Mr. Pussyfoot

DESCRIPTION: "Mr. Pussyfoot, bow wow. Mr. Pussyfoot, miaou miaou. Fancy coming from America to try To make Old England dry. Mr. Pussyfoot, bow wow."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1983 (Kane-SongsAndSayingsOfAnUlsterChildhood)
KEYWORDS: drink animal travel
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1862-1945 - Life of William "Pussyfoot" Johnson
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Kane-SongsAndSayingsOfAnUlsterChildhood, p. 190, "Mr. Pussyfoot, bow wow" (1 short text)
Roud #25455
NOTES [107 words]: At the site westervillelibrary.org, I found a short biography of William Johnson, known for some reason as "Pussyfoot." (One hypothesis is that it was because he worked to get laws changed by stealth rather than openly.) He became a "dry" crusader, and in that cause visited England in 1919 (where he was attacked and lost an eye). I would assume this song is about the 1919 visit. I have no explanation for the animal references in the song. He has a Wikipedia entry, although it's not particularly long.
Fowke thinks this inspired by "Drink Old England Dry," but I don't think that the actual tune although it may have supplied the idea. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.5
File: KSUC190C

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