- Cindy (folk song)
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"Cindy"
("Cindy, Cindy")Music by Traditional Language English Form Folk song "Cindy" ("Cindy, Cindy") is a popular American Folk song. According to John Lomax, the song originated in North Carolina. In the early and middle 20th century, Cindy was included in the songbooks used in many elementary school music programs as an example of folk music. It is familiar from the chorus:
- Get along home, Cindy Cindy,
- Get along home, Cindy Cindy,
- Get along home, Cindy Cindy,
- I'll marry you some day.
One of the earliest versions of "Cindy" is found in Anne Virginia Culbertson's collection of Negro folktales (At the Big House, where Aunt Nancy and Aunt 'Phrony Held Forth on the Animal Folks, Bobbs-Merrill, 1904) where one of her characters, Tim, "sang a plantation song named 'Cindy Ann'," the first verse and refrain of which are:
- I'se gwine down ter Richmond,
- I'll tell you w'a hit's for:
- I'se gwine down ter Richmond,
- Fer ter try an' end dis war.
- An'-a you good-by, Cindy, Cindy
- Good-by, Cindy Ann;
- An'-a you good-by, Cindy, Cindy
- I'se gwine ter Rappahan.[1]
As with many folk songs, each singer was free to add verses, and many did. Cindy was a particular favorite for this, with many ribald verses added, attesting to Cindy's amorous inclinations.
Contents
Versions
Benjamin Weisman, Dolores Fuller and Fred Wise wrote a version of "Cindy" called "Cindy, Cindy". This version is the familiar one recorded by such performers as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon, Nick Cave (in a duet with Johnny Cash), and others. Dr. Mack Wilberg's choral arrangement of the piece was written for four-hand piano, double eight-part choirs, a string bass, xylophone, and a score of quintessential Americana instruments to supplement the melody during the arrangement's hoedown section. This arrangement is available for any choir to learn and perform, although Wilberg also wrote a special arrangement to be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The choral parts are the same, but the accompaniment has been rewritten for full orchestra (specifically the Orchestra at Temple Square). Robert Plant has included an arrangement of "Cindy" on his cd, Band of Joy.
Some of the folk song verses
- You ought to see my Cindy
- She lives way down South
- She's so sweet the honey bees,
- They swarm around her mouth
- Get along home Cindy, Cindy
- Get along home Cindy, Cindy
- Get along home Cindy, Cindy
- I'll marry you some day
In Popular Culture
The song is performed in the 1957 episode of Maverick (TV series), "Hostage" by Don Durant.[2]
The song is performed in the 1959 John Wayne movie - Rio Bravo[3]. It is performed by Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan.
References
- ^ Culbertson, "How Mr. Terrapin Lost His Beard", pp. 1329-133.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644458/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053221/
Bibliography
- Culbertson, Anne Virginia. "How Mr. Terrapin Lost His Beard" from The Ten Books of the Merrymakers Volume VII, pp. 1328–1335, edited by Marshall P. Wilder. New York: The circle Publishing Company (1909).
External links
- There were variations in the music as well as the lyrics. You can listen and read the lyrics/song history of the 2003 version by The Rosinators entitled 'Cindy's Breakdown'.
- This MIDI version was recorded by J. R. Thompson.
- This page offers a link to an MP3 recording by Wayne Potash.
- This page offers a link to an MP3 by Robert Beaser.
- Polish lyrics of the song on Polish Wikisource
Categories:- American folk songs
- Folk song stubs
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