Ragged Leevy

DESCRIPTION: A slow leader line followed by response "O Ho" and a fast line. "Ragged Leevy ... Ragged like a jay bird" "Sweet potato ... Two in the fire" "Mr. x ... Going to build me a store fence" (see notes)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1942 (Parrish-SlaveSongsOfTheGeorgiaSeaIslands)
KEYWORDS: nonballad shanty
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Parrish-SlaveSongsOfTheGeorgiaSeaIslands 52, pp. 212-213, "Ragged Leevy" (1 text, 1 tune)
RECORDINGS:
John Davis and the Georgia Sea Island Singers, "Raggy Levee" (on LomaxCD1713)
NOTES [31 words]: Parrish-SlaveSongsOfTheGeorgiaSeaIslands: "Used when 'blockin' heavy timber." Lomax, on LomaxCD1713: "Who was Raggy Leevy anyway?" John Davis: "He was the raggedest man on the job." - BS
Last updated in version 4.1
File: Parr052

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