[Dixielandjazz] Wille Green lyrids

[Celinda Scott]

Dear Dixieland Jazz,
    I just "Googled"  "Willie Green from New Orleans" and
found the words Bill Haeseler got from a recording.
The words my mother said my father (he died in 1943)
used to sing were:  "Oh, Little Willie Green/from New
Orleans/a greedy boy was he./He used to gather all the
kids around just to keep him company.  "I aint a goin' to
give you none of this jelly roll./I wouldn't give you
a single bit to save your soul./ My ma told me today/
when she was gone away/ to be a good boy/ she'd
bring me a toy/ I am my mama's pride and joy/ It ain't
no use for youse to keep on hangin' around/ I love you,
and I hate to turn you down/ but this jelly roll is sweet/
and it's surely hard to beat;/ I know you want it,
but you can't have it/'Cause I ain't a goin'to give you
none."   --Celinda Scott  (the Jim Lehrer News Hour
feature tonight on New Orleans--much of it
about the musicians--made me think of it)