Tommy Tompkins and Polly Hopkins

DESCRIPTION: "Howdy do, Mr. Tommy Tomplins, Howdy do, Howdy do?" "Howdy do, Miss Polly Hopkins." "Oh, say, Mr. Tommy Tompkins, Won't you buy a broom?" "Oh, yes, Miss Polly Hopkins, I will buy a broom... If you'll be my bride And sweep the room."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1934 (Henry, from Elsie Burnett)
KEYWORDS: courting marriage
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Henry-SongsSungInTheSouthernAppalachians, p. 227, "Tommy Tompkins and Polly Hopkins" (1 text)
Henderson-VictorianStreetBallads, p. 93, "Polly Hopkins" (1 text)
Roud #18698
NOTES [37 words]: I can't prove it, but I would guess that Henry's text has something to do with the custom of marrying by jumping over a broom. Henderson's version has her reject him; it looks more like a Quaker's Courtship type of piece. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.4
File: MHAp227

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