"A Tisket A Tasket" (information, lyrics, and video)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides information about and examples of the nursery rhyme & the song "A Tisket A Tasket".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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INFORMATION ABOUT "A TISKET A TASKET".
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-Tisket,_A-Tasket
"A Tisket A Tasket is a nursery rhyme first recorded in America in the late nineteenth century.[1][2] It was used as the basis for a very successful and highly regarded 1938 recording by Ella Fitzgerald. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 13188.

The rhyme was first noted in the United States in 1879 [3] as a children's rhyming game. It was sung while children danced in a circle. One of the number ran on the outside of the circle and dropped a handkerchief. The nearest child would then pick it up and chase the dropper. If caught the dropper was either kissed, joined the circle, or had to tell the name of their sweetheart.[2] An early noted version had the lyrics:

A-tisket a-tasket
A green and yellow basket
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped it,
I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it.
A little boy he picked it up
and put it in his pocket.[2]

In some variants, the second line is "I lost my yellow basket"."

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SONG LYRICS - A TISKET A TASKET
(Ella Fitzgerald, in conjunction with Al Feldman, later known as Van Alexander)

A-tisket A-tasket
A brown and yellow basket
I send a letter to my mommy
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it
I dropped it
Yes on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And put it in her pocket

She was atruckin on down the avenue
But not a single thing to do
She went peck peck pecking all around
When she spied it on the ground

She took it
She took it
My little yellow basket
And if she doesn't bring it back, I think that I will die

A-tisket A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
And if that girl don't return it
I don't know what I'll do

Oh dear I wonder where my basket can be
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh gee I wish that little girl I could see
(So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)

Oh why was I so careless with that basket of mine?
That itty bitty basket was a joy of mine!

A-tisket
A-tasket
I lost my yellow basket
Won't someone help me find my basket
And make me happy again? again

(Was it green?) No, no, no, no
(Was it red?) No, no, no, no
(Was it blue?) No, no, no, no

Just a little yellow basket
A little yellow basket

Source: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/A-tisket-A-tasket-lyrics-Ella-Fitzgerald/5F3E2C5F547CDE5F48256D290029CCC4

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SHOWCASE VIDEO

Ella Fitzgerald A Tisket a Tasket - From Ride Em Cowboy



Arnold Beltran, Uploaded on Feb 23, 2009

Grammy Induced Song

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ADDENDUM
In response to the question "What is a "tisket" and a "tasket" in the rhyme & song "A Tisket A Tasket", Sasami81 wrote in 2008 that "Tisket= basket part/ tasket= handle part" http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081009182414AAVb6zh

I've not been able to find any other information online to confirm or refute that answer.
**
The word "truckin" in the line "She was atruckin on down the avenue" can be broadly said to mean "she was moving on down the avenue". However, "truckin" refers to an actual social dance that was introduced in Harlem (New York) in 1927 if not earlier.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-jazz-dance-truckin-information.html for a post about "truckin".
**
The word "peckin" in the line also refers to a Jazz (Jitterbug)dance movement that was popularized in 1937.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/09/peckin-dance-movement-jazz-composition.html for a pancocojams post on "peckin".

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Thanks to the unknown composer/s of the children's rhyme "A Tisket A Tasket". Thanks also to Ella Fitzgerald for her musical legacy and thanks to Al Feldman (Van Alexander) for jointly composing the Jazz song which is based on that rhyme. Thanks to all those quoted in this post as well as the publisher of this featured video.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Chicken On The Fence Post (information & lyrics)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series of 19th songs that include the phrase "dance Josey" or "can't dance Josey".

This post focuses on the play party song "Chicken On The Fencepost".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/examples-of-dance-josey-cant-dance.html for Part I of this series. That post focuses on the songs "Hello Susan Brown", "Hold My Mule" and several other songs.

The content of this post is provided for folkloric, recreational, and aesthetic purposes.

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BACKGROUND OF THE "CHICKEN IN THE FENCE POST" PLAY PARTY SONG
"Chicken In The Fence Post" is lifted from the 19th century couples' dance (reel) that is known as "Hello Susan Brown", "Four In The Middle" and other titles. All of those songs -including "Chicken In The Fence Post" are likely of African American origin.

Here's information about those dances from http://www.fieldrecorder.com/docs/notes/playparty_owens.htm
Play-Party Songs and Dances in Texas

From Bill Owens "Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song"
"...In parts of Texas "Dance Josey" became so popular that play-parties are still remembered as "them old Josey parties." The song was easily adapted to the place, the time, the dancers, or the need for a laugh:

Chicken on the fence post, can't dance Josey;
Chicken on the fence post, can't dance Joe;
Chicken on the fence post, can't dance Josey;
Hello Susan Brown ee o.

Hold my mule while I dance Josey, Etc.

Big foot Charlie can't dance Josey, Etc"

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FEATURED VIDEO: Chicken On a Fencepost



Anthony Meehl, Published on Oct 13, 2012
-snip-
How that game is played in this video:
Children form two circles, one inside of the other. Children in each circle hold hands with the person on either side of them. Each circle moves in the opposite direction. Two people outside of the outer circle run around to outer circle moving in opposite directions.

At the end of the word “brownie-“o”, all of the people forming both of the circles race their linked hands up in the air forming an arch. Both of the two people who were outside the two circles tries to get in the second circle before the other one. When one of those people gets in that circle, the game begins again.

Note: I'm unsure what the winner & loser do. Perhaps they both join that second circle which means that circle would become larger than the first circle.

The second circle makes sense, given the "four in the middle" lyrics for early versions of this song.
-snip-
Another version of the "Chicken In The Fence Post" play party song can be found at http://abbottmusic.blogspot.com/2013/02/chicken-on-fencepost.html
"2 concentric circles w/ two “foxes” on outside.

Teacher chooses 1 “gate” in each of the circles. Rubber chicken is placed in the inside circle.

Gates are closed. Foxes may watch now. Both circles sing while moving in opposite directions. On the “o” of Brownie-o” the 2 gates open forming a maze in which foxes race to grab the chicken from the middle of the center circle.
-snip-
Notice the addition of a "rubber chicken placed on the inside of the circle (ring). It seems to me that using that type of prop is an unneccessary substitute for children developing & using their imagination.

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Editor Notes:
The word “Brownie-o” appears to be a contemporary, rhythmical revision of the earlier form of that last name. It's likely that "Brown" was originally used as a reference for a Black woman as was the case with the Jamaican & American sea shanties "Sally Brown". Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/04/sally-brown-sally-sue-brown-sea-shanty.html for information about and examples of "Sally Brown".

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Thanks to all those who composed these songs. Thanks to those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube and thanks to those who are featured in that video.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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"Jenny Jones" (and other related folk songs)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a four part series that presents examples of and source songs/rhymes for the African American children's rhyme "Aunt Jenny Died" (or alternative titles).

This post presents information about and text examples of the song "Jenny Jones" (or related titles). A video of a United Kingdom version of a Morris Dance group performing the song & dance "Sweet Jenny Jones" is also included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/aunt-jenny-died-childrens-playground.html for Part I of this post.

Part I presents examples of & information about the African American American playground rhyme "Aunt Jenny Died" (or variant titles).

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/jenny-jenkins-folk-song-with-lyrics.html for Part III of this series.

Part III provides information & examples of the song "Jenny Jenkins".

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/jamaican-folk-song-come-to-see-janie.html.

Part IV of this seriess provides an example of the Jamaican song "Come To See Janie".

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

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PART II:
Editor's note:
The United Kingdom (Welsh, Scottish, English) song "Jenny Jones" is closely related to, if not the source of, the song American "Jenny Jenkins. [See notes found below].

It's my position that "Jenny Jones" is also a primary source for the African American playground rhyme "Aunt Jenny Died" and the Jamaican folk song song "Come To See Janie".

INFORMATION ABOUT & EXAMPLE OF THE SONG "JENNY JONES"
From Book of Games for Home, School, And Playground (William Byron Forbush, Harry A. Allen; Chicago, The John C. Winston Co, 1927}

This song is in the chapter on singing games, and is said to have more than 30 verses. The words given in that book are:

1 verse: We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, How is she now?

2 verse: Jenny is washing, washing, washing. etc
You can't see her now.
Book of Games for Home, School, And Playground" {William Byron Forbush, Harry A. Allen; Chicago, The John C. Winston Co} and found a song called "Jenny Jones" or "Jennia Jones". This song is in the chapter on singing games, and is said to have more than 30 verses. The words given are:

1. We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, How is she now?
2. Jenny is washing, washing, washing. etc
You can't see her now.
3. Jenny is ironing etc

Refrain for 2-3
Very well, ladies
Ladies and Gentlemen, too

4-8 Jenny is ironing {both 3&4?}, sewing, baking, sick, dead.

9. I think I saw a ghost under the apple tree.

This game is described as a circle game with one girl in the middle playing the part of Jenny.
-snip-
The editors of that book indicate that authors "Jenny Jones" is said to have more than 30 verses. The book describes two girls in the center of the circle. The biggest girl iplays the role of the mother and the smaller is Jenny Jones.

Jenny hides behind her "mother" while the mother performs the actions for the chores. The children in the circle move "forward and back" while they sing. At the end of last verse all the girls making up the circle gives a loud shriek, and "Jenny" {or the ghost of Jenny Jones} runs out and tries to tag someone, who now becomes the new 'Jenny'.

The authors wrote that "Jenny Jones" was probably originally "Jenny my joe", or "joy".

Note: I first provided information about this song in this discussion thread that I started in 2004 http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=76201.
"The Origin Of Aunt Jenny Died".
-snip-
From http://www.alabamafolklife.org/content/history-behind-songs
25. [presents lyrics to the song "Jenny O Jones" as sung by Pansy Richardson, Mobile, July 10, 1947.
Here are the notes about that song:
"This game has a well-developed dramatic structure and has as its prevailing theme the nature of death. It appears in Gomme, in Newell, and in the Opies (1985:254-60) as well as in other collections. Gomme (1:260-83) has seventeen variants, with slightly different instructions, and apparently received so many submissions that she didn't print them all. The game has been the subject of poetry, and was the source of a popular American song, "Jennie Jenkins."

The plot is a resurrection drama, but with several fascinating twists. A line of suitors approach in a courtship appeal, but a "mother" character has the spoken part and keeps Jenny hidden. The mother rejects the suitors with excuses ("ironing," etc.), which proceed by various routes to the eventual discovery of Jenny's death. Jenny, who has been hidden behind the mother, is revealed laying dead. Then there are various enactments of Jenny's funeral, and she is sometimes brought back to life. "The appeal of the game," say the Opies (1985:258), "must have lain in the mesmeric to-ing and fro-ing of the request and repulse, and the mock solemnity of the funeral, which burst into sudden excitement when 'Janet jo' or 'Jenny' came to life and chased the mourners...

"...Newell says "Jenny Jones" "has been familiar in the Middle States since the memory of the oldest inhabitant" (1883:63). "Jones" derives from terms of endearment related to the English "Jo" and French "joie."...

[Performance] "Directions: This is a line game. The person taking the part of Miss Jenny O. Jones is seated. The line comes up to her singing and she answers. At the end, her ghost chases the group and the one who is caught becomes Miss Jenny O. Jones."
-snip-
From http://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/R453.html Notes for the song "Jenny Jenkins"
"Opie-Games: "And at some time, long ago, a song-writer in America turned it ['Jenny Jones'] into the song 'Jennie Jenkins.'" - BS
This is of course possible; certainly "Jenny Jenkins" appears to be primarily if not exclusively American. But given that "Jenny Jenkins" is attested at least as early as "Jenny Jones," I don't think we can be absolutely assured that the dependence is in the direction given. - RBW
-snip-
From http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=28483
"Lyr Req: Sweet Jenny Jones
From: Margaret V
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 06:52 PM

When I was young, my grandmother, from whom I got my interest in Wales and things Welsh, gave me a horse brass that pictured Jenny Jones. At the time I didn't know who Jenny Jones was (just that she was Welsh) and I still don't really know what a horse brass is (just that I had one). Perhaps Jenny Jones horse brasses are common and that is why they were discussing her on that pub's website. Anyway, later in life I saw Jenny Jones again in the form of Staffordshire china figurines of the 19th century. Here is what Kovel's has to say regarding the Jenny Jones of Staffordshire figurine fame:
"Jenny Jones was a dairymaid at Pontblyddin Farm. Her sweetheart, Edward Morgan, was a ploughman. Morgan spent 20 years with the navy and returned and married Jones. In 1825 actor Charles James Mathews met the Morgans and heard their story. He composed the 'Song of Jenny Jones and Ned Morgan,' which was used in a show in 1836. The romantic ditty was popular for the next 20 years. Figurines of Jenny Jones, Edward Morgan, and the pair leaning on a milestone were made in the 1840s."..."
-snip-
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_brass
"A horse brass is a brass plaque used for the decoration of horse harness gear, especially for shire and parade horses. They became especially popular in England from the mid-19th century until their general decline alongside the use of the heavy horse, and remain a collectors item today."

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VIDEO OF SWEET JENNY JONES (MORRIS DANCE)
Hammersmith Morris Men - Sweet Jenny Jones (with singing, and hordes)



westminstermorrismen, Published on Jul 19, 2012

The Smiffs demonstrating their impressive vocal range with "Sweet Jenny Jones" in front of The Anchor on South Bank on the Westminster & Hammersmith South Bank Tour 2012. Having sung it, they then dance it - with gusto.
-snip-
"Sweet Jenny Jones" may be most widely known as an instrumental. Additional videos of this tune are found on YouTube.

The inclusion of this video isn't meant to imply that this Morris Dance song & performance is related to the African American playground rhyme "Aunt Jenny Died", except that both that song & that rhyme are probably derived from the song "Jenny Jones".

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This completes Part II of this series.

Thanks to all those who I have quoted in this post. Thanks also to the performers in the featured video and to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

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Jamaican Children's Song "Jump Shamador" (Good Morning To You, Mother)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases two text versions of the Jamaican children's song "Jump Shamador" (also known as "Good Morning To You, Mother.)"

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

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT "JUMP SHAMADOOR" ("GOOD MORNING TO YOU, MOTHER")
Note: I prefer the title "Jump Shamador" to "Good Morning To You, Mother" because the title "Jump Shamador" distinguishes this Jamaican children's song from other songs with "Good Morning To You" titles.

The song "Good Morning To You, Mother." is included in Walter Jekyll's 1904 collection Jamaican Song and Story Annancy stories, digging sings, ring tunes, and dancing tunes. In 2011 that manuscript was published online as a Project Gutenberg EBook. The link for that book is given below with the song's lyric. In that song the term "jump shamador" is also given as "jump shamadir".

In that same collection by Walter Jeykll, the game song "Black Boy In A Ring"* (CIX, page 207) is given with the "jump shamador" phrase:
"Wheel an' take you pardner, jump shamador!
(3x)
For he like sugar and I like plum."
-snip-
* This is the same song that is now known as "There's A Brown Girl In The Ring".
-snip-
Walter Jekyll noted that the first half of "Black Boy In A Ring" was sung in one of the Anancy (spider) stories which he included in his collection (Annancy and Screech-owl (No. XIX.).

Jekyll also wrote "Shamador" is possibly a corruption of "camerado."

However, some information about "jump shamador" and a related term is included in the Dictionary of Jamaican English edited by Frederic Gomes Cassidy and R. B. Le Page (University of West Indies Press, 2002; Originally published by Cambridge University Press in 1967, and revised as a second edition in 1980):
"SHANDELAY sb dial; etym unknown — perh no more than a nonsense refrain: cf jump shamador. Some kind of dance or caper. 1924 Beckwith 172 (Song:] "Massa Puss and Massa Rat a jump shandalay, jump shandalay".
http://books.google.com/books?id=_lmFzFgsTZYC&pg=PA404&lpg=PA404&dq=jump+shamador&source=bl&ots=N7MtvgUrre&sig=D_gXWYPCsKpeaF1w6bhe047MWTk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NYVIUeKIKKzi4AOso4HIAQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=jump%20shamador&f=false, p. 404.

The song "Jump Shamador" is also included in the American published 1989 children's song by Shake It To The One That You Love The Best: Play Songs and Lullabies From Black Musical Traditions (collected and adapted by Cheryl Warren Mattox) under the title "Jump Shamador". Cheryl Mattox indicates that "Jump Shamador" is a ring game from the "West Indies".

Whatever the actual meaning of the phrase "jump shamador", my sense is that this song is an example of purposeful play. This game teaches children to be self-assured and to perserver in the cace of obstacles - to their career choice or otherwise.

This song is particularly poignant if we reflect on how difficult conditions in the early 20th century were for Black people in Jamaica (and in the United States and other nations) who wanted to be a doctor or a teacher or some other profession. What is equally sad is that there are still stories today in the United States and elsewhere of Black children, other children of Color, and poor children of any race or ethnicity being discouraged by their teachers from striving to be a doctor, teacher, business owner, scientist, and other "white collar" professions.

That is why songs like "Jump Shamador" ars so important as they can help children reinforce their self-esteem and help them strengthen their will to achieve, without the children even realizing that they are being taught such valuable lessons. That's why I'm showcasing this song.

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MP3 SAMPLE
Here's a brief Mp3 sample of "Jump Shamador" from the 1978 Smithsonian Folkways album Caribbean Songs and Games for Children
Various Artists FW07856

http://www.folkways.si.edu/TrackDetails.aspx?itemid=19879
song #106


That song is also included on Cheryl Warren Mattox's tape cassette of her book Shake It To The One That You Love The Best songs. If I recall correctly, while the tune was the same as the tune of that Mp3 sample, the tempo seemed to be a little bit faster.

In both of those renditions, the word "shamador" was pronounced "sha-mah-DOOR".

FEATURED TEXT EXAMPLES
Example #1: GOOD MORNING TO YOU, MOTHER

Good morning to you, mother;
Good morning to you, daughter;
What is your intention?
I want to be a teacher.
You shan't be a teacher.
I bound to be a teacher.

Jump shamador, me darling.

What is your intention?
I goin' to be a doctor.
You shan't be a doctor.
I bound to be a doctor.
You shan't be a doctor.
I will be a doctor.

Jump shamadir, me darling.

There is no dancing here. The mother walks round inside the ring, the various members of which she addresses in turn. "You shan't" is emphasized by an uplifted arm swept vigorously downwards and a stamp of the foot. The answers go through the various professions until it is felt that there is a want of something more exciting, which is supplied by:-"....."
-snip-
Source: Walter Jekyll Jamaican Song and Story
Annancy stories, digging sings, ring tunes, and dancing tunes The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jamaican Song and Story
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/35410/35410-h/35410-h.htm (With musical score. CXII p. 211)

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Example #2: JUMP SHAMADOR

Good morning to Joseph.
(Good morning to you too).*
What is your intention?
(I want to be a doctor.)
You can't be a doctor.
(I will be a doctor).

Well, jump shamador, my darling.
Jump shamador my dear.
jump shamador, my darling.
Jump shamador my dear.

Jump shamador
Jump shamador
Jump shamador, my darling.

Jump shamador
Jump shamador
Jump shamador, my dear.

Jump shamador
Jump shamador
Jump shamador
Jump shamador
-snip-
*The lines by the person responding are given in parenthesis.

Here are the notes that Cheryl Warren Mattox included with this song's musical score:
West Indies

Ring Game

This song has an important message-if you believe in yourself, you ca be whatever you want to be. Each player chooses a profession. When your name is called, go to the middle of the ring. Respond to the question -"What is your intention?" - by naming your choice of profession. Show how determined you are bu being very forceful when you sing the line, "I WILL be a ______!"

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the unknown composers of this song. Thanks also to the Walter Jekyl for collecting & publishing this song, and Cheryl Warrren Mattox for adapting, publishing, and recording this song.

Thank you for visiting pancocojams.

Viewer comments are welcome.

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