This is a tune I learned from Reverend Gary Davis.
He first heard it in Greenville,
South Carolina in 1905
from a traveling carnival show.
Story about a candy man and his woman
who was selling on the streets.
It's a conversation between these two.
I'm going to try singing it in a traditional way.
I'm going to sing like this old girl,
and then I'm going to sing like this candy man.
Watch out now.
Candy man,
Santa Claus.
Candy man,
I've been here and gone.
Candy man,
the salty dog.
Not giving a thing in a God almighty world.
See my candy man home.
Big red light,
big green light.
Big red light,
big green light.
Big red light,
big green light.
I stop at the red and you cross the green.
You never miss in between.
Candy man,
Santa Claus.
Candy man,
I've been here and gone.
Candy man,
the salty dog.
I wish I was down in New Orleans.
I'd be sitting on my candy stand.
Here's the way they used to do the old two-step candy man.
He used to dance for hours and hours.
Here's the epitaph, the old girl.
Big red light,
big
green light.
Big red light,
big green light.
Big red light,
big green light.
I wish I was down in New Orleans.
I'd be sitting in my candy stand.
Do that old four-step.
Dance.
Come on band, hit me.
I wish I was down in New Orleans.
I'd be sitting on my candy stand.
And a man
saw the door.
Now I wish I was down in New Orleans,
I'd be sitting on a candy stand.
Let's dance out now.
Play that tuba.
Let's hear the spoons.
Come on, Mr. Organ Man, play your organ.