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JOHN HIMMEL

(learned and sung at Teton Tea parties in the 1960s)

(music to go here)

John Himmel lived in London town, in London town,
'Twas a man of great renown.
And he has made a little violin, a little violin,
That could speak all by itself.
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    And the vio-violin, the vio-violin,
    He calls his wife Katrin, he calls his wife Katrin,
    He calls his wife Katrin.

John Himmel lived in London town, in London town,
'Twas a man of great renown.
And he has made a little Irishman, a little Irishman,
That could speak all by itself.
    Gin and bitters, gin and bitters, said the Irishman,
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    And the vio-violin, the vio-violin,
    He calls his wife Katrin...

John Himmel lived in London town, in London town,
'Twas a man of great renown.
And he has made a little Frenchman, a little Frenchman,
That could speak all by itself.
    Vive l'amour, vive l'amour, said the Frenchman,
    Gin and bitters, gin and bitters, said the Irishman,
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    And the vio-violin, the vio-violin,
    He calls his wife Katrin...

John Himmel lived in London town, in London town,
'Twas a man of great renown.
And he has made a little Dutchman, a little Dutchman, (Deutschman)
That could speak all by itself.
    Gott l'moorich, Gott l'moorich, said the Dutchman,
    Vive l'amour, vive l'amour, said the Frenchman,
    Gin and bitters, gin and bitters, said the Irishman,
    Viola, viola, said the violin,
    And the vio-violin, the vio-violin,
    He calls his wife Katrin...

(from miriam berg's folksong collection)