Adam Tracksler
Jul-21-2007, 7:42pm
looking for the sheet music or tab for baby-o, my neice thinks its really funny, especially the "stick your finger in the babys eye" part.
thansk in advance, ad
allenhopkins
Jul-22-2007, 12:01pm
Did you get your version from the Charles River Valley Boys? Jean Ritchie's is a lot less rollicking and non-PC, though she still sings "Dance him north and dance him south/Put a little moonshine in his mouth."
Adam Tracksler
Jul-22-2007, 7:22pm
the verson I've heard is from the Rockinghams..
allenhopkins
Jul-22-2007, 10:38pm
I don't know from tab but if it's lyrics you want, Kristin Hersh's are here. (http://www.bluelyrics.net/k/kristin_hersh_lyrics/what_ll_we_do_with_the_baby-o_lyrics.html)
She does omit the Charles River Valley Boys' verse, "Throw the baby against the wall/Scrape him off and let him fall." Perhaps a concession to taste?
Doubt you'll find sheet music, and I'm clueless with regard to tablature.
Gary S
Jul-23-2007, 5:33am
I have always associated this tune with the great duet from East Tennessee that recorded in the late 20s Grayson and Whitter. Here is some info I googled.
The baby laughs, the baby cries,
Stuck my finger in the baby's eyes.
*** Refrain
Whatcha gonna do with the baby?
Whatcha gonna do with the baby?
***
Wrap it up in calico,
Send it back to Georg‑i‑o.
***
Wrap it up in a tablecloth,
Toss it up in a stable loft.
***
I love that pretty little thing,
Baby is a dandy;
I love that pretty little baby,
God bless its mammy.
***
Sources for notated versions: Grayson and Whitter (Kentucky) [Kuntz]; Estill Bingham (Pineville, Bell County, Ky., c. 1986) [Titon]; Mark Gaponoff [Silberberg]. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986 (country dance version). Kuntz (Ragged but Right), 1987; pg. 345‑246. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 168 (appears as “What’cha Goin’ To Do with the Baby?”). Titon (Old Time Kentucky Fiddle Tunes), 2001; No. 166, pg. 192. Chubby Dragon CD1008, Brad Leftwich, Bruce Molsky et al – “Mountairy.usa” (2001). County 513, "The Recordings of Grayson and Whitter." County 778, Tommy Jarrell‑ "Pickin' on Tommy's Porch" (1984. Learned from the playing of his father, fiddler Ben Jarrell, and uncle, Charlie Barnett Lowe). Document DOCD-8055, Grayson & Whitter (reissue). Musical Traditions MTCD 321-2, Dent Wimmer (et al) – “Far in the Mountains, Vols. 1 & 2” (2002. Appears as “Baby-O”). Rounder CD0383, Mike Seegar and Paul Brown - “Down in North Carolina.” Voyager 328, "Kenny Hall and the Long Haul String Band."