Old Bob Ridley
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OLD BOB RIDLEY. AKA - "Young Bob Ridley." Old-Time, Breakdown and Song Tune. D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. The song [Roud 753] has been absorbed into English tradition (where it has merged with "Turpin Hero"), although its provenance is from the American black-face minstrel stage. The 1855 sheet music [1] credits Charles White with the composition.
Oh listen folks, I will sing you a ditty,
I'm from home, but that's no pity.
To praise myself it is a shame,
But old Bob Ridley is my name.
Chorus:
I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh, I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh!
I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh, I'm old Bob Ridley, Oh! .... (Ford)
Charles White's version goes:
Now white folks I'll sing you a ditty,
I'se from home buth dat's no pity;
Oh, to praise myself, it am a shame,
But Robert Ridley is my name.
Chorus:
Oh, Bob Ridley ho,
Oh, Bob Ridley ho,
Oh, Bob Ridley: Oh!! Oh!!
Oh, Bob Ridley ho.
Source for notated version:
Printed sources: Ford (Traditional Music in America), 1940; p. 54 (additional verses on p. 401).
Recorded sources:
See also listing at:
Jane Keefer's Folk Music Index: An Index to Recorded Sources [2]
See note and additional verses at Mainly Norfolk [3]
