Folk Song for September 2022: Did You Go To the Barney?

Our first song of the year is a tribute to the memory of our dear Advisory sister Wendi Capehart. She loved singing this song with her grandchildren. The Advisory treasures our shared memory of watching Wendi work her legendary folk singing magic while teaching this song to a crowd of happy moms at a conference in Canada some years ago. 

Note: Due to Youtube’s protective regulations for video content aimed at children, there is no version of this song which can be included in Youtube playlists. No worries, we've linked to an Amazon mp3 file on the AO Folk Songs page, or you could just bookmark the link here to Peggy Seeger's version on Youtube.

Did You Go To the Barney?

1. Did you go to the barney? Yes ma’am.

Did you see my mulie? Yes ma’am.

Did you ride my mulie? Yes ma’am.

And how did he ride?

He rocked just like a cradle,

He rocked just like a cradle.

2. Did you go to the barney? Yes ma’am.

Did you see my mulie? Yes ma’am.

Did you feed my mulie? Yes ma’am.

And what did you feed him?

I fed him corn and fodder.

I fed him corn and fodder.

3. Did you go to the millie? Yes ma’am.

Did you get any flour? Yes ma’am.

Did you bake any cakes? Yes ma’am.

And why did you bake them?

Oh I’ll marry next Thursday morning,

Oh I’ll marry next Thursday morning.

Did You Go To the Barney is a call-and-response tune (see this Wikipedia entry for a sense of the global history of call-and-response traditions). 

The tune of this song shares roots with some similar folk songs, albeit with slight melodic variations. Here are two which your children will enjoy exploring for extra fun. (These also cannot be added to Youtube playlists; check the AO Folk Songs page for Amazon links.)

Did You Feed My Cow?

Ella Jenkins (Youtube)

Ella Jenkins with choir (Youtube)

1. Well, did you feed my cow? (Yes, ma’am!)

Well, did you feed my cow? (Yes, ma’am!)

Well, tell me, what did you feed her? (Corn and hay)

Well, tell me, what did you feed her? (Corn and hay)

2. Well, did you milk her real good? (Yes, ma’am!)

Well, did you milk her like you should? (Yes ma’am!)

Well, show me, how did you milk her? (Squish, squish, squish)

Well, now, how did you milk her? (Squish, squish, squish)

3. Well, did my cow get sick? (Yes, ma’am!)

Oh, was she really, really sick? (Yes ma’am!)

Well, show me, how did she look? (Uh, uh, uh)

Again now, how did she look? (Uh, uh, uh)

4. Well, did those buzzards come? (Yes, ma’am!)

Oh, did those buzzards come? (Yes ma’am!)

Well, tell me, how did they come? (Flop, flop, flop)

How did they come? (Flop, flop, flop)

Oh, John the Rabbit

Mike & Peggy Seeger (Youtube)

A field recording of 4 teenage girls in the 1930’s-40’s (Youtube)

Oh, John the rabbit (Yes, ma'am!)

Got a mighty habit (Yes, ma'am!)

Jumpin' in my garden (Yes, ma'am!)

Cuttin' down my cabbage (Yes, ma'am!)

My sweet potatoes (Yes, ma'am!)

My fresh tomatoes (Yes, ma'am!)

And if I live (Yes, ma'am!)

to see next fall (Yes, ma'am!)

I ain't gonna have (Yes, ma'am!)

No garden at all (NO, ma'am!)

Lynn's Youtube Playlist for AO Folk Songs 2022-2023

Our helpful intro post is sure to liven up your folk song adventures.

For more information on our folk songs, and for Amazon affiliate 

links to purchase individual songs, see our AO Folk Songs page.

These affiliate links help support AmblesideOnline.