The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #62702   Message #4044505
Posted By: GUEST,Anonymous
06-Apr-20 - 04:39 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Mister Noah (Brother Noah)
Subject: ADD: Mister Noah (Highwaymen)
I remember in 1963, a collegiate folk quintet called The Highwaymen recorded such a song for United Artists Records, it had a little bit of melody to it but it was mostly rhyming dialogue. Basically the same thing but it was recited a lot more realistically than most versions, especially with the guy playing the part of Noah freaking out at the Unicorn at the end. These were the lyrics.


MISTER NOAH
(credited to Nelson Kramer)

Mister Noah? Oh, Mister Noah? (Yes?)
May I ride in the ark of the Lord
For it's getting mighty dark
Going to rain very hard, doodly-doo.
(Doodly-doo?) Doodly-doo.
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

No, you can't, sir. No, you can't, sir.
No, you may not ride in the ark of the Lord
(Yeah, but- you don't- you don't understand-)
Though it's getting mighty dark
Gonna rain very hard, doodly-doo.
Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo.)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Well, you can go to the devil, sir!
(Now, just watch your language, young man.)
You can go to the devil, sir!)
You can go to the devil in your durned ol' scow
'Cause ya know it ain't a-goin' to rain, no-how, doodly-doo.
(Doodly-doo.) Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo!)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Now, listen here, young fella!
J-j-just forget the whole thing, I'll figure it out.
Listen here, young fella!)
That's the bluff of your life
'Cause ya know durned well
It's sprinkin' now, *chuckle* gonna rain like- (audience laughs) doodly-doo.
Doodly-doo. (Doodly-doo!)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

Mister Noah? Oh, Mister Noah? (Yes?)
(Now, I told ya, son. You may not ride in the ark with us.)
(Aw, c'mon, now, Noah, let me ride in the ark, huh?)
(Ah! Don't be a drag, man! I just wanna get on the ark!!)
(THAT'S ALL THERE IS!! NOW STOP THAT FUSS!!!! DOODLY-DOO!!!!)
(ALRIGHT NOW, STOP SHOUTING! I'M GOING!)
(DOO-)
That's discrimination! That's what it is!!
(That's ridiculous.
Everybody knows there's no such thing as a unicorn.)

Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly...
(Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly...)
Doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doodly-doo.

(Doodly-doo!)

Highwaymen recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuBQsCUuRPw