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 III of this pancocojams series. That post presents some additional lyric examples of "Little Liza Jane" songs
Click ____for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases five YouTube videos of the song "Little Liza Jane".
****
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, socio-cultural, and entertainment
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
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
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.
From: Dale Rose
Date: 10 Sep 97 - 12:57 AM
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
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
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.
From: Gene
Date: 08 Jan 98 - 12:13 AM
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
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.
From: emily rain
Date: 05 May 99 - 09:32 PM
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
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
"
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
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 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
Any More??"
-snip-
I added the hyperlinks to the discussion threads that is mentioned in that comment.
****
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