“The Girl that Wore a Waterfall”
Description
The singer sees a pretty girl who "wore a waterfall." Eventually he walks her home, where he encounters her husband. The singer is beaten black and blue and relieved of watch and money. He says he will no longer approach girls with waterfalls!
Notes
The "waterfall" as a hair style came into vogue in 1845, and continued to be used until shortly after the Civil War. Randolph describes it as "a mass of artificially curled hair, worn at the back of the head, arranged about a nucleus of false hair known as a 'rat.'" The word can also refer to a neck scarf.
The popularity of the song is evidenced by a reference to it in the Canadian song "Hogan's Lake." - RBW
References
- Laws H26, "The Girl That Wore a Waterfall"
- Randolph 389, "The Girl with the Waterfall" (1 text, 1 tune)
- McNeil-SFB2, pp. 44-46, "The Girl That Wore a Waterfall" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Fife-Cowboy/West 64, "The Girl That Wore a Waterfall" (1 text, 1 tune)
- DT, WATERFL2
- Roud #2189
- BI, LH26