Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Day 272 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "Among the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during the world war this was a high spot favorite, sung more often, perhaps, and with more verses, than any other song.
"It resembles an English pre-war song, and also an old American ditty, Snappoo Snappoo. "
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Both plot and tune of this song show a relationship with "Snapoo"; it is reasonable to ask which came first and which influenced the other. As both appear at about the same time, however, it is effectively impossible to settle the matter.
James J. Fuld, The Book of World-Famous Music (1971-1995) has extensive notes about the origin of this song, with some interesting folkloric twists; the legends, while possible, are not convincing. (from the Traditional Ballad Index)
Day 272 of the American Songbag Stay-at-Home Series
Sandburg writes: "Among the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during the world war this was a high spot favorite, sung more often, perhaps, and with more verses, than any other song.
"It resembles an English pre-war song, and also an old American ditty, Snappoo Snappoo. "
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Both plot and tune of this song show a relationship with "Snapoo"; it is reasonable to ask which came first and which influenced the other. As both appear at about the same time, however, it is effectively impossible to settle the matter.
James J. Fuld, The Book of World-Famous Music (1971-1995) has extensive notes about the origin of this song, with some interesting folkloric twists; the legends, while possible, are not convincing. (from the Traditional Ballad Index)
