 sj |
||
|
||
1950s novelty songs
|
|
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bill H //\\ Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:32 PM Well, for cute songs that catch your ear---does anyone recall "The Old Master Painter"---pure schmaltz and you really had to watch your pronunciation of the title---made for many a bad joke. Recorded by Richard Hayes. Bill Hahn |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: reggie miles Date: 24 Oct 08 - 08:09 PM I've been fascinated with old novelty songs for many years and perform a great many. One of my favorite's recorded by Arthur Godfrey was, "The Man With The Weird Beard". I enjoy playing it during Halloween season. While not strictly considered novelty "songs" but rather novelty stories, Jazzbo Collins was releasing some great versions of old children's stories like, "Little Red Riding Hood", using 50s beatnik slang throughout. I'm not sure if Yul Brynner recorded this in the 50s or 60s but he recited a fairly whacky novelty story/song that included that chipmunk type vocal trick in it called, "Space Mice". He's probably got others as well. Phil Harris was reinterpreting much older novelty songs and releasing his versions in the 50s like, "Some Little Bug". |
|
Subject: ADD: The Merry Minuet ^^^ From: Bat Goddess Date: 25 Oct 08 - 08:36 AM How about "Merry Minuet" recorded by the Kingston Trio in 1959 at the Hungry i? THE MERRY MINUET^^^ (Words and Music by Sheldon Harnick) Still, alas, as timely today as it was then -- They're rioting in Africa (whistling) They're starving in Spain (whistling) There's hurricanes in Florida (whistling) And Texas needs rain. The whole world is festering with unhappy souls The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch And I don't like anybody very much! But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud For man's been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud And we know for certain that some lovely day Someone will set the spark off And we will all be blown away. They're rioting in Africa (whistling) There's strife in Iran What nature doesn't do to us Will be done by our fellow man. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 25 Oct 08 - 06:14 PM Thank you all very much, you have made my day(s)! And of course it wasn't only the 1950s that spawned novelty songs, they were being sung before and after too. But in my memory it's the the 1950s songs that I remember, probably because I was young at the time and they appeal to children as well as adults. I used to sing some of them to my sons - 'Beep Beep (the little Nash Rambler), 'Purple People Eater" were two they liked, also Allan Sherman's 'Hello muddah hello faddah'. Only yesterday morning the local radio played another song I remember as a kid - Danny Kaye's "Tubby the Tuba' - novelty classical music! Cheers JennieG |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 25 Oct 08 - 09:59 PM It occurs that we are missing some of the best novelty tunes. Those are the ones that heavy groups like Cream might stick on an album as a lark, ie A Mother was Washing her Baby One Night, or Her Majesty's a Very Fine Girl tagged to the end of Abbey Road. Usuall you heard these once, then wanted all your friends to hear it, then didn't want to hear it again. Several Species of Small Furry Animal Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving w/ a Pict. Although it had a great beat. One of my favorites of this genre was The Gift, the John Cale composition about nerdy Waldo, who sends himself through the mail as a surprise package to his girlfried. She couldn't miss him less, since she's back from school and having loads of boy fun at home. In her attempt to open the pkg with " a large pair of metal shears", she plunges it through Waldo's head, which is not the bad an ending since Waldo is a complete twit. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 26 Oct 08 - 01:10 AM You can hear "Gilly-Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea." at YouTube. |
|
Subject: ADDPOP: Dance Me Loose From: Genie Date: 25 Nov 08 - 03:46 AM I found the lyrics to "Dance Me Loose" - recorded by Arthur Godfrey about 1952 (?): DANCE ME LOOSE (recorded by Arthur Godfrey Also by Arthur Godfrey with The Chordettes) "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so extra out, Extra out, extra out, Don't hold my arm so extra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stared, and stared and stared To hear her say once more, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." A little Dutch girl in Sheboygan Was perfect in English at school, But when she's excited and when she's delighted Her words get mixed up, as a rule. On Sat night in Sheboygan, There's dancing to waltzes they play. Even boys who can't dance will all take a chance Just to hear her say, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so extra out, Extra out, extra out, Don't hold my arm so extra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stared and stared and stared To hear her say once more, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "It makes so good to spoon. It plays so nice the tune." ------------------- But the chorus is done with a faux Dutch/German/Scandihoovian accent, like this: "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, Eggstra out, eggstra out, "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stay-ered, and stay-ered and stay-ered To hear her say once more, "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." A little Dutch girl in Sheboygan Was perfect in English at school, But when she's excited and when she's delighted Her words get mixed up, as a rule. On Sat night in Sheboygan, There's dancing to waltzes they play. Even boys who can't dance will all take a chance Just to hear her say. "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, Eggstra out, eggstra out, "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stay-ered, and stay-ered and stay-ered To hear her say once more, "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "It makes so good to spoon. It plays so nize the tune." |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: fumblefingers Date: 25 Nov 08 - 04:26 PM "Pink Shoe Laces" - Dodie Stevens "Hambone" - Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford "The Gas Man Cometh" - Flanders & Swann "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - Gayla Peevey "Stone Age Woo" - Nervous Norvus "Ricochet" - Teresa Brewer "Chinese Mule Train" - Spike Jones |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,joe_f Date: 25 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM "The Thing" is a "cleaned-up" version of "The Chandler's Wife", in which it is entirely clear what the three bangs stand for. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,N.O. Oldies Date: 03 Jan 09 - 05:01 PM Can anyone identify the author and title of the following lyrics?
"They say that Perry Mason won all his cases. [See The Joke by Reggie Hall.] |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Jim Date: 04 Jan 09 - 02:59 PM Alley Oop (There's a man in the funny papers you all know...) The first talkin' blues I ever heard was The All American Boy, written and sung by Bobby Bare, but credited to someone else. It got a lot of radio play in it's day. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,winterbright Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:00 PM Regarding "Mares eat oats.../ Mare zee doats..." I once ran across a poem from the Middle Ages (sorry, no date, no source); it went like this: "Infir taris / inoak noneis / Inmud eelis / inclay noneis / Goat eativy / mare eatoat" If that's not the ancestor of mare zee doats, I'll eat my hat! |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Big Al Whittle Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:12 PM Leslie Sarony, I Lift Up My Finger and I Say Tweet! Tweet! Was it Dale Evans sang:- I'm a little prairie flower Growing wilder by the hour No one came to cultivate me So I'm as wild as I can be [Wahoo] |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Allen in OZ Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:17 PM JR " Flash bam... alli ka zam Out of an Orange Colored Sky" AD ps .."I was walking along minding my business" etc |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Billy Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:07 PM Guest, Jack Campin, I seem to remember Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson singing "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" on TV but I don't know if they recorded it. They also did the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest with "Sing Little Birdie" see it here on UTube. It came in 2nd. Who woulda thunk it? |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Big Al Whittle Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:46 PM The Avons had the hit with "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" Pearl and teddy had a brother called bryan johnson, who also did well with Eurovision with a song called Singing High High High, Singing Low Low Low |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Donuel Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM Blue Suede Shoes. Tzena Tzena Tzena |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 06 Jan 09 - 02:34 PM "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena," is a song originally written in Hebrew by a Polish emigrant to Palestine (now Israel) and famously recorded by The Weavers somewhere around 1950, I believe. Prior to that, not many were acquainted with it. Another note on a previous post: The late Spade Cooley went to the "cooler" for killing his wife in Bakersfield, CA in the 1950's. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: NightWing Date: 07 Jan 09 - 12:44 AM Lonesome EJ mentioned some much later than the '50s. I'll add a few more from the '70s: "Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio (is like being nowhere at all)" by John Denver. At the end of "The Serpent is Rising", by Styx, was an unlisted extra track, titled "Don't Sit Down on the Plexiglass Toilet" "Walkin' Round in Women's Underwear" (by Bob Rivers) BB, NightWing |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Billy Date: 18 Jan 09 - 11:50 PM The name of the song is "The Joke" from circa 1961. The artist's name was Reggie Hall. He went on to work with Fats Domino |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,ojibwemama Date: 21 Jan 09 - 02:49 AM Must of had a quiet childhood...some of the oldies listed do not even ring a bell. I did not see The Battle of New Orleans mentioned or(don't remember the title)but part of the lyrics were "Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go....Forward Ho-o Love to have someone fill my blanks. ks |
|
Subject: ADD: Shame and Scandal From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:39 AM The Kingston Trio, when calypso was still hanging around, did this little number at the Hungry i in San Francisco: SHAME AND SCANDAL Songwriter:? In Trinidad there was a family With much confusion, as you will see. There was a mama and a papa and a son who was young, Who wanted to marry, have a wife of his own. "You cannot marry that girl. I got to say 'No.' That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" Chorus: Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family. (Repeat) So he found a young girl who suited him nice. He went to his papa to ask his advice. His papa said, "Son, I got to say 'No.' That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) As the weeks went by, the boy looked around. Soon the best cook on the island he found. He went to his papa to name the day. His papa looked at him and to him he did say, "You cannot marry that girl. I got to say, 'No.' That girl is your sister, but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) So the years went by and he wished he was dead. He had seventeen girls and still wasn't wed. When he'd ask his papa, papa would always say, "No! That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) So he went to his mama and he bowed his head. He told his mama what his papa had said. His mama said, "Son, go, man, go! Your papa ain't your papa but your papa don't know!" (Chorus) |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Bobbo Date: 24 Jan 09 - 10:45 PM I vaguely remember 2. One was sung (spoken) as Chester (Gunsmoke). He was going to the saloon and he says to Mr Dillon, why am I walking in front of you? Oh, I'm what you call a shield? The other was also spoken. The man says, Hey friend, has life got you down.... well step right up... and something about is your mother-in-law getting to you? Does anyone recognize either of these from the 50's Thanks |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Ferrara Date: 25 Jan 09 - 12:54 AM "(All I Want For Christmas is) My Two Front Teeth" "(The Old Prospector) Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" Little Jimmy Dickens – "Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait" "Sh-Boom" Everly Brothers - "Wake Up, Little Susie" "Maybellene" by Chuck Berry Does anyone remember Eartha Kitt's version of "All I want for Christmas"? I remember two lines and the chorus: "John offered me a ruby clip Just for a little kiss, A diamond ring and a Paris trip Just for a little kiss.... CHORUS: I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas, Poor little Eartha is sad, I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas 'Cause I didn't want to be bad." Great thread. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 25 Jan 09 - 11:50 AM Bobbo, your second one is from "The Old Philosopher," a 1956 opus by actor-comedian Eddie Lawrence. There's more about him on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Lawrence |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: bankley Date: 25 Jan 09 - 02:16 PM yeah Homer and Jethro constantly did parodies of popular songs, except when they did killer swing instrumentals... Merle Travis had quite a few.... like 'When My Baby Double Talks to Me'. '(That) Fat Gal (of Mine)', 'Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette', 'Divorce Me C.O.D.', on and on.... except when he did the coal songs and killer instrumentals... |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:09 AM GUEST,Bobbo, on 24 Jan 09 - 10:45 PM , asked about ... "The other was also spoken. The man says, Hey friend, has life got you down.... well step right up... and something about is your mother-in-law getting to you?" I remember somthing like this - someone asked a series of questions like this, after which they asked something like "Is that what's troubling you, bunky?" Then there was much fanfare as the narrator urges the person in question to cheer up, using a number of cliche phrases, and then ends with a punchline. One punchline I remember was "And remember, what this country needs is a five cent nickel!" That's all I recall. Don |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: DADGBE Date: 26 Jan 09 - 02:24 PM Just a little background - Napoleon XIV, the maker of "They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" was actually Jerry Samuels. He was (and may still be) an amazingly skilled engineer at the Associated Recording Studios in New York; a crazy man and all around good guy. That was at the time that they had a full four track board in the control room and were the envy of most other studios. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 26 Jan 09 - 07:20 PM Guest TJ in San Diego, I had forgotten this Kingston Trio song, it brings back such memories.....it was considered a tiny bit risque in its day, I'm sure. And 'Alley Oop' was a schoolyard hit! Cheers JennieG |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs & 60s & 70s From: Gene Date: 26 Jan 09 - 08:19 PM Cow Patti - Jim Stafford Wildwood Weed - Jim Stafford /Written by Don Bowman Chit Akins Make Me A Star - Don Bowman Welfare Cadillac - Guy Drake (Please) Mr. Custer - Larry Verne Two-Toned Chevrolet - can't recall WHODUNNIT I Still Write Your Name In The Snow - Chet Atkins (yes he did!) Roger Miller & Roy Clark - Smokin' The Green Green Grass Of Home Fertilizer - Leo Teel Sneakin' Things Across The Border - Forgot Who |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 27 Jan 09 - 08:28 AM A couple of people have mentioned "Alley Oop". I also remember a follow-on record called "Annie Fannie", done in more-or-less the same style as, and with a similar melody to, "Alley Oop", but singing the praises of Ms. Fannie, whose comic strip appeared in Playboy magazine. Don |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Bobbo Date: 29 Jan 09 - 12:39 AM Cool Beans- Thank you. I followed your link and then googled his name. I was able to buy it on Amazon.com. (Dr Demento's 25th). |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE ARROWS From: JohnInKansas Date: 29 Jan 09 - 06:32 PM Maresy dotes and doesy dotes and little lambsy divy" Burl Ives 40's I believe. A lyric fragment for this one was written in my mother's high school autograph book by one of her classmates. Mom graduated in 1934, so the song might have been popular then or a couple of years earlier - and there's nothing suggesting it might not have been around for a bit longer. In style, it seems like probably a "flapper song" from early to mid 20s. (Kids in Kansas probably didn't hear about prohibition and all that wild carryin' on for about a decade back then, and the state appears to have slipped most of a full century behind by now.) Just yesterday the local "classic country" station, KFDI-AM (pronounced Ka-Foo-Dee locally), played an oldie that might (IIRC) have been a fifties "novelty" titled "Little Arrows." I didn't recognize the singer but did remember the song after perhaps half a century. LITTLE ARROWS (Attributed to Skeeter Davis, also done by Leapy Lee and by Sha Na Na) There's a boy a little boy shooting arrows in the blue And he's aiming them at someone but the question is at who Is it me or is it you it's hard to tell until you're hit But you'll know it when they hit you cause they hurt a little bit Here they come pouring out of the blue little arrows for me and for you You're falling in love again falling in love again Little arrows in your clothing little arrows in your hair When you're in love you'll find those little arrows everywhere Little arrows that will hit you once and hit you once again Little arrows that hit everybody every now and then (wow oh oh the pain) Some folk a run and others hide but there is nothing they can do And some folk put on amour but the arrows go straight through So you see there's no escape so why not face it and admit That you love those little arrows when they hurt a little bit Here they come pouring out... Here they come pouring out... John |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 30 Jan 09 - 04:19 PM The Kingston Trio also did "The Tattooed Lady," apparently an old favorite of Nick Reynolds' dad, a retired Navy captain. One other artist came to mind - Stan Freberg, better known as a pioneer of early U.S. television comedy; writer, voice-over genius and creator of some very funny and effective early radio and TV advertising. Stan did some great parodies, one of which was a take-off on the commercialization of Christmas. Done to the tune of "The Twelve Days...," what else, it was called "Green Christmas." |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mkebenn Date: 30 Jan 09 - 07:17 PM Jayto, yes, Li'l Red Riding Hood was Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Amos, that fish song is called Three Little Fishies, and must be at least 40's, 'cause my mother sang it to me in 1950. What do you do with songs like Patches, Running Bear, Ebony Eyes, The Last Kiss, et al.? |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: robomatic Date: 30 Jan 09 - 07:36 PM Ted Snag & The Buckets: "Gary Cooper Movie Five Yep" Heard once on the Doctor Demento Show and memorized! also: Oh, your red scarf matches your eyes. You closed your cover before striking. Father had the shipfitter blues. Loving You Has Made Me Bananas. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Allen In Oz Date: 30 Jan 09 - 08:10 PM "My Voice Keeps Changing on Me" "Gimme Crack Corn and I Don't Care" "The All American Boy" 1960s I think They just kept a comin .. AD |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Dents4fun Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:31 AM Does anybody remember a funny country song that had a line in it something like ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ah ha ha ha. I think it had to do with some guy who would turn loose like he was calling up hogs or something |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: goatfell Date: 07 Feb 09 - 08:05 AM Patty Paige did "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window" |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:13 AM Haven't seen "Splish Splash" anywhere
Rolf Harris sang "I want my Mummy" |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Guest JKA Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:22 PM I only heard this on WKRC in Cincinnati,OH (model for WKRP) in the early 50's.It went like this: There's a New Sound, the newest sound around, the newest sound you ever heard. Not like a wild boar or a jungle lions roar, not like the cry of any bird. But,this new sound ...... I thought for years that Nervous Norvus did this,but it wasn't the case I found. No one seems to have clue what I'm talking about. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,guest Date: 08 May 09 - 06:16 PM someone at the laundromat puts in too much detergent and it over flows.it ends with him running around yelling 'get some buckets 'it all belongs to me'.Who and what is this? |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Neil D Date: 08 May 09 - 11:17 PM I know that 1963 isn't the 1950s. it just sounded like it was. Anyhow this is Surfin' Bird |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 09 May 09 - 10:09 AM Guest, guest: It might be "Leader of the Laundromat," which was a spoof of "Leader of the Pack." I can't recall the plot of "Leader of the Laundromat," though. All I remember is the refrain "I've got a date tonight with the leader of the laundromat." Perhaps some more enlightened 'Catter can enlighten you. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,J Date: 06 Jul 09 - 05:27 PM My dad used to sing a jingle about brushing your teeth...with words like "you will have a winning smile." Anyone know this? |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Tug the Cox Date: 06 Jul 09 - 08:15 PM "Susannah's a Funniful Man" takes a lot of beating. Also "Hole in the Ground" (Bernard Cribbins) All the early sixties songs by Mike Sarne ("Come Outside", "Will I What?", "Just for Kicks") "I saw a mouse.--Where?--There on the stair" ["A Windmill in Old Amsterdam" by Ronnie Hilton] Speedy Gonzales by Pat Boone, Harvest of Love, by Benny Hill. Guest J, I think that was an advert for Gibbs S.R. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:33 AM GUEST,Dents4fun asked: Does anybody remember a funny country song that had a line in it something like ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ah ha ha ha. I think it had to do with some guy who would turn loose like he was calling up hogs or something You might be thinking of "That's My Pa" by Sheb Wooley. Back when I was "GUEST,Don", I started a thread about it, misspelling Pa as "Paw". Don |
|
Subject: Lyr Add: THE THING (from Phil Harris) From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 07 Jul 09 - 01:29 PM And here is "The Thing," as performed by the late Phil Harris in the early 1950's. Believe it or not, the song was actually a little controversial in its time, considered "suggestive" because of the sound effects that substituted for the identity of the "Thing." Folks were truly a bit more uptight back then. (Charles R. Grean) While I was walkin' down the beach One bright and sunny day I saw a great big wooden box A-floatin' in the bay I pulled it in and opened it up And much to my surprise Oh, I discovered a...(three drum beats or other sound effects) Right before my eyes Oh, I discovered a... Right before my eyes I picked it up and ran to town As happy as a king I took it to a guy I knew Who'd buy most anything But this is what he hollered at me As I walked in his shop "Oh, get out of here with that... Before I call a cop" "Oh, get out of here with that... Before I call a cop" I turned around and got right out A-runnin' for my life And then I took it home with me To give it to my wife But this is what she hollered at me As I walked in the door "Oh, get out of here with that... And don't come back no more" "Oh, get out of here with that... And don't come back no more" [Instrumental Interlude] I wandered all around the town Until I chanced to meet A hobo who was lookin' for A handout on the street He said he'd take most any old thing He was a desperate man But when I showed him the... He turned around and ran Oh, when I showed him the... He turned around and ran I wandered on for many years A victim of my fate Until one day I came upon St Peter at the gate And when I tried to take it inside He told me where to go Get out of here with that... And take it down below Oh, get out of here with that... And take it down below The moral of this story is If you're out on the beach And you should see a great big box And it's within your reach Don't ever stop and open it up That's my advice to you 'Cause you'll never get rid of the... No matter what you do Oh, you'll never get rid of the... No matter what you do |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Donuel Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:11 PM Spike Jones 'Der Fuehrer's Face' may have been in the late 40's but many of his songs came out in the 50's Spike inspired Dr. Demento to start looking for fun songs and it turned into a lifelong obsession. |
|
Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Songbob Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:33 PM Comic songs were always a staple of the musical stage. For example, "Der Deitcher's Dog," by Septimus Winner (author of "Listen to the Mocking Bird") from around 1845. One verse still is known, but the original was a "stage German" song. And old Sep even created an answer song (remember those?) in which he allowed as how sausages must be made from dog meat, since the singer ate a sausage last week and he's still barking. So novelty songs came from the earliest days of American musical theater, for sure, and have a long history. The name "novelty song" goes back for sure to the early days of 78-rpm recordings ("Clancy's Wooden Wedding" and other hits), and may even go further back to billings in vaudeville (those placards with the artist's name they put on the easel on stage probably said, "Eddy Foy / Novelty Songs and Patter" or something similar). To me, not all funny or comic songs are automatically "novelty" songs, and some listed above wouldn't be in my list. But I do like 'em, for sure. And, except for Weird Al's parodies, you don't hear very many on the air or on CD. Too bad. Bob |
| Share Thread: |