“Go In and Out the Window”

Description

"Go in and out the window (x3) As we have done before (or: "For we have gained the day")." "Go round and round the levee..." "Go forth and face your lover..." "I kneel because I love you..." "One kiss before I leave you..."

Supplemental text

Go In and Out the Window
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

From W. W. Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, item
#63, pp. 128-129. From New York.

Go round and round the valley,
Go round and round the valley,
Go round and round the valley,
As we are all so gay.

Go in and out the windows,
  As we are all so gay.

Go back, and face your lover,
  As we are all so gay.

Such love have I to show you,
  As we are all so gay.

          *** B ***

'Cause Love Has Gained the Day

As recorded by Kelly Harrell on Victor 23649 [1929]. The
record company, unable to understand the lyrics, issued
it as "Cave Love Has Gained the Day." (!) Transcribed by
Robert Waltz

Go find your lover like I did,
Go find your lover like I did,
Go find your lover like I did,
'Caze love has gained the day.

I'd give ten cents to kiss her, (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

I'd walk fifty miles to see her, (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

I've got some candy to give her, (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

I'll try [to] take it over Saturday, (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

I've got her a whole dime s worth, (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

That's the way I beat the other fellow (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

We'll fly to get married at Christmas (x3)
'Caze love has gained the day.

Notes

Chase explains, "'Levee' here has no connection with flood control! It must mean a morning party or reception. (See Webster.) Such levees were held during the War Between the States to celebrate victories... 'For we have gained the day.'"

Maybe this explains why I've never heard the "levee" verses in the north. But the notes in Brown claim "Levee" is an error for "Valley."

Harrell's recording gained its odd name by studio incompetence. He sang the chorus as "Caze [='Cause] love has gained the day." The studio people couldn't figure out "Caze," and interpreted it as "Cave"!

It appears that the "Go In and Out the Window" title is rare in tradition. But that's the first verse of the song as I learned it in my youth, so there. - RBW

Recordings

• Kelly Harrell, "Cave Love Has Gained the Day" (Victor 23649, 1929; on KHarrell02)
• Louise Massey & the Westerners, "Go In and Out the Window" (Vocalion 05361, 1939)
• Pete Seeger, "Go In and Out the Window" (on PeteSeeger21)

References

1. Randolph 538, "Round and Round the Levee" (3 texts plus an excerpt, 1 tune)
2. BrownIII 76, "In and Out the Window" (1 text)
3. Hudson 140, pp. 287-288, "Marching Round the Levee" (1 text)
4. Cambiaire, p. 136, "Susie Brown" (1 text, a mixed text which has two verses typical of "Cuckoo Waltz" or something like it and two from "Go In and Out the Window"); p. 131, "I Measure My Love to Show You" (1 text, with unusual verses but the "For we have gained the day" chorus")
5. MHenry-Appalachians, p. 243, (no title) (1 fragment, probably this)
6. Linscott, pp. 9-10, "Go In and Out the Windows" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Fuson, p. 175, "Go Out and Meet Your Lover" (1 text)
8. Chase, pp. 191-193, "We're Marchin' 'Round the Levee" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Leyden 22, "Round About the Ladies" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. ST R538 (Full)
11. Roud #4320
12. BI, R538