Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj



User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
GUEST,Bob Bunting Origins: Where Did You Get That Hat? (26) RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat? 03 Nov 06


Ok, here is more info.
The song was published originally about 1880 in Scotland, and was popular in America. J.J. Sullivan was probably not the original songwriter, and James Rolmaz rewrote the song again with added lyrics about the Prince of Wales for music hall performances in 1901.

I am sure the song was popular in Tombstone, Arizona by 1881, because it was involved in a shooting late in the year.

The short version--A man who had been drinking bought a new shirt, which was loud in color, with garish stripes. He put it on in the store, and everyone on the street began teasing him as in the song, with "Where Did You Get That Shirt?"

At first he thought i was funny, but as it went on, he became angry, and was heard to mutter, "the next sonofabith who says that is going to get shot." And, as luck would have it, his best friend, equally tipsy, walked up to him, and asked the fatal question. The man drew his gun, and fired twice at his friend, who fired back, but at the third shot was struck in the mouth and was killed.
Reported in the Tombstone Epitaph

Great history on this little ditty!


Post to this Thread -

Back to the Main Forum Page

By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.

By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.

By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.

By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.

Try it all, you will see.