The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #155542   Message #3660188
Posted By: Stewart
14-Sep-14 - 02:01 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Thais (Newman Levy)
Subject: RE: Tune Req: Thais: 'One Time in Alexandria...'
That was me above (sans cookie).
Yes, I learned that song in college back in the late '50s. It was popular among the folk singers then, and we all learned it from "the old yellow songbook" - Song Fest by Best and Best. Years later I still remember every word from the thirteen bloody verses. The words were by Newman Levy from his book "Opera Guyed," 1923, Alfred A. Knopf. I don't know who put it to music, but it's certainly part of the folk tradition.

Cheers, S. in Seattle