Heard on The Judges: _for to_ VP

[Benjamin Zimmer]

I brought up some other lyrical examples in a very similar thread last year:

http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0908A&L=ADS-L&P=25533


On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 10:23 AM, George Thompson
<george.thompson at nyu.edu> wrote:
>
> I have the impression that "for to" is fairly common in folk poetry, I suppose to help maintain the meter.
>
> Can't think of examples, though.
>
> Actually, Jimmie Rogers, Blue Yodel #9 -- the one with Louis Armstrong backing him, and "Miss Lil"
> on piano -- his girl gave him $5 for to buy him some clothes.  (from memory)
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Margaret Lee <mlee303 at YAHOO.COM>
>
>> The words to one of the so-called Negro spirituals, "Swing Low, Sweet
>> Chariot," are, "Swing low, sweet chariot, coming _for to_ carry me home."
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 6, 2010 at 6:28 PM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>> > Thirty-ish, black female speaker living in Youngstown, OH:
>> >
>> > "I ain't riding in no hooptie with no *bungee cord* _for to_ hold up
>> > the bumper!"

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