Sow Weaving Silk

1. Sow weaving silk 
Vandoo vandoo 
Sow weaving silk 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
Sow weaving silk 
And the pigs skimming milk 
An' we're all born blind 
Good night and jolly too.

2. Crow row a boat 
Vandoo vandoo 
An' a crow row a boat 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
Crow row a boat 
With the rowers of his throat 
An' we're all born blind 
Good night and jolly too.

3. Flea heave a tree 
Vandoo vandoo 
Flea heave a tree 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
Flea heave a tree 
With the heavers of his knee 
An' we're all born blind 
Goodnight and jolly too.

4. Mouse build a house 
Vandoo vandoo 
Mouse build a house 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
Mouse build a house 
With the carcass of a louse 
An' we're all born blind 
Goodnight and jolly too.

5. Corn ground a mill 
Vandoo vandoo 
Corn ground a mill 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
Corn ground a mill 
With the stream that runs uphill 
An' we're all born blind 
Goodnight and jolly too.

6. The hen go to mill 
Vandoo vandoo 
The hen go to mill 
Vandoo and Davey Joe 
The hen go to mill 
With a grain upon his bill 
An' we're all born blind 
Goodnight and jolly too.


A nonsense song sung by mothers to their children.  As sung by Myra Pipkin, recorded in 1941 at the Farm Security Administration's Arvin Federal Government Camp, also known as Weedpatch Camp, in Kern County, California. The camp was described by John Steinbeck in "The Grapes of Wrath".  Mrs. Pipkin, born in Arkansas, is thought to be the inspiration for the novel's strong mother character, "Ma Joad".