“Julie Ann Johnson”

Description

"O Julie Ann Johnson, oho! (x2)." "Gwineter catch dat train, boys, oho! (x2)" "Gwineter fin' Julie, oho! (x2)" "She gone to Dallas, oho! (x2)" "Gwineter hug my Julie, oho! (x2)"

Supplemental text

Julie Ann Johnson
  Complete text(s)

          *** A ***

July Ann Johnson

From Dorothy Scarborough, On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs,
p. 9. Based on Scarborough's own memories of songs sung by
a girl named "Tish."

July Ann Johnson,
  Don't you know,
If you don't dress fine
  You can't catch a beau?

Notes

The Lomaxes note that "Lead Belly... made it doubtful whether this was a dance tune or a work chant." Whether and to what extent Leadbelly reworked this is unclear.

Knowing the Lomaxes, I initially lumped this with "Julia Grover (Miss Julie Ann Glover)." I still wonder if there isn't some cross-fertilization. But that has rather more narrative than this. - RBW

References

1. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 244-245, "Julie Ann Johnson" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. Scarborough-NegroFS, p. 9, "July Ann Johnson" (1 fragment, 1 tune)
3. ST LxA244 (Full)
4. Roud #11604
5. BI, LxA244