Does anyone know anything about this song. All I know are a few lyrics. It goes like this," You’re my ripe, ripe tomatoe. You’re my sweet, sweet potatoe. You’re my little brown sugar bowl. You’re my little bit of honey that the bees ain’t found…" My grandmother taught me this song about 40 years ago. I would appreciate any info anyone can offer. I think it may have been recorded in the 20’s or 30’s possibly earlier, maybe later.
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http://www.starbittrune.com/Jack/littlepotato.html This song talks about sweet potatoes but none of the other things.
It seems to me I heard that song before, but who knows where or when? The bit about “my little brown sugar bowl” shows your instincts that it was from the 20s or earlier are correct, but there were so blasted many songs like it that came out in the first quarter of the 20th, most of which weren’t all that popular, that the likelihood that a random internet user would know it is very low. Check out some of the early phonograph websites and ask the guys running them if it sounds familiar.
Just found this on another site
http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/general_library/archives/finding_aids/MUM00344.html
- 1917 – “A Little Bit o’Honey” by Carrie Jacobs Bond (m) and W.G. Wilson (w); The Bond Shop (Chicago). Cover: non-caricatured black woman holding a child.
You’s ma little black baby wid a turned up nose, An’ a little bunch o’wool upon yo’ head; You’s got dimples in yo’ elbows an’ wrinkles in yo’ toes, An’ a mouf lak a watermellon red.
You’ ma sweet, sweet pertater, you’s ma ripe, ripe termater, You’s ma purty little black sugar ball; You’s a little bit o’honey dat de bees ain’t foun’, You’s ma own pickaninny – dat’s all!
You’s de onlies’ little darlin’ in de whole roun’ worl’, An’ you’s got yo’ little fingahs on my heart; You’s ma little bit o’woolly headed brown eyed gal Dat I’se always longin’ for when we’re apart.
For I doan know what I’d do it it wasn’t jes’ fo’ you, You’s ma purty little black sugar ball; You’s a little bit o’honey dat de bees ain’t foun’, You’s ma own pickaninny – dat’s all!