7369 old music 2402 - KET

much noise, she must be tired. Better sing ‘Bandyrowe’ to quiet her down.” Well, it
usually worked, in spite of me.…
In later years, when I sang this song to my own little boys, I made up verses just
for them, so when the verses came for “John” and for “Pete,” that would please them.
It is one of our favorite lullabies, and one which lends itself to adding verses about
those present at the time. The “John” and “Pete” in these verses are our two sons,
Jonathan and Peter Pickow. The “kitty alone” refrain is often attached to some
version of the “Frog’s Courtship.”
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone,
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe,
Kitty alone a-lye
As I was goin’ to Bandyrowe,
Saw a crow a-flyin’ low,
Kitty alone a-lye,
Rock-um-a rye-ree
First come in was two small ants,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone,
First come in was two small ants,
Kitty alone a-lye
First come in was two small ants,
Fixin’ around to have a dance.
Kitty alone a-lye,
Rock-um-a rye-ree
Next come in was little John, etc.
One shoe off and one shoe on.
Next come in was little Pete, etc.
Fixin’ around to go to sleep.
Lazy John
(Traditional)
My brother nearest my age used to try to put all his jobs off on me—“Your time to
hunt the cows, Jean. I went yesterday.” Now I’d tell Mommy that wasn’t true—I went
yesterday! And she’d say, “Never saw two such lazy young’uns in all my life. You’re
no better than Lazy John!” That’d tickle us because we liked that old song about one
of the laziest men in the world and this girl who, for some crazy reason, took a liking
to him—saw him going down the road one day and decided she wanted to marry
him. So … she just asked him.
On this program, Mike Seeger joins me to sing the part of Lazy John. Boys sing
along with Mike if you aren’t too lazy, and all us lovesick girls will ask the questions.
Girls:
Boys:
All:
Lazy John, Lazy John,
Will you marry me?
Will you marry me?
How can I marry you, no hat to wear?
Up she jumped and away she ran,
Down to the market square.
There she found a hat for Lazy John to wear.
Girls repeat question; boys answer, substituting:
… no suit to wear?
… no socks to wear?
… no shoes to wear?
… with a wife and ten children at home?
KET, The Kentucky Network 15