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In many cases the songs furnished a picture of the life and industries of the people who sung them. "They Raise Big Taters in the Sandy Land", "Old Joe Clark", and "Shoot The Buffalo" all have a reflex on the lives of the people where they originated. In connection with the play party we sometimes had a candy pulling. About the time the crowd begun to gather a pot of home-made sorghum molasses was put on to boil. This was kept boiling until it reached the proper consistency and then set off to cool. It would then form a thick taffy. Then, partners would grease their hands with butter and lake a lump of taffy about the size of one's fist and pull and stretch it until it became a hard, brittle candy. This was rather a messy game, but the hilarious fun that accomplished the candy pulling repaid for all the washing of calico dresses and hickory shirts that must needs take place within the next few days. In the outlying districts there are still places where the folks have an occasional play party, but they are being '"cultured" out of the country. With our modern methods of transportation, and manner and taste for entertainment, the old play party will soon be remembered only on the printed page. I doubt if the entertainment we now enjoy is more invigorating morally, mentally, or physically, than that received from singing and dancing the old tunes as:
Play Party Songs We herewith append a number of old Play Party Songs to the foregoing article. We have preserved the wording, and verse form of these songs in the form they were sung forty and fifty years ago. Weavely Wheat
Chorus
-- 94 -- This song was sung thru as many verses as the singers could improvise, as were all the others, provided the rag time, or dance time, was not broken. It mattered not whether the rhythm was false, or true. Many an uncouth rhyme was sung to these unlettered country boys and girls. For instance-
Were often sung to the Weavely Wheat verses. Another old playparty song was "Hog Drovers". It was played by first setting two chairs in the middle of the room, side by side, facing opposite directions. A young gentleman took one, a young lady seated herself in the other. Then a couple of men circled around them singing:
Then the gentleman in the chair sung
To which the couple circling the chair would reply:
Then from the chair:
This last verse was sung after the young lady had been consulted as to whom she would like for a partner. After another daughter had been brought to the master of the house, the play was continued until all had partners. Roxy Ann Is Foolin' Me This was played by couples. The girls formed a line facing their partners who were lined up opposite, facing. The play begun by the first couple meeting in center with a once and a half swing, and dancing to the tune of the lively song. This continued until this couple reach the foot of the line. -- 95 -- The other couples followed in like manner. Each couple going foot. The song was as follows:
And on thru as many verses as the song leader could improvise as
Illiterate and coarse as it would seem to our sophisticated society, those young people of another generation found a great deal of wholesome pastime at these old play parties. My Celia This song was begun with a mournful air; warming up as the play advanced until it became one of the liveliest dance plays sung by the folk.
At this juncture the play broke into its liveliest tempo as the Chorus was added: --
This rollicking song was sung to as many figures as were required to complete the round of partners; and included: Balance all; right and left swing; corners swing; opposite partner; Double L; Promenade; etc., etc. Another song 'Two Old Tuckers" was a grab partner song. A circle was formed by all parties in the play joining hands. Inside the circle were two boys. The song was as follows:
This song was played by the couples marching around the room. At the point "The Girls Turned Back" the girls actually turned and a right and left swing ensued until partners met. 'Then a once and a half swing until -- 96 -- |
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