My Name is Yon Yonson

DESCRIPTION: "My name is Yon Yonson, I come from Visconsin, I work in the lumber mills there, Ven I valk down the street, all the people I meet, say, 'Hello, vot's your name?' and I say...." and repeat until someone rebels
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1927 (Harbin-Parodology)
KEYWORDS: humorous cumulative campsong | circular
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (6 citations):
LibraryThingCampSongsThread, post 154, "(My name is Yohn Yohnson)" (1 text, from user 2wonderY, posted October 29, 2021)
Harbin-Parodology, #28, p. 14, "Yon Yonson" (1 text)
Rodeheaver-SociabilitySongs, p. 123, "Yon Yonson" (1 text, 1 tune)
Averill-CampSongsFolkSongs, p. 415, "Yon Yonson"/"My Name is John Johnson" (notes only)
ADDITIONAL: Walker D. Wyman, _Wisconsin Folklore_, University of Wisconsin Extension (?), 1979, pp. 71, ("My Name is Yon Yonson") (1 text)
Sinclair Lewis, _Dodsworth_, 1929
ST xMNIYY (Full)
RECORDINGS:
Paul Smith, "Yon Yonson" (Recitation: Piotr-Archive #252, recorded 09/12/2022)
NOTES [187 words]: The form quoted in the description does not appear to be original. Wyman's version is not in dialect (I've quoted James F. Leisy's text, even though I've never heard a Norwegian who could pronounce "th" but could not pronounce "w"; it's either or neither). Also. Wyman's last line is simply "All the people I meet Ask how I came to be there." I suspect the latter form would not have been remembered had not someone "circularized" the poem. But since no author is known, there are variant texts, and Leisy has a tune, this *might* be a folk song. So here it is.
Credit to Jim Dixon for pointing out to me the 1929 version in Sinclair Lewis's Dodsworth. This is a version in true Scandihoovian dialect, and properly circular: "Ven I go down de street, All de people I meet, Dey saaaaaaay, 'Vot's your name?' And I sa-aaaaay: My name is Yon Yonson...."
As early as 1895, there was a play presented at the Columbia Theatre in New York, "Yon Yonson," featuring Gus Heege. Wikipedia says that this play (written in 1890) was part of Heege's "Swedish Immigrant" trilogy of plays. But I don't know if it is related to this. RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: xMNIYY

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