Buffalo Gals
Buffalo gals, woncha come out tonight,
Woncha come out tonight, woncha come out tonight?
Buffalo gals, woncha come out tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon?
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin',
And her heel kep' a-rockin' and her toe kep' a-knockin',
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin',
And we danced by the light of the moon.
O yes, pretty boys, we're comin' out tonight,
We're comin' out tonight, we're comin' out tonight,
O yes, pretty boys, we're comin' out tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon.
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin',
And her heel kep' a-rockin' and her toe kep' a-knockin',
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin',
An' her heel kep' a-rockin' to the moon."
Other verses - In most cases the last part of the first line
is repeated 3 times, these phrases are in ()
As I was walking ( down the street)
A pretty girl I chanced to meet under the silvery moon
I asked her if she'd ( stop and talk)
Her feet covered up the whole sidewalk, she was fair to view
I asked her if she'd stop and dance, Have a dance, care to dance
I thought that I might get a chance to shake a foot with her
I asked her if she'd (be my wife)
Then I'd be happy all my life if she'd marry me
ALT. (I'd be so very happy all my life, if she were by my side)
I danced with the dolly with a hole in her stocking
And her feet kept a-rocking & her knees kept a-knocking
O I danced with the dolly with a hole in her stocking
And we danced by the light of the moon.
note: The song was a popular play party or square dance song in many
parts of the country. The following verses are some of the varaiants
that were used directly in the dance calling. RR
Break and bounce with (the couple on the right)
Break and bounce with the couple on the right and swing four hands around.
Everybody wait ('til we get all around)
Everybody wait 'til we get all around and swing four hands around.
First lady swing with the right hand gent, with the right hand round,
with the right hand round
Partner with the left and the left hand round, lady in the center and
seven hands round
ALT....(birdie in a cage and seven hands round.)
Ain't you coming out tonight, ain't you comin out tonight?
and birdie hop out and a crow hop in
lady swing out and the gent swing in
and join your hands (paddies) and go round again.
from ""Folk Song USA"" John and Alan Lomax
RB, RR
OCT98
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!