[Ads-l] What did Delaware?

[James Landau]

On Tue Jul 16 17:09:11 UTC 2002 Peter A. McGraw pmcgraw at LINFIELD.EDU wrote:
<quote> 


Perry Como recorded a version of asong which I'm sure was older, because I

remember my Dad singing a versionto a different tune long before the Como

recording came out.  The Como version (or as much of it as Iremember):

 

What did Delaware, boy,

What did Delaware?

What did Delaware, boy,

What did Delaware?

 

She wore a brand New Jersey,

She wore a brand New Jersey,

She wore a brand New Jersey,

That's what she did wear.

 

How did Wisconsin, boy?

Stole a New-brass-key.

Too bad that Arkansas, boy,

And so did Tennessee.

It made poor Flora die, boy,

It made poor Flora die, you see,

She died in Missouri, yes,

She died in Missouri.

 

Why did Cala phone ya,

Why did Cala phone?

Why did Cala phone ya,

Was she all alone?

 

She phoned to say Hawa-ya,

She phoned to say Hawa-ya,

She phoned to say Hawa-ya,

That's why she did phone.

 

Where has Ora gone, boy,

Where has Ora gone?

If you want, Alaska,

Alaska where she's gone.

She went to pay her Texaz,

She went to pay her Texaz,

She went to pay her Texaz,

That's where she is gone.

 

My Dad's version included:

"What did Ioway?

"She weighed aWashington."

 

And there are probably others.
 Peter Mc <end quote>.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An earlier version of the song, in E. O. Hartsin _Phunology_ Nashville TN: Cokesbury Press, 1923, no ISBN page 408


Includes the following:

Where did Idaho    She hoed in Maryland
What did Iowa   She weighed a Washington

What made Chicago ill     Too much Illinois

What did Mississipp   She sipped a Minnesota

What did Connecticut    She cut a New Hampshire (ham sure)

Who did May land   She landed Georgia (Georgie)

Why does Baton Rouge   If you’ll wait Alaska

 


James Landau
jjjrlandau at netscape.com

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org