“Bang Away, Lulu (II)”

Description

A teasing-song version of "Bang Away, Lulu I," i.e.: "Lulu's got a rooster. / Lulu's got a duck. / She put them in the bathtub / To see if they would --." Chorus: "Bang, bang Lulu," etc. (Note that the last line of each verse is left unfinished)

Notes

I am guessing, on circumstantial evidence, that the Bang Boys recording falls under this entry rather than the other "Bang Away, Lulu" songs -- but you should look there, too. - PJS

Robert A. Heinlein, in _To Sail Beyond the Sunset_ (p. 144 of the Ace paperback edition) claims that this song was in existence some time before 1918. This seems likely enough, but of course (it being a work of fiction) Heinlein does not document it. And the book was written some seventy years after that, and Heinlein was only 11 years old in 1918. Sure, he might have learned it by then -- but I wouldn't bet on it. I mention it because it *might* be an earliest date, but point out how tenuous that dating is. - RBW

Cross references

  • cf. "Bang Away, Lulu I, III"

Recordings

  • Bang Boys [pseud. for Roy Acuff] "When Lulu's Gone" (Vocalion 03372, c. 1937)
  • New Lost City Ramblers, "Bang, Bang Lulu" (on NLCREP3)

References

  1. Cray, pp. 180-182, "Bang Away, Lulu II" (1 text, 1 tune)
  2. Randolph-Legman I, p. 353, "Bang Away, Lulu" (the "F" text is this piece; the others are "Bang Away, Lulu (I)")
  3. Roud #4835
  4. BI, EM180

About

Author: unknown
Keywords: bawdy humorous wordplay
Found in: US(So)