Lyr Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls (Grosz/Kennedy)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls (Grosz/Kennedy)
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 14 - 03:11 PM

I first heard this song in about 1937 or 38.
I don't know how or why the melody stuck in my mind,but in the times of stress I found my self humming this tune.
I finally found the words and melody on my computer.Horay!!

I am now 86 years old.
I thought the words where "There were ten pretty girls at the village meet.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 12 - 10:05 PM

My dad loved songs like this. Arthur Godfrey used to sing and feature a lot of them. Another one that Daddy used to sing was GILLYGILLY OSSENFEFFER KATZENELLEN BOGEN BY THE SEA...if you start typing it on your search engine, it will fill in with better spelling than mine, and you'll have the lyrics. For anyone who's interested, our dad had dementia and for the last 3 years of his life was at a wonderful care center for dementia/Alzheimer's. One of the favorite activities was singing and listening to songs, often sung by visiting groups. People who seemed out of touch would all of a sudden start singing. When we visited, and Daddy couldn't carry on a conversation, we would start singing...his whole attitude changed.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,Sandra Klauschie
Date: 17 Jun 11 - 07:47 PM

My Dad used to sing his version to me as follows, by the way I've been a to the thigh red-head all my life.

TEN PRETTY GIRLS

There were ten pretty girls at a village school
Picture ten pretty girls at a village school
Short and fat, thin and tall
But the boy loved them all
And you can't marry ten pretty girls!

Picture ten pretty girls
And I'll tell you this
That the boy's biggest thrill
Was to steal a kiss
Stealing kisses can be fun
But your heart picks out one
And you can't marry ten pretty girls.

Now four were blondes and five brunettes
And won was a saucy little red head.
The girl grew up, the boy left school
And at twenty-one he wedded
The saucy little red head

Now this one little girl at the village school
Taught this one little boy at the village school
That kissing may be fun
But your heart picks out one
Cause you can't marry ten pretty girls!

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,aa
Date: 25 Mar 11 - 02:02 PM

Hi

Add me to the surprisingly large group of music lovers who still remember "Ten Pretty Girls," which my father played on the piano.
I have a recording of the song, which has a marvelous lyric and rhythm, by Cliff Bruner and his band.
Bruner played with Milton Brown before striking out on his own. His group, playing a mixture of jazz and Western swing, remained in tact until the 1950's.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 02:15 PM

As Jim Dixon posted above, "Words & music by Will Grosz & Jimmy Kennedy, 1937". A couple clips on YouTube, including this 78 by Hildegarde (1938): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r10gMCR4NfM

Kennedy also wrote the words to "Teddy Bears' Picnic."

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 01:28 PM

Wow!!!! I've been "hearing" that song in my mind all morning long.... As I recall it was popular around 1936.

As I read the lyrics (above) it ALL came back... I'll brag a bit --- that's not bad for an 83 year old geezer.........and I know where I parked my car this morning too........... ain't forgot too much so far.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,Graeme J
Date: 13 May 09 - 06:29 PM

We had this in the back blocks of NZ as a 78 vinyl in the mid 1940's possibly on a HMV label. Do not remember the artist who recorded it though it has remained with me ever since.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: Artful Codger
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 01:15 PM

This was a favorite song for my mother to sing to us, and one of my favorites still. Thanks, John, for posting the lyrics and MIDI, particularly of the intro (which I'd never heard previously).

FWIW, the Levy site has a copy, though non-displayable due to copyright restrictions.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,hal kendall
Date: 12 Jan 09 - 10:06 PM

yes - I heard that song first in Australia. I was but three years old when the song came out - but it taks a whilw for the songs to come down here then. I recalled almost all the words and the melody. pity there are no songs made likr that today.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,jim W.
Date: 01 Dec 08 - 04:03 PM

This was a great song . Played by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians.
I loved it. I finally married a saucy little redhead. How can I get the sheet music. I can not navigate my way around these computers?

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,Buckdancer
Date: 28 Mar 08 - 03:03 AM

Thanks for the memories, Cool Bean. I also remember the great Red Skelton singing this song when I was a "widdle kid." I'd forgotten that he sang it as Freddie the Freeloader - my favorite Skelton character, I just remember what a beautiful job he did on the song. That was the one and only time I've every heard it sung, but I do remember something about the record being released but not doing well.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: Cool Beans
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 10:02 AM

I remember a little bit more about Red Skelton singing "Ten Pretty Girls" on TV. He sang it as his character Freddie the Freeloader, a tramp. Freddie goes into a record store where they are demonstrating a tape recorder. When the demonstrator goes away, Freddie sings "Ten
Pretty Girls" into the recorder and leaves. Somehow, somebody in the music industry hears it, releases it as a record and it becomes a big hit and there's a big search to find the unknown man who sang the song. I can't recall if they ever find him. I remember thinking at the time, which was when Elvis and other rock pioneers ruled the airwaves, that this quiet little song would never make it on the real Hit Parade.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,kissing lover
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 05:54 PM

it's all about the kiss words. Kissing Girls

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,S.Barker
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 12:15 PM

Funny thing here.
I was looking for the lyrics of "Ten Pretty Girls" (Thanks y'all.) Because I have the link to Niela Goodelle singing it! It also has the song "I'll make you mine" and I'm not for sure if Goodelle is singing that either.

http://www.archive.org/details/SoundieM

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: kendall
Date: 24 Nov 07 - 04:00 PM

I remember Red Skelton singing this on his tv show one night. I was quite surprised and impressed. I really like him.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls
From: GUEST,A little boy with grey in his hair
Date: 24 Nov 07 - 01:55 PM

Hi folks,

Probably, none of you will come back to this thread, but if you do, please know that I am like the lady who was so grateful to find the lyrics.

I first heard this song sung long ago, by a famous comedian, Red Skelton. He had a fine, very soft voice, when not in character and, I think, it was put on a 45 rpm record, but never became very popular.

Like most of you, I have never forgotten that song and remembered some, but not all of the lyrics.

I ended up marrying a redhead (Irish backgound with green eyes!)and it didn't work out. However, I have never forgotten that song, because Red Skelton sang it, so poignantly, in that soft voice of his.

Though a comedian, he was a gentleman of the first order, never using obliquy in his acts.

Again, thank you all,

Good Luck and Steady Winds,

A little boy still

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 09:48 PM

Sent NWC and MIDI to Joe this day.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 08:10 PM

I'm so glad the song has brought you and your grand-daughter some joy. Ain't music grand?

Regards, John

PS Joe Offer has reminded me to send a MIDI. I'd better attend to my homework.

Subject: RE: Req/Add: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: GUEST,Scarlett
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 11:21 PM

I was watching "Lost" the other night, and the British guy said something about "saucy sirens". My mind wandered to the phrase "saucy little redhead", and two minutes later I could hear in my mind my mom singing to me when I was a little girl, a song about ten pretty girls in a village school and a saucy little redhead. It's been half a century since I was a little girl and for the first few minutes I wasn't sure if I was remembering or imagining! Then I couldn't stand it, and had to come to the computer and google whatever I remembered. That took me to this sight. Thank you so much John! I used your ABC notation and PDF, and printed out great sheet music of "Ten Pretty Girls". Now I can sing it to my little five-year old granddaughter, who coincidentally happens to be a "saucy little redhead"!!

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: TEN PRETTY GIRLS (Grosz/Kennedy)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 24 Jan 05 - 07:02 PM

I'd never heard this song before. My initial impressions weren't that great, but in the process of preparing the MIDI, NWC and ABC notation I've probably played the b***** tune about forty times - and now I can't get it out of my head.

Here are the lyrics from the score:


TEN PRETTY GIRLS
(Will Grosz and Jimmy Kennedy)

Intro:
I know a village where love charms are in the air,
That is where romance makes an early start,
Down in the village there they all have daughters fair,
As you go to school you lose your heart.

There were ten pretty girls at the village school.
Picture ten village girls at a village school!
Cute and sweet, short and tall,
And a boy loved them all,
But you can't marry ten pretty girls.

There were ten pretty girls and I'll tell you this:
That the boy's biggest thrill was to steal a kiss,
But it don't mean a thing
Playing 'kiss-in-a-ring'
'Cos you can't marry ten pretty girls.

Now, five were blondes and four brunettes,
And one was a saucy little redhead.
The girls grew up; the boy left school,
And at twenty-one he wedded the saucy little redhead.

Oh, that one pretty girl at the village school,
Here's what she taught the boy at the village school:
Kissing girls may be fun,
But your heart picks on one,
So you can't marry ten pretty girls!


And here's the ABC notation:

X:1
T:Ten Pretty Girls
C:Words and Music by Will Grosz and Jimmy Kennedy
M:2/2
L:1/8
Q:1/2=90
K:C
"C"G2GG "G+"GA G2|"Am"E2EE "Em"EF E2|"F"CDEF "C"G2"Cdim"Ac|"G7"B2G2G4|
w:I know a vill-age where love charms are in the air, That is where rom-ance makes an ear-ly start,
"C"G2GG "G+"GA G2|"Gm"E2EE "A7"EF E2|"D7"DE^FG A2c2|"G"B2"D7"A2"G7"G2CD|
w:Down in the vill-age there they all have daught-ers fair, As you go to school you lose your heart. There were
"C"E2EF E2"G"DC|"C"E2G2G2cd|e2ed c2"F"BA|"C"G2E2E2Bc|"G7"d2dc B2AB|
w:ten prett-y girls at the vill-age school. Pic-ture ten vill-age girls at a vill-age school! Cute and sweet, short and tall And a
"C"c2cA G2GA|"G7"B2BA G2Gd|"C"c6CD|E2EF E2"G7"DC|"C"E2G2G2cd|e2ed c2"F"BA|
w:boy loved them all But you can't marr-y ten prett-y girls. There were ten prett-y girls and I'll tell you this: That the boy's big-gest thrill was to
"C"G2E2E2Bc|"G7"d2dc B2AB|"C"c2cA G2GA|"G7"B2BA G2Gd|"C"c6C2|"Bb"D2"C7"C2"Bb"^A3"C7"c|
w:steal a kiss But it don't mean a thing Play-ing 'kiss-in-a-ring' Cos you can't marr-y ten prett-y girls Now, five were blondes and
"Gm"^A2"F"=A2A3^A|"C7"A2GA^A^A=A^A|"Bb"d2"F"c2-c2D2|"C"E2"D7"D2"C"c3"D7"d|"Am"c2"G"B2B2Bc|
w:four bru-nettes And one was a sauc-y litt-le red-head. The girls grew up, the boy left school And at
"D7"dedc B A2A|"G7"GAGF EDCD|"C"E2EF E2"G7"DC|"C"E2G2G2cd|e2ed c2"F"BA|
w:twen-ty-one he wedd-ed the sauc-y litt-le red-head. Oh that one prett-y girl at the vill-age school, Here's what she taught the boy at the
"C"G2E2E2Bc|"G7"d2dc B2AB|"C"c2cA G2GA|"G7"B2BA G2Gd|"C"c6z2
w:vill-age school: Kiss-ing girls may be fun, but your heart picks on one, So you can't marr-y ten pret-y girls!|]

You can view the score by posting the ABC Notation above into the box at this site.

I'll post a MIDI and NWC to Joe.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 23 Jan 05 - 09:52 PM

I now have the score and will attempt to notate in the next week.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: GUEST,John in Brisbane
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 04:51 AM

I won't give the full reference but it's in an Australian music book published in 1938. I'll get the tune.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 01:21 AM

TEN PRETTY GIRLS
Words & music by Will Grosz & Jimmy Kennedy, 1937

Amazon.com lists 8 CDs that contain TEN PRETTY GIRLS. The recordings are by Bert Ambrose & His Orchestra, Cliff Bruner & His Texas Wanderers, Mantovani & His Orchestra, Bram Martin, and Frankie McWhorter. (Some of these may be instrumental versions.)

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 03:28 PM

AustinW- I remember the last verse words like this:

Now this one pretty girl at the village school,
Here's what she taught the boy at the village school:
Kissing girls may be fun, but your heart picks on one,
Cause you can't marry ten pretty girls!

I believe this was on the hit parade, maybe in the late forties? I know it was played very often on the radio.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 10:59 PM

Now, how the heck do I get a copy of this song?? It's an OLD family standard...

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From:
Date: 28 Aug 98 - 07:02 PM

A big thanks to [e-mail] for the words to this song. Also thanks to all who responded to my request.

Subject: Lyr Add: TEN PRETTY GIRLS
From: Austinw
Date: 28 Aug 98 - 06:29 PM

As I remember the lyrics went:

TEN PRETTY GIRLS

There were ten pretty girls at the village school.
Picture ten pretty girls at the village school!
They were sweet, small and tall
And the boy loved them all
But you can't marry ten pretty girls.

There were ten pretty girls and let me tell you this:
That the boy's biggest thrill was to steal a kiss
Playing 'kiss-in-a-ring'
But it don't mean a thing
'Cos you can't marry ten pretty girls

Now, five were blondes and four brunettes
And one was a saucy little red-head.
The girls grew up and the boy left school
And at twenty-one he wedded the saucy little red-head.

Now there's one pretty girl from the village school
And 'twas she took the boy from the village school.
Kissing girls may be fine
But you've left over nine
'Cos you can't marry ten pretty girls.


If you like to get in touch at [e-mail] (in Dublin, Ireland) I'll tape it in my own inimitable style and send it to you. Regards, Austin.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From:
Date: 28 Aug 98 - 10:45 AM

Refresh.

This was played by one of the big bands, possibly Guy Lombardo. Some of the words were (not in order) the girls grew up, the boys left school and at 21 he wedded the saucy little red head. Kissing girls may be fun but your heart picks on one cause you can't marry ten pretty girls. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: Zorro
Date: 25 Aug 98 - 08:45 AM

This is a polka tune I remember my Mother listening to on the "Polka Party" a lot of years ago (on radio) I know the tune, but not the words and yes, there are words.. I'd like to know them too.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From:
Date: 25 Aug 98 - 08:32 AM

Frank Maher - yes that is in the song. Can you help?

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From:
Date: 24 Aug 98 - 07:53 PM

Did you get an answer yet on "Ten pretty Girls"? I know most of the words if you still need them.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: northfolk
Date: 24 Aug 98 - 07:17 PM

Trying to help. I am thinking of the song "More pretty gals, than one" every town I ramble round has more pretty gals than one. I heard it on an early Woody Guthrie album. best I can do.

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: Frank Maher
Date: 24 Aug 98 - 02:54 PM

Does the Song have these Words???? There were Ten Pretty Girls at the Village School???

Subject: RE: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 98 - 02:37 PM

Hi, GHager - can you give us a little more of what you know of the song? A few more phrases or the gist of the story would help us find it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Ten Pretty Girls or something like that
From:
Date: 24 Aug 98 - 02:27 PM

if anyone has the lyrics to the above or knows where I can find them, please e-mail me. Thanks!