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The melody of this comic tune comes from an early 18th century fife-and-drum tune often referred to as “Frog In the Well.“ By the mid-19th century, it had acquired a set of popular nonsense lyrics of a distinctly Southern flavor. Like many contemporary so-called 'plantation songs,' “Keemo Kimo“ has the lyrical construction of a 'cadence-counting' piece, ideal for accompanying labor common to the plantation - or on the march. An individual would sing out the verse and the marching column or company would sing back the refrain en masse. Such songs, when sung on the march, often helped to keep morale high and make the 'work' (and miles) pass more pleasantly.
