Latest revision: Nov. 8, 2021
This is Part II of a two part pancocojams post about the singing game "Water Water Wallflower" (also known as "Water Water Wildflower" and other similar titles). This post showcases a 1926 sound file of Arthur Fields' record "Water Water Wildflower".
My transcription of that record is also included in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/water-water-wallflower-singing-game.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides information & comments about that singing game. Text examples of that singing game are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Pancocojams focuses on music from African Americans and other Black people throughout the world. By showcasing this record by Arthur Field I am not suggesting that he was of any Black descent.
I'm highlighting this sound file because
1. It was the only one that I've found about this song
and
2. The song "Water, Water, Wildflower" has at least one African American version [the 1944 singing game "Water Flower" that was collected by Altona Trent Johns and included in her book Playsongs of the Deep South].
Furthermore, Arthur Fields' version of Water, Water, Wildflower" includes a verse of the singing game "Go In & Out The Window" that I grew up playing [in the 1950s, Atlantic City, New Jersey] - and I'm African American.
Besides, "music from African Americans and other Black people" doesn't have to mean "music that was "solely" created by Black people" - if you will forgive the pun. If that were the case, that would rule out a number of Rhythm & Blues songs & a number of songs from other "Black" music genres.
Also, specifically in regards to Arthur Fields (August 6, 1888 – March 29, 1953), I learned from reading his Wikipedia page that "His 1919 recordings with bandleader Ford Dabney may be the very first recordings of a white singer backed by a black band." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Fields. So by that criteria alone, Arthur Field well deserves to be featured on this blog.
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE
Arthur Fields "Water, Water, Wildflower" Youngster 78
Ryan Barna, Published on Aug 22, 2013
Arthur Fields (mislabeled as "Arthur Hall") sings "Water, Water, Wildflower" on 6" Youngster 106 (b) (matrix 1983-D). Recorded by Grey Gull, 1926.
****
LYRICS: WATER WATER WILDFLOWER
(as sung by Arthur Fields)
Water, water, wild flowers, growing up so high;
We are all young ladies,
And we are sure to die,
Excepting Susie Allen.
She is the finest flower,
Fie, fie, fie for shame;
Turn about and tell your beau's name.
Johnny Turner is a nice young man,
He comes to the door with his hat in his hand.
Down he comes, all dressed in silk,
A rose in her bosom, as white as milk.
She takes off her gloves, she shows me her ring,
Tomorrow, tomorrow, the wedding begins.
Go round and round the valley
Go round and round the valley
Go round and round the valley
As we are all so gay
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
As we are all so gay
Go back and face your lover
Go back and face your lover
Go back and face your lover
As we are all so gay
Such love have I to show you
Such love have I to show you
Such love have I to show you
As we are all so gay
-snip-
Transcription from Azizi Powell from the above sound file. Italics means that I'm not sure about that particular line. Additions & corrections are welcome.
Here's information about the song "Go In And Out The Window" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_In_and_Out_The_Window:
"Go In and Out The Window" is a popular song composed by Hall of Fame songwriter Lew Pollack (1895–1946). The song remains popular today as a children's music standard. Melody circa 1762; lyrics "Bear Went" circa 1939 (Linscott); Earliest Date for US version of Go in and Out the Window: 1911; certainly dates back to 19th century. English versions published 1898."
-snip-
I remember singing "Go In And Out The Window" in the late 1950s (Atlantic City, New Jersey). I believe I learned it in school in the early primary grades. I believe that the last line of that singing game was "as we have done before". Children stood forming a circle without holding hands. One person goes in and out of the circle (between the people forming the circle). I also believe we sung a second verse: "Bow and face your partner." While singing that verse, two people stood facing each other. The boys bowed and the girls curtsied to their partner.
****
Thanks to Arthur Fields for his musical legacy.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are weclome.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/water-water-wallflower-singing-game.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides information & comments about that singing game. Text examples of that singing game are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Pancocojams focuses on music from African Americans and other Black people throughout the world. By showcasing this record by Arthur Field I am not suggesting that he was of any Black descent.
I'm highlighting this sound file because
1. It was the only one that I've found about this song
and
2. The song "Water, Water, Wildflower" has at least one African American version [the 1944 singing game "Water Flower" that was collected by Altona Trent Johns and included in her book Playsongs of the Deep South].
Furthermore, Arthur Fields' version of Water, Water, Wildflower" includes a verse of the singing game "Go In & Out The Window" that I grew up playing [in the 1950s, Atlantic City, New Jersey] - and I'm African American.
Besides, "music from African Americans and other Black people" doesn't have to mean "music that was "solely" created by Black people" - if you will forgive the pun. If that were the case, that would rule out a number of Rhythm & Blues songs & a number of songs from other "Black" music genres.
Also, specifically in regards to Arthur Fields (August 6, 1888 – March 29, 1953), I learned from reading his Wikipedia page that "His 1919 recordings with bandleader Ford Dabney may be the very first recordings of a white singer backed by a black band." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Fields. So by that criteria alone, Arthur Field well deserves to be featured on this blog.
****
SHOWCASE SOUND FILE
Arthur Fields "Water, Water, Wildflower" Youngster 78
Ryan Barna, Published on Aug 22, 2013
Arthur Fields (mislabeled as "Arthur Hall") sings "Water, Water, Wildflower" on 6" Youngster 106 (b) (matrix 1983-D). Recorded by Grey Gull, 1926.
****
LYRICS: WATER WATER WILDFLOWER
(as sung by Arthur Fields)
Water, water, wild flowers, growing up so high;
We are all young ladies,
And we are sure to die,
Excepting Susie Allen.
She is the finest flower,
Fie, fie, fie for shame;
Turn about and tell your beau's name.
Johnny Turner is a nice young man,
He comes to the door with his hat in his hand.
Down he comes, all dressed in silk,
A rose in her bosom, as white as milk.
She takes off her gloves, she shows me her ring,
Tomorrow, tomorrow, the wedding begins.
Go round and round the valley
Go round and round the valley
Go round and round the valley
As we are all so gay
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
Go in and out the window
As we are all so gay
Go back and face your lover
Go back and face your lover
Go back and face your lover
As we are all so gay
Such love have I to show you
Such love have I to show you
Such love have I to show you
As we are all so gay
-snip-
Transcription from Azizi Powell from the above sound file. Italics means that I'm not sure about that particular line. Additions & corrections are welcome.
Here's information about the song "Go In And Out The Window" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_In_and_Out_The_Window:
"Go In and Out The Window" is a popular song composed by Hall of Fame songwriter Lew Pollack (1895–1946). The song remains popular today as a children's music standard. Melody circa 1762; lyrics "Bear Went" circa 1939 (Linscott); Earliest Date for US version of Go in and Out the Window: 1911; certainly dates back to 19th century. English versions published 1898."
-snip-
I remember singing "Go In And Out The Window" in the late 1950s (Atlantic City, New Jersey). I believe I learned it in school in the early primary grades. I believe that the last line of that singing game was "as we have done before". Children stood forming a circle without holding hands. One person goes in and out of the circle (between the people forming the circle). I also believe we sung a second verse: "Bow and face your partner." While singing that verse, two people stood facing each other. The boys bowed and the girls curtsied to their partner.
****
Thanks to Arthur Fields for his musical legacy.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are weclome.
