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Origins: You Mean Somebody But You Don't Mean Me
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Subject: Origins: You Mean Somebody But You Don't Mean Me From: Mark-o Date: 23 Oct 14 - 03:29 PM Tho't I'd send this one out to the collective Mudcat wisdom, particularly any Aussies out there. I've been singing this song since the 80's; I learned it off of a Jules Verne Allen recording from 1918-29. Dandy song, starts out like this: "Time will tell is a proverb, and its old and tired and true But the only thing it ever said to me is I'm making a fool of you..." OK, so here's the deal: in researching this song, I can find tons of references to the composer, one F. Collis Wildman. Wildman was a prolific and popular composer; he even sued the New York Times for copyright infringement. He published the song in 1912; it was included in "Dinsdale's Popular Six Penny Edition" from around 1917 in Melbourne; and it seems to have been quite a hit in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. What I cannot find is an early recording or digital copy of this song; or any song composed by Wildman, for that matter. "Johnnie Woggle Bond Street Crawl" begs to be heard. Now can I find much in the way of biographical info on the composer. So, any ideas? Any of you 'Cats in Australia want to zip over to the National Library and take a look at the only copy of "Dinsdale's... # 213?" Mucho mahalos! |
Subject: RE: Origins: You Mean Somebody But You Don't Mean Me From: Mrrzy Date: 23 Oct 14 - 04:17 PM I am reminded of Lily Tomlin, who apparently said something along the lines of, I always wanted to be somebody. Guess I should have been more specific. Thread creep off. |
Subject: Lyr Add: YOU MEAN SOMEBODY BUT YOU DON'T MEAN ME From: Mark-o Date: 23 Oct 14 - 07:01 PM Here are the lyrics to "You Mean Somebody But You Don't Mean Me" .. at least they way I sing them. Probably not to far off Jules Verne Allen's 1928 version. Trust me, it's a mouthful. You Mean Somebody, But You Don't Mean Me Time will tell, its a proverb, and its old and tried and true But the only thing its ever said to me is "I'm making a fool of you." Here of late I've tried to brace up, and keep out of harm's way, So when temptation calls on me, I simply smile and say, "You mean somebody, but you don't mean me. I've been a fool just as long as I intend to be. Now, what is to be will be, that's fate, But I've had enough hard luck here of late, You mean somebody, but you don't mean me." Now old Bill Jones joined the circus, and a clown he thought he'd be, But they put old William to feed the elephants; it was the best job they had, you see. Now there were grizzly bears in that show, and the boss said, "Bill, you have to train That largest grizzly bear to dollar skate." and Bill says, "You guess again! "You mean somebody, but you don't mean me. You know, I don't train nothin' in this menagerie. I don't mind feeding' a few bears, that's true, But if they have to learn to skate, Captain, that's up to you, You mean somebody, but you don't mean me." Now Sam Jones, he joined the army, but he chose the losin' side, For the enemy chased his gang nine miles till they found any place to hide. The bullets think and fast were flying, so they hid behind a big rock wall, Sam answered when his Colonel said, "Just look over, Sam, you're so tall." "You mean somebody, but you don't mean me. Gonna look over that wall to see what he can see. I don't mind war, or care or strife, But if I look over that wall, Colonel, its goodbye life, You mean somebody, but you don't mean me." Once a man of invention said to me, "Son, you ought to learn to fly. I just build this brand new flying machine, and you can take it up first and try it." I investigated that cloud-carrier, but the thing didn't have but one wing. I started thinking about my home and my mama dear, and I said, as regards that thing, "You mean somebody, but you don't mean me. You know a bird is the very last thing I ever want to be. When my time comes, I'm bound to die, But till that time comes I'll let the angels use the sky, You mean somebody, but you don't mean me." Now Mr. Jones' wife was a talker, likewise a flirt was she. She'd jaw all day, and all night too, and Jones had no remedy. One night as Mrs. Jones was talking' in her sleep, as she'd done before, Jones heard her softly call a name, and he began to roar, "You mean somebody, darlin', but you don't mean me. There is trouble brewing 'round my home, as I can plainly see. Just now when everything was nice and still, You said, "Kiss me, Tommy dear," when you know my name's Bill! You mean somebody, but you don't mean me." |
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