Table Of ContentThe Crisfield Banjo Retreat
Songbook
Frailing banjo songs and tunes arraigned by Pat & Patrick Costello
Pik-Ware Publishing
PO Box 110 Crisfield, MD 21817
Boil ‘em Cabbage Down
4/4 Time - Key of C – G Tuning
Went up on a mountain Someone stole my old coon dog.
To give my horn a blow, blow. Wish they'd bring him back.
Thought I heard my true love say, He chased the big hogs through the fence,
"Yonder comes my beau." And the little ones through the crack.
Possum in a 'simmon tree, Met a possum in the road,
Raccoon on the ground. Blind as he could be.
Raccoon says, you son-of-a-gun, Jumped the fence and whipped my dog
Shake some 'simmons down. And bristled up at me.
Once I had an old gray mule Butterfly, he has wings of gold.
His name was Simon Slick Firefly, wings of flame.
He'd roll his eyes and back his ears Bedbug, he got no wings at all,
And how that mule would kick But he gets there just the same.
Cripple Creek
4/4 Time - Key of G – G Tuning
Verse:
Chorus:
I got a gal at the head of the creek
Goin up to see her 'bout the middle of the week
Kiss her on the mouth, just as sweet as any wine
Wraps herself around me like a sweet potatoe vine
Chorus:
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin' on the run
Goin' up Cripple Creek t' have a little fun
Goin' up Cripple Creek, goin in a whirl
Goin' up Cripple Creek to see my girl
Girls up on Cripple Creek about half grown
Jump on a man like a dog on a bone
I'll roll my britches up to my knees
An' wade in ol' Cripple Creek when I please
Coal Creek March
4/4 Time - Key of G – G Tuning
Coal Creek miners firing on Fort Anderson in 1892
Danville Girl
3/4 Time - Key of G – G Tuning
My pocket book was empty She took me in her Kitchen
My heart was full of pain She treated me nice and kind
Ten thousand miles away from home She got me off the notion
Bumming the railroad train Of bumming all the time
It was standing on the platform She wore her hair on the back of her head
Smoking a cheap cigar Like high-tone people do
listening for that next freight train But the very next train come down the line
To carry an empty car I bid that girl adieu
Well I got off at Danville I pulled my cap down over my eyes
Got stuck on the Danville girl Walked down to the track
You bet your life she's out of sight Then I caught a westbound freight
She wore those Danville curls Never did look back
Little Maggie
4/4 Time - Key of G – G Tuning
Oh, yonder stand Little Maggie Come and go with me to the station
With her dram glass in her hand Got my suitcase in my hand
She's a-drinkin' away all her troubles I'm goin' away Little Maggie
And a-courtin' some other man I'm goin' to some far distant land
Lord, how can I ever stand it Go away, go away Little Maggie
For to see them pretty blue eyes Go and do the best you can
A-smilin’ at another I'll get me another woman
Like two diamonds in the sky You can get you another man
The White House Blues
4/4 Time - Key of C – G Tuning
McKinley hollered, McKinley squalled Roosevelt’s in the White House doing his best
Doc said “McKinley, I can’t find that ball McKinley’s in the graveyard taking a rest
You’re bound to die, In Buffalo” He’s gonna be gone, a long old time
Look here you rascal, see what you’ve done Roosevelt’s in the White House drinking out a silver cup
You shot my husband with your Ivers-Johnson gun McKinley’s the graveyard, he’ll never wake up
I’m taking you back, to Washington He’s gonna be gone, a long old time
The doc came a running pulling off his specs Czolgosz, Czolgoz, mighty mean man
Doc said “McKinley better cash in your checks You shot McKinley with a flower in his hand
You’re bound to die, In Buffalo” He’s gonna be gone, a long old time
The train, running, blowing down the line Hush up you children, don’t you fret
Whistling every station McKinley he’s a dying You’ll draw a pension at your daddy’s death
From Buffalo, to Washington He’s gonna be gone, a long old time
Forty-four boxcars trimmed in lace
Put him in the last one so we can’t see his face
From Buffalo, to Washington
Interior of the Temple of Music Where McKinley was Shot.
Battleship Maine
Sung to the melody of The White House Blues
McKinley called for volunteers, I give my feet good exercise,
So I got my gun, I had nothing else to do,
First Spaniard I saw coming It was all about that Battleship of Maine.
I dropped my gun and run,
When they were a-chasing me,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.
I fell down on my knees,
Why are you running, First thing I cast my eyes upon
Are you afraid to die? Was a great big pot of peas,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.
The reason that I'm running
Is because I cannot fly, The peas they were greasy,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine. The meat it was fat,
The boys was fighting Spaniards
The blood was a-running
While I was fighting that,
And I was running too,
It was all about that Battleship of Maine.
