The78Prof, May 1, 2019
This not-so-typical Kyser disc got lost among the also-rans
as the band rode high throughout 1942 with one major best-seller after
another. Among them were Who Wouldn't
Love You, Jingle Jangle Jingle, Strip Polka, He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings, and
Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition.
78rpm Columbia 36615 - Egg-A-Bread (MacGimsey) by Kay Kyser
& His Orchestra, vocals by Julie Conway & Sully Mason, recorded May 4,
1942 .
-snip-
The record label indicates that this song is performed as a "Fox Trot".
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents a definition of the term "egg bread" and presents information about and lyrics for the African American children's singing game "Old Egg Bread". That ring game* was collected in 1917 in the state of Georgia. Another name for that singing game is "Did You Go To The Hen House?"
*"ring game" = circle game
This post also showcases a YouTube sound file of 1942 adaptation of that singing game by Kay Kyser's (White American) Jazz band. The lyrics for that adaptation-without the verse about going to a lynching and some other verses- are included in this pancocojams post. Those lyrics are attributed to (White American) Country Western singer Tex Ritter who recorded that song in 1948.
My Editorial note about this African American children's game song is also included in this post. That editorial note includes a YouTube song file of the very similar African American children's singing game "Did You Feed My Cow?"
The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to the unknown composer of the game song "Old Egg Bread" and thanks to Loraine Darby who collected this singing game and several other singing games in 1917 from Black children in Southern Georgia (USA).
Thanks to all those who are featured in this YouTube sound file and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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WHAT IS "EGG BREAD"?
From https://recipesformen.com/eggy-bread/#:~:text=Eggy%20bread%2C%20otherwise%20known%20as,can%20be%20savoury%20or%20sweet. "What is Eggy Bread?
...."Eggy bread, otherwise known as French toast, is what it says
it is – bread soaked in egg and toasted in a skillet or pan. There are several
ways to eat this simple food, which can be savoury or sweet.”…
****
LYRICS FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN'S SONG "OLD EGG BREAD"
From https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/534340.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A13239d3004a560ee6cd2078fffa8650b&ab_segments=&origin=
Ring-Games from Georgia
Author(s): Loraine Darby
Source: The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 30, No. 116
(Apr. - Jun., 1917), pp. 218-221
Published by: American Folklore Society
"[page] 218
I saw in Southern Georgia a number of ring games that I believe are peculiar to colored children of that region.
{...]
A game which is most amusing to watch is "Good Old Egg Bread". The leader shouts one line, and the others answer with the next.
The rhythm is very strong, and they stamp their feet most energetically as they circle.
Did you go to the
hen-house?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you get any eggs?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you put 'em in
the bread?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you stir it
'roun'?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you bake it
brown?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you hand it
'roun'?
Yes, ma'am!
[page] 219
Good old egg-bread,
Shake 'em, shake 'em!
Good old egg-bread,
Shake 'em, shake 'em!
Did you go to the
lynchin'?
Yes, ma'am!
Did they lynch that
man?
Yes, ma'am!
Did the man cry?
Yes, ma'am!
How did he cry?
Baa, baa!
How did he cry?
Baa, baa!
Did you go to the wedding?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you get any wine?
Yes, ma'am!
Did you get any cake?
Yes, ma'am!
How did it taste?
So good!
How did it taste?
So good!
Good old egg-bread,
Shake 'em, shake 'em!
Good old egg-bread,
Shake 'em, shake 'em!
Bow, Mr. Blackbird, bow, Mr. Crow.
Bow, Mr. Blackbird, bow no mo'!"
-snip-
The collector of this singing game wrote that it was collected in "Southern Georgia". The lyrics and play instructions for several other African American singing games that were collected at that same time are included in that online excerpt.
****
LYRICS FOR WHITE AMERICAN ADAPTATIONS OF "OLD EGG BREAD"
From https://flowlez.com/en/songs/egg-a-bread-1789158/
"Egg-a-Bread
Album: Pecos Bill / Egg-A-Bread
Artist: Tex Ritter
Genres: Western, American Folk, Country, Spoken Word, Folk,
Children's Music
Language: English
Year: 1948
Song lyrics Tex Ritter - Egg-a-Bread
Little girl little girl
Yes Sir
Did you go downtown?
Yes Sir
And did you look around
Yes Sir
Did you go on your legs, did you get some eggs?
Yes Sir, aha
Good old egg-a-bread, shake it shake it
Good old egg-a-bread, shake it down
Good old egg-a-bread, bake it bake it
Good old egg-a-bread, just bake it brown
Little girl little girl
Yes Sir
Did stay 'bout an hour
Yes Sir
And did you get some flour
Yes Sir
Did you put it in the bread and you show you did
Oh Yes Sir, aha
We'll have that
Good old egg-a-bread, shake it shake it
Good old egg-a-bread, shake it down
Good old egg-a-bread, bake it bake it
Good old egg-a-bread, just bake it brown
Little boy little boy
Yes Ma'am
Did you go downtown?
Yes Ma'am
Did you look around
Hm' hmm
Did you meet a little girl?
I sure did
Was her name called Curls?
Sure it was
Did you go for a walk?
Hm' hmm
Did you have a little talk?
Yes Ma'am
Did she get candy and fool her mammy?
Yes Ma'am don't tell
Yes Ma'am don't tell
Shake it bake it
Bake it brown
Make it bake it"
****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTES ABOUT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN'S SINGING GAME 'OLD EGG BREAD"
The African American children's singing game "Old Egg Bread" (also known as "Did You Go To The Hen House?") has the same textual structure as the African American children's singing game "Did You Feed My Cow?". Both singing games probably have the same tune and tempo. Here's a sound file of Did You Feed My Cow" that is led by Ella Jenkins:
Ella Jenkins, May 21, 2015
**
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjXJ1Q_VpfY for another YouTube example of this song that is led by and popularized by (African American) folklorist/singer Ella Jenkins.
**
The earliest documented example of "Old Egg Bread" appears to be from 1917 (Loraine Darby, "Ring-Games from Georgia", The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 30, No. 116, 1917)
The earliest documented example of "Did You Feed My Cow" appears to be from 1922 (Thomas W. Talley, Negro Folk Rhymes: Wise And Otherwise)
**
I believe that one purpose of early 20th century African American children's singing games was to prepare those children for living in an oppressive world. For example, I believe that the African American children's song "Johnny Cuckoo" helped Black children develop and reinforce their self-esteem with the group's line "You look too black and dirty" and the soloist's reply "I'm just as good as you are". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/08/two-examples-of-african-american_5.html "Two Examples Of The African American Children's Singing Game "Johnny Cuckoo" (By Bessie Jones & By Joan Baez)".
Similarly, the verse in "Old Egg Bread" that refers to going to a lynching was purposely added to that singing game to harden African American children and reinforce the fact that (for them, in that time) lynching was a fact of life for Black people. Particularly in the American South, lynching was a danger that Black people must be alert to. In addition, I believe the inclusion of lyrics about lynching in that song was meant to teach those Black children that if lynching happened to someone they knew, they must work through their emotions and go on with life as best they could.
Notice that the song "Did You Feed My Cow?" includes a reference to the cow dying and buzzards coming to feed off of the dead cow. That's just one example of death being featured in African American children's songs. That said, death is also featured in a number of children's game songs that originated among White people.
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