Buffalo Gals

This article is about the traditional song. For the Malcolm McLaren song, see Buffalo Gals (Malcolm McLaren song). For the episode of Cow and Chicken, see Buffalo Gals (Cow and Chicken).
Introduction to the song
(full sheet music)

"Buffalo Gals" is a traditional American song, written and published as "Lubly Fan" in 1844 by the blackface minstrel John Hodges, who performed as "Cool White". The song was widely popular throughout the United States, where minstrels often altered the lyrics to suit local audiences, performing it as "New York Gals" in New York City, "Boston Gals" in Boston, or "Alabama Girls" in Alabama, as in the version recorded by Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins on a 1959 field recording trip. The best-known version is named after Buffalo, New York.[1][2]

The chorus is:

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?

The Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference buffalogalsorigin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Buffalo Gals | Folklife Today". 7 August 2014.
  3. ^ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.