“The Ring-Dang-Doo (I)”

Description

A young woman lets a lad ride her "ring dang doo," is kicked out of her house by her father for losing her maidenhead, and takes up prostitution. In some versions she gives her customers a social disease; in others her career ends when she dies of the pox

Notes

The first version in Randolph-Legman I (p. 147) is to the unrecognized melody of "The Irish Washerwoman," the second to "The Arkansas Traveler." - EC

Cross references

Recordings

  • Anonymous singers "The Ring-A-Rang-A-Roo" [fragment] (on Unexp1)

References

  1. Cray, pp. 182-186, "The Ring-Dang-Doo" (3 texts, 1 tune)
  2. Randolph-Legman I, pp. 147-151, "The Rang-a-Tang-Too" (4 texts, 2 tunes)
  3. Logsdon 51, pp. 240-244, "London Town" (1 text, 1 tune)
  4. Roud #1880
  5. BI, EM182A

About

Author: unknown
Found in: Australia Canada Britain(England) US(Ap,MA,MW,Ro,So,SW), West Indies