2024
This pancocojams post presents six videos of Jola (Diola) music and dance, with special focus on the clave-like instrument that is played by the female singers/dancers.* Information about the Jola (Diola) people is also included in this post.
I don't know the name of the Jola instrument that I'm referring to as a "clave-like instrument". If you know the name of this instrument, please add it in the comment section of this post. Thanks in advance!
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who keep the dance and music traditions of Africa alive. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
The original title for this post referred to what I though was the "clave-like" aspect of these instruments. Since publishing that post, I've learned more about "claves" and besides both of these instruments being of African origin and both being percussive instruments that are played throughout the music/dancing, I'm not sure that the Jola instrument were a precursor of claves.
Here's some information about claves from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claves
"Claves... are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short (about 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in), thick dowels. Traditionally they were made of wood...When struck they produce a bright clicking noise."
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOLA PEOPLE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jola_people
"The Jola (Diola, in French transliteration) are an ethnic group found in Senegal (where they predominate in the region of Casamance), the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. There are great numbers on the Atlantic coast between the southern banks of the Gambia River, the Casamance region of Senegal and the northern part of Guinea-Bissau. The Jola are believed to have preceded the Mande and Fula peoples in the riverine coast of Senegambia and may have migrated into Casamance before the 13th century. The Jola and Serer people with whom they have an ancient relationship with[2] are believed to be some of the oldest historical inhabitants of the Senegambia Region.[3] The Jola language is distinct from the Dioula language of the Dioula (Dyoula) Mande people of the Gambia,
Upper Niger and the Kong highlands of Burkina Faso."
****
From http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/legends-spotlight-on-daniel-lamou-jatta-the-sound-of-akonting
..."The Jola, Manjak (Manjaco, Manjago), Bujogo (Bijago), Papel, and Balanta are neighboring rice-farming peoples with similar cultures and social systems. Their traditional village-based agrarian societies are non-hierarchical without the tripartite caste system of their Mande, Wolof, and Fulbe (Fula, Fulani, Peul) neighbors. This being the case, these people have no griot caste nor do they have traditions of professional/semi-professional music-making and praise-singing (i.e. composing and performing laudatory songs for gratuities). Amongst the Jola, Manjak, Bujogo, Papel, and Balanta, playing the lute-- like all other forms of music-making-- is a vernacular social activity open to all, rather than being the exclusive domain of specialist music/word artisans...
While Daniel [Laemouahuma Jatta, the Jola scholar from The Gambia] set about his work to preserve and perpetuate the ekonting in Gambia, the instrument was faring a little better in neighboring Casamance, the crucible of the tradition. Unlike the Gambian Jola, the Jola are the largest ethnic group in Casamance with something like two-thirds of the total population of that region. This is the heartland of the Jola people and culture, especially in Lower Casamance, the region along the southwestern shores of the Casamance River.
According to some tradition-bearers, the actual birthplace of the ekonting is the village of Kanjanka in Lower Casamance...
Thanks to the crucial ground-breaking work of Daniel Jatta and others, there is growing global awareness of ekonting (akonting) and its siblings in the large diverse family of West African folk/artisan lutes, which have been hitherto overlooked. These instruments are just now beginning to get the international recognition and attention they deserve as living ancestors of the banjo. Many museums around the world have updated their collections to include the ekonting and other members of the West African folk/artisan lute family, while banjo historians and ethnomusicologists have begun to broaden the range of their focus to take these instruments.
Author: Oko Drammeh"
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first.
As somewhat of an aside, notice the number of videos that include the saxophone being played with this traditional music.
Video #1: Mike Bennett presents...Jola dance
Omarmane, Uploaded on May 3, 2008
Captured by Mike Bennett in Kafountine, Senegal. This is the dance style of the Jola tribe.
-snip-
cavaleer2, a commenter wrote "These rhythms are SMOKIN! Love Bugarabou. Respect from USA. That's a touch dance too.”
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougarabou for information about the Jola drums known as "bougarabou".
****
Video #2: Mike Bennett presents...more Jola dance
omarmane, Uploaded on Jul 23, 2009
In the beautiful village of Kafountine, Senegal.
****
Video #3: Jola at Lamin-Feb 2010
platini64, Uploaded on Apr 7, 2010
Jola music at a wedding in Gambia(Feb 2010). More at www.onegambia.com
****
Video #4: Jola Music Performance at The Roots Festival Gambia
HarmattanProductions, Uploaded on Sep 23, 2011
Music Tradition of Jola (Diola) people in Gambia. Filmed at The Roots Festival, Gambia
****
Video #5: CASAMANCE - Mariage Diola IgoRama
Tapha Diedhiou, Published on Jan 6, 2013
Mariage de Cheikh Sémou DIEDHIOU et de Rama Dia, oussouye, le 26 décembre 2010.
****
Video #6: Traditional African dance. Diola. Cap Skiring. Casamance.Senegal.
Андрей Сапронов, Published on Jan 12, 2014
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest Update -April 22, 2024
This pancocojams post presents six videos of Jola (Diola) music and dance, with special focus on the clave-like instrument that is played by the female singers/dancers.* Information about the Jola (Diola) people is also included in this post.
I don't know the name of the Jola instrument that I'm referring to as a "clave-like instrument". If you know the name of this instrument, please add it in the comment section of this post. Thanks in advance!
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to all those who keep the dance and music traditions of Africa alive. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
-snip-
The original title for this post referred to what I though was the "clave-like" aspect of these instruments. Since publishing that post, I've learned more about "claves" and besides both of these instruments being of African origin and both being percussive instruments that are played throughout the music/dancing, I'm not sure that the Jola instrument were a precursor of claves.
Here's some information about claves from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claves
"Claves... are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short (about 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in), thick dowels. Traditionally they were made of wood...When struck they produce a bright clicking noise."
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOLA PEOPLE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jola_people
"The Jola (Diola, in French transliteration) are an ethnic group found in Senegal (where they predominate in the region of Casamance), the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. There are great numbers on the Atlantic coast between the southern banks of the Gambia River, the Casamance region of Senegal and the northern part of Guinea-Bissau. The Jola are believed to have preceded the Mande and Fula peoples in the riverine coast of Senegambia and may have migrated into Casamance before the 13th century. The Jola and Serer people with whom they have an ancient relationship with[2] are believed to be some of the oldest historical inhabitants of the Senegambia Region.[3] The Jola language is distinct from the Dioula language of the Dioula (Dyoula) Mande people of the Gambia,
Upper Niger and the Kong highlands of Burkina Faso."
****
From http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/legends-spotlight-on-daniel-lamou-jatta-the-sound-of-akonting
..."The Jola, Manjak (Manjaco, Manjago), Bujogo (Bijago), Papel, and Balanta are neighboring rice-farming peoples with similar cultures and social systems. Their traditional village-based agrarian societies are non-hierarchical without the tripartite caste system of their Mande, Wolof, and Fulbe (Fula, Fulani, Peul) neighbors. This being the case, these people have no griot caste nor do they have traditions of professional/semi-professional music-making and praise-singing (i.e. composing and performing laudatory songs for gratuities). Amongst the Jola, Manjak, Bujogo, Papel, and Balanta, playing the lute-- like all other forms of music-making-- is a vernacular social activity open to all, rather than being the exclusive domain of specialist music/word artisans...
While Daniel [Laemouahuma Jatta, the Jola scholar from The Gambia] set about his work to preserve and perpetuate the ekonting in Gambia, the instrument was faring a little better in neighboring Casamance, the crucible of the tradition. Unlike the Gambian Jola, the Jola are the largest ethnic group in Casamance with something like two-thirds of the total population of that region. This is the heartland of the Jola people and culture, especially in Lower Casamance, the region along the southwestern shores of the Casamance River.
According to some tradition-bearers, the actual birthplace of the ekonting is the village of Kanjanka in Lower Casamance...
Thanks to the crucial ground-breaking work of Daniel Jatta and others, there is growing global awareness of ekonting (akonting) and its siblings in the large diverse family of West African folk/artisan lutes, which have been hitherto overlooked. These instruments are just now beginning to get the international recognition and attention they deserve as living ancestors of the banjo. Many museums around the world have updated their collections to include the ekonting and other members of the West African folk/artisan lute family, while banjo historians and ethnomusicologists have begun to broaden the range of their focus to take these instruments.
Author: Oko Drammeh"
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest examples given first.
As somewhat of an aside, notice the number of videos that include the saxophone being played with this traditional music.
Video #1: Mike Bennett presents...Jola dance
Omarmane, Uploaded on May 3, 2008
Captured by Mike Bennett in Kafountine, Senegal. This is the dance style of the Jola tribe.
-snip-
cavaleer2, a commenter wrote "These rhythms are SMOKIN! Love Bugarabou. Respect from USA. That's a touch dance too.”
-snip-
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougarabou for information about the Jola drums known as "bougarabou".
****
Video #2: Mike Bennett presents...more Jola dance
omarmane, Uploaded on Jul 23, 2009
In the beautiful village of Kafountine, Senegal.
****
Video #3: Jola at Lamin-Feb 2010
platini64, Uploaded on Apr 7, 2010
Jola music at a wedding in Gambia(Feb 2010). More at www.onegambia.com
****
Video #4: Jola Music Performance at The Roots Festival Gambia
HarmattanProductions, Uploaded on Sep 23, 2011
Music Tradition of Jola (Diola) people in Gambia. Filmed at The Roots Festival, Gambia
****
Video #5: CASAMANCE - Mariage Diola IgoRama
Tapha Diedhiou, Published on Jan 6, 2013
Mariage de Cheikh Sémou DIEDHIOU et de Rama Dia, oussouye, le 26 décembre 2010.
****
Video #6: Traditional African dance. Diola. Cap Skiring. Casamance.Senegal.
Андрей Сапронов, Published on Jan 12, 2014
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
"Alabama Gal" (Play-Party Song) videos and lyrics
JEANNA LAMARR, Feb. 12, 2020
****
Latest revision - Nov. 21, 2023
This pancocojams post provides lyrics & performance instructions for the play party song "Alabama Gal"* (also known as "Alabama Girl" and other titles.)
Four
videos of this play party song are also showcased in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song, and thanks to those who collected examples of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
Note: I believe that "Alabama Gal" is an example of an American play party song that has African American sources/influences.
****
LYRICS AND PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTIONS: "ALABAMA GAL"
(These two examples are presented in no order of preference or determination as to which version is closest to the "original" way this play party song was played.)
Example #1
From http://www.ecrs.org/ofplayandplayfulness/play_parties.html
1. Come thru in a hurry (3 times), Alabama girl
2. You don't know how, how, (3 times). Alabama girl.
3. I've showed you how, how (3 times). Alabama girl.
4. Ain't I rock candy, (3 times). Alabama girl.
Formation:
To play this game, the men stand in a single line and the women in another, facing each other and about six feet apart, partners opposite. The head of the set is the end of the lines to the left of the men.
Action:
(1) All the players sing. At the first word of the song the head couple steps out and dances down between the lines toward the foot of the set. This advance down between the lines occupies eight steps. During the singing of the remaining two lines of the verse, this couple retraces their steps to the head of lines, reversing position without releasing each other's hands.
(2) Reel: On the last word of the verse, the couple, having reached the head of the lines, release each other's hands and pass each other to the opposite side. The man joins left hands with the woman, who is now head of her line, and the woman joins left hands with the man who is now head of his line. This joining of hands comes exactly on the first accented syllable of the second verse of the song, and is also exactly at the same time that the left foot strikes the floor in a forward swing that turns this new couple entirely around counter-clockwise in four steps, to just one line of the song. They then release, leaving the new member of each couple back in line, and the original couple joins right hands exactly on the first accented beat of the next line, performing another complete turn in the opposite direction, clockwise. Then the left hands are presented to the next in line, and so on until the foot of the set is reached, when the two take their places in their respective lines at the foot of the set. The couple left at the head becomes the leading couple for a fresh performance of the whole game. Not more than eight couples should be used in a set.
- Reprinted from Handy Play Party Book. Copyright 1982, World Around Songs, Inc."
****
Example #2
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=21232 "GO THROUGH AND HURRY" From: Jacob B; Date: 10 May 00 - 12:11 PM
"GO THROUGH AND HURRY
Four couple longways sets
(First couple sashay down) Go through and hurry, go through and hurry
(First couple sashay back) Go through and hurry, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allemande R once and a half) You don't know how, girl. You don't know how, girl.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 2nd couple) You don't know how, girl, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allem. R twice around) I'll show you how, girl. I'll show you how, girl.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 3rd couple) I'll show you how, girl, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allem. R twice around) Ain't I rock candy, ain't I rock candy.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 4th couple) Ain't I rock candy, my Alabama gal
(Original top couple retires to their own side of set,
new top couple starts the dance)
I have also seen this dance described as being done in longways sets for as many as will, with the top couple doing an elbow reel all the way down, and the new top couple starting the dance when "Go through and hurry" comes around in the lyrics, even though there are other couples who are still in the process of doing the elbow reel."
****
Explanation of lyrics:
"Ain't I rock candy" = Aren't I as sweet as candy. In the United States, "rock candy" is commonly referred to as "hard candy".
****
Explanation of terms:
From http://users.fred.net/tds/contra-the-short.answer/glossary.htm
Contra Dance Terms
"Set: The overall arrangement of couples for a given dance, such as a big circle, square formation, longways, etc.
Longways Set: Two lines, usually made up of partners facing each other in the opposite line. Used for contras and reels."
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates or the date of the recording with the oldest examples given first.
Example #1: Alabama Gal
Laurie Rocconi, Uploaded on Mar 27, 2009
school dance
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29OtTyHZrSM
Shanalikefergie. 2009o
"Aw this is cute! I did this in 4th grade. Ha ha me and one boy were the only ones who understood the dance. Hahaha. Run through the hurry, Run through the hurry. Run through the hurry, Alabama Gal. I dont know how how I dont know how how I dont know how how Alabama Gal. I'll show you how how, I'll show you how how. I'll show you how how Alabama Gal..."
****
Example #2: Mountain Folk Festival, 1993 Alabama Gal
John M Ramsay, Uploaded on Feb 12, 2011
Alabama Gal is an American playparty game or dance. It is a traditional dance form which, in the old days, was popular among teenagers. The dancers supply their own music.
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Example #3: Alabama Gal
Vincent Bates, Published on Apr 5, 2012
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Cultural, Regional, & Racial Associations Of Sweet Potato Pie
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is post provides information about the cultural, regional, and racial associations of sweet potato pie (dessert). Three videos of songs that include references to sweet potato pie are also included in this post. Brief excerpts of these song's lyric and links to the complete lyrics of these songs are included in this post. These examples are from non-African American vocalists and from African American artists.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all composers and vocalists who are featured in this posts. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SWEET POTATO PIE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato_pie
"Sweet potato pie" is a traditional side dish in the Southern United States. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving, and is similar in many ways to pumpkin pie. Marshmallows are sometimes added as a topping, but this was adopted more in the Northern United States than in the South.
It is usually made as a large tart in an open pie shell without a top crust. The filling consists of mashed sweet potatoes, milk, sugar and eggs, flavored with spices such as nutmeg. Other possible ingredients include vanilla or banana extracts. The baked custard filling may vary from a light and silky to dense, depending on the recipe's ratio of mashed potato, milk and eggs.
Though creamy vegetable pie recipes date back to Medieval Europe, sweet potato pie appears in the southern United States from the early colonial days.[1] Like many sweet potato recipes, sweet potato pie was likely developed by the black slaves from traditional African cuisine, making it a staple of Soul food today.[2] Recipes for sweet potato pie first appeared in printed cookbooks in the 18th century, where it was included with savory vegetable dishes. By the 19th century, sweet potato pie was more commonly classified as a dessert."
-snip-
Here's some information about pumpkin pie, a similar dessert from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_pie
"Pumpkin pie is a traditional sweet dessert, often eaten during the fall and early winter, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States and Canada. The pumpkin is a symbol of harvest time and featured also at Halloween.
The pie consists of a pumpkin-based custard, ranging in color from orange to brown, baked in a single pie shell, rarely with a top crust. The pie is generally flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
This pie is often made from canned pumpkin or packaged pumpkin pie filling (spices included)."
****
CULTURAL, REGIONAL, AND RACIAL ASSOCIATIONS OF SWEET POTATO PIE
First, here's my .02 cents on this subject: I grew up eating sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and at other times, particularly in the winter months. While I had heard of pumpkin pie, I never tasted it until I attended a predominately White college. Pumpkin pie was on the dessert menu for that college's Thanksgiving menu, and according to my unscientific survey, it seems that few White students I asked had ever heard of sweet potato pie. For the record, I very much prefer sweet potato pie to pumpkin pie whose seasoning seemed bland to me-when I tasted it in college and at other times.
In searching the internet for information on this subject I happened upon http://mysocalledfabulouslife.blogspot.com/2007/11/sweet-potato-vs-pumpkin-debate.html Saturday, November 24, 2007: Sweet Potato vs Pumpkin: A Debate
Background- The blogger, a mixed race (Black/White) woman wrote that she attends two meals for Thanksgiving-one with her White relatives, and one with her Black relatives. "One huge difference at Thanksgiving in particular, is the choice of pie at the end--namely the availability of either pumpkin or sweet potato.". The women didn't specify which family served which dessert, but she asked persons reading her blog to post their preference for sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie. She also asked commenters to post their opinions about whether they thought there racial preferences or lack of familiarity with either of these desserts. Here are a few of those comments:
Janie said...
"I have always only made and eaten potato pies, but I don't think I have ever had a homemade Pumpkin. It never dawned on me that the "orange" pie in black houses was Potato and the "orange" pie in white houses was Pumpkin."
**
Kia said...
"You are right Bri...it's a color thing. Growing up we only had Sweet Potatoe pie the whole time, I never even considered that an orange pie wasn't Sweet Potatoe ...lol. When my sister married a white man and we merged our holiday celebrations, suddenly pumpkin pie started showing up at family dinners, tricking us visually before we tasted it! Sweet potatoe is definitely better, however they are both good."
**
PatricktheRogue said...
"Hi ya'll,
I suggest that the South may give you your answer. In the southern United States, sweet potato pie is much more popular than pumpkin, by both black and white folks. So it is not just a "white" thing. I think you will find most of the whites who eat pumpkin pie have roots in the North and/or East. Southern white folks, who have access to both pumpkin and sweet potato pie, routinely choose Sweet potato as their favorite. "
-snip-
A lengthy comment to that blog by Channon Williams suggests that the reason why sweet potato pie tastes better than pumpkin pie is the use of butter and various seasonings.
Here's a comment from another internet blog post that refers to this topic:
From http://www.city-data.com/forum/food-drink/495788-sweet-potato-vs-pumpkin-pie-regional-3.html "Sweet Potato vs Pumpkin Pie: Regional or Cultural (reheat, preheat, butter)"
11-21-2008, 03:07 AM Location...near Atlanta
Buckhead
"Originally Posted by MarqueseGilmore
I think its a south/north and black/white thing.......but thats me generalizing!!
Well, in The South, I think you will find sweet potato pie to be more common, and that is across racial lines. I know blacks and whites down here that make and enjoy either, but in each case you are more likely to encounter sweet potato. So to that extent I would not say it is a racial divide on that, just a regional culture thing. In The North, you won't see sweet potato pie much, if at all, but the few times I did run across it indeed it WAS more likely among black people...maybe just a case of taking food preferences north with them when family members relocated from states to the south. You cook what you know and prefer even when you move and the base ingredients are not as common in your new locale. Family tradition and custom endure even over great distance and time. There is probably a comparable divide concerning where rice wins out (or at least has an increased preference) over potatoes as being a featured starch in a meal. Southerners DO tend to embrace rice more frequently than Northerners, maybe because we have grown it down here for so long."
-snip-
The country music group Alabama's "Songs Of The South" which mentions sweet potato pie supports the opinion that non-Black people in the South are quite familiar with sweet potato pie. The next section of this post showcases three examples of songs that include some mention of sweet potato pie.
****
FEATURED VIDEO EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date with the oldest examples given first.
Example #1: James Taylor Sweet Potato Pie
kentheguru, Uploaded on Aug 21, 2008
Here's JT and friends doing "Sweet Potato Pie" live, shortly after it was released.......
-snip-
Comment: Sam Sticka, 2009
"On the original version of "Sweet Potato Pie", James sang the song all by himself. Arnold McCuller and Rosemary Butler (the backups here) didn't back him up."
Lyric excerpt:
"Oh Lord I feel fine today
Walking on cloud nine today
I'm over that line today
Happiness is finally mine today
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
Here I'm about to tell you why
It's strictly on account of my
Sweet Potato Pie"
[In this song "sweet potato pie" is a complimentary referent for a female lover.]
Click http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Sweet-Potato-Pie-lyrics-James-Taylor/AF849C4A687878D1482569150025668D for the complete lyrics to this song.
****
Example #2: Al Jarreau - Sweet Potato Pie (live, 1976)
musicbox285, Uploaded on Aug 19, 2009
Al Jarreau live in Hamburg, Germany, 1976,
AL JARREAU - voc, TOM CANNING - keyb, JEROME RIMSON- bg, NIGEL WILKINSON - dr
-snip-
Lyrics:
Now it was a hot sticky morning
'Round the Fourth of July
The breeze was standing still
I'm hanging out by myself
And I'm having a good time
With the folk inside my head
And you know, Lord,
how you did a lovely thing
See, times my head is lighter
than it's ever been
And anyone who's ever had
sweet potato pie
Don't want pumpkin again,
no, they don't want
'Cause it don't taste right, no
Look-a-here city boy with your
silks and braided hair
Don't you let nobody fool you
with no imitation nothing
Tell 'em, say, unh, unh, buddy,
I been there
Listen mama, when you
finally walk on in
Don't forget to bring along
Your sweet potato tin
'Cause when you serve him
a slice of your sweet potato
Sin, girl, he won't want pumpkin again,
no, he won't want
Now I took a trip down to Sissy's
She's a friend of mine
She smiled and asked me in
Well, she drew a box and a big,
fancy question mark
Said, "Brother, which one is you in?"
I told her, "Sister, don't worry
'bout the mule going blind
You just sit in the wagon and
hold on to the line
'Cause anyone who's ever had
sweet potato pie
Don't want pumpkin again,
really don't want"...
[In this song "sweet potato pie" refers to the dessert.]
Click http://www.lyricstime.com/al-jarreau-sweet-potato-pie-lyrics.html for the complete lyrics to this song.
****
Example #3: ALABAMA - Song Of The South
suttersmith66, Uploaded on Sep 13, 2009
-snip-
Lyric excerpt:
"Sweet potato pie and I shut my mouth
Gone, gone by the wind
There ain't nobody looking back again"
[In this song, "sweet potato pie" refers to the dessert.
Click http://www.metrolyrics.com/song-of-the-south-lyrics-alabama.html to the complete lyrics for this song.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is post provides information about the cultural, regional, and racial associations of sweet potato pie (dessert). Three videos of songs that include references to sweet potato pie are also included in this post. Brief excerpts of these song's lyric and links to the complete lyrics of these songs are included in this post. These examples are from non-African American vocalists and from African American artists.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all composers and vocalists who are featured in this posts. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.
****
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SWEET POTATO PIE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_potato_pie
"Sweet potato pie" is a traditional side dish in the Southern United States. It is often served during the American holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving, and is similar in many ways to pumpkin pie. Marshmallows are sometimes added as a topping, but this was adopted more in the Northern United States than in the South.
It is usually made as a large tart in an open pie shell without a top crust. The filling consists of mashed sweet potatoes, milk, sugar and eggs, flavored with spices such as nutmeg. Other possible ingredients include vanilla or banana extracts. The baked custard filling may vary from a light and silky to dense, depending on the recipe's ratio of mashed potato, milk and eggs.
Though creamy vegetable pie recipes date back to Medieval Europe, sweet potato pie appears in the southern United States from the early colonial days.[1] Like many sweet potato recipes, sweet potato pie was likely developed by the black slaves from traditional African cuisine, making it a staple of Soul food today.[2] Recipes for sweet potato pie first appeared in printed cookbooks in the 18th century, where it was included with savory vegetable dishes. By the 19th century, sweet potato pie was more commonly classified as a dessert."
-snip-
Here's some information about pumpkin pie, a similar dessert from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpkin_pie
"Pumpkin pie is a traditional sweet dessert, often eaten during the fall and early winter, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas in the United States and Canada. The pumpkin is a symbol of harvest time and featured also at Halloween.
The pie consists of a pumpkin-based custard, ranging in color from orange to brown, baked in a single pie shell, rarely with a top crust. The pie is generally flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
This pie is often made from canned pumpkin or packaged pumpkin pie filling (spices included)."
****
CULTURAL, REGIONAL, AND RACIAL ASSOCIATIONS OF SWEET POTATO PIE
First, here's my .02 cents on this subject: I grew up eating sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and at other times, particularly in the winter months. While I had heard of pumpkin pie, I never tasted it until I attended a predominately White college. Pumpkin pie was on the dessert menu for that college's Thanksgiving menu, and according to my unscientific survey, it seems that few White students I asked had ever heard of sweet potato pie. For the record, I very much prefer sweet potato pie to pumpkin pie whose seasoning seemed bland to me-when I tasted it in college and at other times.
In searching the internet for information on this subject I happened upon http://mysocalledfabulouslife.blogspot.com/2007/11/sweet-potato-vs-pumpkin-debate.html Saturday, November 24, 2007: Sweet Potato vs Pumpkin: A Debate
Background- The blogger, a mixed race (Black/White) woman wrote that she attends two meals for Thanksgiving-one with her White relatives, and one with her Black relatives. "One huge difference at Thanksgiving in particular, is the choice of pie at the end--namely the availability of either pumpkin or sweet potato.". The women didn't specify which family served which dessert, but she asked persons reading her blog to post their preference for sweet potato pie or pumpkin pie. She also asked commenters to post their opinions about whether they thought there racial preferences or lack of familiarity with either of these desserts. Here are a few of those comments:
Janie said...
"I have always only made and eaten potato pies, but I don't think I have ever had a homemade Pumpkin. It never dawned on me that the "orange" pie in black houses was Potato and the "orange" pie in white houses was Pumpkin."
**
Kia said...
"You are right Bri...it's a color thing. Growing up we only had Sweet Potatoe pie the whole time, I never even considered that an orange pie wasn't Sweet Potatoe ...lol. When my sister married a white man and we merged our holiday celebrations, suddenly pumpkin pie started showing up at family dinners, tricking us visually before we tasted it! Sweet potatoe is definitely better, however they are both good."
**
PatricktheRogue said...
"Hi ya'll,
I suggest that the South may give you your answer. In the southern United States, sweet potato pie is much more popular than pumpkin, by both black and white folks. So it is not just a "white" thing. I think you will find most of the whites who eat pumpkin pie have roots in the North and/or East. Southern white folks, who have access to both pumpkin and sweet potato pie, routinely choose Sweet potato as their favorite. "
-snip-
A lengthy comment to that blog by Channon Williams suggests that the reason why sweet potato pie tastes better than pumpkin pie is the use of butter and various seasonings.
Here's a comment from another internet blog post that refers to this topic:
From http://www.city-data.com/forum/food-drink/495788-sweet-potato-vs-pumpkin-pie-regional-3.html "Sweet Potato vs Pumpkin Pie: Regional or Cultural (reheat, preheat, butter)"
11-21-2008, 03:07 AM Location...near Atlanta
Buckhead
"Originally Posted by MarqueseGilmore
I think its a south/north and black/white thing.......but thats me generalizing!!
Well, in The South, I think you will find sweet potato pie to be more common, and that is across racial lines. I know blacks and whites down here that make and enjoy either, but in each case you are more likely to encounter sweet potato. So to that extent I would not say it is a racial divide on that, just a regional culture thing. In The North, you won't see sweet potato pie much, if at all, but the few times I did run across it indeed it WAS more likely among black people...maybe just a case of taking food preferences north with them when family members relocated from states to the south. You cook what you know and prefer even when you move and the base ingredients are not as common in your new locale. Family tradition and custom endure even over great distance and time. There is probably a comparable divide concerning where rice wins out (or at least has an increased preference) over potatoes as being a featured starch in a meal. Southerners DO tend to embrace rice more frequently than Northerners, maybe because we have grown it down here for so long."
-snip-
The country music group Alabama's "Songs Of The South" which mentions sweet potato pie supports the opinion that non-Black people in the South are quite familiar with sweet potato pie. The next section of this post showcases three examples of songs that include some mention of sweet potato pie.
****
FEATURED VIDEO EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting date with the oldest examples given first.
Example #1: James Taylor Sweet Potato Pie
kentheguru, Uploaded on Aug 21, 2008
Here's JT and friends doing "Sweet Potato Pie" live, shortly after it was released.......
-snip-
Comment: Sam Sticka, 2009
"On the original version of "Sweet Potato Pie", James sang the song all by himself. Arnold McCuller and Rosemary Butler (the backups here) didn't back him up."
Lyric excerpt:
"Oh Lord I feel fine today
Walking on cloud nine today
I'm over that line today
Happiness is finally mine today
I guess I'm just a lucky guy
Here I'm about to tell you why
It's strictly on account of my
Sweet Potato Pie"
[In this song "sweet potato pie" is a complimentary referent for a female lover.]
Click http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Sweet-Potato-Pie-lyrics-James-Taylor/AF849C4A687878D1482569150025668D for the complete lyrics to this song.
****
Example #2: Al Jarreau - Sweet Potato Pie (live, 1976)
musicbox285, Uploaded on Aug 19, 2009
Al Jarreau live in Hamburg, Germany, 1976,
AL JARREAU - voc, TOM CANNING - keyb, JEROME RIMSON- bg, NIGEL WILKINSON - dr
-snip-
Lyrics:
Now it was a hot sticky morning
'Round the Fourth of July
The breeze was standing still
I'm hanging out by myself
And I'm having a good time
With the folk inside my head
And you know, Lord,
how you did a lovely thing
See, times my head is lighter
than it's ever been
And anyone who's ever had
sweet potato pie
Don't want pumpkin again,
no, they don't want
'Cause it don't taste right, no
Look-a-here city boy with your
silks and braided hair
Don't you let nobody fool you
with no imitation nothing
Tell 'em, say, unh, unh, buddy,
I been there
Listen mama, when you
finally walk on in
Don't forget to bring along
Your sweet potato tin
'Cause when you serve him
a slice of your sweet potato
Sin, girl, he won't want pumpkin again,
no, he won't want
Now I took a trip down to Sissy's
She's a friend of mine
She smiled and asked me in
Well, she drew a box and a big,
fancy question mark
Said, "Brother, which one is you in?"
I told her, "Sister, don't worry
'bout the mule going blind
You just sit in the wagon and
hold on to the line
'Cause anyone who's ever had
sweet potato pie
Don't want pumpkin again,
really don't want"...
[In this song "sweet potato pie" refers to the dessert.]
Click http://www.lyricstime.com/al-jarreau-sweet-potato-pie-lyrics.html for the complete lyrics to this song.
****
Example #3: ALABAMA - Song Of The South
suttersmith66, Uploaded on Sep 13, 2009
-snip-
Lyric excerpt:
"Sweet potato pie and I shut my mouth
Gone, gone by the wind
There ain't nobody looking back again"
[In this song, "sweet potato pie" refers to the dessert.
Click http://www.metrolyrics.com/song-of-the-south-lyrics-alabama.html to the complete lyrics for this song.
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
"Great Big House In New Orleans" (Play Party Song) Information, Lyrics, Origins
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update: July 21,2023
This pancocojams post presents showcases three YouTube videos of the play party song "Great Big House In New Orleans" (also known as "Great Big House").
People may think that they are being "color-blind" by not mentioning race (when they are teaching children folk songs and at other times). However, by not mentioning race they are actually reinforcing the viewpoint that only White people are responsible for accomplishments. This is because both online and offline "White" is the default race (just as "male" is the default gender). When no race is mentioned for an individual (unless the discussion is about some criminal act or something that is stereotypically considered to be the purview of a particular race/ethnicity), people automatically assume that that person is White (just as people automatically assume that people posting online are male).
Regardless of their race or ethnicity, children shouldn't be led to believe that White people were the only composers of play party songs or other folk songs.
-snip-
Added July 21, 2023:
One way that American play party songs and other American folk songs may be mislabeled as being White play party songs and/or White folk songs (only) and not Black or another American race/ethnic group is the inclusion of a topical referent as simple as "pumpkin pie" instead of "chicken pie".
Most online examples of the play party song "Great Big House In New Orleans", the lyrics refer to "every room that I been in/filled with pumpkin pie."
"Pumpkin pie" is largely a dessert that White Americans are familiar with while Black Americans are much more familiar with the similar looking, but different tasting "sweet potato pie". Click https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2022/11/24/pumpkin-vs-sweet-potato-pie-thanksgiving-debate/69626826007/ for the 2022 article entitled "Pumpkin vs. sweet potato pie: The epic battle of the Thanksgiving desserts" by Haadiza Ogwude . Here's one quote from that article:
Read the Addendum to this post about the possible meaning/s of "chicken pie" in pre-Civil war Black American songs.
****
LYRICS AND PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTIONS: "GREAT BIG HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS"
1. Great big house in New Orleans,
Forty stories high;
Ev'ry room that I been in,
Filled with chicken pie.
2. Went down to the old mill stream,
To fetch a pail of water;
Put one arm around my wife,
The other 'round my daughter.
3. Fare thee well, my darling girl,
Fare thee well, my daughter;
Fare thee well, my darling girl,
With the golden slippers on her.
Movements:
1. First verse: students form a circle, holding hands, walk keeping a steady beat, then stop.
2. Went down to the old mill stream,
(every other student moves to the center, holding hands with arms below waist)
To fetch a pail of water;
(outside circle moves behind inner circle, placing arms over the shoulders of the inner circle and holds hands)
Put one arm around my wife,
(keeping hands held, outside circle raises arms to ceiling, bringing them down behind the back of the inner circle)
The other 'round my daughter.
(keeping hands held, inner circle rises arms to ceiling, bringing them down behind the backs of the outer circle)
3. Third verse: keeping arms around the outer circle, the whole circle walks to a steady beat.
Source: http://musicnotes.net/SONGS/04-GREATB.html
Origin: USA - Louisiana Play Song
-snip-
Other performance instructions are given with the videos below.
Latest Update: July 21,2023
This pancocojams post presents showcases three YouTube videos of the play party song "Great Big House In New Orleans" (also known as "Great Big House").
This post also includes general information about play party songs and lyrics & performance directions for "Great Big House In New Orleans".
My comments about the probable African American origin of this play party song are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the performers of this song, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT PLAY PARTY SONGS
"Play party songs" is a reference for 19th century American group movement songs that took the place of dancing at social events since dancing was prohibited in those communities. Those movement songs had no instrumental music and touching another person while playing those "singing games" was greatly regimented.
Online articles about play party songs routinely refer to the European sources of those songs and routinely omit any acknowledgement that a number of play party songs are of African American origin or have had African American influences. For example, the album notes to "American Play Parties" by Pete Seeger, Mika Seeger, and Rev. Larry Eisenberg FW07604 provides this description of play party songs:
"To evade the religious prohibition against dancing in certain American communities, young people in the 19th century devised an ingenious solution—they adapted children’s games, which were permitted. The result was so-called play parties. Participants sang creative songs to cue movements, and the events were great “mixers.” The only element lacking was instrumental music." http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=19300 [This website is no longer available.]
The author of that album's notes wrote that "Anglo-American" as the cultural group that is the source of the play party songs which are found on that album.
However, I believe that at least three songs of the fourteen songs that are included on that album are of African American origin: "Shake Them 'Simmons Down", "Goodbye Liza Jane", and "Great Big House in New Orleans". Other songs on that album may also be of African American origin or those versions of the song may have been African American influenced. Yet no one reading those album notes would know that.
****
MY STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH CATEGORIZING PLAY PARTY SONGS AND OTHER FOLK SONGS AS WHITE AMERICAN ORIGIN WHEN THOSE SONGS MIGHT BE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGIN OR OF CROSS RACIAL ORIGINS
For the sake of historical documentation, and for psychological reasons, I strongly believe that it's important to acknowledge that African Americans also contributed to America's play party repertoire Providing the information that some American folk songs are of African American origin helps build and reinforce group esteem in a population that is still being maligned and a population that is still experiencing the effects and consequences of personal racism and of institutional racism.
By folk songs/play party that have cross racial origins" I mean those compositions that may have been influenced by both Black and White (and/or other) cultures perhaps being shared back and forth among those cultures to the extent that it is impossible to determine which racial/ethnic group was their first or the most prominent source.
My comments about the probable African American origin of this play party song are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the performers of this song, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT PLAY PARTY SONGS
"Play party songs" is a reference for 19th century American group movement songs that took the place of dancing at social events since dancing was prohibited in those communities. Those movement songs had no instrumental music and touching another person while playing those "singing games" was greatly regimented.
Online articles about play party songs routinely refer to the European sources of those songs and routinely omit any acknowledgement that a number of play party songs are of African American origin or have had African American influences. For example, the album notes to "American Play Parties" by Pete Seeger, Mika Seeger, and Rev. Larry Eisenberg FW07604 provides this description of play party songs:
"To evade the religious prohibition against dancing in certain American communities, young people in the 19th century devised an ingenious solution—they adapted children’s games, which were permitted. The result was so-called play parties. Participants sang creative songs to cue movements, and the events were great “mixers.” The only element lacking was instrumental music." http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=19300 [This website is no longer available.]
The author of that album's notes wrote that "Anglo-American" as the cultural group that is the source of the play party songs which are found on that album.
However, I believe that at least three songs of the fourteen songs that are included on that album are of African American origin: "Shake Them 'Simmons Down", "Goodbye Liza Jane", and "Great Big House in New Orleans". Other songs on that album may also be of African American origin or those versions of the song may have been African American influenced. Yet no one reading those album notes would know that.
****
MY STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH CATEGORIZING PLAY PARTY SONGS AND OTHER FOLK SONGS AS WHITE AMERICAN ORIGIN WHEN THOSE SONGS MIGHT BE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGIN OR OF CROSS RACIAL ORIGINS
For the sake of historical documentation, and for psychological reasons, I strongly believe that it's important to acknowledge that African Americans also contributed to America's play party repertoire Providing the information that some American folk songs are of African American origin helps build and reinforce group esteem in a population that is still being maligned and a population that is still experiencing the effects and consequences of personal racism and of institutional racism.
By folk songs/play party that have cross racial origins" I mean those compositions that may have been influenced by both Black and White (and/or other) cultures perhaps being shared back and forth among those cultures to the extent that it is impossible to determine which racial/ethnic group was their first or the most prominent source.
People may think that they are being "color-blind" by not mentioning race (when they are teaching children folk songs and at other times). However, by not mentioning race they are actually reinforcing the viewpoint that only White people are responsible for accomplishments. This is because both online and offline "White" is the default race (just as "male" is the default gender). When no race is mentioned for an individual (unless the discussion is about some criminal act or something that is stereotypically considered to be the purview of a particular race/ethnicity), people automatically assume that that person is White (just as people automatically assume that people posting online are male).
Regardless of their race or ethnicity, children shouldn't be led to believe that White people were the only composers of play party songs or other folk songs.
-snip-
Added July 21, 2023:
One way that American play party songs and other American folk songs may be mislabeled as being White play party songs and/or White folk songs (only) and not Black or another American race/ethnic group is the inclusion of a topical referent as simple as "pumpkin pie" instead of "chicken pie".
Most online examples of the play party song "Great Big House In New Orleans", the lyrics refer to "every room that I been in/filled with pumpkin pie."
"Pumpkin pie" is largely a dessert that White Americans are familiar with while Black Americans are much more familiar with the similar looking, but different tasting "sweet potato pie". Click https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2022/11/24/pumpkin-vs-sweet-potato-pie-thanksgiving-debate/69626826007/ for the 2022 article entitled "Pumpkin vs. sweet potato pie: The epic battle of the Thanksgiving desserts" by Haadiza Ogwude . Here's one quote from that article:
"people, predominantly in the Northeast, and sweet potato pie
is eaten by Black people, mainly in the South. But that would be an
oversimplification of the complex history of two iconic American desserts.
[…]
Black and white southern cooks implemented sweet potatoes
into their culinary repertoire because they were easier to grow than pumpkins
due to the warmer climate of the region. In turn, cooks from the North
preferred to use the more accessible gourds.
Because many enslaved Africans did not have access to
pumpkins or the yams they were used to, they improvised with sweet potatoes and
were able to create new recipes reminiscent of home. Now this innovation has
become a staple of Black American culture."..
-end of quote-.
Here's another article that notes the regional divide and often the racial divide in the United States between pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie".
https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/2022/1122/What-s-in-a-pie-History-culture-and-a-taste-of-home
What’s in a pie? History, culture, and a taste of home.
By Kendra Nordin Beato, November 22, 2022
"If you grew up in the northern United States, it’s likely
you associate pumpkin pie with Thanksgiving. But travel south of the
Mason-Dixon Line, and another orange-colored pie reigns supreme on the holiday
table – sweet potato pie.
Historically, pumpkins don’t grow well in the Southern heat. But that’s not the only reason for the absence of pumpkin pie. Thanksgiving was originally perceived as a holiday forced on the South by the victorious North after the Civil War. The arrival of pumpkins was just another pie in the face.
There’s more to the story. Sweet potatoes are also central
to Black Southern cuisine; they’re tied up in the history of the slave trade,
the yam, and plantation cooks. “…
-end of quote-
Read the Addendum to this post about the possible meaning/s of "chicken pie" in pre-Civil war Black American songs.
****
LYRICS AND PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTIONS: "GREAT BIG HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS"
1. Great big house in New Orleans,
Forty stories high;
Ev'ry room that I been in,
Filled with chicken pie.
2. Went down to the old mill stream,
To fetch a pail of water;
Put one arm around my wife,
The other 'round my daughter.
3. Fare thee well, my darling girl,
Fare thee well, my daughter;
Fare thee well, my darling girl,
With the golden slippers on her.
Movements:
1. First verse: students form a circle, holding hands, walk keeping a steady beat, then stop.
2. Went down to the old mill stream,
(every other student moves to the center, holding hands with arms below waist)
To fetch a pail of water;
(outside circle moves behind inner circle, placing arms over the shoulders of the inner circle and holds hands)
Put one arm around my wife,
(keeping hands held, outside circle raises arms to ceiling, bringing them down behind the back of the inner circle)
The other 'round my daughter.
(keeping hands held, inner circle rises arms to ceiling, bringing them down behind the backs of the outer circle)
3. Third verse: keeping arms around the outer circle, the whole circle walks to a steady beat.
Source: http://musicnotes.net/SONGS/04-GREATB.html
Origin: USA - Louisiana Play Song
-snip-
Other performance instructions are given with the videos below.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated examples given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented to showcase some of the different ways this singing game is sung and played.
Example #1:G3 Great Big House in New Orleans
ESMusicISB, Sep 19, 2012
Watch as Ms. H's class sing and dance to the American folk song "Great Big House in New Orleans."
-snip-
Here's instructions for this singing game written by Anthony Meehl, 2014 from a video that is no longer available:
1st vs [verse]
march to beat around circle
2nd vs
#1's march to middle and join hands (went down to the old mill stream)
#2's march to middle and join hands over the top of #1's. (to fetch a pail of water)
#2's bring hands over the top (put one arm around my wife)
#1's bring hands over the top (the other round my daughter)
3rd vs
keep hands joined and slide feet to the beat around the circle. Hope this helps :)
****
Example #2: Great Big House In New Orleans
HelenIn Harmony, Published on Sep 9, 2013
Midwest Play-Party Singing Dance
Filmed November, 2010 - 3rd Grade
Great Big House in New Orleans
Forty stories high
Ev'ry room that I've been in
Filled with pumpkin pie.
Went down to the old mill stream
To fetch a pail of water
Put one arm around my wife
The other round my daughter
Fair thee well, my darling girl
Fair thee well, my daughter
Fair thee well, my darling girl...
With the golden slippers on her
****
Example #3: MUSIC TEACHER RESOURCES - Great Big House
Kate Fellin, Published on Oct 18, 2013
TEACHING TIPS: Students stand in a circle alternating between boys and girls. (We used lanyards to differentiate between the groups, which also works). Boys go in four steps and back out; girls go in four steps and back out. Boys go in four and hold hands, then girls go in four steps and hold hands in front of boys. Girls raise arms over the boys' heads and put them behind their backs, then boys raise their arms and put them behind the girls' backs. The interlocked circle moves clockwise (to the left) for eight counts, then they raise their arms and step back to their original positions. For a more advanced version (that we did), the outer circle moves clockwise one window so that they are standing next to a new person for the dance. The words are "Great Big House in New Orleans/Forty stories high/Every room that I've been in/Filled with pumpkin pie./Went down to the old mill stream/To fetch a pail of water./Put one arm around my wife/The other round my daughter./Fare thee well, my darlin' girl/Fare thee well, my daughter/Fare thee well, my darlin' girl/With golden slippers on her."
****
RELATED SONGS
The "house in New Orleans/forty stories high/filled with chicken pie" lines in the song "Great Big House In New Orleans" reminds me of the African American old time song "Riding In A Buggy Miss Mary Jane".
Sally got a house in Baltimo',
Baltimo', Baltimo'
Sally got a house in Baltimo'
And it's full of chicken pie.
I got a gal in Baltimo',
Baltimo', Baltimo'
I got a gal in Baltimo',
And she's sixteen stories high.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/riding-in-buggy-miss-mary-jane-video.html for a post about that song.
"Great Big House's" verses also could serve as floaters for versions of "Li'l Liza Jane".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/five-examples-of-song-lyrics-for-lil.html for a post about that song.
****
ADDENDUM - WHAT "CHICKEN PIE" INSTEAD OF "PUMPKIN PIE" MIGHT SUGGEST IN BLACK AMERICAN ANTE-BELLUM SONGS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-cultural-regional-racial.html for a post about the cultural, regional, and racial associations of sweet potato pie.
-snip-
It's also important to note that when chicken was available during slavery in the southern United States, it appears that it was served as a pie and not fried as is stereotypically attributed to Black Americans. Nowadays, "chicken pie" is most commonly known in the United States as "chicken pot pie".
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated examples given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented to showcase some of the different ways this singing game is sung and played.
Example #1:G3 Great Big House in New Orleans
ESMusicISB, Sep 19, 2012
Watch as Ms. H's class sing and dance to the American folk song "Great Big House in New Orleans."
-snip-
Here's instructions for this singing game written by Anthony Meehl, 2014 from a video that is no longer available:
1st vs [verse]
march to beat around circle
2nd vs
#1's march to middle and join hands (went down to the old mill stream)
#2's march to middle and join hands over the top of #1's. (to fetch a pail of water)
#2's bring hands over the top (put one arm around my wife)
#1's bring hands over the top (the other round my daughter)
3rd vs
keep hands joined and slide feet to the beat around the circle. Hope this helps :)
****
Example #2: Great Big House In New Orleans
HelenIn Harmony, Published on Sep 9, 2013
Midwest Play-Party Singing Dance
Filmed November, 2010 - 3rd Grade
Great Big House in New Orleans
Forty stories high
Ev'ry room that I've been in
Filled with pumpkin pie.
Went down to the old mill stream
To fetch a pail of water
Put one arm around my wife
The other round my daughter
Fair thee well, my darling girl
Fair thee well, my daughter
Fair thee well, my darling girl...
With the golden slippers on her
****
Example #3: MUSIC TEACHER RESOURCES - Great Big House
Kate Fellin, Published on Oct 18, 2013
TEACHING TIPS: Students stand in a circle alternating between boys and girls. (We used lanyards to differentiate between the groups, which also works). Boys go in four steps and back out; girls go in four steps and back out. Boys go in four and hold hands, then girls go in four steps and hold hands in front of boys. Girls raise arms over the boys' heads and put them behind their backs, then boys raise their arms and put them behind the girls' backs. The interlocked circle moves clockwise (to the left) for eight counts, then they raise their arms and step back to their original positions. For a more advanced version (that we did), the outer circle moves clockwise one window so that they are standing next to a new person for the dance. The words are "Great Big House in New Orleans/Forty stories high/Every room that I've been in/Filled with pumpkin pie./Went down to the old mill stream/To fetch a pail of water./Put one arm around my wife/The other round my daughter./Fare thee well, my darlin' girl/Fare thee well, my daughter/Fare thee well, my darlin' girl/With golden slippers on her."
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RELATED SONGS
The "house in New Orleans/forty stories high/filled with chicken pie" lines in the song "Great Big House In New Orleans" reminds me of the African American old time song "Riding In A Buggy Miss Mary Jane".
Sally got a house in Baltimo',
Baltimo', Baltimo'
Sally got a house in Baltimo'
And it's full of chicken pie.
I got a gal in Baltimo',
Baltimo', Baltimo'
I got a gal in Baltimo',
And she's sixteen stories high.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/12/riding-in-buggy-miss-mary-jane-video.html for a post about that song.
"Great Big House's" verses also could serve as floaters for versions of "Li'l Liza Jane".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/five-examples-of-song-lyrics-for-lil.html for a post about that song.
****
ADDENDUM - WHAT "CHICKEN PIE" INSTEAD OF "PUMPKIN PIE" MIGHT SUGGEST IN BLACK AMERICAN ANTE-BELLUM SONGS
Unlike the song "Li'l Liza Jane" ("Little Liza Jane") and many other folk songs, with one interesting exception*, all the lyrics to online versions of "Great Big House In New Orleans" are the same. I'm not sure if this is because each of these websites used the same source or not. I would be very surprised to learn that there weren't any variant forms of this song when it was a naturally occurring part of children's and youth's social play and not as it is taught to students in school as is done nowadays.
*The exception to the lyrics is the substitution of "pumpkin pie" for "chicken pie", giving the lyrics "Ev'ry room that I been in/Filled with chicken pie."
The "chicken pie"* lyric is important because among 19th century African Americans, chicken was considered a luxury. As such, the reference in the song "Great Big House In New Orleans" to the each room of a forty story high house being filled with chicken pie is a grandiose image that reflects more than the singer's desire for comfort and good living. In that song, to fantasize about chicken pie is important because the singer might have experienced a number of days without adequate food.
Chicken pie would have satisfied the hunger of the enslaved people singing that song much more than a dessert would, particularly a dessert that he or she might not have been that familiar with. The change in the lyrics of this song from "chicken pie to pumpkin pie" might still have cultural implications in the 21st century United States as it appears from online discussions (and from my experience) that pumpkin pie isn't a dessert that African Americans are familiar with. My sense is that we African Americans prefer the similar dessert of sweet potato pie - a dessert which many White Americans apparently aren't that familiar with.
*The exception to the lyrics is the substitution of "pumpkin pie" for "chicken pie", giving the lyrics "Ev'ry room that I been in/Filled with chicken pie."
The "chicken pie"* lyric is important because among 19th century African Americans, chicken was considered a luxury. As such, the reference in the song "Great Big House In New Orleans" to the each room of a forty story high house being filled with chicken pie is a grandiose image that reflects more than the singer's desire for comfort and good living. In that song, to fantasize about chicken pie is important because the singer might have experienced a number of days without adequate food.
Chicken pie would have satisfied the hunger of the enslaved people singing that song much more than a dessert would, particularly a dessert that he or she might not have been that familiar with. The change in the lyrics of this song from "chicken pie to pumpkin pie" might still have cultural implications in the 21st century United States as it appears from online discussions (and from my experience) that pumpkin pie isn't a dessert that African Americans are familiar with. My sense is that we African Americans prefer the similar dessert of sweet potato pie - a dessert which many White Americans apparently aren't that familiar with.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-cultural-regional-racial.html for a post about the cultural, regional, and racial associations of sweet potato pie.
-snip-
It's also important to note that when chicken was available during slavery in the southern United States, it appears that it was served as a pie and not fried as is stereotypically attributed to Black Americans. Nowadays, "chicken pie" is most commonly known in the United States as "chicken pot pie".
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
Seven Videos Of "Li'l Liza Jane" (Little Liza Jane)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part series on the song "Li'l Liza Jane"(also given as "Little Liza Jane"). This post presents showcases seven YouTube videos of "Li'l Liza Jane".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/five-examples-of-song-lyrics-for-lil.html for Part I of this series. That post provides information about "Li'l Liza Jane" and presents five text examples (lyrics)for that song.
These two posts showcase only a small sample of the renditions of this song as sung by and performed by African Americans since the huge family of "L'l Liza Jane" songs originated with African Americans. Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to experience different interpretations of the same song.
There are numerous versions of "Li'l Liza Jane". New two lined rhyming verses for this song are improvised every day and/or floating verses from other old time songs are combined to make new renditions of "Little Liza Jane". Also, additional instrumental renditions of this song are performed and recorded daily.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to these featured performers of this song and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated examples given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: Chuck Perkins - Lil Liza Jane
iching64 Uploaded on Oct 27, 2009
More at: http://www.ChuckPerkinsVoices.com
-snip-
This is a New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian version of "Li'l Liza Jane". My partial transcription of the lyrics can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
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Example #2: Kermit Ruffins Li'l Liza Jane DEC 29 2009 New Orleans
BiGGMIKE429, Uploaded on Dec 31, 2009
Kermit Ruffins, Li'l Liza Jane ... A visit to New Orleans would not be complete without seeing Kermit. What a Cool Ass Smooth Ass Brother, My Homie ,, He told me Man,,, you got me on video, but I'm gonna let you slide this time,, lol ,, He said you got the whole show,,!! but what I say is You have to see him yourself in person. Google his name to purchase his Music, a must have for your collection.
-snip-
This video is presented without any transcription.
****
Example #3: Huey Piano Smith & the Clowns - Little Liza Jane
delwoodjef, Uploaded on Aug 7, 2010
Let's kick the tempo up a lot with Huey Piano Smith & the Clowns and "Little Liza Jane." This one really ROCKS. Enjoy!
-snip-
The lyrics to this song can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #4: Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Little Liza Jane (2004)
postmaster1, Uploaded on Oct 21, 2010
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Example #5: Nina Simone- Little Liza Jane
Achiko Kinkladze, Uploaded on May 5, 2011
-snip-
The lyrics to this song can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
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Example #6: White Eagles Mardi Gras Indians: Little Liza Jane, camera A (1982)
AlanLomaxArchive, Uploaded on Nov 15, 2011
Big Chief Jake Millon and the White Eagles Mardi Gras Indians rehearse "Little Liza Jane" at Darrell's Lounge, 7th Ward, New Orleans. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew, May 1982...
-snip-
This video is presented without any transcription.
****
Example #7: Wynton Marsalis - Lil Liza Jane
Austin Casey, Published on Jan 6, 2013
Wynton Marsalis Tentet live at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola Dec. 31st 2012
Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet
Jon Erik Kellso - Trumpet
Victor Goines - Clarinet,
Andy Stein - Alto Saxophone, Violin
Chris Crenshaw - Trombone, Vocals
Vince Giordano - Bass Saxophone, Tuba, Tenor Guitar, Vocals
Ken Salvo - Banjo, Tenor Guitar
Dan Nimmer - Piano
Carlos Henriquez - Bass
Ali Jackson - Drums
Ricky "Dirty Red" Gordon - Washboard, Percussion
-snip-
In this version, the only lines that are sung are "Oh Eliza, Little Liza Jane"."
****
BONUS VIDEO
Example #8: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Little Liza Jane" @ Bonnaroo 2013
steve holmes, Published on Jun 19, 2013
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Little Liza Jane" @ That Tent Bonnaroo 2013
http://www.preservationhall.com/band/
-snip-
The lyrics for this version of "Little Liza Jane" are given as part of the video's summary statement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMli70II9F8
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part II of a two part series on the song "Li'l Liza Jane"(also given as "Little Liza Jane"). This post presents showcases seven YouTube videos of "Li'l Liza Jane".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/five-examples-of-song-lyrics-for-lil.html for Part I of this series. That post provides information about "Li'l Liza Jane" and presents five text examples (lyrics)for that song.
These two posts showcase only a small sample of the renditions of this song as sung by and performed by African Americans since the huge family of "L'l Liza Jane" songs originated with African Americans. Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to experience different interpretations of the same song.
There are numerous versions of "Li'l Liza Jane". New two lined rhyming verses for this song are improvised every day and/or floating verses from other old time songs are combined to make new renditions of "Little Liza Jane". Also, additional instrumental renditions of this song are performed and recorded daily.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to these featured performers of this song and thanks to the publishers of these examples on YouTube.
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated examples given first.
Multiple versions of a song are presented not to rank which one is best, but to showcase some of the different interpretations artists have given of this song.
Example #1: Chuck Perkins - Lil Liza Jane
iching64 Uploaded on Oct 27, 2009
More at: http://www.ChuckPerkinsVoices.com
-snip-
This is a New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian version of "Li'l Liza Jane". My partial transcription of the lyrics can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #2: Kermit Ruffins Li'l Liza Jane DEC 29 2009 New Orleans
BiGGMIKE429, Uploaded on Dec 31, 2009
Kermit Ruffins, Li'l Liza Jane ... A visit to New Orleans would not be complete without seeing Kermit. What a Cool Ass Smooth Ass Brother, My Homie ,, He told me Man,,, you got me on video, but I'm gonna let you slide this time,, lol ,, He said you got the whole show,,!! but what I say is You have to see him yourself in person. Google his name to purchase his Music, a must have for your collection.
-snip-
This video is presented without any transcription.
****
Example #3: Huey Piano Smith & the Clowns - Little Liza Jane
delwoodjef, Uploaded on Aug 7, 2010
Let's kick the tempo up a lot with Huey Piano Smith & the Clowns and "Little Liza Jane." This one really ROCKS. Enjoy!
-snip-
The lyrics to this song can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #4: Preservation Hall Jazz Band - Little Liza Jane (2004)
postmaster1, Uploaded on Oct 21, 2010
****
Example #5: Nina Simone- Little Liza Jane
Achiko Kinkladze, Uploaded on May 5, 2011
-snip-
The lyrics to this song can be found in Part I of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #6: White Eagles Mardi Gras Indians: Little Liza Jane, camera A (1982)
AlanLomaxArchive, Uploaded on Nov 15, 2011
Big Chief Jake Millon and the White Eagles Mardi Gras Indians rehearse "Little Liza Jane" at Darrell's Lounge, 7th Ward, New Orleans. Shot by Alan Lomax and crew, May 1982...
-snip-
This video is presented without any transcription.
****
Example #7: Wynton Marsalis - Lil Liza Jane
Austin Casey, Published on Jan 6, 2013
Wynton Marsalis Tentet live at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola Dec. 31st 2012
Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet
Jon Erik Kellso - Trumpet
Victor Goines - Clarinet,
Andy Stein - Alto Saxophone, Violin
Chris Crenshaw - Trombone, Vocals
Vince Giordano - Bass Saxophone, Tuba, Tenor Guitar, Vocals
Ken Salvo - Banjo, Tenor Guitar
Dan Nimmer - Piano
Carlos Henriquez - Bass
Ali Jackson - Drums
Ricky "Dirty Red" Gordon - Washboard, Percussion
-snip-
In this version, the only lines that are sung are "Oh Eliza, Little Liza Jane"."
****
BONUS VIDEO
Example #8: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Little Liza Jane" @ Bonnaroo 2013
steve holmes, Published on Jun 19, 2013
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Little Liza Jane" @ That Tent Bonnaroo 2013
http://www.preservationhall.com/band/
-snip-
The lyrics for this version of "Little Liza Jane" are given as part of the video's summary statement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMli70II9F8
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Five Examples of Song Lyrics For "Li'l Liza Jane" (Little Liza Jane)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - January 24, 2024
This is Part I of a two part series on the song "Li'l Liza Jane"(also given as "Little Liza Jane"). This post provides information about "Li'l Liza Jane" and presents five text examples (lyrics) for that song.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/seven-videos-of-lil-liza-jane-little.html for Part II of this series. That post showcases seven YouTube videos of "Li'l Liza Jane".
These two posts showcase only a small sample of the renditions of this song as sung by and performed by African Americans since the huge family of "L'l Liza Jane" songs originated with African Americans.
There are numerous versions of "Li'l Liza Jane". New two lined rhyming verses for this song are improvised every day and/or floating verses from other old time songs are combined to make new renditions of "Little Liza Jane". Also, additional instrumental renditions of this song are performed and recorded daily.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song, and thanks to those who collected examples of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "LITTLE LIZA JANE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li'l_Liza_Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane" and "Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and bluegrass, and versions have repeatedly appeared in other genres including rock and roll. It is one of the standards of the New Orleans brass band tradition.
Origin
"Li'l Liza Jane" was first published in 1916 by Sherman, Clay & Co of San Francisco, California as a composition by Countess Ada de Lachau. It was described as a "Southern dialect song". The tune was featured in the 1916-1917 show "Come Out of the Kitchen".
The song's origins, however, seem to go back even earlier. The tune's similarity to the 1850 Stephen Foster standard "Camptown Races" has been observed.[citation needed] The name "Liza Jane" or "Eliza Jane" was a standard female character name in minstrel shows. A tune "Goodbye, Liza Jane" was published by Eddie Fox in 1871. Harry Von Tilzer published "Goodbye, Eliza Jane" in 1903, which has some similarity to the later "Li'l Liza Jane".
Natalie Curtis Burlin's book Negro Folk-Songs, published in 1918, documents a version said to be a Negro folk song with an associated dancing game. In the "Liza Jane" dance, couples would dance in a circle, with an extra man in the middle. The extra man would "steal partners" with one of the couples, and the odd man out would go into the center and do a solo dance, then in cut in on another couple and the process would repeat."
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From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152 Lyric Request: O Eliza, little Liza Jane"
From: PoppaGator ; Date: 10 May 07 - 02:47 PM
"This is a VERY popular song in the New Orleans Brass Band repertoire, played and sung at every social-and-pleasure-club second line parade, every jazz funeral, etc. It has survived for decades, through many evolving changes in musical trends. People just love it, and no other song inspires a comparable level of audience-participation sing-along-ing on the chorus.
"Liza Jane" generally serves as a vehicle for newly improvided* lyrics; you hear new two-line rhyming couplets every time you hear the song.
I was a little surprised to see the name "Eliza" in the title here. We generally pronounce it "L'il Liza," as in "HO! L'il Liza, L'il Liza Jane," with a very emphatic, percussive first-syllable "HO!"..."
-snip-
*Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is probably a typo for "improvised"
**
From: Q ; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 05:52 PM
"In http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2777 Dale Rose said "The whole Liza Jane family of songs could probably make a good thesis.:
That thread has these posted lyrics:
Good Bye, Liza Jane, 1871, by Eddie Fox
Good Bye Eliza Jane, 1903, Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer
Good-by Liza Jane, Rutledge and Rogers Circus, in Sandburg 1927, "An American Songbag."
This thread has:
Li'l Liza Jane, 1916, Ada De Lachau...
Liza Jane, or Mountain Top, in Sandburg, 1927, "An American Songbag," two versions.
Sandburg says "There are as many Liza songs in the Appalachian Mountains as there are species of trees on the slopes of that range."
Al of the above have scores; I haven't compared them to see similarities or differences, but the choruses of the Fox, Von Tilzer and Ada De Lachau songs are quite different.
There are several other songs with Liza Jane in stanzas or combined in a title."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note- "By" here means "collected by".
**
From: Q; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 08:37 PM
"...The Susan Jane songs belong on the same tree"...
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note- "Tree" here means "family of songs"
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FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates or the date of the recording with the oldest examples given first. When the posting date isn't given, the example is posted at the end of the featured examples in the order of their recording dates.
Since "Lil Liza Jane" is a folk song, there are no right or wrong lyrics, but there are earlier and later versions of that song. I'm posting multiple versions with their collection dates or their recording dates to show some of the different interpretations of this song over a period of time.
Example #1: From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:
"LI'L LIZA JANE: Southern Dialect Song
Composed by Countess Ada de Lachau
San Francisco: Sherman, Clay & Co., 1916.
1. I'se got a gal an' you got none, Li'l Liza Jane.
I'se got a gal an' you got none, Li'l Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Ohe Liza, Li'l Liza Jane.
Ohe Liza, Li'l Liza Jane.
2. Come, my love, an' live with me, Li'l Liza Jane.
I will take good care uv thee, Li'l Liza Jane.
3. Jimmy John is layin' low, Li'l Liza Jane.
Honey, take me for you beau, Li'l Liza Jane.
4. Gwine ter th'ow the dice away, Li'l Liza Jane.
When yo' name the happy day, Li'l Liza Jane.
5. Bumble bee he out for sips, Li'l Liza Jane.
Takes mah sweetmeats from yo' lips, Li'l Liza Jane.
6. Liza Jane done cum ter me, Li'l Liza Jane.
Bof as happy as can be, Li'l Liza Jane.
7. Ev'y mawnin' when I wakes, Li'l Liza Jane.
Smell de ham an buckwheat cakes, Li'l Liza Jane.
8. House an' lot in Baltimo', Li'l Liza Jane.
Lots of chilluns roun' de do', Li'l Liza Jane.
9. Nevermo' from you I'll roam, Li'l Liza Jane.
Bestest place is home sweet home, Li'l Liza Jane.
[Another edition--with the same author, publisher, date, and (I think) music, but a different cover and verses--can be found at Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection. It bears the notation "used as incidental music in the three-act comedy 'Come Out of the Kitchen' ", and has only verses 1, 6, 2, and 8 of those shown above (in that order).]"
-snip-
Source: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152 Subject: Lyr Add: LI'L LIZA JANE (Countess Ada de Lachau); From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 May 07 - 04:00 AM
" "bof"= both
Very little information is available about collector and song arranger named Countess Ada de Lachau. However, it appears from what is known that she was an African American woman. I think that she probable gave herself that title and a nobility sounding last name. (Similarly, the Jazz musicians Count Basie and Duke Ellington gave themselves or were given royalty titles as did many Calypso singers.)"
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Example #2: "Af-Am version, collected by Natalie Curtis-Burlin, published 1919.
Lyr. Add: 'LIZA-JANE
("Stealin' Partners," Dance-song game)
Come ma love an' go wid me,
L'il 'Liza Jane
Come ma love an' go wid me,
L'il 'Liza Jane.
Chorus
O Eliza (or O Miss 'Liza)
L'il 'Liza Jane
O Eliza
L'il 'Liza Jane.
I got a house in Baltimo',
L'il 'Liza Jane
Street-car runs right by ma do',
L'il 'Liza Jane
I got a house in Baltimo',
L'il 'Liza Jane
Brussels carpet on* de flo'
L'il 'Liza Jane
I got a house in Baltimo'
L'il Liza Jane
Silver door-plate on* de do'
L'il 'Liza Jane
"When a number of people are dancing, all join in the chorus, and sometimes "O Eliza" is shouted at the top of their lungs. As this is a dance-song, dynamics are all broad, and consist chiefly in vociferous rhythmic accentuation. "O, Miss 'Liza" is sometimes sung..."
on* pronounced 'ohn.'
The provenance is not stated, but it may have been a song of the Calhoun Industrial School, which in some respects was modeled on the Hampton Institute.
Natalie Curtis-Burlin, 1918-19, "Negro Folk-Songs, The Hampton Series, Book IV, Work and Play-songs, pp. 158-167, with score. Dover reprint, 2001."
-posted by Q http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8346 Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Liza Jane (kids' version) ; 5 Dec 07 - 10:44 PM
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Example #3: Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns - Lil Liza Jane [1956]
Hey, little girl would you tell me your name?
(Little Liza Jane)
If I love you baby, would you feel the same?
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Hey pretty baby can we go strollin'?
(Little Liza Jane)
Yes, you got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Look at that girl, can we go strollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
You got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane).
Source: http://www.rockol.com/uk/lyrics-3270865/huey-piano-smith-the-clowns-little-liza-jane"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note: - This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.
"Can we go strollin'? = "Can we go for a stroll (a walk)
****
Example #4: Nina Simone -Lil Liza Jane: 1960 album Nina Simone at Newport
"[spoken]
Where is my tambourine wait a minute I'll get your tambourine
Got my tambourine get your thing baby
What's wrong with you what is it you want
Can't forget my tambourine boy want a minute
This is a folk tune and it's called little liza jane
We get some rhythm started here and see what happens
[song begins]
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jean
Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jean
Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Hambone hambone where you've been
Down by the creek and makin gin
I know a man that's three feet tall
Drink his liquor and has a ball
Saw him just the other day
He had a horse and a bale of hay
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
He took me to this great big town
Lots of people standing around
They were listening to a great big band
The bestest music in the land
I tell you once and tell you twice
Enjoy yourself and live your life
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jean little liza jane
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane"
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ninasimone/littlelizajane.html
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note- given with slight corrections to the transcription
“beau” – lover ; romantic partner
This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #5: Chuck Perkins - Lil Liza Jane; A Mardi Gras Indian version of "Li'l Liza Jane"
"Chorus:
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Tell you somethin that you don't know.
Lil Liza Jane
If you wanna be an Injun betta learn to sew.
Lil Liza Jane
They runnin and jumpin. They think they slick.
Lil Liza Jane
But we be the gang that makes them sick.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]
Told my papa when I left home.
Lil Liza Jane
I'mma mass in the mornin and I won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane
He said if you meet the boys better treat them right.
Lil Liza Jane
They may got the gun but we got the knife.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]
Early in the mornin when the sun comes up.
Lil Liza Jane
Said drink the fire water from the silver cup.
Lil Liza Jane
Honey honey come sing this song.
Lil Liza Jane
If you sing this song you won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx8yQL6o2mA&feature=related
This video is featured in Part II of this series.
[Partial transcription by Azizi Powell, January 12, 2011; Additions and corrections are welcome]
Ooh is elongated and rhymes with "so". It almost sounds to me like the word "Whoo!"
"mas" comes from the word "masquerade" and means put on the Indian regalia that you sewed
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest revision - January 24, 2024
This is Part I of a two part series on the song "Li'l Liza Jane"(also given as "Little Liza Jane"). This post provides information about "Li'l Liza Jane" and presents five text examples (lyrics) for that song.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/seven-videos-of-lil-liza-jane-little.html for Part II of this series. That post showcases seven YouTube videos of "Li'l Liza Jane".
These two posts showcase only a small sample of the renditions of this song as sung by and performed by African Americans since the huge family of "L'l Liza Jane" songs originated with African Americans.
There are numerous versions of "Li'l Liza Jane". New two lined rhyming verses for this song are improvised every day and/or floating verses from other old time songs are combined to make new renditions of "Little Liza Jane". Also, additional instrumental renditions of this song are performed and recorded daily.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song, and thanks to those who collected examples of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "LITTLE LIZA JANE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li'l_Liza_Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane" and "Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and bluegrass, and versions have repeatedly appeared in other genres including rock and roll. It is one of the standards of the New Orleans brass band tradition.
Origin
"Li'l Liza Jane" was first published in 1916 by Sherman, Clay & Co of San Francisco, California as a composition by Countess Ada de Lachau. It was described as a "Southern dialect song". The tune was featured in the 1916-1917 show "Come Out of the Kitchen".
The song's origins, however, seem to go back even earlier. The tune's similarity to the 1850 Stephen Foster standard "Camptown Races" has been observed.[citation needed] The name "Liza Jane" or "Eliza Jane" was a standard female character name in minstrel shows. A tune "Goodbye, Liza Jane" was published by Eddie Fox in 1871. Harry Von Tilzer published "Goodbye, Eliza Jane" in 1903, which has some similarity to the later "Li'l Liza Jane".
Natalie Curtis Burlin's book Negro Folk-Songs, published in 1918, documents a version said to be a Negro folk song with an associated dancing game. In the "Liza Jane" dance, couples would dance in a circle, with an extra man in the middle. The extra man would "steal partners" with one of the couples, and the odd man out would go into the center and do a solo dance, then in cut in on another couple and the process would repeat."
****
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152 Lyric Request: O Eliza, little Liza Jane"
From: PoppaGator ; Date: 10 May 07 - 02:47 PM
"This is a VERY popular song in the New Orleans Brass Band repertoire, played and sung at every social-and-pleasure-club second line parade, every jazz funeral, etc. It has survived for decades, through many evolving changes in musical trends. People just love it, and no other song inspires a comparable level of audience-participation sing-along-ing on the chorus.
"Liza Jane" generally serves as a vehicle for newly improvided* lyrics; you hear new two-line rhyming couplets every time you hear the song.
I was a little surprised to see the name "Eliza" in the title here. We generally pronounce it "L'il Liza," as in "HO! L'il Liza, L'il Liza Jane," with a very emphatic, percussive first-syllable "HO!"..."
-snip-
*Pancocojams Editor's Note: This is probably a typo for "improvised"
**
From: Q ; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 05:52 PM
"In http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2777 Dale Rose said "The whole Liza Jane family of songs could probably make a good thesis.:
That thread has these posted lyrics:
Good Bye, Liza Jane, 1871, by Eddie Fox
Good Bye Eliza Jane, 1903, Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer
Good-by Liza Jane, Rutledge and Rogers Circus, in Sandburg 1927, "An American Songbag."
This thread has:
Li'l Liza Jane, 1916, Ada De Lachau...
Liza Jane, or Mountain Top, in Sandburg, 1927, "An American Songbag," two versions.
Sandburg says "There are as many Liza songs in the Appalachian Mountains as there are species of trees on the slopes of that range."
Al of the above have scores; I haven't compared them to see similarities or differences, but the choruses of the Fox, Von Tilzer and Ada De Lachau songs are quite different.
There are several other songs with Liza Jane in stanzas or combined in a title."
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note- "By" here means "collected by".
**
From: Q; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 08:37 PM
"...The Susan Jane songs belong on the same tree"...
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note- "Tree" here means "family of songs"
****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates or the date of the recording with the oldest examples given first. When the posting date isn't given, the example is posted at the end of the featured examples in the order of their recording dates.
Since "Lil Liza Jane" is a folk song, there are no right or wrong lyrics, but there are earlier and later versions of that song. I'm posting multiple versions with their collection dates or their recording dates to show some of the different interpretations of this song over a period of time.
Example #1: From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:
"LI'L LIZA JANE: Southern Dialect Song
Composed by Countess Ada de Lachau
San Francisco: Sherman, Clay & Co., 1916.
1. I'se got a gal an' you got none, Li'l Liza Jane.
I'se got a gal an' you got none, Li'l Liza Jane.
CHORUS: Ohe Liza, Li'l Liza Jane.
Ohe Liza, Li'l Liza Jane.
2. Come, my love, an' live with me, Li'l Liza Jane.
I will take good care uv thee, Li'l Liza Jane.
3. Jimmy John is layin' low, Li'l Liza Jane.
Honey, take me for you beau, Li'l Liza Jane.
4. Gwine ter th'ow the dice away, Li'l Liza Jane.
When yo' name the happy day, Li'l Liza Jane.
5. Bumble bee he out for sips, Li'l Liza Jane.
Takes mah sweetmeats from yo' lips, Li'l Liza Jane.
6. Liza Jane done cum ter me, Li'l Liza Jane.
Bof as happy as can be, Li'l Liza Jane.
7. Ev'y mawnin' when I wakes, Li'l Liza Jane.
Smell de ham an buckwheat cakes, Li'l Liza Jane.
8. House an' lot in Baltimo', Li'l Liza Jane.
Lots of chilluns roun' de do', Li'l Liza Jane.
9. Nevermo' from you I'll roam, Li'l Liza Jane.
Bestest place is home sweet home, Li'l Liza Jane.
[Another edition--with the same author, publisher, date, and (I think) music, but a different cover and verses--can be found at Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection. It bears the notation "used as incidental music in the three-act comedy 'Come Out of the Kitchen' ", and has only verses 1, 6, 2, and 8 of those shown above (in that order).]"
-snip-
Source: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152 Subject: Lyr Add: LI'L LIZA JANE (Countess Ada de Lachau); From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 May 07 - 04:00 AM
" "bof"= both
Very little information is available about collector and song arranger named Countess Ada de Lachau. However, it appears from what is known that she was an African American woman. I think that she probable gave herself that title and a nobility sounding last name. (Similarly, the Jazz musicians Count Basie and Duke Ellington gave themselves or were given royalty titles as did many Calypso singers.)"
****
Example #2: "Af-Am version, collected by Natalie Curtis-Burlin, published 1919.
Lyr. Add: 'LIZA-JANE
("Stealin' Partners," Dance-song game)
Come ma love an' go wid me,
L'il 'Liza Jane
Come ma love an' go wid me,
L'il 'Liza Jane.
Chorus
O Eliza (or O Miss 'Liza)
L'il 'Liza Jane
O Eliza
L'il 'Liza Jane.
I got a house in Baltimo',
L'il 'Liza Jane
Street-car runs right by ma do',
L'il 'Liza Jane
I got a house in Baltimo',
L'il 'Liza Jane
Brussels carpet on* de flo'
L'il 'Liza Jane
I got a house in Baltimo'
L'il Liza Jane
Silver door-plate on* de do'
L'il 'Liza Jane
"When a number of people are dancing, all join in the chorus, and sometimes "O Eliza" is shouted at the top of their lungs. As this is a dance-song, dynamics are all broad, and consist chiefly in vociferous rhythmic accentuation. "O, Miss 'Liza" is sometimes sung..."
on* pronounced 'ohn.'
The provenance is not stated, but it may have been a song of the Calhoun Industrial School, which in some respects was modeled on the Hampton Institute.
Natalie Curtis-Burlin, 1918-19, "Negro Folk-Songs, The Hampton Series, Book IV, Work and Play-songs, pp. 158-167, with score. Dover reprint, 2001."
-posted by Q http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8346 Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Liza Jane (kids' version) ; 5 Dec 07 - 10:44 PM
****
Example #3: Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns - Lil Liza Jane [1956]
Hey, little girl would you tell me your name?
(Little Liza Jane)
If I love you baby, would you feel the same?
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Hey pretty baby can we go strollin'?
(Little Liza Jane)
Yes, you got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
Look at that girl, can we go strollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
You got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane).
Source: http://www.rockol.com/uk/lyrics-3270865/huey-piano-smith-the-clowns-little-liza-jane"
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's Note: - This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.
"Can we go strollin'? = "Can we go for a stroll (a walk)
****
Example #4: Nina Simone -Lil Liza Jane: 1960 album Nina Simone at Newport
"[spoken]
Where is my tambourine wait a minute I'll get your tambourine
Got my tambourine get your thing baby
What's wrong with you what is it you want
Can't forget my tambourine boy want a minute
This is a folk tune and it's called little liza jane
We get some rhythm started here and see what happens
[song begins]
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jean
Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jean
Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Hambone hambone where you've been
Down by the creek and makin gin
I know a man that's three feet tall
Drink his liquor and has a ball
Saw him just the other day
He had a horse and a bale of hay
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
He took me to this great big town
Lots of people standing around
They were listening to a great big band
The bestest music in the land
I tell you once and tell you twice
Enjoy yourself and live your life
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jean little liza jane
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane"
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ninasimone/littlelizajane.html
-snip-
Pancocojams Editor's note- given with slight corrections to the transcription
“beau” – lover ; romantic partner
This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.
****
Example #5: Chuck Perkins - Lil Liza Jane; A Mardi Gras Indian version of "Li'l Liza Jane"
"Chorus:
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Tell you somethin that you don't know.
Lil Liza Jane
If you wanna be an Injun betta learn to sew.
Lil Liza Jane
They runnin and jumpin. They think they slick.
Lil Liza Jane
But we be the gang that makes them sick.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]
Told my papa when I left home.
Lil Liza Jane
I'mma mass in the mornin and I won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane
He said if you meet the boys better treat them right.
Lil Liza Jane
They may got the gun but we got the knife.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]
Early in the mornin when the sun comes up.
Lil Liza Jane
Said drink the fire water from the silver cup.
Lil Liza Jane
Honey honey come sing this song.
Lil Liza Jane
If you sing this song you won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane
Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.
[sing entire chorus two times]"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx8yQL6o2mA&feature=related
This video is featured in Part II of this series.
[Partial transcription by Azizi Powell, January 12, 2011; Additions and corrections are welcome]
Ooh is elongated and rhymes with "so". It almost sounds to me like the word "Whoo!"
"mas" comes from the word "masquerade" and means put on the Indian regalia that you sewed
****
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Visitor comments are welcome.
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