The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #859   Message #2324293
Posted By: Azizi
24-Apr-08 - 10:28 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dinky Di (Australian WWI song)
Here's a comment about the source/s of this song:

"The origin, as far as I know, is the WW1 song Madamoiselle from Armentières - soldiers in France ogling the French chicks, of course - a basic verse of which was -

Madamoiselle from Armentières
Parley-voo
Madamoiselle from Armentières
Parley-voo
Madamoiselle from Armentières
Hasn't been kissed for forty years,
Inky-pinky parley-voo.

(Armentières is pronounced Ar-m'n-teers in the song, and parley-voo is from the phrase, Parlez-vous français? ('Do you speak French?')

On that small foundation were erected hundreds of other verses recording the adventures, qualities, attitudes, vices and virtues of Madamoiselle. Regards / Dunc

PS Since posting that, I find by Google a page called Doughboy Music which alleges the line is "Hinky-Dinky, Parlez-Vous?" and adds -

"The lineage of Hinky-dinky, Parlez-Vous? is a little murky. Most sources credit its origins to a song of the British Indian Army called "Skiboo". The lyrics of the World War I version were possibly written at Armentieres, a rest area behind the British line, in March, 1915 by Edward Rowland and a Canadian composer, Lt. Glitz Rice. Another unsubstantiated claim of authorship was made by Alfred J. Walden (using pseudonym of Harry Wincott)."...
-Dune; 07-13-2002,

http://www.everypoet.org/pffa/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4777

-snip-

A short version of the parody that was posted on that site by Clive2 can be found on Mudcat's thread.cfm?threadid=2998#59283;
"Naughty Kid's Greatest Hits thread" Here's that example:

Subject: RE: Naughty kids' greatest hits II
From: Meic - PM
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 03:00 PM

...

A fart went rolling down the street, parlez-vous
A fart went rolling down the street, parlez-vous
A fart went rolling down the street
Knocked a copper off his feet
Inky-pinky parlez-vous