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Polly-Wolly-Doodle
Last updated: 11.10.23
I first learned Polly-Wolly-Doodle, a traditional American song, whilst at primary school back in the late 1940's. It was a school-favourite of mine. The lyrics we sang were definitely not politically correct by today's mores. Singing the lines
   "Oh, I came to a river and couldn't get across,
    Sing Polly-wolly-doodle all the day!
    And I jumped upon a nigger, for I thought he was a hoss

would scarcely earn many kudos in our present multi-ethnic global village. The version that I still sing today can be found in It's fun to sing where astonishingly the given lyrics are exactly those that I sang as a schoolchild.
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     Title Performer Composer
       
youtube15.jpg Polly-Wolly-Doodle (3:08) Tom Roush