Origins: Don't Go in the Lion's Cage Tonight

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Abby Sale
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 01:39 PM

doesterr: I wouldn't bet either way & one would think that the writer of of it may have had a specific tune in mind. Shay's "any melody you can adapt to the words" is 1928 which is earlyish even for Bea Lilly or Amsterdam. Also, as aside comment, one of Amsterdam's genius moves was the ability to instantly improvise tunes (and jokes). I think the back-and-forth between adult and childish voices was more important than the tune. Which was for the chorus only.

There is a version out there (I think Dick knows it) which has a tune for the whole song and I think that detracts, not adds. I like Carthy's version & do that.

So there!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Rincon Roy
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 12:26 AM

Yes Gene, seems like this song appeared on same H&J recording as that other immortal ditty, "There's a Fly on Poppa's head."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 09:48 PM

By "not a set tune" I think one can understand that at some point someone didn't know the tune, and so didn't specify. I verily believe that Aunt May and I and Morey Amsterdam (and maybe Beatrice Lilly) have THE tune.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: SINSULL
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 04:28 PM

Dave's version is very similar to the one my Aunt May sang many years ago. And she emoted even more. I am surprised to hear that there is not a set tune.
Mary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:16 PM

Or as Homer & Jethro sang:

Don't go into the Lion's cage tonight
The Lions they will tear you to bits
Two Bits?
Two Bits!
Shoot-you're faded.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 05:31 PM

AS I just told Joe Offer in an e-mail, I learned "Lions" in the mid to late 40s, from the national radio comedy program of Morey Amsterdam, a comedian/cellist. How's that for a combination? Very much hammed-up, which I think is right for this kind of a song.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Don't Go In Them Lions' Cage Tonight - recording
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 04:01 PM

Dave, we have to figure out a way to preserve your recording for posterity. I think I need to hear it. Since there really isn't a tune specified, I decided to make one up - or maybe it's a copyrighted tune I heard somewhere and Harry Fox himself will come after me with a pitchfork.
Whatever the case, you can listen to what I did with the song at my Website - Click here. If you know what tune it is I'm singing, please let me know.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 03:55 PM

If anyone is interested in doing so, bring a tape recorder to HearMe on a Sunday night (or any other night that you can catch me there, but Sunday's most reliable) and request the Lion's Cage. I'll be glad to share my deathless performance.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 12:21 PM

Thank you, Sinsull, for the plug! The check will be in the mail directly.

I know the one line as "Don't go in the lions' cage tonight, mama darling."

More's the pity, I have no way to submit the tune that I know.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 10:11 AM

Thanks, all. Any tune you like, eh? That's my kind of song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: LR Mole
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 10:10 AM

Unfortunately, the tune I know as "I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner" seems to work, but only if you do the "Mother" as a sort of echoic audience participation/response.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: SINSULL
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:51 AM

DaveO does a memorable "Lion's Den" on Hearme. Wonderful! I just got a copy of "...Drunken Friends..." on Ebay. Didn't know the "Lion's Den" was in there. Can't wait to see it now.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Snuffy
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 09:16 AM

If you drop mother completely, then anything like "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain" fits the bill perfectly. But I prefer something a bit more doleful.

If you try it with Mother Dear it would just about go to "What's The Life Of A Man", or if you change Mother Dear to Ma, then "Galway Bay" is not too far out.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Abby Sale
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 08:48 AM

I taped Martin Carthy doing this wonderful song about 1968. He uses Shay's words without the "Mother" at the end of the chorus' first line. If you look again, you'll see it then scans well to almost anything. Call me and I'll (sing) it for you. Shay gives no background but it must be from English music hall. The "childish" directio is critical, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 04:53 AM

Hi - I searched the database for cage tonight and it came right up - Click here. Often, it's better not to search the Digital Traditon by title. Just throw in some words you're sure will be there.

"Don't Go In Them Lion's Cage Tonight, Mother" is printed in My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions, a truly inspiring book published in 1927, edited by Frank Shay. The book says

To be half-recited, half sung in a cross between a childish treble and a whiskey tenor to any melody you can adapt to the words. It is quite effective at certain stages.

So, can anybody think of an appropriate tune that will scan to this?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 31 Aug 00 - 02:03 AM

I was talking to my Mom about the Mudcat, and she mentioned a song she couldn't remember all the words to. There's a thread with some of the words here, and it was sung on a Hearme, but I didn't find those links until I went to post this. (keen feature!)

Mom says she had it on an album by Beatrice Kay, which was all "Gay 90's" songs like "The Oceania Roll."

She'd really love to have the words. Anyone?

Subject: RE: Don't Go In The Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Susan of DT
Date: 05 Nov 96 - 06:54 PM

It's in the DT.

Subject: Don't Go In Them Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Kevin
Date: 05 Nov 96 - 09:31 AM

I'm trying to locate the words to a song my grandmother used to sing. All I can remember is the chorus goes something like this.

Don't go in the lion's cage tonight Mother darling
for the lions are ferocious and may bite.
And when they take their angry fits
they may tear you all to bits.
So, don't go in the lions cage tonight.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Lyrics in the Digital Tradition
DON'T GO IN THEM LION'S CAGE TONIGHT!