Translate

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Some Lyrics For "Little Liza Jane" Songs Posted On Mudcat Folk Music Discussion Thread (Part II)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a four part pancocojams series about the "Little Liza Jane" song family. 

This post presents selected comments from the online Mudcat Folk Music Forum that include examples of lyrics for "Little Liza Jane" songs  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/little-liza-jane-part-i-general.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents a general overview of this song. 

Click ____ for Part II of this pancocojams series. 

Click  ____for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases five YouTube videos of the song "Little Liza Jane". 

Click ____ for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents some additional lyric examples of "Little Liza Jane" songs.


****
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and entertainment
purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to the early collectors and publishers of these songs, and thanks to the performers and arrangers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
That Mudcat Discussion thread includes more examples of and comments about "Little Liza Jane" songs. That thread is still open for comments from members and guests of that online folk music forum. 

I added numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only.

WARNING- One comment in this Mudcat discussion thread includes the derogatory referent that is known as "the n word." That comment isn't included in this pancocojams post.

**** 
SELECTED LYRICS FOR SOME EXAMPLES OF "LITTLE LIZA JANE" 

from https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2777

1. Subject: Lyr Add: L'IL LIZA JANE
From: Gene
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 12:12 AM

"Here's a few verses I have collected...

L'IL LIZA JANE


I've got a gal and you've got none, l'il Liza Jane

I've got a gal that calls me [hon], l'il Liza Jane.

 

CHORUS: Oh Eliza, l'il Liza Jane; Oh Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.

 

Liza Jane done come to me; l'll Liza Jane

We're as happy as we can be; l'il Liza Jane.

 

Come my love and live with me; l'il Liza Jane

I will take good care of thee; l'il Liza Jane.

 

Get a house and lot in Baltimore; l'il Liza Jane

Lots of children runnin' out the door; l'il Liza Jane.

 

More verses to: L'IL LIZA JANE

 

I know a gal that I adore, l'il Liza Jane.

'Way down south in Baltimore, l'il Liza Jane.

 

CHORUS: Oh, Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.; Oh, Eliza, l'il Liza Jane.

 

Down where she lives, the posies grow; l'il Liza Jane.

Chickens 'round the kitchen do' (door); l'il Liza Jane.

 

I wouldn't care how far we roam; l'il Liza Jane.

Where she's at is home sweet home; l'il Liza Jane.."


**
2. Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, LIZA JANE^^
From: Barry
Date: 09 Sep 97 - 03:58 PM

"GOOD-BY LIZA JANE (according to sandbag/songburg) was a minstrel song, traveling the mid west circus route on the program for Rutledge & Rogers.

Our horse fell down the well around behind the stable (2x)

Well he didn't fall clear down but he fell, fell, fell, fell, fell, fell,

As far as he was able. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane

 

Our goose swallowed a snail, & his eyes stuck out with wonder (2x)

For the horns grew through his tail, tail, tail, tail, tail, tail,

And bust it all asunder. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane.

 

My gal crossed the bridge, so she wouldn't get her feet wet (2x)

Well she didn't cross the bridge, but she (would 6x)

But the bridge it wasn't built yet. Oh it's good-by Liza Jane.

 

There are a couple of other Liza Janes: Liza Jane, Liza In The Summertime (or She Died On The Train) both dealing with a chorus of dead Lizas, then there's Mountain Top, I've also heard it as a fast reel, but never heard it done as well as the one Gene has above done by the Manhaden Chanteymen.

Barry"

**
3. 
Subject: Lyr Add: MISS LIZA, POOR GAL
From: Dale Rose
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 12:57 AM

"The whole Liza Jane family of songs could probably make a good thesis. Here is another great old Liza song~~Miss Liza, Poor Gal as done by the Tenneva Ramblers on August 4, 1927. If the date sounds familiar, it is because that was the date of the famous Bristol sessions. The Tenneva Ramblers and Jimmie Rodgers were preparing to record, but they had a disagreement over whether to call the group the Tenneva Ramblers or the Jimmie Rodgers Entertainers. I guess you could say that the Ramblers "won" that little battle, but Jimmie Rodgers went in to record by himself, and the rest, as they say, is history. This is taken from the album, The Tenneva Ramblers, Puritan 3001, released in 1972. Your chances of finding a copy are slim, but if you do find one, it is worth the effort, as it contains some fine old time songs.

 

Miss Liza, Poor Gal

 

Oh, Miss Liza, poor gal, oh, miss Liza Jane,

Oh, Miss Liza, poor gal, ?too late to catch the train?.

 

I went to see Miss Liza, Miss Liza wasn't at home,

Her old man took the broomstick and dragged it o'er my bones.

 

That's it. repeat it as many times as you feel like it. The song is primarily a fiddle/banjo piece, with instrumental breaks after every two lines. Their version repeats the first two lines four times, and the second two lines three times. As far as the too late to catch the train phrase is concerned, I am pretty certain that is not right, but even after more than 20 years of listening to the song, I still can't tell. I guess this could qualify for mistakes made while listening to songs"

**
4. Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Ferrara
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 11:46 AM

"Any chance that you could be looking for the song with this chorus:

Goin' down to Cairo, goodbye, goodbye,

Goin' down to Cairo, goodbye Liza Jane.

Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye,goodbye.

Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye Liza Jane.

 

It's on the "Two by Four" album by Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson. I don't know the fiddle tune, can't say if it's the same song. If you think it might be, I'll type it in. I'd have to look up my (handwritten) transcription, there are lots of verses."

**
5. Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, LIZA JANE
From: rich r
Date: 18 Sep 97 - 11:45 PM

"Here's a couple more versions to choose from:

I.

Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Shiloh

Scraping up sand in the bottom of the sea, Shiloh, Liza Jane

 

CHORUS: Oh how I love her, Oh Liza Jane

Oh how I love her, Goodbye Liza Jane.

 

Black those shoes and make them shine, Shiloh, Shiloh etc.

 

A hump-back mule I'm bound to ride....

 

Hopped up a chicken and he flew upstairs...

 

II.

 

Liza up in the 'simmon tree, and the possum on the ground

Possum said, "You son of a gun, shake them 'simmons down."

 

CHORUS: Whoopee Liza, pretty little girl

Whoopee, Liza Jane.

Whoopee, Liza pretty little girl

She died on the train.

 

Cheeks are like the cherries, cherries like a rose.

How I like that pretty little girl, goodness gracious knows.

 

The old folks down in the mountains, grinding sugar cane.

Making barrels of molasses, for to sweeten old Liza Jane.

 

Whiskey by the gallon, sugar by the pound,

A great big bowl to put it in and Liza to stir it round.

 

I went to see my Liza Jane, she was standing in the door

Shoes and stockings in her hand and her feet all over the floor.

 

Her head is like a coffee pot, her nose is like a spout

Her mouth is like an old fireplace with the ashes all raked out.

 

I wouldn't marry a poor girl, I'll tell you the reason why.

She'd have so many poor kinfolks, she'd make my biscuits fly.

 

The hardest work I ever done, was a-brakin' on a train.

The easiest work I ever done, was huggin' little Liza Jane

 

The second version is from the singing of Bradley Kincaid. He was a professional entertainer who did mostly traditional based songs. He spent some time on the National Barn Dance and the Grand Ole Opry. This version is a blend of "Liza Jane" and "Possum Up a 'Simmon Tree" which were both minstrel songs. Note that many of the verses are not unique to "Liza Jane" but show up in versions of "Cindy" and "old Joe Clark". The second verse bears a resemblance to "Colorado Trail", and the fourth verse is similar to one in "Mary Anne". In the 1880's Eddie Cox, a minstrel show performer, published "Good-bye, Liza Jane" however he didn't claim any credit for writing it, just arranging it. In 1903 the Tin Pan Alley composer, Harry von Tilzer, published "Good-Bye, Eliza Jane" which was a different song altogether. In 1917 Cecil Sharp collected "Liza Anne" in Kentucky that also seems to blend Liza and the Piossum. Another version called "Liza Jane" was published in 1931 by Jean Thomas in a book "Devil's Ditties"

rich r"

**
6. Subject: Lyr Add: GOING DOWN TO CAIRO
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Sep 97 - 03:15 PM

"OK, here's the version from Phil Cooper and Margaret Nelson.

GOING DOWN TO CAIRO

 

CHORUS:

Goin' down to Cairo (goodbye, goodbye)

Goin' down to Cairo (goodbye, Liza Jane)

Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye,goodbye

Black them boots and make 'em shine, goodbye, Liza Jane

 

1. Oh, how I love you, and ain't it a shame

Oh, how I love you (goodbye, Liza Jane)

Got no time to kiss you now, I'm sorry, sorry

Got no time to kiss you now, I'm sorry, Liza Jane.

(CHORUS)

 

2.She went up the new-made road, I went down the lane

Hung my foot on a hollow stump 'n out jumped Liza Jane

It's a rough old road and a sorry team,goodbye,goodbye

Rough old road and a sorry team, goodbye, Liza Jane

(CHORUS)

 

3. Saddle up the yellow mule, curry down his mane

Throw the bridle over his head, Let's go see Liza Jane

Got an old hat and it's got no rim(goodbye, goodbye)

Got an old hat and it's got no rim (goodbye Liza Jane)

(CHORUS)

 

4. Oh, I'm goin' to leave you (goodbye, goodbye)

Oh, I'm going to leave you (goodbye, Liza Jane)

But I'll be yours if you'll be mine (goodbye,goodbye)

I'll be yours if you'll be mine (goodbye, Liza Jane)

(CHORUS)"

**
7. 
Subject: Lyr Add: CHARLESTON TOWN / GOODBYE LIZA JANE
From: Gene
Date: 08 Jan 98 - 12:13 AM

"RE: THE NEW CHRISTY MINSTRELS-TODAY LP

From the MGM presentation of ADVANCE TO THE REAR

Which has the CIVIL WAR as a framework

Background score composed by Randy Sparks

CHARLESTON TOWN (Goodbye Liza Jane)

Recorded by The New Christy Minstrels

 

Refrain

... ... ... ... Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

... ... ... ... Don't Cry! Liza Jane!

Ooh ooh ooh ooh Goodbye! Goodbye!

ooh ooh ooh ooh Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

I'm gonna get my musket, Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

I'm gonna get my musket, Don't Cry! Liza Jane!

 

Where'll I be in the mornin', Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

Where will I be in the mornin', Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Repeat Refrain

 

Who's gonna save Atlanta? Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

Who's gonna save Atlanta? Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Oh! I'm gonna ride with Beauregard, Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

I'm gonna ride with Beauregard, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Well, I'm gonna be with General Lee, Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

Fancy me with Robert E. Lee, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

When will I ever kiss your lips again? Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

Will I ever kiss your lips again? Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

I'm gonna get my musket, Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

I'm gonna get my musket, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Where will you be, my lover? Don't Cry! Don't Cry!

Where'll you be, my lover? Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Charleston town is burning down, Goodbye! Goodbye!

Cotton balls are turnin' brown, Goodbye! Liza Jane!

 

Goodbye! Liza Jane! It's Goodbye! Little Liza Jane.

 

COLUMBIA RECORDS CL-2150/CS-8959"

**
8. Subject: Lyr Add: GOOD BYE ELIZA JANE (Sterling, Von Tilzer
From: Dale Rose
Date: 05 May 99 - 05:22 PM

"It was interesting to me that you renewed this thread, since just yesterday I was looking at the sheet music, and thinking I should post the original lyrics. You stirred me into action, so here they are. Charlie, of course, had his own way of doing them!

 

Good Bye Eliza Jane

Words by Andrew B. Sterling, Music by Harry Von Tilzer, 1903.

 

Look a' here, Liza, listen to me;

You ain't the gal you promised to be;

Didn't you say you always would be true, oo, oo, oo, oo?

You went a driving with Mister Brown;

Now I'm the laughing stock of the town;

Folks say that I was crazy to trust you, oo, oo, oo, oo.

Throw up my hands babe, I'se gwine to go;

Can't stand the blow; I loved you so;

I was the good thing while I had the "dough"

Now I must whisper low:

 

Chorus:

"Good bye, Eliza Jane, I'm gwine a' for to leave you!

Well, you'll know when I go,

that I was the fellow with the "dough, dough, dough;"

so I'm gwine for to sing a little song,

And travel a long, just travel a long

Wish you good day, Babe, I'm on my way, Good bye Eliza Jane."

 

Look a' here, Liza, take off those rings;

Dig in that trunk, gal; hand me those things;

I'm gwine to take the clothes I paid for, too, oo, oo, oo, oo!

Cough up that old gold watch, and de chain;

Wants that umbrella, cause it might rain;

Ask Mister Brown to fix you up all new, oo, oo, oo, oo.

Rent time is here, babe; landlord today;

I'll be away; who's gwine to pay?

P'r'aps Mister Brown will if he's a jay,

Once more to you I say:


Chorus

 

If you want to see the sheet music, just go to Good Bye, Eliza Jane at the Duke site."

 **
9. 
Subject: Lyr Add: MISS LIZA POOR GAL
From: emily rain
Date: 05 May 99 - 09:32 PM

"man, oh man, it's a liza jane festival!

here are the words i know to miss liza poor gal:

 

MISS LIZA POOR GAL

went up in the mountains

i gave my horn a blow

thought i heard miss liza say

yonder comes my beau

 

oh miss liza po' gal

oh miss liza jane

oh miss liza po' gal

ridin' on that train

 

first time i saw liza

was standin' by my door

shoes and stockings in her hand

bare feet on the floor

 

asked her if she loved me

she said she loved me some

put her arms around me

lord, i thought my time had come

 

hardest work i ever done

was workin' on the farm

easiest work i ever done

was in my true love's arms

 

hitched up dick and dinah

hitched 'em to that train

pulled a big load o' molasses

i'm gonna sweeten up liza jane

 

whiskey by the barrel (etc.)

 

liza has a fella

her fella's name is clyde

when he goes to church on sunday

miss liza's by his side

 

i know she loves her fella

but that don't bother me

'cause there aint nothin' two can do

won't be better with three

 

ridin' on a steamboat

ridin' on a train

if i ever marry

i'm gonna marry miss liza jane"

**
10. Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE LIZA JANE (Eddie Fox)
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Jul 02 - 02:01 PM

"GOODBYE LIZA JANE

Eddie Fox, 1871, pub. Lee & Weller

 

1. The time has come and I must go,

I must play on the old banjo.

Walk Dad Lew, Oh Mister Lew,

Ehe! Ehe! He!

Hear me now-


Chorus:

I'm going away to leave you, goodbye, goodbye,

I'm going away to leave you, goodbye Liza Jane.

I'm going away to leave you,

I'm going down to Lynchburg town;

If you get there before I do,

It's goodbye, Liza Jane.

 

2. The time has come, I do declare

I want a lock of my girl's hair.

Walk Dad Lew, Oh Mister Lew,

Ehe! Ehe! He!

Hear me now-


Chorus:

Behind the henhouse on my knees,

I thought I heard a chicken sneeze.

Walk Dad Lew, Oh Mister Lew,

Ehe! Ehe! He!

Hear me now-


Chorus:

"Twas nothing but a Rooster saying his prayers,

And giving out a hymn Such a getting upstairs.

Walk Dad Lew, Oh Mister Lew,

Ehe! Ehe! He!

Hear me now-


Chorus:

 

This is one of the oldest versions that we have a date for. The song is older; perhaps versions are preserved in old minstrel song booklets. Rich r mentions this song in a previous posting, but with the name mis-typed Cox. On the cover, it is listed as "Comic song, by Eddie Fox, as sung by Lew Simmons at the Arch Street Opera House." Like several other similar tunes, its origin usually is credited to minstrel shows, but probably based on old fiddle and play party songs."

**
11. Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Jul 02 - 10:28 PM


"
Gwine down by the pars'nage,

Now Liza you keep cool;

I hasn't got time to squeeze you,

I'se busy wid dis mule.

 

Cho.:

Whoa, mule, whoa,

Whoa, mule, I say;

Keep your seat Miss Liza Jane,

An' hang to dat sleigh.

 

De mule he jumped to one side,

De sleigh she went kerflap,

Broke my new suspenders,

She fell on my lap.

(from Alabama)

 

When I went to see Miss Liza Jane,

She was standin' in the door,

With shoes and stockin's in her hands

And feet all over the floor.

(from Tenn.)

As I went down de new cut road, she went down de lane.

Was the last time I saw my true love so go 'long, Liza Jane.

Go 'long, Liza Jane, go 'long, Liza Jane.

 

She went up the new cut road, I went down the lane,

Threw my hat in the corner of the fence,

Good-by, Liza Jane.

(Al)

 

Good-bye, Miss Eliza Jane,

I'm gwine to leab you;

Don't care, Miss Eliza Jane,

If it do grieb you.

Good-bye, Miss Eliza Jane, good-bye etc.

 

Go 'long, go 'long, go 'long, Liza Jane (3 times)

She died on the train.

N. C.

 

These scattered verses from Newman L. White, American Negro Folk Songs.

 

Juba dis and Juba dat,

Juba shoot and kill a yellow cat,

Juba up and Juba down,

Juba shoot and missed the ground.

 

Cindy went to meetin',

She shouted and she squeeled;

She got so much religion

She broke her stockin' heel

 

I went up to the mountain

For to get a load of cane

To make a jug of 'lasses

Sweeter 'n Liza Jane.

 

Get along home, Cindy, Cindy (twice)

Fare you well.

(mixture of two songs)

 

My ole missus promised me

When she died she'd set me free.

She lived so long That her head got ball,

And the Lord couldn't kill her with a hickory mall.

 

(more floating verses from White)"

**
12. Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE, SUSAN JANE (Randolph, 1940)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Nov 07 - 09:02 PM

"From Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 3, 435B, Liza Jane.

GOODBYE, SUSAN JANE

I went to see my Susan Jane, she met me at the door,

She told me that I needn't come to see her any more;

She fell in love with Rufus Andrew Jackson Paime,

I looked her in the face and said goodbye Susan Jane.

 

Oh Susan quit your foolin', and give my love to me,

Oh give me back my heart again, and I will let you be,

I once did love you dearly, I cannot love again,

I'm going away to leave you now, so goodbye Susan Jane.

 

Her mouth was like a cellar, her foot was like a ham,

Her eyes were like an owl's at night, her voice was never calm,

Her hair was long and curly, she looked just like a crane,

I bid goodbye to all my love, so goodbye, Susan Jane.

 

Oh Susan, so deceiving, she'll never do to trust,

I threatened once to leave her, and leave her now I must,

I never will trust another, to cause me any pain,

I trusted her, and all the girls are just like Susan Jane.

 

Mrs. Joseph Pointer, MO, 1940.

 

Lyr. Add: LIZA JANE (MOUNTAIN TOP)

I'll go up on the mountain top,

And plant me a patch of cane,

I'll make me a jug of molasses,

For to sweeeten little Liza Jane.

 

Refrain:

O po' Liza, po' gal,

O po' Liza Jane,

O po' Liza, po' gal,

She died on the train.

 

I'll go up on the mountain top,

Put up my moonshine still,

I'll make you a quart of old moonshine,

For just one dollar bill.

 

Head is like a coffee pot,

Nose is like a spout,

Her mouth is like an old fire-place,

With the ashes all raked out.

 

I went to see my Liza Jane,

She was standing in the door,

Her shoes and stockings in her hand,

And her feet all over the floor.

 

The hardest work that ever I did,

Was a-brakin' on the train,

The easiest work that ever I did,

Was a-huggin' little Liza Jane.

 

With score. Some of the verses in these songs have been used since early minstrel days.

Carl Sandburg, 1927, "The American Songbag," pp. 132-133. Source not stated."

****
LINKS FOR OTHER EXAMPLES OF "LITTLE LIZA JANE" ON MUDCAT FOLK MUSIC DISCUSSION FORUM

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2777
Subject: RE: Goodbye Liza Jane
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jul 02 - 10:09 PM

"In American Memory, link in a posting above, there is a note under the fiddle tune "Greasy String" about "Liza Jane" and all of her relatives that is worth repeating. The author, at the Library of Congress, says: "'Greasy String' is known by that title in versions scattered across southwestern Virginia and West Virginia but under other titles the tune has turned up ... from Virginia to Texas and Missouri." Several sources are cited, with these alternate titles: Seneca Square Dance, Old Raccoon, Running From The Federals, Hell among the Yearlin's, Racoon's Tail, Coon Dog, Heel Flies, Rock Along John to Kansas, Get Away From the Federals, or Fall of Paris, Shoot the Turkey Buzzard, Dinah and LIZA JANE. "It is but a small step to a yet wider circle of related tunes such as the 'Liza Jane' of Southern Piedmont, minstrel stage and jazz band circulation, or another tune....called'Dinah.' In short, the tune is cut of a cloth so common in the Upper South, and in musical domains touched by the influence of the Upper South, that it could be described as a paradigmatic Southern tune, appearing in so many related versions, allied forms and modified guises that it almost defies genetic tracing."

 

In his note on LIZA JANE, Vance Randolph (pp. 183-185, v. 3) says " This song has some lines in common with the "Old Joe Clark" play-party song ... and is related to the "Goodbye LIza Jane" ...."He gives three versions, including "Goodbye Susan Jane" (posted by rich r in thread 18221): Susan Jane .

 

The Traditional Ballad Index, in its notes on LIZA JANE, cross-references to "Molly and Tenbrooks," "Run, Mollie, Run," "Push Boat," and to floating lyrics in "Cindy." Alternate titles given are "Goodbye Liza Jane," Saro Jane," and "Little Saro Jane."

In notes on "Black Them Boots (Goin' Down to Cairo)" cross-reference is made to "Goodbye Liza Jane" and other Liza Jane songs. This one in this thread.

 

A case for two sub-groups, "Liza Jane" and Goodbye Liza Jane" could be made, but verses are so intermixed that it is difficult to do so.

 

In various threads, there are other related songs. Thread 25438 https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=25438: Charlotte "Charleston (Charlotte) is Burning," a version by Randy Sparks and the New Christie Minstrels, allied to Goodbye Liza Jane, also this thread.

"Shiloh" is mentioned in thread 892: Shiloh https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=892

"Pig in a Pen," thread 6059: Pig Pen https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6059

"Eliza Jane- Oh Miss Liza, 446: Eliza https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=446

"Oh Eliza, Little Liza Jane": thread 152: Eliza and this thread. https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152

"Susan Jane" thread 18221: Susan Jane https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=18221

 
Also see the thread on Limber Jim. Limber https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=48893

Any More??"
-snip-
I added the hyperlinks to the discussion threads that is mentioned in that comment.

****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams post.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.  

"Little Liza Jane"- Part I - A General Overview Of This Large Family Of Songs

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a four part pancocojams series about the "Little Liza Jane" song family. 

This post presents general information about the "Little Liza Jane" song family. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/some-lyrics-for-little-liza-jane-songs.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents selected comments from the online Mudcat Folk Music Forum that include examples of lyrics for "Little Liza Jane" songs 

Click  ____for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases five YouTube videos of the song "Little Liza Jane". 

Click ____ for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents some additional lyric examples of "Little Liza Jane" songs.

****
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and entertainment
purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to the early collectors and publishers of these songs, and thanks to the performers and arrangers of "Little Liza Jane" songs. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT "LITTLE LIZA JANE" SONGS
Based on documentation by folklorists, the earliest examples of "Little Liza Jane" songs originated among African Americans in the 19th century United States South. 

Here are some online excerptsabout "Little Liza jane" songs

These excerpts are presented in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only:

EXCERPT #1
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li%27l_Liza_Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane" or "Little Liza Jane" is a song that dates back to the Antebellum South and is closely related to a suite of other songs with similar titles, including "Oh! Liza Poor Gal," "Goodbye Liza Jane," and "Steal Miss Liza." Songs in the "Liza Jane" family have become perennial standards (as both instrumentals and tunes with lyrics) in traditional jazz, folk music, and bluegrass, as well as appearing in numerous other genres including rock and roll, blues, and R&B. Numerous scholars and musicologists have written about the song, and it is one of the standards of the New Orleans brass band tradition, where it thrives today. According to a 2023 book, Poor-Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane, many "Liza Jane" variants have enjoyed "big audience" moments throughout American history. For instance, "Li'l Liza Jane" became a sensation in the World War I era when a version was placed in a songbook given to all American servicemen and again in 1960 when Harry Belafonte performed a version as part of his CBS television special New York 19.[1]

Origins

Lyrics published in the Evening Star as a "dialect song" in 1905. In his book, Poor Gal, scholar Dan Gutstein attributes these lyrics to a short story published by Anne Virginia Culbertson in 1904.[2]

In his book, Poor Gal, scholar Dan Gutstein indicates that "Little Liza Jane" and "a suite of closely related folk songs likely originated among enslaved people during celebratory dances or 'frolics' on southern plantations."[3] Gutstein cites ten narratives from the Works Progress Administration Slave Narrative Collection in establishing the song's origins.[4] During the Civil War, some "Liza Jane" songs likely "leaked out" from the folk repertoire of enslaved people and were adopted by regiments from both sides of the war, including the 43rd United States Colored Troops Regiment, the 23rd North Carolina Regiment (known as the Pee Dee Guards), and the Indiana 67th Regiment.[5]

After the war concluded, some "Liza Jane" variants were popularized in burnt cork minstrelsy—most notably an early version of "Goodbye Liza Jane," which was published as sheet music by bandleader Eddie Fox in 1871.[6] However, the best-known variant "Little Liza Jane" likely remained fixed in folk tradition until a variety of writers and performers popularized the melody and certain lyrics in the early 20th century; these individuals would include the writer Anne Virginia Culbertson, the composer Ada de Lachau, the actress Ruth Chatterton, bandleader Earl Fuller, and banjoist Harry C. Browne.[7] Even as many "Liza Jane" variants therefore appeared in nineteenth century and early twentieth century popular culture, Gutstein attributes their ultimate origins as being the name Liza Jane "affixed to 'snotches' of folk melodies or as several 'one-verse songs' among enslaved people on plantations in several states."[8] This may account for the many different titles (such as "Little Liza Jane" and "Goodbye Liza Jane") as well as a wide variety of lyrics.

In popular culture

"Li'l Liza Jane" was first published as lyrics (without notated music) in 1904 by Anne Virginia Culbertson as part of her book At the Big House.[9] A different version of the song was published as sheet music in 1916 by Sherman, Clay & Co of San Francisco, California, with compositional credit going to Countess Ada de Lachau (Ada Louise Metz, 1866–1956). The tune was featured as entr'acte entertainment during the 1916-1917 Broadway show Come Out of the Kitchen.[10]

In addition to "Liza Jane" songs appearing in a World War I songbook (Songs of Soldiers and Sailors U.S.) and in Harry Belafonte's widely watched television special, they also appeared in the early talking film Coquette, an early Mickey Mouse cartoon, the popular Fibber McGee and Molly radio show, and hit televisions series such as The Andy Griffith Show and Gunsmoke; these are just a few of the appearances that would help popularize "Liza Jane" songs.[11]

Drawing on minstrelsy versions of the Goodbye Liza Jane" variant, Tin Pan Alley composer Harry Von Tilzer published sheet music in 1903 entitled "Goodbye, Eliza Jane." This version of the song became a "hit" through sheet music sales and cylinder recordings by the likes of Bob Roberts, Arthur Collins, and Billy Murray.[12] Gutstein indicates that the versions of "Goodbye Liza Jane" that circulated later in the 20th century and those that are still popular today -- including titles such as "Black Them Boots," "Going Down to Cairo," and "Charlotte Town" -- descend from late nineteenth century / early twentieth century play party tradition, are nonracial in character, and do not share anything with minstrelsy versions except for the title. Notably, a version by Bob Wills was performed by Wills and his bandmates in the 1945 film Blazing the Western Trail. In addition to Wills, many musicians recorded the play party version (i.e., the nonracial version) of "Goodbye Liza Jane" including Judy Henske, Pete Seeger, and Nora Brown.[13]

As noted, the song's origins go back to the Antebellum South. Lucy Thurston remembered a song with the refrain "Ohoooooooo lil Liza, lil Liza Jane" being sung by enslaved people in the area of Covington, Louisiana before the American Civil War. While the melody is not preserved in the written interview, the lyrics and their rhythm strongly suggest a relationship to the Culbertson and de Lachau lyrics published decades later.[14] Thurston is one of ten women and men to document "Liza Jane" songs in their Works Progress Administration interviews, referring to a wide variety of lyrics and dance traditions, including stealing partners ring games.[15] In 1919, musicologist Natalie Curtis Burlin documented a stealing partners version of "Little Liza Jane" that had been popular for decades among students at Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. As part of the game, couples would dance in a circle, with an extra man in the middle. The extra man would "steal a partner" from one of the couples thereby forcing the man without a dance partner to assume the spot in the center of the circle, and so on, as the process repeated.[16]"....

****
EXCERPT #2
From https://themusicclass.com/blog/little-liza-jane "The Story of Little Liza Jane: From African American Roots to Jazz and Kids’ Music"
"The song “Little Liza Jane” has a long and complex history in the United States. It originated from enslaved African Americans on Southern plantations and was passed down for years through oral folk traditions before the first version was published in 1916. It’s become a traditional New Orleans Jazz standard, but there are countless versions of the song in other musical styles like bluegrass, country, folk, and rock and roll. If you want to do a deep dive, check out the book “Poor Gal: The Cultural History of Little Liza Jane”!"...
-snip-
That webpage includes more information about "Little Liza Jane" songs as well as some YouTube videos of that song.

****
EXCEERPT #3
from https://sweeneygumbo.com/2015/05/30/lil-liza-jane-rises-to-whatever-the-occasion-demands/ "L’il Liza Jane rises to whatever the occasion demands" by Tim Sweeney, Posted on May 30, 2015
...."According to the Preservation Hall Foundation, the song  L’il Liza Jane “has been established as a New Orleans jazz standard since as far back as the 1910s.” Without doubt, the song was making the rounds before Sherman, Clay & Co. of San Francisco printed it up in 1916, describing it as a “Southern Dialect Song.”


[...]


The simple structure of each line of a couplet set off by a choral response of “L’il Liza Jane” makes it a communal experience where others on stage and audience members can participate.


In true folk tradition, the song has been played in many musical styles from big brass bands to bluegrass pickers, with lyrics added and amended based on the occasion. There is something about the couplet structure of the lyrics that invites embellishments.


The call and response part is easy to follow. No need to rehearse ahead of time, just figure it out as the song proceeds.


Most of the time, the song is about the attraction and joy of having Liza Jane as your life partner. “I got a gal that I adore”  (this is where you sing “L’il Liza Jane”) “Way Down South in Baltimore. “I don’t care how far we roam (Little Liza Jane) Where she’s at is home sweet home.“


Huey Piano Smith, an early R&B and rock and roll performer inspired by Professor Longhair, cut a version of the song with his own set of lyrics but stayed true to the song’s theme.

Hey pretty baby can we go strollin’?

(Little Liza Jane)

Yes, you got me rockin’ When I ought to be rollin’

(Little Liza Jane)

The Black Indians of Mardi Gras use the song with lyrics appropriate to their unique practices but the response part is still the same –“L’il Liza Jane.” ”… 

****
This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Sam Chatmon- Can't Get The Saddle On The Old Gray Mule" (lyrics and comments) Part IV

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update- August 16, 2026

This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series about the 19th century African American originated dance song "Whoa Mule (Can't Get The Saddle On)". 

This post showcases a YouTube video of guitarist/singer Sam Chatmon* singing "Can't Get The Saddle On The Old Gray Mule". That title is another referent for the song "Whoa Mule. Can't Get The Saddle On." 

This post also presents information about Sam Chatmon and presents lyrics for two versions of that song that Sam Chatmon sung.

Some of Sam Chatmon's memories of this song are also included in that post.   

*Sam Chatmon's last name is sometimes erroneously given as "Chatman".      

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/07/blog-post.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents a general overview of this song. 

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/whoa-mule-cant-get-saddle-on-lyrics_17.html for Part II of this series. Part II continues the presentation of information about the history and early examples of the songs "Whoa Mule" and the African American song "Peep Squirrel".

Click
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/07/sound-file-lyrics-auto-generated.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. Part III showcases a 1950 sound file of Celina Lewis singing "Whoa Mule (Can't Get The Saddle On"). That post also includes the lyrics for that rendition and Celina Lewis' comments about that song. In addition, that post includes my re-wording into standard English of Celina Lewis' comments.

****
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown composers of this song. Thanks to Sam Chatmon, Celina Lewis,  Bessie Jones, and others whose renditions and comments about this song are documented offline and online. Thanks also to the folklorists who collected & recorded this song.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT SAM CHATMON
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Chatmon
"
Vivian "Sam" Chatmon (January 10, 1897 – February 2, 1983)[1] was an American Delta blues guitarist and singer who was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks.

Life and career

Chatmon was born in Bolton, Mississippi.[1] His family was well known in Mississippi for their musical talents; he was a member of the family's string band when he was young. He may have been Charley Patton's half-brother.[2] In an interview he stated that he started playing the guitar at the age of three, laying it flat on the floor and crawling under it.[3] A year older and he recalled singing a song including the lyrics "Run down to the river thought I'd jump an' drown / I thought about the woman I lovin' and I turn around".[4] He regularly performed for white audiences in the 1900s.[5]

The Chatmon band played rags, ballads, and popular dance tunes. Two of Sam's brothers, the fiddler Lonnie Chatmon and the guitarist Bo Carter, performed with the guitarist Walter Vinson as the Mississippi Sheiks.[1]

Chatmon played the banjo, mandolin and harmonica in addition to the guitar. He performed at parties and on street corners throughout Mississippi for small pay and tips. In the 1930s, he recorded with the Sheiks and also with his brother Lonnie as the Chatman Brothers.[1]

Chatmon moved to Hollandale, Mississippi in the early 1940s and worked on plantations there.[6] He was rediscovered in 1960 and started a new chapter of his career as a folk-blues artist.[1] In the same year he recorded for Arhoolie Records. He toured extensively during the 1960s and 1970s. While in California in 1970, he made several recordings with Sue Draheim, Kenny Hall, Ed Littlefield, Lou Curtiss, Kathy Hall, Will Scarlett and others at Sweet's Mill Music Camp, forming a group he called "The California Sheiks".[7] He played many of the largest and best-known folk festivals, including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., in 1972, the Mariposa Folk Festival in Toronto in 1974, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1976."...

****
EXCERPT FROM FOLKSTREAM FILM TRANSCRIPT

Pancocojams Editor's Notes:
The YouTube video that is given at the top of this pancocojams post is from this Alan Lomax film.

The name "Alan" in this transcript refers to (White American) folklorist Alan Lomax.

The name "Sam" in this transcript refers to (African American) guitarist/singer Sam Chatmon. (Sam Chatmon's last name is sometimes given as "Chatman".)  

I added the words given in italics as explanations.

From https://www.folkstreams.net/contexts/dreams-of-the-noble-old-transcript,1991

Dreams of the Noble Old [film transcript

"[Alan] “America has a patchwork culture of the dreams and songs of all its people This is Alan Lomax. Come with me now on an adventure in our marvelous patchwork culture. Folklorists like myself spent a great deal of time with old people, people of the early generation. What we're looking for though is not the old things, but basically the roots of the culture. We're looking for the keel of the culture so that we can, in them we find the things, the values, the forms, the shapes, the songs, the ceremonies, which go back as far as the living memory can take us into the past and we establish therefore the actual baseline keel of the cultures.

[…]

- This is the heart of the Delta. Hollandale, Mississippi, and we're at the home of a member of one of the royal families of the blues, Sam Chatman. The Chatman family was here when the blues began, almost a 100 years ago. They helped to make them and popularize them, and when you think about it, it was almost a miracle that occurred then, deep in the heart of the Delta.

[…]


- [Alan] Do you remember how the tunes he played to you? [“He” refers to-Sam Chatman’s father]


[Sam]- Yeah, I remember practically all of 'em, all of 'em is just old things about can't get the saddle on the old gray mule, Little Liza Jane.

Whoa, mule

 

Whoa, mule

 

Whoa, mule

 

Can't get the saddle on the old gray mule

 

Can't get the saddle on the old gray mule

 

Chicken in the bread pan

 

Pickin' up dough

 

Everybody time for more

 

Can't get the saddle on the old gray mule

 

Can't get the saddle on the old gray mule

 

Can get the saddle on the old gray mule

 

Whoa, mule

 

Whoa, mule

 

Can't get the saddle on the old gray mule

[…]

[Alan]- In Chatman, we meet a real professional, and that was characteristic of the blues very early. It was a chance for the talented Black musicians of the Deep South to become professional and in doing so, they made a transform of folk music into something that could live and grow in an urban setting, and the Chatman family was very important in all this, as he'll tell us.


[Chatman]- Peter Chatman up here in Memphis, they called him Memphis Slim, that's one of my sister's boys. And if you ever heard of Charlie Patton? Well, Charlie Patton's my brother.

- [Alan] Charlie Patton and others in the Chatman connection were among the first to record the blues. "Sugar Blues" was one of the early commercial ones.”…

-snip-
This concludes the reference to Sam Chatmon in this article except for the lyrics to the song “Sugar Blues”.

Sam Chatmon's mention of "Little Liza Jane" near the beginning of this transcript was probably because some versions of "Little Liza Jane" includes floating verses from "Can't Get The Saddle On The Old Gray Mule" (also known as "Whoa Mule. Can't Get The Saddle On"). 

****
LYRICS FOR "CAN'T GET THE SADDLE ON THE OLD GRAY MULE"*

This comments preface this rendition of that song. Words given in italics are my addition to this transcription for explanatory purposes. 

”Square dance. Calling figures, stealing partner.

 [Music]

[Sam Chatmon] Yeah, my daddy used to play them. So, we’d be in the house. We’d be in the house playing. We’d make like a made like a mistake, playing them. So he’d tell us “Play me [Bring me] that fiddle boy.  You didn’t play that right”. So he could [would] play it for us. We tried to get him to play, and we couldn’t get him. “I don’t feel like playing.”

We going out the next night and come and make mistakes. He’d say “That ain’t right.”

So, Branch, let me show you how to play it. He could play it too.”
-snip-
I don't know who "Branch" was. (I think that it was a referent for Alan Lomax.)

The sentence “He could play it too” means “He was really skillful in the way he played that song.
-snip
This song begins around .45 in this video. The words in italic are my guess about what he sung.

LYRICS:

“Chicken in the bread pan, pickin up dough
[How he got there.] I didn’t know.
Can’t get the saddle on
Hold that mule.

Can’t get the saddle on

Hold that mule.
Whoa mule!
Whoa, mule!
Can’t get the saddle on.
Whoa, mule!
Hold that mule.
Whoa mule
Can’t get the saddle on
Hold that mule.
Can’t get the saddle on.


See that gal with the red dress on
Don't you stop till I told you so  [?]
If you get there before I do
Just tell ??? I’m comin to

Can’t get the saddle on
Hold that mule.
Can’t get the saddle on.
Hold that mule
Can’t get the saddle on.
Whoa mule
Whoa mule
Can’t get the saddle on
Hold that mule.
Can’t get the saddle on.

Hold that mule.
Can’t get the saddle on.

Chicken in the bread pan
Pickin up dough
Everybody time for more
Whoa mule
Can’t get the saddle on
Hold that mule.
Can’t get the saddle on.
Hold that mule.
Hold that mule
Can’t get the saddle on.
Hold that mule.
-snip-
*Part of this transcript is from the auto-generated transcription of the YouTube video that is given at the top of this pancocojams post and part of this transcript is what I believe I heard Sam Chatmon speaking and singing.

(?) means that I was unable to decipher what was being sung.

The lyrics "Don't you stop till I told you so" that are given after the line "See that girl with the red dress on" are given in italics because I'm not sure if those are the words that Sam Chatmon sung. However, those words are sung in Chatmon's version of "Little Liza Jane" that is found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us0Uh57v0Tg .

Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
This concludes Part IV of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Friday, August 14, 2026

"Good Foot (Superbad)" & Four Other YouTube Videos Of African American (Soul) Line Dances That Were Choreographed For Music That Wasn't Recorded For Line Dancing (Part III))

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series that showcases some YouTube video examples of African American (Soul) line dances that were choreographed for music that wasn't recorded for line dancing.

The videos in this pancocojams series focus on the line dance routines more than on the record itself.

Most of these showcased line dances have multiple YouTube video examples. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/five-examples-of-youtube-video-examples.html for Part I of this pancocojams series.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/follow-me-four-other-youtube-videos-of.html for Part II of this pancocojams series.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the recording artists and to all other who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the producers and the publishers of these videos on YouTube. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-five-most-watched-youtube-videos-of.html for Part I of a three part pancocojams series that lists the African American (Soul) line dance videos that were #1-#5 on August 11, 2026
based on the total views of their official YouTube music video.  

That post also include links to Part II and Part III of that pancocojams series. Those posts list the African American (Soul) line dance videos that were #6-#15 on August 13, 2026
based on the total views of their official YouTube music video. 

These examples were recorded specifically for line dancing (i.e. at least part of their lyrics consists of instructions about how to perform that line dance). 
****
SOME EXAMPLES OF AFRICAN AMERICAN (SOUL) LINE DANCES THAT WERE CHOREOGRAPHED FOR MUSIC THAT WASN'T RECORDED FOR LINE DANCING

These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

Editor's Note: August 14, 2026. I plan to add additional information to this post ASAP.  
: .


SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - 
GOOD FOOT (SUPERBAD) Line Dance



Jero Green, May 17, 2022

I do not one the rights to this Music Getting on the Foot foot Line Dance Choreographed by Ray Boyd & Kenny’s

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

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO # 2 -
OOH WEE LINE DANCE



Jero Green, 
Apr 24, 2026

Ooh Wee A line Dance

Choreographed by Jero KOLD Green

Artist MS YANNI

Song OOH WEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Qonox8M_8

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -
Down South Party Line Dance 


473,634 views  Feb 19, 2012

Wild Bill's 2nd annual animal house line dance party, having fun doing the down south party line dance, music by Special, featuring Big Robb. Friday 2-17-12,  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HM9SULwjh0

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Finna Get Loose Line Dance - 704 Soul Line Dance | Charlotte, NC - 12.19.2025



704 Soul Line DanceDec 20, 2025  CHARLOTTE

If your line dance parties don't look like this, what are you doing? Come check us out the next time your are in Charlotte.

704 Soul Line Dance - Classes in Charlotte, NC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-yXORDCmgM

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Sugaa Shack Line Dance.. 🥰



Lady Snapshot, Dec 30, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk3fESWBPlA

****
This concludes Part III of this multi-part pancocojams series.


Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitors comments are welcome.