Camptown Races

Written By: Stephen Foster
(published by F. D. Benten, Baltimore, 1850)
Copyright Unknown

Shortened Familiar Version
 

   3      3   3   2  3     -3    3    2      2  -1     2  -1   3
| The | Camptown ladies | sing this song, | Doo-da, | Doo-da. The |
    3   3    2   3        -3    3     2     -1  -1  2  -1  1
| Camptown racetrack's | five miles long, | Oh, de doo-da day.

Oh, the long tailed filly and the big black horse, Doo-da, doo-da
Come to a mud hole and they all cut across, Oh, de doo-da day

    1    1  2   3      4   r   -3   -3  4   -3    3   2
| Goin' to run all | night. | Goin' to run all | day. I |
   3   3  1 2   3 3    -3    3    2      -1  2-2  2  -1  -1     1
| bet my money on a | bob-tailed nag, | somebody bet on the | gray. |


I went down there with my hat caved in, Doo-da, doo-da
I came back home with a pocket full of tin Oh, de doo-da day.

   3      3   3   2  3     -3    3    2      2  -1     2  -1   3
| The | Camptown ladies | sing this song, | Doo-da, | Doo-da. The |
    3   3    2   3        -3    3     2     -1  -1  2  -1  1
| Camptown racetrack's | five miles long, | Oh, de doo-da day.

    1    1  2   3      4   r   -3   -3  4   -3    3   2
| Goin' to run all | night. | Goin' to run all | day. I |
   3   3  1 2   3 3    -3    3    2      -1  2-2  2  -1  -1     1
| bet my money on a | bob-tailed nag, | somebody bet on the | gray. |

Longer Version

I come down there with my hat caved in Doo-dah! doo-dah!
I go back home with a pocket full of tin Oh! de doo-dah day!

The long tail filly and the big black hoss Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
They fly the track and they both cut across Oh! de doo-dah day!

The Camptown ladies sing this song Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
The Camptown racetrack's five miles long Oh! doo-dah day!

The blind hoss sticken in a big mud hole Doo-dah! doo-dah!
Can’t touch bottom with a ten foot pole Oh! de doo-dah day!

Goin' to run all night. Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the gray

Old muley cow come on to the track Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
The bob-tail fling her over his back Oh! de doo-dah day!

Goin' to run all night. Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the gray

Then fly along like a rail-road car Doo-dah! doo-dah!
Runnin’ a race with a shootin’ star Oh! de doo-dah day!

Goin' to run all night. Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the gray

See them flyin’ on a ten mile heat Doo-dah! Doo-dah!
Round the race track, then repeat Oh! doo-dah day!

Goin' to run all night. Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the gray

I win my money on the bob-tail nag Doo-dah! doo-dah!
I keep my money in an old tow-bag Oh! de doo-dah day!

Goin' to run all night. Goin' to run all day
I bet my money on a bob-tailed nag, somebody bet on the gray
 

Back to Four-Holer Page
From June 30, 2006