“Animal Fair”

Description

"I went to the animal fair, the birds and the beasts were there.... The monkey he got drunk and sat on the elephant's trunk; The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees And what became of the monk, the monk, the monk...."

Supplemental text

Animal Fair
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From Carl Sandburg, The American Songbag, pp. 348-349. From
W. W. Delaney, who apparently had it from minstrel performers.

I went to the animal fair,
The birds and the beasts were there.
The big baboon by the light of the moon
Was combing his auburn hair.
The monkey he got drunk
And sat on the elephant's trunk,
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees
And what became of the monk, the monk?

References

1. Randolph 451, "The Hamburger Fair" (1 fragment)
2. BrownIII 180, "The Animal Fair" (1 text)
3. MHenry-Appalachians, p. 241, "Animal Fair" (1 short text)
4. Sandburg, pp. 348-349, "Animal Fair" (1 short text, 1 tune)
5. Spaeth-ReadWeep, p. 69, "(Animal Fair)" (1 partial text)
6. ST San348 (Full)
7. Roud #4582
8. BI, San348