Winnipeg Whore, The

DESCRIPTION: On the narrator's first trip to Canada, he visits the eponymous lady, and while having sex with her, has his watch and wallet stolen. (When he objects, he is thrown out.)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (collected from Norman MacIvor by Walton)
KEYWORDS: bawdy humorous sex theft whore
FOUND IN: Australia US(Ap,SW) Canada(Ont)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Cray-EroticMuse, pp. 202-204, "The Winnipeg Whore" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Legman-RollMeInYourArms I, pp. 278-279, "The Winnipeg Whore" (3 texts, 1 tune)
Walton/Grimm-Windjammers-SongsOfTheGreatLakesSailors, pp. 114-115, "The Buffalo Whote" (1 text)
Kinsey-SongsOfTheSea, pp. 181-182, "Winnipeg Whore" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, WINNIPG*
Roud #8348
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Gold Watch" [Laws K41] (plot) and references there
cf. "Reuben and Rachel" (tune) and references there
cf. "Four Old Whores" (subject of Winnipeg whores)
NOTES [137 words]: The Walton text "The Buffalo Whore" is probably a deliberate rewrite, and could perhaps be considered a separate song -- but with only one text apparently known, it is probably not worth splitting off.
The change from a "Winnipeg Whore" to a "Buffalo Whore" is interesting, because Buffalo in sailing days had a rather wild reputation. It was the last possible port of call for Great Lakes boats too large to pass through the Welland Canal, so more sailors stopped there than any other port on the Lakes -- with predictable effect on the population of prostitutes and others who catered to sailors away from home.
I do note with interest that the American versions talk about a Winnipeg whore, while the Buffalo Whore version comes from Canada. It's almost as if the most interesting prostitutes lie over the border. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.3
File: EM202

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