“When I Leave These Earthly Shores”
Description
Recitation: "When I leave this earthly shore And mosey 'round this world no more, Don't weep, don't sob; I may have found a better job." After this introduction, the speaker spends two stanzas asking for small gifts now rather than big ones after death
Supplemental text
When I Leave These Earthly Shores
Partial text(s)
*** A ***
From Norman Cazden, Herbert Haufrecht, Norman Studer, Folk Songs
of the Catskills, #104, p. 389. From the recitation of Celia Kelder
(who had not heard it sung), August 23, 1957.
When I leave this earthly shore
And mosey 'round this world no more,
Don't weep, don't sob;
I may have got a better job.
And if you have roses, bless your soul,
Just pin one in my buttonhole
While I'm alive and well, today;
Don't wait until I go away.
(Stanzas 1, 4 of 4)
Cross references
- cf. "Give Me the Roses While I Live" (theme of giving roses)
References
- FSCatskills 104, "When I Leave These Earthly Shores" (1 text)
- ST FSC104 (Partial)
- BI, FSC104