Lyr Req: Wonderful World (from Sam Cooke)

Subject: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Heron
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:08 PM

Does anyone remember the song name and artist of the following...

"I don't care about biology... Don't know much about history

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Melbert
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:16 PM

Doesn't the verse go something like....

..But I do know that I love you,
And I know that if you loved me too
what a wonderful world this would be.

Subject: Lyr Add: WONDERFUL WORLD (Adler, Alpert, Cooke)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:20 PM

Hi, Heron, even though it's not a folk song, it's probably better to put a more specific title on the thread. It's a great song, and can certainly be sung with gusto by most folkies, I'd say.

WONDERFUL WORLD
(words & music by Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, & Sam Cooke -1960's)
recorded by Sam Cooke, Herman's Hermits, and Art Garfunkel with James Taylor & Paul Simon

Don't know much about history,
don't know much biology.
Don't know much about a science book,
don't know much about the french I took.
But I do know that I love you,
and I know that if you love me, too,
what a wonderful world this would be.

Don't know much about geography,
don't know much trigonometry.
Don't know much about algebra,
don't know what s slide rule is for.
But I know that one and one is two,
and if this one could be with you,
what a wonderful world this would be.

I don't claim to be an 'A' student,
but I'm tryin' to be.
For maybe by being an 'A'-student, baby,
I can win your love for me.

Don't know much about history,
don't know much biology.
Don't know much about a science book,
don't know much about the french I took.
But I do know that I love you,
and I know that if you love me, too,
what a wonderful world this would be.

History
Biology
Science book
French I took.
But I do know that I love you,
and I know that if you love me, too,
what a wonderful world this would be.

One not-very-reliable source gives this information about the songwriters: (words & music Barbara Campbell, Lou Adler, & Herb Alpert -1965)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:30 PM

You can hear a clip of Sam Cooke's recording here:

http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=5902304/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/ArtistID=COOKE*SAM/DDCN=SD-7863+3863+2

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:34 PM

Joe, according to CDNOW, Sam Cooke recorded this in 1962. Where did you get your information saying 1965? Hate to admit it, but I seem to remember it before 1965...

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Melbert
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:35 PM

Damn!!!! Can't get the flipping song out of my head now!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: dollmaker
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:37 PM

Gosh, doesn't anyone remember Herman's Hermits?

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 12:58 PM

Hi, Barbara - thanks for keeping me honest. I got my information from a book called Who Wrote That Song? by Jacobs & Jacobs. The book is right about 90% of the time, but I usually try to double-check because I don't like the ten percent error rate. I couldn't find the song in other sources, so I lazily went with what I had. Let's see if somebody can get accurate copyright and songwriter information on this one. I found the lyrics at Lyrics World which has two or three different versions.
-Joe Offer, who remembers Herman's Hermits very well-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Micca
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 02:12 PM

I'm afraid that my first (and continuing) response to this song is " Who in their right mind would want to go out with this Dumbo whose age just passed his IQ and would have to study to be stupid". It seems to me to be tacitly supporting the idea that its OK to be dumb and uneducated and have low expectations (along with that masterpiece of the same ilk "Another Brick in the Wall") but there's no accounting for taste. I say these things as someone who as worked in Education for 30 years and that it is poverty of expectation is often the biggest enemy.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: JedMarum
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 02:17 PM

Thanks, Joe, and I agree; it's a wonderful song!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 03:20 PM

Micca, I guess you are not what one would call a romantic, are you?
Well, you sure gave me a good chuckle.
-Joe Offer, slide rule aficionado-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Bill Cameron
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 03:38 PM

I don't care who thinks different; anything sung by Sam Cooke is a great song.

(Besides, consider the typical lyric content of 50's/early 60's pop songs) Tooty-frutti.

Bill

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Micca
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 07:33 PM

I ask you to forgive the incipient jaundace that that song and "Brick" provokes. At the time they came out I was on the staff of a tough inner city girls school, the bulk of the girls drew there philosophy and guidance from teenage magazines and pop songs. Many were heading for the rocks with an un-erring accuracy but believed this song that you didn't need to put effort in ,cos "love" would make up for lack of education, prospects, poverty and everything else. For me, at the time, these songs represented the personification of the attitude at home for most of those kids, "you don't need education you'll get married and have kids and what use is education then" I didn't like that philosophy then and I don't now and have spent agreat deal of time and effort trying to counter it. I am not humourless about this its just a matter of perception and a raw nerve. And, after all, this is why I prefer Folk Music to Pop. I listen to the words, And Joe I am a romantic but not with this one.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 09:14 PM

Ah, but Micca, there's hope. Don't forget this verse:

I don't claim to be an 'A' student,
but I'm tryin' to be.
For maybe by being an 'A'-student, baby,
I can win your love for me.

See? True love may inspire the dummy to hit the books. You make your point well, though, and I agree wholeheartedly.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: The Big Man
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 03:27 AM

Hey it just goes to show ,you live and learn. I always thought that this song was written by Sam. The mark of a great song is no matter who sings it, it still sounds good.Check out Otis Redding and putting it in a 'folky' vein, Dave Bromberg's version... but what do I know... -Ritchie-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 04:00 AM

Big Man, BMI says the song was written by Lou Adler, Herb Alpert, AND Sam Cooke. I'd buy that. I changed the attribution on the lyrics I posted. I haven't found the correct publication/copyright date yet.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 04:06 AM

Micca, you have every right to feel that way, having been in the trenches, but I still, not thinking of the words, like the song. I DO get sickened when I hear some of the oldies crap they play over and over here that the kids are listening to such as the one that goes Johnny get angry, Johnny get mad/Give me the biggest lecture I ever had/I wanna brave man/I wanna cave man/Johnny show me that you care, really care for me?! I mean talk about glorification of domestic violence! And, how about My Boyfriend's Back and you're gonna be in trouble? Crap! I hate hearing these kinds of oldies being played over and over, esp. here where the women and girls still think like this, oftentimes!

katwhoalsoremembersHerman'sHermits&Mrs.Brown'slovelydaughter

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 06:08 AM

"Another brick in the wall" for me carries a meaningn that it pretty well oppiosite to that which it carries for Micca.

I read it as protesting against the kind of anti-education that tries to cram people into slots that don't fit, and writes kids off as failures, and stifles creativity. What Charles Dickens referred to as "child-breaking."

Sometimes it's possible to sing the same words, and yet be saying something completely different. Or listen to the same words, and hear something completely different.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Micca
Date: 06 Nov 99 - 07:39 AM

For McGrath of Harlow yes I agree with you about 2 people hearing the same thing with a different slant, and I have had my "misinterpretation" of "Wall" pointed out to me often,Most memorably by a very attractive young woman at a party over several hours, it reminds me of the quote " Two men look through the same set of bars, one sees mud and the other sees stars", and when you meet some of the so called "no-hopers" or even better they come back to especially see, and thank you for your encouragement, and show you their success then it makes it all worth while. Kat, did you know that "Mrs Brown you've got a lovely daughter" was originally written for a TV play of the same name starring a young Tom Courtney!! it was performed (I think) by Hermans Hermits for the show!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Barbara
Date: 07 Nov 99 - 12:26 AM

And if I have to hear that @#$% song again, I'm gonna ralph. Signed, the former Barbara Brown, whose first ex-boyfriend sang it everytime he saw her for about a year. Ain't high school wonderful?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Snuffy
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 08:38 AM

I'm sure I remember hearing a Tom Courtney recording, before Peter No-one revived it.

Wassail!V

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Willie-O
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 08:52 AM

Who the hell is Tom Courtney?

Willie-O aka Bill Cameron (gave me a doubletake there, I didn't notice the dates on the postings.)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Snuffy
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 09:15 AM

He's a British actor, not known for singing.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: SDShad
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 10:24 AM

Micca, I was going to jump in with my defense of "Another Brick in the Wall," but Kevin did me one better. I think if you look at the song in context of the continuing theme in the album "The Wall" of how society alienates and punishes those who are square pegs to all those round holes, those who aren't willing to become "just another brick in the wall"--the actual title of the song being another good tip-off--it becomes plain that Kevin's interpretation is quite likely to be what the songwriter originally intended. It's not Bruce Springsteen's or John Mellencamp's fault that people incorrectly interpreted "Born in the U.S.A" and "Pink Houses," respectively, as being Right-wing flag-waving, when both were quite the opposite. And it's not Pink Floyd's fault that their song protesting the alienation of the British public schools has been interpreted as an anthem to ignorance, as again it's quite the opposite.

Kind of reminds me of an experience my mom had, driving to a training session with four other nurses. She popped in a Dire Straits tape, and one of the other nurses objected to it because "Money for Nothing" was a song that was "mean to welfare mothers." No amount of explaining that Mark Knopfler had told the story of listening to a couple of working class Joes comment on how easy rock stars had it--making their "money for nothing"--could persuade her that it wasn't in fact slamming those on the public dole instead. Likewise, Pink Floyd have had this undeserved slam held against them for over twenty years.

Another great "dumb guy in love" song, one written with the characteristic intelligence and wit of Partridge and Moulding, is XTC's "The Mayor of Simpleton." Silly little song with brilliant lyrics and a sterling pop melody.

Chris

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: L R Mole
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 10:55 AM

Obligatory song citation which I, personally, have never heard : didn't some Marvelette/Ronette "girl group" (with male songwriter, one would hope) have a hit with a song called,"He Hit Me (and It Felt Like a Kiss)? I don't think I could have made that up.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: BlueJay
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 02:15 PM

David Bromberg did a good version of this song, I have it on a "Best Of" CD. He keeps pretty much to the original tune and words, changing things slightly in that Brombergesque style that he has:

I'm not too good at geometry,
Can't figure out that psycho-thermonuclearphysionomany,
I will never learn to speak no algebra,
Would somebody come and tell me what a slide rule is for.

Anyway, no one mentioned the Bromberg version, so I though I'd mention it, even though I think he way over-arranged it: full band, piano electric guitar, and female backup vocalists answering "algebra" and such. I think the song can stand alone well with just an acoustic guitar.

But it is an interesting take on an old song. Probably helps if you're a Bromberg fan to begin with. Just my opinion. BlueJay

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 02:31 PM

Bubble gum, sheer air-head drivel ... AND YET it is almost tolerable, compared with the violent negativity of today's hiphop/rap. Oh well, kids' tunes are always supposed to irritate the previous generation. == Johnny

Subject: RE: Tune Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Jul 00 - 02:38 PM

"D" in love?

Subject: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 07:55 PM

I am looking for the lyrics to the song that begins: Don't know much about history, don't much biology... Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:10 PM

Herman's hermits: World

Subject: Lyr Add: WONDERFUL WORLD (Sam Cooke, et al.)
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:12 PM

Wonderful World

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for

But I do know one and one is two
And if this one could be with you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now I don't claim, to be an A-student
But I'm trying to be
For maybe by being an A-student, baby
I could win your love for me

{repeat first two blocks)
Written by: Sam Cooke, Lou Adler, Herb Alpert

And one of the most sexy romantic scenes in a movie is Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis dancing to this in "Witness"

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From:
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:21 PM

Nice song. Some more information is found at Wonderful World

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:21 PM

Thank you! I love that scene in the movie, "Witness" too. That's what I think of when I hear this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:27 PM

Spaw, There must be at least half-a-dozen repetitions of the Wonderful World song that Satchmo sang in the Forum, but this one I couldn't find. And don't tell me that posted this one from memory!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:32 PM

Does anyone have the chords to this song? A friend of mine has been wanting to play this. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 08:35 PM

Chords: World

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What A Wonderful World This Would Be
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 09:19 PM

Yeah Dicho, Satchmo's "Wonderful World" is a beauty, but I think of this one first....and I found it both on the forum and on a Sam Cooke site because I never even thought about Herman and his dopey Hermits, but thought about Sam Cooke!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: GUEST,David Neale
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 03:41 PM

Oh, I'm so glad I'm not going mad or dement or something. I, too, remember "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" performed by Tom Courtney and destroyed by Herman's Hermits. I tried to find Courtney's version for ages, but having failed to find nary a mention of it, decided that perhaps the memory really wasn't what it used to be. And now I find this mention -- a tad old, but at least supportive...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: GUEST,the big man
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:00 PM

aint it funny how time slips away ...what brought me to mudcat tonight?

and then to find a thread that I had contributed too on the 6th nov 1999.

not being pedantic BlueJay but check my posting re Dave Bromberg, mind you you are forgiven cos you have good taste. I must try to get 'the greatest hits' perhaps on cd

regards

Ritchie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 03 Nov 05 - 04:40 PM

Don't know much about the year it was written, but Wonderful World by Sam Cooke debuted 5/23/1960 and was in the top 40 for 11 weeks, going as high as 12.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: This may not be a folk song but...
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 12:04 AM

I move that we accord it the status of folksong, any seconders?

after all we all seem to know it, and we're all folks.

Subject: RE: Req: May not be a folk song but..(Wonderful World)
From: C-flat
Date: 04 Nov 05 - 02:42 AM

Seconded W.L.D.!!

There's a lovely version of this song by Simon and Garfunkel with James Taylor. Maybe it was just Garfunkel and Taylor, I can't remember, but I'm nearly sure it was on an Art Garfunkel album.

Getting old is crap!!

C-flat.