Songs my Dad sang to me

Come Rosey my posey

Come Rosey my posey,

your weary or dozey.
Come sit upon your daddy's knee.
Sweet songs I will sing you,
Sweet thoughts I will bring you.
Come cuddle up cozy to me. Click here for vocal

This was a very comforting song sung to me as a little girl. Then listening to my dad sing the same song to each of my 4 siblings while they were little and in need of cuddling was an additional comfort. I will include singing of this song as soon as I figure how to post home audio.

Ridin' Down the Canyon

My Dad sang in a barbershop quartet when I was a little girl. This was probably before the birth of my sister Cathy in 1952. He sang with his brother Maurice and two other fellows. I cannot remember who those men were. I was under 6 years old at the time. Dad would sing this song to us and after the phrase "a picture that no artist e'er could paint" he would sing "Bom". If he had been singing with the other guys they would have harmonized this and gone on with the rest of the song. When he sang it alone his eyes would get big and he would sing "Bom" and make us laugh. Then he would finish the rest of the song. The words and music to this song were written by Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette. This particular version was arranged by Ozzie Westley in the Barber Shop quartet book that my Dad had. It is so old that it has fallen all apart but I have a photocopy of the old fragile page to refer to.

Ridin' down the Canyon to watch the sun go down,
A picture that no artist e'er could paint - Hmmm (Dad sang "Bom")
Whitefaced cattle lowin' on the mountain side
I hear a coyote whinin' for its mate
Cactus plants are bloomin'
Sagebrush everywhere
Granite spires are standin' all around
I tell you folks it's heaven
To be ridin' down the trail
When the desert sun goes down. When the desert sun goes down.
Click here for my vocal

Old Black Joe

This is another song my dad used to sing to us. My youngest brother used to cry when he sang it. I guess it sounded sad to him. This would be considered a politically incorrect song to sing now days, but it is part of my history and I like it. ( I just discovered this was in my Dad's barbershop quartet book. That is probably why he sang it to us. Update 3-19-2010)

Gone are the days, when my heart was young and gay.
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away.
Gone from the earth to a better land I know.
I hear their gentle voices calling, Old Black Joe.
I'm coming, I'm coming, though my head is bending low.
I hear their gentle voices calling Old Black Joe.Click here for vocal.
Written by Stephen Foster circa 1860

I Only Want a Buddy not a Gal

This was another song in the barbershop quartet book.  This is a tongue in cheek kind of song, sung just for fun.  This is not a desirable situation in truth.  God sets the single one in families.  Marriage is desirable unless God has gifted someone to live a single life.

What is romance but taking a chance,
Gambling with misery.
I was a fool but just like in school
I've learned my lesson you see.
I only want a buddy not a sweetheart.
Buddies never make you blue.
Sweethearts make vows that are broken,
Broken like their hearts are broken too.
Don't tell me that you love me
Say you like me.
No lovers' quarrels, no bungalows for two.
Don't turn down lovers' lane.
Just keep right on a sayin',
I only want a buddy not a gal,
I only want a buddy not a gal.

Click here for audio

Brother Bob sings!

My brother Bob and I were remembering the various songs that our Dad sang to us. Bob sings some and I sing with him on a couple. Bill played Dad actually singing Old Black Joe from the 1970's. This was a fun time. Click here to listen.