The Glendy Burk

The Glendy Burk is an American folk song by Stephen Foster. It appears in James Buckley's New Banjo Book published in 1860. The Glendy Burk of the song is a paddle steamer plying the Mississippi River basin.^[1] The boat was named for Glendy Burke: the 29th mayor of New Orleans.

Lyrics

The Glendy Burk is a mighty fast boat,
With a mighty fast captain too;
He sits up there on the hurricane roof
And he keeps his eye on the crew.
I cant stay here, for the works' too hard;
I'm bound to leave this town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When the Glendy Burk comes down.

Chorus:
Ho! for Louisiana!
I'm bound to leave this town;
I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back
When the Glendy Burk comes down.

The Glendy Burk has a funny old crew
And they sing de boatman's song,
they burn the pitch and the pine knot too,
For to shove the boat along.

The smoke goes up and the engine roars
And the wheel goes round and round,
So fair ye well for I'll take a little ride
When de Glendy Burk comes down.

I'll work all night in de wind and storm,
I'll work all day in de rain,
Till I find myself on de levy dock
In New Orleans again.

Dey make me mow in de hay field here
And knock my head wid de flail,
I'll go wha dey work wid de sugar
And de cane And roll on de cotton bale.

My lady love is as pretty as a pink,
I'll meet her on de way
I'll take her back to de sunny old south
And dah I'll make her stay.

So dont you fret my honey dear,
Oh! dont you fret Miss Brown
I'll take you back 'fore de middle of de week
When de Glendy Burk comes down.^[1]

1. ^ Lyrics at the University of Pittsburgh

References