Old American Songs, First Set

The boatmen dance, the boatmen sing,
The boatmen up to ev'rything,
And when the boatman gets on shore
He spends his cash and works for more.

High row the boatmen row,
Floatin' down the river the Ohio.

Then dance the boatmen dance, 
O dance the boatmen dance.
O dance all night 'til broad daylight,
And go home with the gals in the mornin'. 

High row the boatmen row. . .  etc

I went on board the other day
To see what the boatmen had to say.
There I let my passion loose
An' they cram me in the callaboose.
O dance the boatmen dance. . .  

High row the boatmen row . . .   etc 

The boatman is a thrifty man, 
There's none can do as the boatman can.
I never see a pretty gal in my life
But that she was a boatman's wife.
O dance the boatmen dance. . .  

High row the boatmen row. . .  etc

Yes the candidate's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the candidate's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too.

He'll meet you and treat you,
And ask you for your vote.
But look out boys, 
He's a-dodgin' for your note. 

Yes we're all dodgin'
A-dodgin', dodgin', dodgin'.
Yes we're all dodgin'
Out away through the world.

Yes the preacher he's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the preacher he's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too. 

He'll preach you a gospel,
And tell you of your crimes. 
But look out boys,
He's a-dodgin' for your dimes. 

Yes we're all dodgin' . . . etc.

Yes the lover he's a dodger,
Yes a well-known dodger.
Yes the lover he's a dodger,
Yes and I'm a dodger too.

He'll hug you and kiss you,
And call you his bride,
But look out girls,
He's a-tellin' you a lie. 

Yes we're all dodgin' . . . etc.

On the lake where droop'd the willow
Long time ago,
Where the rock threw back the billow
Brighter than snow. 
Dwelt a maid beloved and cherish'd
By high and low,
But with autumn leaf she perished
Long time ago.
Rock and tree and flowing water
Long time ago,
Bird and bee and blossom taught her 
Love's spell to know.
While to my fond words she listen'd
Murmuring low,
Tenderly her blue eyes glisten'd
Long time ago.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed
To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

I bought me a cat, my cat pleased me,
I fed my cat under yonder tree.
My cat says fiddle eye fee.

I bought me a duck, my duck pleased me,
I fed my duck under yonder tree.
My duck says, "Quaa, quaa",
My cat says fiddle eye fee.

I bought me a goose, my goose pleased me,
I fed my goose under yonder tree.
My goose says, "Quaw, quaw",
My duck says. . .

I bought me a hen, my hen pleased me.
I fed my hen under yonder tree.
My hen says, Shimmy shack, shimmy shack",
My goose says. . .

I bought me a pig, my pig pleased me.
I fed my pig under yonder tree.
My pig says, "Griffey, griffey".
My hen says. . .

I bought me a cow, my cow pleased me.
I fed my cow under yonder tree.
My cow says "Moo, moo",
my pig says . . .

I bought me a horse, my horse pleased me.
I fed my horse under yonder tree.
My horse says, "Neigh, neigh",
My cow says. . .

I bought me a wife, my wife pleased me.
I fed my wife under yonder tree.
My wife says, "Honey, honey",
My horse says "Neigh, neigh". . .