“Hop High Ladies (Uncle Joe)”

Description

Floating verses ("Did you ever go to meeting, Uncle Joe?" "Every time you turn around you jump Jim Crow"). Characterized by the refrain "Hop high ladies, (the cake's all dough/Three in a row), Don't mind the weather when the wind don't blow"

Notes

Randolph has a report that this song has been heard as far afield as Delhi, India, but seems to be referring to "Jump Jim Crow" (of which his version has just the chorus). - RBW

Cross references

• cf. "Miss McCleod's Reel " (tune)
• cf. "Jump Jim Crow" (floating lyrics)

Recordings

• Fiddlin' John Carson, "Hop Light Lady" (OKah 45011, 1925)
• Uncle Dave Macon, "Hop Light Ladies The Cake's All Dough" (Vocalion 5154, 1927)
• New Lost City Ramblers, "Hop High, Ladies" (on NLCR10) ; "Hop High, Ladies, the Cake's All Dough" (on NLCR12)
• Fiddlin' Powers and Family, "Did You Ever See the Devil, Uncle Joe?" (OKeh 45268, 1927)
• Riley Puckett, "Hop Light Ladies" (Bluebird B-5514, 1934)
• Red Fox Chasers, "Did You Ever See The Devil, Uncle Joe" (Gennett 6461/Champion 15522, 1928)
• Doc Roberts, "Did You Ever See the Devil Uncle Joe" (Perfect 12724, 1931; Melotone 12390, 1932; Conqueror 8136, 1933)
• Oliver Sims, "Hop About Ladies" (Columbia 15103-D, 1926)
• Ernest V. Stoneman, "Hop Light Ladies" (Edison 52056 [may also have been listed as by the Dixie Mountaineers, same record number], 1927)
• Henry Whitter, "Hop Light Ladies and Shortenin' Bread" (OKeh 40064, 1924)

References

1. Randolph 252, "Jump Jim Crow" (1 text, 1 tune, a short text with the chorus of "Jump Jim Crow" and other material that might float)
2. Randolph/Cohen, pp. 219-220, "Jump Jim Crow" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 252)
3. BrownIII 85, "Hop Light, Ladies" (2 fragments)
4. Hudson 147, pp. 293-294, [no title] (1 text, a square dance sample with a lot of material appropriate to that setting but with a chorus that seems to place it here)
5. Lomax-FSNA 116, "Uncle Joe" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, pp. 64-65, "Hop High Ladies, the Cake's All Dough" (1 text, 1 tune)
7. Silber-FSWB, p. 33, "Uncle Joe" (1 text)
8. DT, HOPUPLAD*
9. Roud #6677
10. BI, R252