Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Day 217 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "This is customarily rendered as a stunt without words, as indicated, in falsetto, soprano register, and in imitation of that mammoth, invincible, crowning feature of the three-ring circus, the last wagon in the parade, the steam "kallyope." Some quartets prefer singing it straight with words, This House Is Haunted.
"It was widely known across the Corn Belt in the 1890's. The version here is from Knox County, Illinois."
Day 217 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "This is customarily rendered as a stunt without words, as indicated, in falsetto, soprano register, and in imitation of that mammoth, invincible, crowning feature of the three-ring circus, the last wagon in the parade, the steam "kallyope." Some quartets prefer singing it straight with words, This House Is Haunted.
"It was widely known across the Corn Belt in the 1890's. The version here is from Knox County, Illinois."
