| Author | Topic: Add: Old Zip Coon | |
| dmcg | Posted - 08 Sep 04 - 03:18 pm | |
There once was a man with a double chin, Who played will skill on a violin: And he played in time and he played in tune, But he never played anything but 'Old Zip Coon'. 'Old Zip Coon' he played all day, Until he drove his friends away; He played all night by the light of the moon And wouldn't play anything but 'Old Zip Coon'. So the neighbours said "Will you kindly play 'Nellie Bly' or 'Where are the Flowers in May'?" Any tune will do if its not that tune," But he wouldn't play anything but 'Old Zip Coon'. 'Old Zip Coon' he played all night, Until the owls and bats took flight; His friends all begged for a different tune, But he wouldn't play anything but 'Old Zip Coon'. SO they took that man with the double chin, All his worldly goods and the violin. And they shipped him off to a foreign shore Where the natives had never heard the tune before. 'Old Zip Coon' he played all day: He played Until the natives ran away: He played and played by the light of the moon Till they wished they had never heard of 'Old Zip Coon'. They have left him there by the deep blue sea, Where he lives alone in a hollow tree; And he played that tune and it never ends, So it isn't surprising that he has no friends. 'Old Zip Coon' he plays all day, There's no one left to run away; And still he thinks it's a beautiful tune, And that is the history of 'Old Zip Coon'. Source: Singing Together, Autumn 1960, BBC Publications Notes: The notes say: Old American Tune Words by David Stevens From The Club Song Book for Boys, (Boosey and Hawkes) PC pressures would make this quite a difficult song to sing at a club these days, which is a pity as there is actually nothing in the song itself that could offend. If only it had been called 'Old Racoon'! | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 08 Sep 04 - 05:48 pm | |
The tune is known as Old Zip Coon and Turkey in the Straw. It is very popular in old time American Fiddling (and dance)but the tune is also known in English and Irish traditions and it appears in O'Neils music of Ireland. There seem to be a number of thoughts on it's origins, including one that the A part was derived from "The Rose Tree". I'm hoping else may be able to unravel a little more than I'm likely to but for now I'll give a link to a page at Fiddlers Companion which contains details of the tune Click Here. | ||
| Guest Account |
Posted - 06 Jun 05 - 12:45 am | |
From: Lori Hermann My father taught me this song when I was growing up in the 60's. His people had come through Natchez and then southern Illinois. This is how he taught it: Oh there was a man with a double chin and he played with skill on a violin. He played all night by the light of the moon But he never played anything but Old Zip Coon. Old Zip Coon he played all day until he drove his friends away. He played and he played by the light of the moon. But he never played anything butOld Zip Coon. | ||
| Jon Freeman | Posted - 06 Jun 05 - 01:20 am | |
Another "Old Zip Coon" can be found at http://www.stephen-foster-songs.de/Amsong59.htm Here are the words. (3x) O ole Zip Coon he is a larned skoler, Sings posum up a gum tree an conny in a holler. (3x) Posum up a gum tree, coonny on a stump, Den over dubble trubble, Zip coon will jump. Chorus: O Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day. O Zip a duden duden duden duden duden day. O Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day. Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day. 2. O ist old Suky blue skin, she is in lub wid me I went the udder arter noon to take a dish ob tea; What do you tink now, Suky hab for supper, Why chicken foot an posum heel, widout any butter. Chorus: 3. Did you eber see the wild goose, sailing on de ocean, O de wild goose motion is a berry pretty notion; Ebry time de wild goose, beckens to de swaller, You hear him google google google google gollar. Chorus: 4. I went down to Sandy Hollar t other arternoon And the first man I chanced to meet war ole Zip Coon; Ole Zip Coon he is a natty scholar, For he plays upon de Banjo ?Cooney in de hollar?. Chorus: 5. My old Missus she?s mad wid me, Kase I would?nt go wid her into Tennessee Massa build him barn and put in de fodder Twas dis ting and dat ting one ting or odder. Chorus: 6. I pose you heard ob de battle New Orleans, Whar ole Gineral Jackson gib de British beans; Dare de Yankee boys do de job so slick, creek. For dey cotch old Packenham an rowed him up de first. Chorus: 7. I hab many tings to tork about, but dont know wich come So here de toast to old Zip Coon before he gin to rust; May he hab de pretty girls, like de King ob ole, To sing dis song so many times, ?fore he turn to mole. Chorus: I presume the man with a double chin version(s) is later than that example (printed c 1835). Which makes me think of Dave's earlier - PC pressures would make this quite a difficult song to sing at a club these days, which is a pity as there is actually nothing in the song itself that could offend[...], I wonder whether it was in fact an attempt to be more PC. | ||
| Snuffy | Posted - 07 Jun 05 - 02:07 pm | |
It looks like your version is the "original", while the one posted by dmcg is a complaint about hearing it so often - I Never Will Play The Wild Rover No More and No, Not The Fields of Athenry would be more recent examples of the genre | ||