Bully in the Alley

DESCRIPTION: Shanty. Refrain: "So help me bob, I'm bully in the alley, Way-ay bully in the alley. So help me bob, I'm bully in the alley, bully down in Shinbone Al." Verses involve courting, being rejected by, and/or leaving Sally.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1914 (Sharp-EnglishFolkChanteys)
KEYWORDS: shanty courting rejection
FOUND IN: West Indies Britain
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas, pp. 522-523, "Bully in the Alley" (1 text, 1 tune) [AbEd, p. 382]
Sharp-EnglishFolkChanteys, XXXV, pp. 40-41, "Bully in the Alley" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, BULLYALL*
Roud #8287
NOTES [20 words]: Hugill-ShantiesFromTheSevenSeas says that "Shinbone Alley" is a place name often referred to in American Negro songs. - SL
File: Hug522

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