Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song

Subject: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 05:11 AM

At a musical soiree last night in honour of a friend's birthday, I was asked if I knew a song called something like 'Yellow Banjo'

Well after they sang some half remembered snippets, it sounded really good.

They sang this:

I ululused to playlaylay my yellellow banjololo
And pululut it ololon my knee-alee-alee-aleee
But nololow the strililings have brololoken dowlowlown
Its nololo more ululused to me-alee-alee-aleee

I tooloolook it toolooloo the melelenders shololop
To see-alee what he-alee could do-aloo-aloo-aloo
He seleled the strililings are brololoken dowlowlown
Its nololo more ululused to you-aloo-aloo-aloo

And nowlowlow its sililits upololon the shelelelf
Abololove the kililitchen door-alor-alor-alor

*********

The looloo, alee-alee etc bits sounded a little like yodelling!

Does anyone know the rest of the words & origins, please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 02:24 PM

Noo-ooo-ooo-ooo-oh!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:01 AM

Apart from that unhelpful response, has anyone else any info, please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Flash Company
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:30 AM

Can't help with origins, but heard this from a girl I worked with in North Manchester. Led to a wonderful exchange with our head of department at the time:-

Sarah, will you stop singing that stupid song!
It's lovely, my little nephew loves me to sing him to sleep with it!
I'd go to sleep if I thought it would make you shut up.

FC

Subject: Lyr Add: BANJO SONG
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 10:50 AM

Found at Becky's (Dragon's) Guiding Resource Centre:

BANJO SONG

I Used to hAve an Old banjO, that rEsted On my kneE.
But nOw the stRings are brOken doWn, it's nO more uSe to mE.
I toOk it tO the meNder shOp, to seE what hE could dO.
He saiD the striNgs are brOken doWn. It's nO more uSe to yoU.

The second time you sing it, to put a "llll" sound at every capitalized letter. You can also try adding multiple "llll's" or singing the song faster and faster each time.

While the above verse is the original song, I have recently come across a second version. Thanks to Megan Burns for sharing this with me!

I used to play on my banjo, but my banjo was broke.
I took it to a banjo shop, but the banjo shop was closed.
So I took it to another shop to see what they could do.
They fixed the strings on my banjo, and now they're good as new.

* * *

Another copy, from Girl Guides of Canada, Oshawa Division, Guiding Gateway:

BANJO SONG

(The key to this song is to sound like a banjo by altering the words..
I u-dooloo-sed to ha- delave an o-delo banjo-delo...)

I used to have an old banjo, that rested on my knee.
But now the strings are broken down, it's no more use to me.

I took it to the menders shop, to see what he could do.
He said the strings are broken down, it's no more use to you.


[In my experience, once a song gets established as a "scout song" or "campfire song" any traces of its previous existence are lost! (Though there are a few exceptions.)--JD]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Melissa
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 04:46 AM

It's always seemed strange (to me) that there aren't many regional differences in the way gs songs were/are sung.

When we sang this one, we loved to play our old banjo and rest it on our knee.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 05:19 AM

Many thanks for all very helpful responses.

I've emailed my chums, I think they'll be delighted!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo
From: Mr Happy
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 08:52 AM

..........& they were, & did it in the sesh lat night!

Another chap joined in saying he'd last heard it as a child in the 1930's.

Anyone know if there was a record of it out in those days?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 11:34 PM

Wow - I've been looking for the origins of this song forever. I grew up singing it with my family like this (I won't try to type in the LLLLs, sorry):

I like to play my old banjo
And stick it on my knee
But now the strings are broken so
I cannot play for you.

I took it to a mender's shop
To see what he could do
But still the strings are broken so
I cannot play for you.

I always wished there was another verse - I'd love a happy ending!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Big Aitch
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 12:22 PM

I took it to the mender's shop
To see what he could do
And now the strings are mended
And it's just as good as new

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Mark Jackson
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 10:37 AM

I sing it straight the first time, then with the 'yodel' for the second time. Mostly for kids. I often get a child to press my nose to simulate a switch on an effects pedal.

I first heard this song from a friend leaving it on my answering machine.

I love to play my old banjo
And place it on my knee
But now the strings are broken
And its no use to me

I took it to a menders shop
To see what he could do
The mender he did fix it well
And now I use it solo.

Wow!!! My first mudcat contribution!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: markjackson
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 10:40 AM

Just putting this one in as I joined mudcat and hopefully will see if there is a continuing thread here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Jenny
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 12:50 PM

Saw Belinda o'Hooley supporting Chumbawamba last night and they sang this - maybe it is on her new Cd ? (haven't seen the track list of it yet)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 07:45 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,NaiGnome
Date: 15 Jun 10 - 08:37 AM

my great aunt used to sing this to me, but these were the words she sang

I used to play an old banjo
and rest it on my knee
But now the strings are broken so
I't no more use to me

I took it to a mender's shop
to see what he could do
but he told me what I told you
It's no more use to me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Ellabella
Date: 12 Aug 10 - 06:31 AM

this is tricky to write, my version is slightly different, just one more line and slight adaptation to some endings, i suppose everyone has a differnt version, i often wonder which country this come from also? if you want to phone me i'll sing it to you, can do this in italian (like pavoroti) sexy italian or spanish, deep like a big fat tenor (think dolmio pasta ad :)

i learnt this song on a family road trip when i was 9, we drove for hours squished into our 4wd thru the outback of australia - here we go:

I ululused to playlaylay my yellellow banjololo
And restlelest it ononon my knee-knee-kneeknee
But nownynow the strililings have brololoken sooo
Its nololo more ululused to me-me-me

I tooloolook it toolooloo the melelenders shololop
To see-alee what he-alee could do-a-do-do

But now the strililings are brololoken sololo
Its nololo more ululused to you-you-you
And now it's nololo more used to me-me-me-me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 04:03 PM

dont thinks there is any more lyrics other than these, its a great bit of fun song which my dad sang many years ago, and now i have my own kids singin it back of car, they think im a bit crazy,, but enjoy the crack,,

other song they like is little boxes,,or the tick tack song as its known..

how sad am i,,,but thanks for the memory,

dino.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Nov 10 - 07:53 AM

I used to play my Old Banjo,
and rested on my knees
And then the strings are broken down,
and it's no used to me...

I took it to the Mender's shop,
to see what they could do?
and then the strings are fixed up,
and now it's good as new...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Elizabeth
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 11:04 AM

I don't know the rest of the words but there a bit different to the words I learnt I learnt it like this...
I ululused to playlaylay my ololol banjololo
And plalalayed it ololon my knee-alee-alee-aleee
But nololow the strililings have brololoken ululup
Its nololo more ululused to me-alee-alee-aleee

I tooloolook it toolooloo the melelenders shololop
To see-alee what he-alee could do-aloo-aloo-aloo
He seleled the strililings are brololoken ululup
and there was nololothing helele could dololololoo

I only a bit different but sorry I don't know the rest of the words!:)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,cittycat789
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 12:39 PM

i had this song at school today and it goes...
I ululused to playlaylay my ololol banjololo
and rested on my knee,
But now the strings are broken down,
its no more use to me.

I took it to the menders shop,
to see what he could do.
He said the strings are broken down,
its no more use to you.

to get thethe song go onto youtube to get it. rest of

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: Frankydog
Date: 09 May 11 - 07:34 AM

I recall a beginning for this song----

"I used to live in Amsterdam
The place where I was born"

Complete with the lll,lll's

Like " I yullullused to llillilive in Allallamsterdallallam
      
       The playllallace where Illalli was borllorllorne ".

Hope that jogs some more memories.
This song has been an ear worm for the last two weeks so I needed to do something about it. heh heh heh!!!!

Perhaps there is a Dutch connection for it. I wonder if Andre Rieu knows this one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 23 May 11 - 02:40 PM

My grandmother had another verse after the mender's shop failed.

I took it from the mender's shop to see what I could do.
I put new strings on my banjo and now it's good as new.

Subject: its called old banjo!!!
From: GUEST,Shania Field
Date: 15 Jul 11 - 08:40 AM

My mum use to sing it to me as a kid and her grandfather sang it to her as a kid and his grandmother sung it to him.. and so on
The right one to sing is.

I love to play my old banjo and rest it on my knee.
Now the strings are broken down; it is no good to me.
I took it to the mender's shop to see what he could do,
And now he's fixed my old banjo; it's now as good as new.

Then it goes into i lo-ve to play ay ay my oohhldd banjolo and relest it olon my knele etc etc :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,luv
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 12:28 AM

does anyone know who actually sings the song because Ive been looking for the original or even a version of it to download.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 11:52 PM

http://www.aquezada.com/sarah/miscinfo.shtml

reading the info on the link above, identifies the banjo song on Sarah McLachlan a Pop Rock artiste album Freedom Session, its actually just a song in the background when the credits are rolling (something like that) and not literally on her album.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,anonymusperson
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:31 PM

I know a version that goes some what like this

I ululused to playlaylay on mylyly banjolo But mylyly bangololo was brolololoke I tololook it tolulu a balalango storelorlor but thalalat storelorlor was clolololosed I tololook it tolulu anololother storelorlor and thelelen they fililixed my bangolololo TWANG!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 10:42 AM

Guest Jenny (18 March 2010) had it right - Banjololo is on Silent June by O'Hooley and Tidow.

It's very short (34 seconds) and as the samples on Amazon and iTunes start at different points they have the whole song covered between them.

LFF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:28 AM

It's out of mad max

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Nina Leeds UK
Date: 05 Jan 12 - 05:50 PM

I am 66 and emember it from my childhood sung by my dad. Same lyrics as all above - I have only ever heard it since on Mad Max movie. I now sing it to my 8 grandchildren.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 01:12 AM

I grew up with different words:
I love to play my old banjo
And sit it on my knee
But now my old banjo is broke
It is no good to me

I took it to the menders shop
To see what he could do
And now my old banjo is fixed
It is as good as new

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Jamaican
Date: 26 Jan 12 - 09:20 AM

I LOVE TO PLAY MY OLD BANJO AND REST IT ON MY KNEES,

AND WHEN THE STRINGS ARE BROKE UP IT HAVE NO USE TO ME.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Eleanor Hunt
Date: 25 Apr 12 - 05:40 PM

My gran taught me a different version.. It went something like:

I lololove to plalalay my yellellow banjellellow
My yellellow banjellellow, my yellellow banjellellow
My yellellow banjellellow, my yellellow banjellellow,
I lololove to plalalay my yellellow banjellellow
Til my yellellow banjellellow got brolololololololoke

I tooloolook it toolooloo the myulaloosic (translation = music!) shololop
The myulaloosic shololop, the myulaloosic shololop,
The myulaloosic shololop, the myulaloosic shololop,
I tooloolook it toolooloo the myulaloosic shololop,
The myulaloosic shololop was shulululululululut

And sololo and sololo and sololo and sololo
and sololo and sololo, and sololo and sololo,
And sololo and sololo and sololo and sololo
And sololo and so it stayed brolololololololoke!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,guest. nikki
Date: 14 Jun 12 - 02:19 PM

My mother in law used to sing it to my kids like this:
(with all the llllls)
I love to play my old banjo and rest it on my knee ,
But now the strings are broken down and it's no good to me,
I took it to a menders shop to see what he could do ,
But still the strings are broken down and it's no good to me,
I took it to another shop to see what he could do ,
And now the strings are fixed again and it's as good as new.

Yes it is in the Mad Max movie briefly where Steve Bisleys character is driving along singing it.

I'm curious what other countries have heard of it. I am Australian.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 12 - 06:18 PM

My mum used to sing me this as a child ! My mum is in her 70's now! I don't think she had all the words quite right bless her x

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Sep 12 - 08:43 PM

I learned a slightly different version

"I used to play the old banjo
and rest it on my knee
but now the strings are all broke up
an its no use to me

I took it to a meners shop
to see what he could do
and now the strings are all fixed up
and its as good as new.

I used to live in monkey land
the land where I was born
a monkey kissed me on the cheek
and said goodbye to John."

*
The whole song was sung with the banjo sound effects as follows:

"I ululused to plalalay the ololold banjololo
and relelest it ololon my kneeleeleeleelee.
But nolowlow the strililings are allallall broke ululup
and ililits no ululused to melelelele.


"I ululused to lililive in mololonkey lalaland
the lalaland where Ilili was bololololorn."

*

It was interesting to read that there was another version that had "I used to live in Amsterdam" that is the only other version that mentioned a 'I used to live' in this post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Banksie
Date: 17 Jan 13 - 09:34 AM

I've heard another different version but only remember two of the verses (banjo effect removed for clarity!):

I wish I was in Lancashire,
The place where I was born;
T'was there I played my yellow banjo,
Until my banjo broke.

I took it to the music shop,
The music shop was shut.
And that is why I sing this way,
Because my Banjo's broke.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 17 Jan 13 - 10:45 AM

Here's a video that gives a nice tune and a new style of banjo:

save $$ on banjo

Having heard it, I perceive that the extra l's are supposed to be an imitation of a banjo's sound. This is a nice song to share with kids.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,robyn thomas
Date: 13 Jun 13 - 03:39 AM

The version I learnt from an elderly lady,as a child is much the same as those above. Always including the lallala's

I love to play my old banjo
I rest it on my knee
But now the strings have broken down
Well it's no good to me.

I took it to a menders shop
To see what they could do
They said the strings have broken down
And it's no good to you

I took it to another shop
To see what they could do
They fixed the strings and said to me
Here, it's as good as new

I love to play mt old banjo
I rest it on my knee
And now I've sung my song to YOU
Well, you can sing to me.

I'm in my sixties now, and I learnt this about age 4/5. I'm also Australian.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Leccydoo
Date: 26 Nov 13 - 06:21 PM

My mum taught me this one

Her verse went like this....

I used to play my yellow banjo
The strings were broke one day
I took it to the menders shop
The mender was away

Just thought I'd throw that in the mix!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Stoepsitter
Date: 07 Aug 14 - 10:34 AM

I heard a very different version. (South Africa)

I'd like to play my old banjo
and sing a song for you
but now the strings are broken so
I cannot sing to you

I walked into the camp last night
and sang a song cuckoo
the broken strings I mind no more
I now can sing to you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Daisy
Date: 20 Aug 14 - 01:13 AM

We always sang it like this :

I used to play my old banjo
And play it on my knee
But now the strings have broken so
It's no more use to me

I took it to the mender's shop
To see what he could do
But all that he could say to me
Was "no more use to you"

:)

I u-loo-loosed to pi-li-lay my o-lo-lold banjo-lo-lo
And pi-li-lay it o-lo-lon my kni-li-lee
But no-lo-low the stri-li-lings have bro-lo-loken so-lo-lo
It's no-lo-lo more u-loo-loose to mi-li-lee

I to-lo-look it to-loo-loo the mi-li-lender's sho-lo-lop
To si-li-lee what hi-li-lee could do-loo-loo
But a-la-lall that hi-li-lee could si-li-lay to mi-li-lee
Was no-lo-lo more u-loo-loose to you-loo-loo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Daisy again
Date: 20 Aug 14 - 01:17 AM

Oh, this was in New Zealand by the way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,pjay
Date: 27 Jul 15 - 09:25 AM

My gr daughter loved me singing this as she grew up and mow at16 still loves to hear it😁

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Katie Rose
Date: 26 May 16 - 05:37 AM

A member of one of my hospital singing groups gave me these verses - she was keen we had the happy ending to the song.

I ululused to playlaylay my ololold banjololo
And relelest it ololon my kneeleeleeleeleeleelee
But nowlowlow my strililings are brololoken instead
It's nololo more ululuse to melelelelelele

I tooloolook it tololo the meleleners shololop
To seeleelee what helele could dololololololo
He sailailaid your strililings are brololoken alaland
It's nololo more ululuse to youloulouloulouloulou

The banjo said you've loved me well
And I want to be played by you
Please take me to another shop
And see what you can do

We went along to the corner shop
And to the cobbler's too
The cobbler looked and scratched his head
Saying here's a real to do

A fisherman listened to my lament
And fetched a length of line
Let's hook the line along the length
Now here, your banjo's fine

My banjo sings and plays with glee
And my dear old friend's come back to me
I play my banjo on my knee
And my banjo's lots of use to me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 16 - 05:50 PM

I live in America but my dear mum was British. She sang it to me often as a child. Her version started with

I wish I lived in Lancashire,
The place where I was born.
I love to play my yellow banjo......

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Floyju
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 01:16 AM

My mum sang the same song:
I wished I lived in Lancashire
The placewhere iI was born.
I used to play my yellow banjo,,
But now my yellow banjo won't play.
I took it to the music shop, the music shop was shut
Now my yellow banjo won't play, my yellow banjo won't play.

Sung with all the emphasis on the L's

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: leeneia
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 12:02 PM

I'm sending in a MIDI of the tune that I linked above. If your computer doesn't play it, try using Internet Explorer.

It's in the key of G, and the chords are G,C and D with a surprise Bm on the next-to-last note.

---

Click to play (joeweb)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 04:49 PM

Leeneia's MIDI posted. Link is in her post above.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: leeneia
Date: 12 Aug 16 - 04:21 PM

Thanks, Joe. I didn't expect the tune to be a pretty little waltz.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Yellow Banjo / Old Banjo / Banjo Song
From: GUEST,Goole
Date: 03 Oct 16 - 09:22 AM

The Gawler sisters sing a version (Yellellow Banjellello) on their Home Again Home Again album with more verses.

You can hear it here:
https://www.facebook.com/GawlerFamilyBand/app/155326481208883