Little Liza Jane
Elizabeth Mitchell - Topic, May 19, 2015
Provided to YouTube by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Little Liza Jane · Elizabeth Mitchell
You Are My Little Bird
℗ 2006 Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series about the "Little Liza Jane" ("Lil' Liza Jane") song family.
This post presents lyrics for three contemporary (20th century/21st century) children's versions of the song "Little Liza Jane".
This post also presents information about and lyrics for two early 20th century examples of those children's versions of "Little Liza Jane".
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 https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/08/seven-youtube-videos-of-little-liza.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcases seven YouTube videos of the song "Little Liza Jane".
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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 quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/five-examples-of-song-lyrics-for-lil.html for a 2014 pancocojams post that also presents some lyrics for "Little Liza Jane". That post includes examples of "Little Liza Jane" that aren't included in this 2026 series.
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THREE 21st CENTURY CHILDREN'S VERSIONS OF 'LITTLE LIZA JANE"
[These examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.]
EXAMPLE #1
from https://genius.com/Elizabeth-mitchell-little-liza-jane-lyrics [These are the lyrics for the video that is embedded at the top of this pancocojams post.]
LITTLE LIZA JANE
I've got a friend in Baltimore, little Liza Jane
Streetcars running by her door, little Liza Jane
Oh little Liza, little Liza Jane
Oh little Liza, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in San Antone, little Liza Jane
Tumbleweeds and cactus grow, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in Providence, little Liza Jane
Bluebird sitting on the fence, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in Chicago, little Liza Jane
Walk and feel the cold winds blow, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in Sioux falls, little Liza Jane
Where sunflowers grow so tall, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in Cape Cod, little Liza Jane
Bullfrogs singing in the pond, little Liza Jane
I've got a friend in Tokyo, little Liza Jane
Springtime ume blossoms grow, little Liza Jane
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EXAMPLE #2-
from https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8346
Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE LIZA JANE
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Dec 98 - 10:27 PM
Little Liza Jane
I got a house in Baltimore,
Little Liza Jane,
Street cars running by my door,
Little Liza Jane.
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane,
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane.
Brussels carpet on my floor,
Little Liza Jane,
Silver doorplate by my door,
Little Liza Jane.
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane,
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane.
Come, my love, and be with me,
Little Liza Jane,
Let me take good care of thee,
Little Liza Jane.
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane,
(clap) Oh, Eliza,
Little Liza Jane."
-snip-
The word "Kididdles" is given in that comment as a hyperlink. However, the page for this song is no longer available.
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EXAMPLE #3-LITTLE LIZA JANE
from https://nurseryrhymescollections.com/songs/little-liza-jane/ "Nursery Rhyme Collection: Little Liza Jane"
I know a girl that you don't know,
Little Liza Jane.
Way down south in Baltimore,
Little Liza Jane.
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane,
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane.
Liza Jane looks good to me,
Little Liza Jane.
Sweetest one I've ever seen,
Little Liza Jane.
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane,
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane.
Where she lives the posies grow,
Little Liza Jane.
Chickens round the kitchen door,
Little Liza Jane.
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane,
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane.
What do I care how far we roam,
Little Liza Jane.
Where she's at is home sweet home,
Little Liza Jane.
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane,
Oh! Little Liza, Little Liza Jane.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement ©
Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
"Little Liza Jane" is a traditional American folk
song that has been collected in various forms across the southern and eastern
United States. Its exact origins are uncertain, though it appears to belong to
the tradition of play-party songs — songs used for dancing and games in
communities where instrumental music for dancing was sometimes discouraged on
religious grounds.
The Baltimore setting gives the song a specific geography,
though "Little Liza Jane" herself is a folk character rather than a
historical person. The details of her world — posies growing where she lives,
chickens round the kitchen door — are the specifics of rural American domestic
life, warm and slightly idealised.
[…]
The song has been recorded by many artists across the folk,
country, and children's music traditions. Its simple, joyful energy makes it
immediately accessible to children while carrying enough folk warmth to hold
adult attention. Our arrangement captures that energy with a lively folk
production."
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1918-1919 SOURCES FOR THOSE "LITTLE LIZA JANE" LYRICS
COMMENT #1
from https://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
^^
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)."
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COMMENT #2
from https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8346
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Liza Jane (kids' version)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 10:44 PM
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.
This dance-song is the precurser of the New Orleans marching
song "L'il Liza Jane," set into sheet music by Countess Ada de Lachau
and played by Earl Fuller (recording on Red Hot Jazz)."..
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This concludes Part IV of this four part pancocojams series.
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