What "Sugar On The Floor" Means (The American Folk Cultural Meaning & The Kiki Dee composition)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about the American folk meaning of the phrase "sugar on the floor" and the meaning of that term in the Kiki Dee's song that was recorded by Elton John, Etta Cox, and others.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those composers and performers who are noted in this post. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post, and thanks to the publishers of the video and the sound file that are featured in this post.

****
AMERICAN FOLK MEANING OF THE PHRASE "SUGAR ON THE FLOOR"
The folk meaning of "sugar on the floor" is "sprinkling sugar on the floor to enhance social dancing".

"At house parties they used to shake sugar on the floor so it would crunch when stepped on, hence “to shake sugaree” meant to have a good time dancing. Even today, there’s a dance step called the “sugar step” which is an action like grinding sugar on the floor." http://rickmckeon.com/guitarlessons/shakel.pdf “Shake Sugaree”
-snip-
One suggested meaning of the Elizabeth Cotton song "Shake Sugaree". is that it refers to sugar being sprinkled on the floor for dancing. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/eiizabeth-cotton-shake-sugaree-sound.html for a pancocojams post on "Shake Sugaree".

Also, click this link for my new playground rhymes blog cocojams2 to read a version of the playground rhyme "Here We Go Round The Mountain" that is prefaced by the saying "Sugar's on the floor!!": http://cocojams2.blogspot.com/2014/11/african-american-singing-games-movement.html

****
THE SONG "SUGAR ON THE FLOOR" BY JEAN RITCHIE
The song "Sugar On The Floor" was recorded by Jean Ritchie in the 1950s region. "Jean Ritchie (born December 8, 1922) is an American folk music singer, songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ritchie.

If I'm not mistaken, "Sugar On The Floor" is featured in Jean Ritchie's 1956 album Children's Songs & Games from the Southern Mountains (1956). Here's a review of a CD of that album:
http://www.music-tree.com/ritchiedisco.html "Childhood Songs"/Jean Ritchie
"Previously available on cassette only, this collection of songs from Jean’s childhood, and songs she sang to her children is now available on CD. The booklet contains directions for the singing CD".

****
LYRICS: SUGAR OF THE FLOOR
(Jean Ritchie)

"(A) Sugar on the floor (D) sugar on the floor
Eat that up and (A) call for more
Dance my shoes right (D)off-a my feet
With (A)you, my little (E7)sugar on the (A)floor (A,D,E7,A)

verse

Now (A)shake that little foot, sweet Sally Ann
With a hey ho, (E7)sugar on the (A)floor
If (F#m)she can't shake it (E)nobody (D)can
O (E7) watch that sugar on the floor

Do si do and shy all around her,
Hey, ho, sugar on the floor.
Eat that sugar-pie til you founder,
Watch that sugar on the floor.
chorus

Faster, girls, you not a-goin'fast enough,
hey, ho, sugar on the floor;
Slow down boys you a-gettin too rough
Now watch that sugar on the floor.
chorus

Jeremiah Johnson, let me have your daughter,
hey, ho, sugar on the floor;
Bake my bread and carry water and
Throw a little sugar on my floor.
chorus

O swing 'er and hug'er and stand'er in the corner,
Hey, ho, sugar on the floor.
Hain't she a purty thing, 'pon my honor!
Sweetest little sugar on the floor.
chorus

Gimme little sugar and gimme little sweetnin',
Hey, ho, sugar on the floor.
Clap your hands and stamp your feet 'n'
Watch that sugar on the floor.

chorus

1964, 1971 Geordie Music Publishing, all rights reserved."
Source: http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=33509 "Lyr Add: Sugar On The Floor by Jean Ritchie", posted by harpgirl. 22 Apr 01 - 03:10 PM.

This is the only post on that discussion thread.
-snip-
"Sugar On The Floor" is probably Ritchie's version of a Kentucky Mountain folk song. If so, it's somewhat curious that there doesn't appear to be any other lyric versions of that song online. And unfortunately, I've not been able to find the Jean Ritchie song "Sugar On The Floor" on YouTube.

****
In various verses of Jean Ritchie's song, "sugar" can also be interpreted as an affectionate referent for a female.

In American English "sugar" can be a referent for a female or a male. Also, among African Americans, the nickname "Shug" -from the word "sugar"- is a uncommon, but still heard, nickname for a male or a female. [i.e. "Shug Avery", a woman in Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple and "Shug Knight" is an African American male Hip-Hop music entrepreneur.

****
In Jean Ritchie's song "sugar" also refers to a pastry: "Eat that sugar-pie til you founder".

The word "sugar" in Jean Ritchie's song is also used to mean "give me a hug and/or a kiss": "Gimme little sugar and gimme little sweetnin'". ("Give me some sugar" is a relatively common American way of saying "Give me a hug and/or a kiss".)

****
An American traditional folk music singing group which is named after that Jean Ritchie song gives this meaning of that song title and lyric:
"From http://www.sugaronthefloor.com/ ":
"The name of our group is the title of an rollicking old time song about making rough floors more danceable by throwing sugar on them so folks could slide around easily. The song combines snatches of two old dance tunes "The Eighth of January" and "Pigtown Fling."
-snip-
*The reference to "Sugar On The Floor" being a combination of two old dance tunes refers to the music of those fiddle tunes and not any lyrics those tunes might have. Instrumental videos of "The Eighth of January" (also known as "The Battle Of New Orleans) aand "Pigtown Fling" are available on YouTube.

****
"SUGAR ON THE FLOOR" - POP ROCK/BLUES SONG
Judging from the number of Google search hits, the most widely known example and meaning of the phrase "sugar on the floor" is connected to Kiki Dee's 1970s composition with that title. "Sugar On The Floor" has been recorded by Pop/Rock star Elton John, Blues star Etta James, and others. In that song "sugar on the floor" means being discarded by the person you love.

****
Here's a video of Elton John performing Sugar On The Floor":

Elton John - Sugar on the Floor (1975) With Lyrics!



RonnieFriend, Uploaded on Feb 25, 2009

Released as the B-side to the "Island Girl" single, this song was written by Elton's friend and singing partner Kiki Dee. Elton had produced and played on Kiki's own original version in 1973 on her "Loving & Free" album. On Elton's version he accompanied himself on piano, with just a little bit of guitar added by Davey Johnstone. It's an unusally stark and dramatic performance from the mid-70s Elton John!
Listen to Kiki's version here:
http://youtu.be/BxJKtCUPayg
-snip-
Click http://www.eltonography.com/songs/sugar_on_the_floor.html for the complete lyrics of that song.

****
Here's a sound file of Etta James singing "Sugar On The Floor":

Etta James - Sugar on the Floor

.

tormentor91 Uploaded on Oct 19, 2008

Etta James - Sugar on the Floor
-snip-
Etta James adds these lyrics to Kiki Dee's song "Sugar On The Floor":
"All I need,
all I need is somebody to love
All I need,
all I need is somebody to care about me
So I won't be wasted
Oh, wasted on the floor
Oh I, oh I
I feel like I'm sugar on the floor"
-snip-
Click http://www.metrolyrics.com/sugar-on-the-floor-lyrics-etta-james.html for the lyrics that Etta James sings for that song.

****
Here are a few selected comments from the discussion thread for the Etta James sound file that is embedded above:
buren86, Sep 20, 2009
"God Bless Etta James....her voice, her feeling, her expression of this song makes me cry. When we're feeling down, unloved, unwanted...it strikes right at the heart. Yet, there is still some Hope, that things can get better for us. When will I be sure? Feels like, sugar on the floor. All we really need is someone to love us, care about us, so we won't be wasted on the floor. God Bless U Etta.

**
zanderphis, Sep 3, 2010 in reply to buren86
"hi buren86 when i was young my parents thru sugar on the floor so their feet would slid easy while they danced. the sugar was used, but not wasted. love is never wasted."

**
buren86 Sep 4, 2010 in reply to zanderphis
@zanderphis I'm not sure that's quite what the song is talking about, but your point about love never wasted is well-taken : )

**
Den Knee Dec 21, 2011 in reply to JloveLamar
@JloveLamar The original studio version was on Etta's 'Deep In The Night' lp on Warner Brothers Records from 1978. Bullseye Blues/Rounder issued it on cd in 1996. Not sure where this live version is from tho.

“All I need is someone to care for me so I won’t be wasted
like sugar on the floor.”

**
Bill Durling, 2014
"This a cover of a Kiki Dee song, not an Elton John song. First recorded on Kiki Dee's Album "Loving And Free" (1973)."

**
George Whitney, 2014
"Sometimes I feel like I'm wasted like Sugar on the Floor! ETTA!"

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Three Early Examples of "Rock Island Line" (with lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases three early examples of the song "Rock Island Line". The featured examples are Kelly Pace and other men [prison inmates] (1934), unnamed men [prison inmates] (1939), and Lead Belly (1944). The lyrics to those renditions of this song are included in this post.

The content of this post are presented for folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the composers of these songs. Thanks also to all those featured in these examples. And thanks to the sound file and video producers and publishers of these examples on YouTube.

****
FEATURED EXAMPLES & LYRICS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their recording dates with the oldest dated example given first.

Example 1: Original 1934 John Lomax recording of 'Rock Island Line' by Kelly Pace and Prisoners


Jan Tak, Uploaded on Sep 10, 2011

In 1934 John Lomax with the help of Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly) made the first two recordings of "Rock Island Line", a song that would become world-famous later. A tall tale in rhyme, the song's subject is a train so fast that it arrives at its destination in Little Rock (at 8:49) before its departure from Memphis (at "half past nine").

They arrived in Arkansas in late September and worked first in Little Rock and then at the Tucker and Cummins prison farms to the south. In recording the second version they for the first time encountered Kelly Pace - a petty criminal but an outstanding prison singer. (Pace would eventually contribute more than thirty performances to the Library of Congress archives.)

Lomax made additional recording trips to Arkansas prisons in 1939 and 1942, unaccompanied by Ledbetter. Pace was a free man at the time of the 1939 visit, but Lomax collected a third version of "The Rock Island Line," this time in Cummins Prison. Listen to that recording here: http://youtu.be/5qWpAgoJHUk

By 1942, Pace was back in stir, sent up for forty-two years for stealing a car, and once again he was the star, performing some twenty-six songs as a soloist or member of a larger group. One of these is a fourth performance of "The Rock Island Line," the last version collected in Arkansas by Lomax.

In the meantime Ledbetter immediately recognized the potential of the tune and eventually played a major role in making it famous. He recorded it many times, first for folksong collectors at the Library of Congress in 1937 and later for commercial labels (RCA Victor in 1940 and Capitol in 1944, among others).
-snip-
LYRICS: ROCK ISLAND LINE (Kelly Pace Version)

Chorus:
I said the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
I said the Rock Island Line is the road to ride
I said the Rock Island Line is a mighty good road
If you want to ride, you gotta ride it like you find it.
Buy your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line.
Well, Jesus died to save me all of my sins
Oh well a glory to God we gonna meet Him again

Chorus
Oh well the train left Memphis at half past nine
It made it back to Little Rock at eight forty nine.
Chorus

Well, Jesus died to save me all of my sins
Oh well a glory to God we gonna meet Him again

Chorus
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from this recording. Additions and corrections are welcome.

****
Example #2: Original 1939 John and Ruby Lomax recording - Rock Island Line



Jan Tak Uploaded on Jun 27, 2011

Between March 31, 1939 and June 14, 1939 John Avery Lomax and his wife Ruby Terrill Lomax recorded approximately 25 hours of folk music (from more than 300 performers) in their "Southern States Recording Trip" for the US Library of Congress. This is one of the original recordings of "Rock Island Line", which later became famous through singers like Kelly Pace, Leadbelly, and Lonnie Donegan.
-snip-
The lyrics to this version are very similar to those found in the Kelly Pace recording in 1937with the exception of the verse between 1:03=1:09 in that video.*

*Thanks to slam 2011 for her possible transcription of the lines that are sung from 1:03 to 1:09:
"'Oh we have engine now an' fireman too/We got a (purty good -?) an' a brakeman too'".

****
Example #3: Roots of Blues -- Lead Belly „Rock Island Line"



Slowtubbi, Uploaded on Jul 18, 2008

Recorded: 1944

Huddie William Ledbetter, (January, 1888 -- December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing, his virtuosity on the twelve string guitar, and the rich songbook of folk standards he introduced.
He is best known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly. Though many releases list him as "Leadbelly," he himself spelled it "Lead Belly." This is also the usage on his tombstone, as well as the Lead Belly Foundation.
-snip-
LYRICS: ROCK ISLAND LINE
(as performed by Lead Belly)

[Chorus]
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride,
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,

If you want to ride, you got to ride it like you find it,
Get your ticket at the station on the Rock Island Line.
Jesus died to save our sins--hooray to God,
We're going to meet him again!

[Chorus]
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride,
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road

I may be right and I may be wrong,
You are going to miss me when I'm gone!

[Chorus]
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride,
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road

A, B, C, W, X, Y and Z
Cats in the cupboard, but they don't see me!

[Chorus]
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road,
Oh that Rock Island Line is that road to ride,
Oh that Rock Island Line is a mighty good road

Source: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/leadbelly/rock+island+line_20302510.html
****
****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

"Alabama Gal" (Play-Party Song) videos and lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides lyrics & performance instructions for the play party song "Alabama Gal"* (also known as "Alabama Girl" and other titles.) Three videos of this play party song are also showcased in this post.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song, and thanks to those who collected examples of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

Note: I believe that Alabama Gal is an example of an American play party song that has African American sources/influences. Click for more information and a partial listing of American play party songs with African American sources/influences.

****
LYRICS AND PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTIONS: "ALABAMA GAL"
(These two examples are presented in no order of preference or determination as to which version is closest to the "original" way this play party song was played.)

Example #1
From http://www.ecrs.org/ofplayandplayfulness/play_parties.html
1. Come thru in a hurry (3 times), Alabama girl
2. You don't know how, how, (3 times). Alabama girl.
3. I've showed you how, how (3 times). Alabama girl.
4. Ain't I rock candy, (3 times). Alabama girl.

Formation:
To play this game, the men stand in a single line and the women in another, facing each other and about six feet apart, partners opposite. The head of the set is the end of the lines to the left of the men.

Action:
(1) All the players sing. At the first word of the song the head couple steps out and dances down between the lines toward the foot of the set. This advance down between the lines occupies eight steps. During the singing of the remaining two lines of the verse, this couple retraces their steps to the head of lines, reversing position without releasing each other's hands.

(2) Reel: On the last word of the verse, the couple, having reached the head of the lines, release each other's hands and pass each other to the opposite side. The man joins left hands with the woman, who is now head of her line, and the woman joins left hands with the man who is now head of his line. This joining of hands comes exactly on the first accented syllable of the second verse of the song, and is also exactly at the same time that the left foot strikes the floor in a forward swing that turns this new couple entirely around counter-clockwise in four steps, to just one line of the song. They then release, leaving the new member of each couple back in line, and the original couple joins right hands exactly on the first accented beat of the next line, performing another complete turn in the opposite direction, clockwise. Then the left hands are presented to the next in line, and so on until the foot of the set is reached, when the two take their places in their respective lines at the foot of the set. The couple left at the head becomes the leading couple for a fresh performance of the whole game. Not more than eight couples should be used in a set.
- Reprinted from Handy Play Party Book. Copyright 1982, World Around Songs, Inc."

****
Example #2
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=21232 "GO THROUGH AND HURRY" From: Jacob B; Date: 10 May 00 - 12:11 PM

"GO THROUGH AND HURRY

Four couple longways sets

(First couple sashay down) Go through and hurry, go through and hurry
(First couple sashay back) Go through and hurry, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allemande R once and a half) You don't know how, girl. You don't know how, girl.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 2nd couple) You don't know how, girl, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allem. R twice around) I'll show you how, girl. I'll show you how, girl.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 3rd couple) I'll show you how, girl, my Alabama gal
(1st couple allem. R twice around) Ain't I rock candy, ain't I rock candy.
(1st couple allem. L twice with 4th couple) Ain't I rock candy, my Alabama gal
(Original top couple retires to their own side of set,
new top couple starts the dance)

I have also seen this dance described as being done in longways sets for as many as will, with the top couple doing an elbow reel all the way down, and the new top couple starting the dance when "Go through and hurry" comes around in the lyrics, even though there are other couples who are still in the process of doing the elbow reel."

****
Explanation of lyrics:
"Ain't I rock candy" = Aren't I as sweet as candy. In the United States, "rock candy" is commonly referred to as "hard candy".

****
Explanation of terms:
From http://users.fred.net/tds/contra-the-short.answer/glossary.htm
Contra Dance Terms

"Set: The overall arrangement of couples for a given dance, such as a big circle, square formation, longways, etc.

Longways Set: Two lines, usually made up of partners facing each other in the opposite line. Used for contras and reels."

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates or the date of the recording with the oldest examples given first.

Example #1: Alabama Gal



Laurie Rocconi, Uploaded on Mar 27, 2009

school dance
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29OtTyHZrSM
Shanalikefergie. 2009o
"Aw this is cute! I did this in 4th grade. Ha ha me and one boy were the only ones who understood the dance. Hahaha. Run through the hurry, Run through the hurry. Run through the hurry, Alabama Gal. I dont know how how I dont know how how I dont know how how Alabama Gal. I'll show you how how, I'll show you how how. I'll show you how how Alabama Gal..."

****
Example #2: Mountain Folk Festival, 1993 Alabama Gal



John M Ramsay, Uploaded on Feb 12, 2011

Alabama Gal is an American playparty game or dance. It is a traditional dance form which, in the old days, was popular among teenagers. The dancers supply their own music.

****
Example #3: Alabama Gal



Vincent Bates, Published on Apr 5, 2012

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More

Five Examples of Song Lyrics For "Li'l Liza Jane" (Little Liza Jane)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on the song "Li'l Liza Jane"(also given as "Little Liza Jane"). This post provides information about "Li'l Liza Jane" and presents five text examples (lyrics)for that song.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/02/seven-videos-of-lil-liza-jane-little.html for Part II of this series. That post showcases seven YouTube videos of "Li'l Liza Jane".

These two posts showcase only a small sample of the renditions of this song as sung by and performed by African Americans since the huge family of "L'l Liza Jane" songs originated with African Americans.

There are numerous versions of "Li'l Liza Jane". New two lined rhyming verses for this song are improvised every day and/or floating verses from other old time songs are combined to make new renditions of "Little Liza Jane". Also, additional instrumental renditions of this song are performed and recorded daily.

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the unknown original composers of this song, and thanks to those who collected examples of this song. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "LITTLE LIZA JANE"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li'l_Liza_Jane
"Li'l Liza Jane", also known as "Little Liza Jane" and "Liza Jane", is a song dating back at least to the 1910s. It has become a perennial standard both as a song and an instrumental in traditional jazz, folk music, and bluegrass, and versions have repeatedly appeared in other genres including rock and roll. It is one of the standards of the New Orleans brass band tradition.

Origin
"Li'l Liza Jane" was first published in 1916 by Sherman, Clay & Co of San Francisco, California as a composition by Countess Ada de Lachau. It was described as a "Southern dialect song". The tune was featured in the 1916-1917 show "Come Out of the Kitchen".

The song's origins, however, seem to go back even earlier. The tune's similarity to the 1850 Stephen Foster standard "Camptown Races" has been observed.[citation needed] The name "Liza Jane" or "Eliza Jane" was a standard female character name in minstrel shows. A tune "Goodbye, Liza Jane" was published by Eddie Fox in 1871. Harry Von Tilzer published "Goodbye, Eliza Jane" in 1903, which has some similarity to the later "Li'l Liza Jane".

Natalie Curtis Burlin's book Negro Folk-Songs, published in 1918, documents a version said to be a Negro folk song with an associated dancing game. In the "Liza Jane" dance, couples would dance in a circle, with an extra man in the middle. The extra man would "steal partners" with one of the couples, and the odd man out would go into the center and do a solo dance, then in cut in on another couple and the process would repeat."

****
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=152 Lyric Request: O Eliza, little Liza Jane"
From: PoppaGator ; Date: 10 May 07 - 02:47 PM
"This is a VERY popular song in the New Orleans Brass Band repertoire, played and sung at every social-and-pleasure-club second line parade, every jazz funeral, etc. It has survived for decades, through many evolving changes in musical trends. People just love it, and no other song inspires a comparable level of audience-participation sing-along-ing on the chorus.

"Liza Jane" generally serves as a vehicle for newly improvided* lyrics; you hear new two-line rhyming couplets every time you hear the song.

I was a little surprised to see the name "Eliza" in the title here. We generally pronounce it "L'il Liza," as in "HO! L'il Liza, L'il Liza Jane," with a very emphatic, percussive first-syllable "HO!"..."

*This is probably a typo for "improvised"

**
From: Q ; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 05:52 PM
"In http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=2777 Dale Rose said "The whole Liza Jane family of songs could probably make a good thesis.:
That thread has these posted lyrics:
Good Bye, Liza Jane, 1871, by Eddie Fox
Good Bye Eliza Jane, 1903, Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer
Good-by Liza Jane, Rutledge and Rogers Circus, in Sandburg 1927, "An American Songbag."
This thread has:
Li'l Liza Jane, 1916, Ada De Lachau...
Liza Jane, or Mountain Top, in Sandburg, 1927, "An American Songbag," two versions.
Sandburg says "There are as many Liza songs in the Appalachian Mountains as there are species of trees on the slopes of that range."

Al of the above have scores; I haven't compared them to see similarities or differences, but the choruses of the Fox, Von Tilzer and Ada De Lachau songs are quite different.

There are several other songs with Liza Jane in stanzas or combined in a title.
-snip-
"By" here means "collected by".
**
From: Q; Date: 27 Nov 07 - 08:37 PM
"...The Susan Jane songs belong on the same tree"...
-snip-
"Tree" here means "family of songs"

****
FEATURED EXAMPLES
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates or the date of the recording with the oldest examples given first. When the posting date isn't given, the example is posted at the end of the featured examples in the order of their recording dates.

Since "Lil Liza Jane" is a folk song, there are no right or wrong lyrics, but there are earlier and later versions of that song. I'm posting multiple versions with their collection dates or their recording dates to show some of the different interpretations of this song over a period of time.

Example #1: From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

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).]
-snip-
Source: http://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

"bof"= both

Very little information is available about collector and song arranger named Countess Ada de Lachau. However, it appears from what is known that she was an African American woman. I think that she probable gave herself that title and a nobility sounding last name. (Similarly, the Jazz musicians Count Basie and Duke Ellington gave themselves or were given royalty titles as did many Calypso singers.)

****
Example #2: Af-Am version, collected by Natalie Curtis-Burlin, published 1919.

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.
-posted by Q http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8346 Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Little Liza Jane (kids' version) ; 5 Dec 07 - 10:44 PM

****
Example #3: Huey Piano Smith & The Clowns - Lil Liza Jane [1956]
Hey, little girl would you tell me your name?
(Little Liza Jane)
If I love you baby, would you feel the same?
(Little Liza Jane)

(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)

Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)

(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)

Hey pretty baby can we go strollin'?
(Little Liza Jane)
Yes, you got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)

(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)

Take ya downtown, buy you ev'rything
(Little Liza Jane)
If you be my girl you can wear my ring
(Little Liza Jane)

(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)

Look at that girl, can we go strollin'
(Little Liza Jane)
You got me rockin'
When I ought to be rollin'
(Little Liza Jane)

(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane)
(Oh, Eliza, little Liza Jane).

Source: http://www.rockol.com/uk/lyrics-3270865/huey-piano-smith-the-clowns-little-liza-jane
-snip-
This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.

"Can we go strollin'? = "Can we go for a stroll (a walk)

****
Example #4: Nina Simone -Lil Liza Jane: 1960 album Nina Simone at Newport
[spoken]
Where is my tambourine wait a minute I'll get your tambourine
Got my tambourine get your thing baby
What's wrong with you what is it you want
Can't forget my tambourine boy want a minute
This is a folk tune and it's called little liza jane
We get some rhythm started here and see what happens

[song begins]
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
I got a beau you ain't got none little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jean

Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jean
Come my love and live with me
I will take good care of thee little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane

Hambone hammer where you've been
Down by the creek and makin gin
I know a man that's three feet tall
Drink his liquor and has a ball
Saw him just the other day
He had a horse and a ball of hay

Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane

He took me to this great big town
Lots of people standing around
They were listening to a great big band
The bestest music in the land
I tell you once and tell you twice
Enjoy yourself and live your life

Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jean little liza jane
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little lisa jane jane little liza
Little liza jane little liza jane

Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane
Oh little liza liza jane oh little liza liza jane

Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ninasimone/littlelizajane.html
[with slight corrections to the transcription]
-snip-
“beau” – lover ; romantic partner

This recording is featured on Part II of this pancocojams series.

****
Example #5: Chuck Perkins - Lil Liza Jane; A Mardi Gras Indian version of "Li'l Liza Jane"
Chorus:
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.

Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.

Tell you somethin that you don't know.
Lil Liza Jane
If you wanna be an Injun betta learn to sew.
Lil Liza Jane

They runnin and jumpin. They think they slick.
Lil Liza Jane
But we be the gang that makes them sick.
Lil Liza Jane

Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.

[sing entire chorus two times]

Told my papa when I left home.
Lil Liza Jane
I'mma mass in the mornin and I won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane

He said if you meet the boys better treat them right.
Lil Liza Jane
They may got the gun but we got the knive.
Lil Liza Jane

Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.

[sing entire chorus two times]

Early in the mornin when the sun comes up.
Lil Liza Jane
Said drink the fire water from the silver cup.
Lil Liza Jane

Honey honey come sing this song.
Lil Liza Jane
If you sing this song you won't go wrong.
Lil Liza Jane

Chorus:
In the mornin
Ooh Lil Liza.
Little Eliza Jane.
In the evenin
Ooh Lil Liza
Little Eliza Jane.

[sing entire chorus two times]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx8yQL6o2mA&feature=related
This video is featured in Part II of this series.

[Partial transcription by Azizi Powell, January 12, 2011; Additions and corrections are welcome]
Ooh is elongated and rhymes with "so". It almost sounds to me like the word "Whoo!"

"mas" comes from the word "masquerade" and means put on the Indian regalia that you sewed

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Read More