Lyrics
(American folk song)
1. Did you go to the barney? Yes ma’am.
Did you see my mulie? Yes ma’am.
Did you ride my mulie? Yes ma’am.
And how did he ride?
He rocked just like a cradle,
He rocked just like a cradle.
2. Did you go to the barney? Yes ma’am.
Did you see my mulie? Yes ma’am.
Did you feed my mulie? Yes ma’am.
And what did you feed him?
I fed him corn and fodder.
I fed him corn and fodder.
3. Did you go to the millie? Yes ma’am.
Did you get any flour? Yes ma’am.
Did you bake any cakes? Yes ma’am.
And why did you bake them?
Oh I’ll marry next Thursday morning,
Oh I’ll marry next Thursday morning.
An online dictionary gives the definition of “barney” as:
- an argument
- a prizefight
- a fight or brawl
- a blunder or mistake
- a small locomotive used in mining and logging.
See also
- Subject: mules
- Harmony: countermelodies / Orff arrangements / one chord
- Melody: A,B
- Meter: 2
- Scale: pentatonic
- Tones: drmsl
- Source: American Folk Songs for Children,Ruth Crawford Seeger, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1948
- PDF of song with chords + Lesson ideas + Orff arrangement
- MIDI file
- Listen to the song
Amazon links are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, but there is no extra cost to you.
2 thoughts on “Did You Go to the Barney?”
The word “barney” seems to be used as just a fun way to say “barn”, just like the word, “millie” appears to be used as a fun way to say, “mill”:)
Good point! 🙂