Conundrum Song

DESCRIPTION: "Do ships have eyes when they go to sea? Are there springs on the ocean bed? Can a jolly tar spring from a tree? Can a river lose its head? Are fishes crazy when found in seine? Can an old hen sing her lay? Can you bring relief to a window pane?" etc.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1890 (The Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. 23, no. 35, according to mudcat.org thread "Origins: Do Ships Have Eyes?")
KEYWORDS: nonsense questions humorous campsong
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Harbin-Parodology, #82, p. 25, "Conundrum Song" (1 text, tune referenced)
Pankake/Pankake-PrairieHomeCompanionFolkSongBook, p. 190, "Questions" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #15410
NOTES [76 words]: Harbin-Parodology lists this as being sung to "The Wearing of the Green," but I doubt this is the original tune.
Dime-Song-Book #19, p. 54, has a different "Song of Conundrums," which begins
Why is a 'school-marm like unto an eye,
When she a naughty boy does thrash?
'Tis very simple, you can surely see,
The pupil is put under the lash."
The rest is in a similar vein. Clearly not the same song, although perhaps based on the same sort of conundrums. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.6
File: Paro082

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