“Yo Ho, Yo Ho”
Description
In this formula song, the singer tells of placing his hand successively on a woman's toe, knee, thigh, etc., and the results of his quest.
Notes
This song, as old as any in the English-language canon, survives in multiple variants sung to a variety of melodies. - EC
It appears Roud lumps this with "Gentry Johnny My Jingalo." That song has been so heavily redacted by Sharp that I can't lump them despite their, um, points of contact. - RBW
Cross references
- cf. "There Were Three Birds"
- cf. "Drive It On"
- cf. "Gently, Johnny, My Jingalo" (Cecil Sharp's rewrite)
- cf. "He Kept A-Kissin' On"
- cf. "He Gave Her Kisses One"
- cf. "How Ashamed I Was"
- cf. "A-Rovin'"
- cf. "The Girl in Portland Street" (plot, theme)
References
- Cray, pp. 318-323, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho" (1 text, 1 tune plus 1 text for "Billy Go Leary")
- Thomas-Makin', p. 31, (no title) (1 short text, which might or might not be this, but it is suggestive that it breaks off just as the sailor promises to tell a tale)
- Roud #5586
- BI, EM318