A

Alexander's Ragtime Band

The Erie Canal

I've got a mule, her name is Sal
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
*
We've hauled some barges in out day filled
With lumber, coal and hay, and every inch of the way
We know, from Albany to Buffalo
*

Give Me A Home

Give me a home among the gum trees
With lots of plum trees
A sheep or two and a kangaroo
A clothesline out the back
A veranda out the front
And an old rocking chair

I've been around the world a couple of times or maybe more
I've seen the sites, I've had delights
I've been to southern shores
But when my friends all ask me the place that I adore
I tell them right away
Boom, boom, boom

Give me a home among the gum trees
With lots of plum trees
A sheep or two and a kangaroo
A clothesline out the back
A veranda out the front
And an old rocking chair

Green Grow the Rushes

I'll sing you two ho
Green grow on the rushes, oh.
What is your two ho?
Two, two little white boys
Clothed and all in
Green and gold.
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be it so.

I'll sing you a three ho
Green grow the rushes, oh.
What is your three ho?
Three, three the rivals.
Two, two little white boys
Clothed and all in
Green and gold.
One is one and all alone
And ever more shall be it so.

Additional verses:
Four for the Gospel makers.
Five for the symbols at your door.
Six for six proud walkers.
Seven for seven stars in the sky.
Eight for the April rainers.
Nine for the nine bright shiners.
Ten for the Ten Commandments.
Eleven for the eleven that went to heaven.
Twelve for the twelve Apostles.

Home On the Range

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play.
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.
*
Where the air is so pure
The zephyrs so free,
The breezes so balmy and light.
That I would not exchange
My home on the range
For all the cities so bright

Michael Finnegan

There was an old man named Michael Finnegan,
He kicked up an awful dinnegan,
Because they said he must not sing again,
Poor old Michael Finnegan.
Begin again.

There was an old man named Michael Finnegan,
He went fishing with a pinnegan,
Caught a fish and dropped it in again,
Poor old Michael Finnegan.
Begin again.

There was an old man named Michael Finnegan,
He grew fat and then grew thin again,
Then he died and had to begin again,
Poor old Michael Finnegan.
Begin again.

My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean

Oh! Susanna

I came from Alabama wid my banjo on my knee
I'm goin' to Lousiana, my true love for to see
It rained all night de day I left, de weather it was dry
De sun so hot I froze to death, Susanna don't you cry.
*
I had a dream de odder night, when ev'ry thing was still
I thought I saw Susanna a-comin' down de hill
De buckwheat cake was in her mouth, de tear was in her eye
Says I, I'm comin' from de South, Susanna don't you cry.
*
I soon will be in New Orleans, and den I'll look all 'round
And when I find Susanna I'll fall upon de ground
But if I do not find her, dis darkie'll surely die
And when I'm dead and buried, Susanna don't your cry.
*

Shenandoah

Oh, Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Wey hey, you rolling river.
Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter
Away, we're bound away 'cross the wide Missouri.

Missouri she's a mighty river
Wey hey, you rolling river.
When she rolls down, her topsails shiver
Away, we're bound away 'cross the wide Missouri.

Seven years, I courted Sally
Wey hey, you rolling river.
Seven more, I longed to have her
Away, we're bound away 'cross the wide Missouri.

Farewell, my dear, I'm bound to leave you
Wey hey, you rolling river.
Oh, Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you
Away, we're bound away 'cross the wide Missouri

Side By Side

Don't know what's comin' tomorrow
Maybe it's trouble and sorrow
But we'll travel the road
Sharin' out load, side by side

Through all kinds of weather
What if the sky should fall
As long as we're together
It doesn't matter at all, side by side

When they've all has their quarrels parted
We'll be the same as we started
Just travellin' along, sing a song
Side by side, side by side

There's a Hole in the Bucket

Then fix it, dear Henry
Dear Henry, dear Henry
Then fix it, dear Henry
Dear Henry, the hole!

Continue in this way:
With what shall I fix it?
With straw you should fix it
The straw is too long.
Then cut it
With what shall I cut it?
With an axe you should cut it
The axe is too dull.
Then sharpen it.
With what I sharpen with?
With a stone.
But the stone is too dry.
Then wet it.
With what shall I wet it?
With water you should wet it
With what shall I fetch it?
With a bucket you should fetch it
But there's a hole in the bucket!

This Old Man

This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe,
With a knick-knack paddy-wack
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.

Remaining Verses three - on my knee
four - on the door
five - on the hive
six - picking up sticks
seven - up to Heaven
eight - on the gate
nine - on a line
ten - with the hen

This Train Is Bound for Glory

This train don't carry no gamblers, this train.
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train.
This train don't carry no gamblers,
No hypocrites, no midnight ramblers,
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is bound for speed now, this train.
... Fastest train you ever did see now

This train don't carry no rustlers, this train,
...Side-street walkers, or two bit hustlers

This train is solid black now this train,
... Where it carry you, you don't come back now

This train don't carry white or black now, this train,
... Everybody ride it is treated alike now

What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?