Folk Song for May 2023: Crawdad Song

Of all the songs for this year (which I heard over and over while researching this year's selections!), this is the one that I most often found myself singing around the house. Who knows, Crawdad Song may be what it takes to entice me to figure out what to do with that ukulele hidden in my closet. (Shhh!)
😅

Crawdad Song has roots in African-American blues and gospel. If the tune sounds familiar, it may be because it’s essentially the same as the old gospel song This Train is Bound for Glory. Do check it out these old recordings by Big Bill Broonzy, Pop Winans, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe (all linked on my playlist). Wonderful!

Froggie Went a-Courtin’ is another song that uses a very similar tune, making it fun and easy to learn alongside Crawdad Song. Pete Seeger’s version is great. The Spoon Lady (with whom Wendi Capehart was borderline obsessed!) combines the two songs. Don't miss The Spoon Lady, whatever you do!

Our lyrics for Crawdad Song most closely follow the Smithsonian Folkways version by Cisco Houston, (which cannot be added to YouTube playlists, but you'll find an Amazon affiliate link for it on our Folk Songs page at AO, and as always you can bookmark the Youtube link here.)

Crawdad Song

1. You get a line and I'll get a pole, Honey

You get a line and I'll get a pole, Babe

You get a line and I'll get a pole

We'll go down to the crawdad hole

Honey, Baby mine

[A fun, optional verse; try singing a child’s name instead of “now”]

Well get up now, you slept too late, Honey

Get up now, you slept too late, Babe

Get up now, you slept too late

The crawdad man done passed your gate

Honey, Baby mine

2. What ya gonna do when the lake runs dry, Honey

What ya gonna do when the lake runs dry, Babe

What ya gonna do when the lake runs dry

Sit on the bank, watch the crawdads die

Honey, Baby mine

3. Well, I heard a duck say to a drake, Honey

I heard a duck say to a drake, Babe

I heard a duck say to a drake

There ain’t no crawdads in this lake

Honey, Baby mine

4. Well, yonder comes a man with a sack on his back, Honey

Yonder comes a man with a sack on his back, Babe

Yonder comes a man with a sack on his back

Got all the crawdads he can pack

Honey, Baby mine

5. Well the man fell down and he broke that sack, Honey

The man fell down and he broke that sack, Babe

The man fell down and he broke that sack

See those crawdads backing back

Honey, Baby mine

6. Well I sell crawdads three for a dime, Honey

I sell crawdads three for a dime, Babe

I sell crawdads three for a dime

And your crawdads ain’t as good as mine

Honey, Baby mine

Now you get a line and I'll get a pole, Honey

You get a line and I'll get a pole, Babe

You get a line and I'll get a pole

We'll go down to the crawdad hole

Honey, Baby mine

See my playlist for more delightful recordings of Crawdad Song by Andy Griffith and the Dillards, Foggy Mountain Boys, and Woody Guthrie for Smithsonian Folkways.

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.

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