Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)

Subject: history of bucket mouth mcginty
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 01:53 PM

Does any one know the origon of "Bucket mouth Mcginty"?
I first learned it from Gene Patten U-Conn outing club around 1953
First verse as follows

Bucket mouth McGinty was quite a drinking man
Captain of the scooner called the Peter Pan
every time he got loaded the crew would hear him call
Save the women and children but first save the alcahol

Subject: RE: history ofbucket mouth mcginty
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 09:07 PM

When I Googled for "Bucket Mouth McGinty", Google asked me: "Did you mean 'Bucketmouth McGinty'?" Who woulda guessed?

That led me to this quote, from a story titled "A Colorful Career: Eugene Gunter, Veteran Lawyer and Prosecutor, Looks Back on the Good (and Some Bad) Times," in the Winchester [Virginia] Star.

Gunter now lives alone with his "puppy-dog," McGinty, named after an old Irish drunken steamer captain — Bucketmouth McGinty — whom Gunter wrote a drinking song about when he was in college.

That would have been at the University of Virginia, 1951-58, according to the same article.

Allan, if you have any more lyrics, please post them!

Subject: RE: history ofbucket mouth mcginty
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 09:27 PM

Bucket Mouth McGinty = Chummy buttock tinge!

Subject: Lyr Add: BUCKETMOUTH MCGINTY (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Allan S.
Date: 06 Apr 07 - 01:54 PM

BUCKETMOUTH MCGINTY
(Eugene Gunter)

Bucketmouth McGinty was quite a drinking man,
And captain of the schooner they called the Peter Pan.
Whenever he got loaded, the crew would hear him call:
"Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol."

Each time they left the harbor, he would call the crew aside
And give each man his orders. His chest would swell with pride.
And then as he'd dismiss them, he'd tell them one and all:
"Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol."

One day the ship was rolling upon the stormy sea.
The waves were getting higher the wind was making free.
McGinty told his crewmen, "We're in for quite a squall.--
Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol."

"I'm going to my cabin and pour myself a drink.
I don't care an awful lot if this old tub should sink,
But if this thing should happen," he added with his drawl--
"Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol."

They rushed into his cabin in time to see him go,
And as they gathered round him, he spoke in words so low:
"Just bury me at sea, boys. I hear the angels call--
Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol."

Oh, whiskey got old Mac at last. it finally caused his death.
Forty years before the mast without a sober breath.
He tripped upon a bottle and perished from the fall.
They couldn't save McGinty but they saved the alcohol.

McGinty's in the ocean with lots of sea above.
The mermaids follow him, their hearts full of love.
No matter how they smile at him, he can't hear them at all.
He just keeps yelling, "Ring me out and save the alcohol."


How this got up to the University of Conn. by 1952-53 is beyond me.
Allan

Subject: RE: history ofbucket mouth mcginty
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:43 AM

Bravo, Allan! You may have just rescued this song from oblivion. At the time I posted above, Google apparently knew of only 2 instances on the whole Internet where this song was mentioned: Mudcat and that article in the Winchester Star. I just tried Google again, and Mudcat is the ONLY thing that comes up. (The article is still there, but Google doesn't find it anymore. I wonder why?)

Subject: RE: history ofbucket mouth mcginty
From: GUEST,Allan S
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 09:58 AM

My God A song rescued from a fate worse than death.... Gunter must have written it back in 1951. As I remember I was at U-Conn Sept 51- June 53. I went into the Army Dec 53 and got out Sept 1955. I remained in touch w/ Eugene Patten whole in the service going up to see him and his wife while on leave tho I am sure I learned it before then.. Now it is quite possible that there was a n outing Club at U-Va. back in 51 and as Gene Patten was active in the Outing Clubs he could have learned it at an OC conference ???
Just checked back in My old copies of the OC Songbook and its not in there. Oh well an other mystery      Allan

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 05:55 PM

I seared many an eardrum in the early '50s singing the tale of Bucketmouth at our numerous beer socials. Two years ago I gleaned the internet trying to find info about McGinty. No luck. I wanted a copy in the worst way for my CD collection of nostalgia. Last fall I was going through some stuff that my sister was storing left over from my folks house. "Save the Alcohol" was among many of my old 78's.
   I have it in front of me now. It was pressed under the Capitol Americana label, Larry Cassidy was the singer and written by McCoy-Gould-Cassidy. There is a notation on it saying 'Old Time Singing With a String Band'. No mention of Gunther? On the flip side is "That Wild and Wicked Look in Your Eye", written by Sam Nochols. I soiled a few eardrums with that tune also. It is now secure on the Ipod my grandchildren gave me.
   The song got at least as far west as the Missouri River back then since I was at Creighton U in Omaha at the time. I hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,the Kenster
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 10:01 PM

I mistakenly arrived at this website because of a search for the expression "forty years before the mast", which I thought I saw in a movie when I was young. I have since discovered that Alan Ladd, one of my all-time favourites, was in a movie called "two years before the mast", so I might have imagined the "forty" thing.
Neverthless I enjoyed the Bucketmouth McGinty dialogue, but noticed that GUEST,Allan S. quoted the last line of the verse as "Save the women and children but first save the alcahol", but a subsequent contributor's last line was "Save the kids and women first, then save the alcohol." They seem quite the opposite in meaning and given McGinty's proclivity for a drop, the former seems more appropriate.
Happy trails!

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Allan S
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 04:00 PM

Yes That is the way Gene sang it . It is possible that I may have it in a reel to reel tape someware But there is no way that I could locate it now. I would be interested in how this got as far as Connecticut in 1 or 2 years.. is it possible that it was written ealier. . If it was on a 78 that would make in ealier . 33's were on the market ealier than 51 When did they stop pressing 78's..
it seems that Gunther could be taking credit for something he did not write..   Allan S.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 04:49 PM

In the Mid-Late fifties a lot of records were pressed on 78 and 45 at the smae time - Not sure about LP's ! But a lot of Presley , Bill Haley , etc was on 78 !

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,A Guest
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 05:56 PM

I first heard this song performed by a 14year-old singer (Danny Buck)who enjoyed some local success singing on the local radio and infant television media in Oklahoma City. That would be 1949-1950. Not consistent with the dates and geography included earlier, but I'm absolutely sure it couldn't have been later, as we were highschool mates (senior high for me; junior high for him) at the time.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: oldhippie
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 06:14 PM

I just Googled "Save The Alcohol" and got to an ad for a 1949 copy of "Hillbilly and Cowboy Hit Parade" which included the title. So, 1949 looks like a good date.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Allan S
Date: 07 Sep 08 - 09:24 AM

If it made the hit prade in 1949 It probably was written in 48-49
or earlier.   Therefore Gunter didnt write it in 51 or never did write it... Can't trust these lawers .....

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Sep 08 - 07:02 AM

BMI.com lists SAVE THE ALCOHOL. It was written by Johnny Jones and Gene McCoy, and published by EMI Unart Catalog, Inc. – but it doesn't give a year.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Guest, Juanita S.
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:42 AM

I grew up in Los Angeles in the '40s and know this song was popular (at least in our house - LOL) prior to the spring of 1948. We moved to N. Cal. at that time, and I had been listening to it for some time before that. I'm delighted to find the lyrics here - I've been hunting for years!! Thank you.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Senior Citizen
Date: 15 Sep 10 - 04:30 PM

These lyrics are essentially correct, except for the tag line. In the first verse it is "save the kids and women first and save the alcohol. The second verse is "drink what you can find aboard, but save the alcohol. Third, "Throw the cargo overboard, but save the alcohol." From there on, correct.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Senior Citizen Jim Cook South Texas
Date: 27 Nov 10 - 07:03 AM

My Dad would sing this song every time we went fishing in any kind of boat. After his passing in 1972, I have carried on the tradition, usually twice weekly when I go fishing. I sing the first verse going out and the second verse coming in--just for "luck" and to tell my dear old Dad I'm thinking of him! My Son found this sight, which I am thankful for,and I thought I'd share this.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,drunken ferret
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 02:06 AM

My girlfriend tells me that her grandmas live in lover would sing this to my girlfriends mom when her mother was quite young in the late 30s early 40s. Unkie Pike, the live in lover was a merchant seaman and didn't know lullabies so he sang drinking songs.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,U of Michigan Sailing Club - 1948-1952
Date: 04 Jun 16 - 09:26 AM

This song was a favorite of college sailing clubs in the 1950's - whenever we sang over a beer or two, McGinty was sure to be sung as well as The Eddison Light and the one beginning Twas Friday morn when we set sail and we were not far from the land, When the captain spied a fair mermaid with a comb and a glass in her hand, can't remember the title.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 21 - 07:58 PM

Bill T.
I remember this song from around 1950 in Southern Calif. The words I remember. First verse Save the kids and the women first then save the alcohol (SK&WFTSA) Second verse, Drink what you can find aboard but save the alcohol. Third verse, Throw the cargo overboard but save the alcohol. Fourth verse SK&WFTSA, Fifth verse, Save my watch and save my chain then save the alcohol. Sixth verse, They couldn't save McGinty but they saved the alcohol. Seventh verse, Ring me out and save the alcohol. I too remember Wild & wicked look in your eye, so I must have had the same 78 record as GUEST had.

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 21 - 12:45 AM

Just had a request for this song fro a 90 year old retired Coast Guard gentleman, he also lived on a sailboat his entire life. So happy I found the lyrics for him! Thanks for posting!

Subject: RE: Origin: Bucketmouth McGinty (Eugene Gunter)
From: GUEST,Gary G
Date: 15 Mar 22 - 09:53 PM

Larry Cassidy had a 15 min live program on KFVD. My dad took me down to the studio on Western Avenue early one morning. We talked to Cliffie Stone and then watched Cassidy's show. That was 1949 I believe. The song was out in 1948.