Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets!

Growing up, my parents sang many songs and riddles to us. MANY! I have so many wonderful songs to sing to my baby, songs that were sung to me on a regular basis when I was younger. Heck, my daddy and Uncle Charles sang us a few just a couple months ago when I was visiting in Morgan City! (note to self, find that video clip)

My daddy sang us a song about paw-paws… picking them up and putting them in your pocket. I never actually took a moment to consider what a paw-paw actually is? What is a paw-paw? I just thought it was a song, a cute fun song my dad sang to keep us busy. I can see him now, throwing his arm in the air and scooping it in a half circle singing …………..

“Come on boys, let’s go find her”

…  hahahaa my dad was and still is very animated!

Sunday June 28, 2009 ~ Darlene, Pat and I went to the US National Arboretum. We had an amazing morning/early afternoon walking around and checking out the scenery and the massive koi pond! As we walked through the gardens, Pat said, “look at those pods in that tree” and Darlene and I were all over finding the sign to figure things out. lol Darlene had to jump on a brick barrier to reach over and use her cane to hold back the foliage so we could see the sign.

It was a Pawpaw Tree! I couldn’t believe it. I immediately said, Daddy didn’t make that up! It’s a real tree! He probably picked pawpaws at a pawpaw patch before! and of course Darlene and I started singing the song, and Pat just looked at us a little funny!  Visit Edible Landscaping for more info on Pawpaws!

A Pawpaw tree, right there in front of us!

Sing a song, sing along, sing the song of the pawpaw patch!

Here are the traditional lyrics I found from this site. I remember Daddy starting off with “Mary” though! 

Where, oh where is dear little Danny?
Where, oh where is dear little Danny?
Where, oh where is dear little Danny?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-patch.

Where, oh where is dear old Nellie?
Where, oh where is dear old Nellie?
Where, oh where is dear old Nellie?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Come on boys, let’s go find her,
Come on boys, let’s go find her,
Come on boys, let’s go find her,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-patch.

Where, oh where is dear little Jimmy?
Where, oh where is dear little Jimmy?
Where, oh where is dear little Jimmy?
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Come on girls, let’s go find him,
Way down yonder in the paw-paw patch.

Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Pickin’ up paw-paws, put ‘em in your pockets,
Way down yonder in the paw-patch.

That was fun, let’s sing it again! and again!