I-Yi-Yi-Yi (Limericks)

DESCRIPTION: Marked by verses in the form of limericks, always bawdy. Most deal with sexual machinery, either human or mechanical. Some may have a chorus such as "Sing us another one, Just like the other one."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1959
KEYWORDS: bawdy technology
FOUND IN: US(SW,So) Canada
REFERENCES (4 citations):
Cray-EroticMuse, pp. 216-223, "I-Yi-Yi-Yi" (4 texts, 2 tunes)
Hopkins-SongsFromTheFrontAndRear, pp. 165-166, "Sing Us Another One" (1 text, 1 tune, very long and composite)
Morgan/Green-RugbySongs, pp. 161-170, "Sing Us Another One" (1 text, very long)
cf. FolkSongAndMusicHall, "Rhymes [limerick song]"
Roud #10247
RECORDINGS:
Anonymous singers, "Limericks" (on Unexp1)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Cielito Lindo" (tune) and references there
cf. "Waltz Me Around Again Willie" (lyrics)
NOTES [130 words]: As will be seen from the cross-references, this piece has an assembled tune, and not all versions have the same melody. Nor are there any lyrics found consistently. It classifies as a single song more or less by default; in essence, it's a bunch of bawdy limericks, often with each verse telling of one sexual exploit of a man or woman.
Steve Roud, and FolkSongAndMusicHall, consider Leslie Sarony's 1931 song "Rhymes," which is a sort of wrapper around a whole bunch of limericks, I to be the same as limerick songs. I don't think this really follows; limericks are much older, and surely there were older bawdy limerick songs, even if I can't point to one. Also, Sarony's recording consistently bowdlerizes its last line, singing "la da da da..." rather than the punchline. - RBW
Last updated in version 7.0
File: EM216

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