[bk1000]

“ Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight?
Come out tonight, Come out tonight?
Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon.”

I have often wondered about that song.
If you really think about it…it’s pretty weird.

[jjotto]

Reference to the Erie Canal. Buffalo is where wages were paid to canal workers.

[frank ballenger]

True. Some folk songs have inernal incensistencies apparently meant to show sarcasm.

The woman’s feet are big but he wants to dance and then wants to marry her.

Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight?
Come out tonight, Come out tonight?
Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight,
And dance by the light of the moon.

As I was walking down the street,
Down the street, down the street,
A pretty gal I chance to meet
Under the silvery moon.
Chorus

I asked her if she’d stop and talk,
Stop and talk, Stop and talk,
Her feet covered up the whole sidewalk,
She was fair to view.
Chorus

I asked her if she’d have a dance, have a dance, have a dance
I thought that I might get a chance to shake a foot with her
Chorus

I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’,
And her heel kep’ a-rockin’ and her toe kep’ a-knockin’,
I danced with a gal with a hole in her stockin’,
And we danced by the light of the moon.
Chorus

I asked her if she’d be my wife,
Be my wife, be my wife
Then I’d be happy all my life,
If she’d marry me.
Chorus

[frank ballenger]

typo-— internal inconsistencies.

Storms around here are making my fingers stiffer than usual.