Tune Req: Don't Go In them Lion's Cage Tonight

Subject: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight, Mo
From: banjocircus
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 08:41 AM

Does anybody know the tune "Don't Go Into the Lion's Cage Tonight, Mother?"

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 11:03 AM

The words I learned perhaps fifty years ago from the performance of Morey Amsterdam, a well-known cello-player/standup-comedian (how's that for a weird combination, especially in one show, sometimes in the same song?) were very much like cetmst's, above. I sing it frequently, and have had very good success with it.

Alas, I don't have the means to submit the tune I learned, oh, so many years ago.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight, Mo
From: nutty
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 11:44 AM

You can find it being sung here on YouTube

CLICK HERE

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jan 09 - 03:18 PM

Nutty-

Interesting rendition. But then I never tried to sing it with visual aids.

The way I learned it was certainly different but I also don't have a convenient way to record and post a MP3 link for this song. Maybe I'll record it on my next CD.

There is a longer thread about this song if someone wants to resurrect it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight, Mo
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 02:32 PM

Sadly, the Andrews CD seems to be available only as a collectors item, with a price tag of $70 or so. Pity. It's a wonderful CD. Homer and Jethro also recorded it, bit that CD seems to be out of print. Oscar Brand recorded it back in the 40s, and will sell you a cassette for $40 or so. George Formby, I'm told, also recorded it, but I can't find it on any of his currently available recordings.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight, Mo
From: banjocircus
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 04:07 PM

Sorry - I can't pay that much for a cassette. I appreciate you looking, though.

Jonathan

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight, Mo
From: BK Lick
Date: 07 Jan 09 - 10:19 PM

"There is a longer thread about this song if someone wants to resurrect it."
Here it is.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight
From: GUEST,debbysuefiddler
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 02:54 PM

I first heard this song when I was a child in the fifties. My father and mother had it on a 78 and I believe the songstress was Kate Smith. Julie Andrews version is the one I heard form the 78 recording. It is the one I sing now with my students and young friends.

Deb

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go Into the Lions Cage Tonight
From: GUEST,Warren
Date: 08 Jul 09 - 08:33 AM

In radio days there was a show by Joe Howard on weekly. One of his stars was Beatrice Kay and this was one of the songs she sang on Joe's radio show. I would guess at the years 1939 to 1945.

Warren

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: GUEST,Guest: Andrew
Date: 11 May 11 - 06:02 AM

Beatrice Kay had an album of 78's called something like "Songs from the Gay 90's" This song was one of those in this album. It included others: "She's Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage," "Jack Was the King of the Deep Blue Sea," "Alabama Roll," I wonder if that one ever made it to CD...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go In the Lion's Cage Tonight
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 May 11 - 08:05 AM

Andrew-

Sounds like an interesting recording.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go In them Lion's Cage Tonight
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 17 - 06:00 PM

cetmst - that is exactly the way I remember my parents singing this song. My siblings and I still sing this song when we get together.
Great song!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Don't Go In them Lion's Cage Tonight
From: GUEST,Brian Grayson
Date: 22 Jul 17 - 08:56 AM

If you Google 'Cage Tonight' (which avoids the moving-apostrophe problem of Lion's Cage vs Lions' Cage) you'll find

1. Martin Carthy singing and reciting the story (Sowerby Bridge 2012)

2. Julie Andrews' recording from 1972 (with the other tracks)

3. Various others singing the story.

So there!