Lyr/Chords Req: When I'm Cleaning Windows (Formby)

Subject: George Formby/Washing windows
From: Musicman
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 02:15 PM

Hi there, been asked to find a song, old British Music hall ( I think) sung by George Formby (I think), something about 'washing windows'......

Anybody have any clues????????

thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: bbc
Date: 22 Jan 00 - 02:25 PM

From Bill Sables on bbc computer; The song you are looking for is " When I'm Cleaning Windows" If no'one gives you the words contact me after 1st Feb when I am back home and I will send them to you. Chers Bill

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: johnp
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 04:01 AM

Can't find the originals but here is a great parody

windows

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: Mike Robertson
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:03 PM

If you have RealAudio, try this!

-mike-

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN I'M CLEANING WINDOWS (Formby
From: Tony Burns
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 01:20 PM

WHEN I'M CLEANING WINDOWS a.k.a. THE WINDOW CLEANER
Performed by George Formby in the film "Keep Your Seats, Please!" (1936)
As recorded by George Formby, 27-Sep-1936.

Now I go window cleanin' to earn an honest bob.
For a nosey Parker it's an interestin' job.

Now, it's a job that just suits me.
A window cleaner you would be
If you can see what I can see
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
Honeymoonin' couples too—
You should see them bill and coo.
You'd be surprised at things they do
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
    In my profession I'll work hard, but I'll never stop.
    I'll climb this blinkin' ladder till I get right to the top.
The blushin' bride she looks divine.
The bridegroom he is doin' fine.
I'd rather have his job than mine,
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

The chamber maid sweet names I call.
It's a wonder I don't fall.
My mind's not on my work at all
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
I know a fella, such a swell,
He has a thirst that's plain to tell.
I've seen him drink his bath as well
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
    Oh, in my profession I'll work hard, but I'll never stop.
    I'll climb this blinkin' ladder till I get right to the top.
Pyjamas lyin' side by side,
Ladies nighties I have spied.
I've often seen what goes inside
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

Now there's a famous talkie queen.
She looks a flapper on the screen.
She's more like eighty than eighteen
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
She pulls her hair all down behind
Then pulls down her—never mind—
And after that pulls down the blind
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
    In my profession I'll work hard, but I'll never stop.
    I'll climb this blinkin' ladder till I get right to the top.
An old maid walks around the floor.
She's so fed up one day I'm sure
She'll drag me in and lock the door
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

  When I'm cleanin' windows.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: Musicman
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:04 PM

thanks all, great song.....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:45 PM

In the days when performers made sequels to hit songs, Formby killed two birds with one stone and recorded "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now", as a sequel to both "When I'm Cleaning Windows", and "Chinese Laundry Blues".

Unfortunately, I heard "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now" years before I heard "Chinese laundry Blues" or "When I'm Cleaning Windows", so the references made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

In fact, I used to use "Mr. Wu's a Window Cleaner Now" as a catch phrase to describe any non sequitor or bit of surrealism.

I was greatly disapointed to finally hear the two songs that preceded it, and find out that the "Mr. Wu..." actually meant something. Ha! Ha!

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 02:47 PM

Hey! Why am I a "GUEST"? I've been posting on the Mudcat a long time?

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 03:17 PM

COOKIE MONSTER got you, it would seem.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 06:57 PM

In the UK there's a George Formby Society with quite good MIDis of his songs. I use WinJammer Pro (Shareware) to view the chords from the Rhythm channel.

There's a very good book which provides the scores for a large number of George's songs - including this one. I'll try and get a copy of the score and extract the chords that Formby used. This won't be until end of this week. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: George Formby/Washing windows
From: AndyG
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 07:19 AM

No credit is given on the link to the parody Reinstalling Windows which johnp posted.
The credit should be to Les Barker.

AndyG

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: When I'm Cleaning Windows (Formby)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jun 12 - 05:39 AM

MR WUS a window cleaner now starts in b flat minor

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: WHEN I'M CLEANING WINDOWS (Formby)
From: IamNoMan
Date: 12 Nov 14 - 11:23 PM

WHEN I'M CLEANING WINDOWS
Written by George Formby, Harry Gifford & Fred E. Cliffe
Performed by George Formby in "Keep Your Seats Please" (1936)

Now[C]I go window cleaning to [D7]earn an honest bob;
[G7]For a nosey parker it's an interesting [C]job.
[C]Now, it's a job that [C7]just suits me A [F]window cleaner [Cdim]you would be,
If[C] you could see what [C7]I[C6] can [C]see [Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.

[C]The honey-mooning [C7]couples too [F]You should see them [Cdim]bill and coo,
[C]You'd be surprised at [C7]things [C6]they [C]do, [Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.
In [E7]my profession I work hard [A7]But I'll never stop,
I'll [D7]climb this blinking ladder til I [G7]get right to the top.

The [C]blushing bride she [C7]looks divine, The [F]Bridegroom he is [Cdim]doing fine,
I'd [C]rather have his [C7]job [C6]than [C]mine When I'm cleaning [C]windows.
[C]The chamber maid sweet [C7]names I call [F]It's a wonder [Cdim]I don't fall
My [C]mind's not on my [C7]work [C6]at [C]all [Cdim]when I'm cleaning [C]windows.

[C]I know a fella, [C7}such a swell He [F] has a thirst it's [Cdim]plain to tell,
I've [C]seen him drink his [C7]bath [C6]as [Cdim]well when I'm cleaning [C]windows.

In [E7]my profession I work hard [A7]But I'll never stop,
I'll [D7]climb this blinking ladder til I [G7]get right to the top.
Py[C]jamas lying [C7]side by side [F]Ladies nighties [Cdim]I have spied
I've [C]often seen what [C7]goes [C6]inside [Cdim]when I'm cleaning [C]windows.

Now [C]there's a famous [C7]talkie Queen, [F]looks a flapper [Cdim]on the screen
She's [C]more like eighty [C7]than [C6]eigh [C]teen [Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.
She [C]pulls her hair all [C7]down behind [F]Then pulls down her - [Cdim]never mind
And [C]after that pulls [C7]down [C6]the [C]blind [Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.

In [E7]my profession I work hard [A7]But I'll never stop,
I'll [D7]climb this blinking ladder til I [G7]get right to the top.
An [C]old maid walks a[C7]round the floor,
She's [C]so fed up one [Cdim]day I'm sure,
She'll [C]drag me in and [C7]lock [C6]the [C]door [Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.

[Cdim]When I'm cleaning [C]windows.

This song first appeared in the movie "Keep Your Seats Please' (1936). Due to its racy lyrics the BBC banned it from the Radio. Queen Mary liked the song and "was not amused". The BBC relinquished its ban. This version is scored for Ukulele, (gCEA), in the key of C. When Formby played it on Banjolele it was in Key of D, (Banjoleles of the period were tuned aDF#B). - TPC

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WINDOW CLEANER (NO. 2) (G Formby)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 17 - 02:53 PM

THE WINDOW CLEANER (NO. 2)
As recorded by George Formby, 21-Mar-1937.

You've heard about my capers when windows I've to clean.
Now I'd like to tell you of a few more things I've seen.

I've seen Miss Thompson, in her flat,
Take off her shoes, her coat and hat.
I've seen her take off more than that
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
At a ladies' school I call,
And one girl flirts with me and all,
But I'm insured in case I fall
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
    All day up this ladder I'm as busy as can be.
    It's not my fault I see a lot of things I shouldn't see.
To overcrowded flats I've been.
Sixteen in one bed I've seen,
With a lodger tucked up in between,
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

Old soldiers never die, they say.
Though I don't want to pass away,
I kick the bucket ev'ry day
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
Through workin' at such dizzy heights,
I dream about my job at nights.
I polish up my wife's thingummy-tights,
  And think I'm cleanin' windows.
    All day up this ladder I'm as busy as can be.
    It's not my fault I see a lot of things I shouldn't see.
The newly-weds at number six,
Somehow the curtains they can't fix.
They play some lovely parlour tricks
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

Now lots of girls I've had to jilt,
All they admire the way I'm built,
It's a good job I don't wear a kilt
  When I'm cleanin' windows.
At the coronation I'll commence
To work where crowds are very dense.
I'll let my stand for eighteen pence
  Instead of cleanin' windows.
    And all day up this ladder I'm as busy as can be.
    It's not my fault I see a lot of things I shouldn't see.
At eight o'clock a girl she wakes.
At five past eight a bath she takes.
At ten past eight my ladder breaks,
  When I'm cleanin' windows.

Subject: Lyr Add: MR WU'S A WINDOW CLEANER NOW (G Formby)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 17 - 05:10 PM

MR WU'S A WINDOW CLEANER NOW
As recorded by George Formby, 17-Dec-1939.

Mister Wu no longer has a laundry.
Sad to say, the business was a flop.
He shouted: "What a hope!"
As he chewed a bar o' soap,
And then put up the shutters of the shop.

Said Mister Wu:
"What shall I do?"
And Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.
The laundry it didn't pay.
Now there's no clean collars down Limehouse way.

When he goes out workin', int'rest he arouses,
Polishin' the windows with worn-out ladies' blouses.
He wears a pair of caminicks to save his Sunday trousers,
'Cause Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.

Now little Chinese wifie each day is gettin' madder,
Tearin' her silk stockin's, her husband makes her sadder.
All day long he wants to keep on runnin' up the ladder,
'Cause Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.

He had his eyesight tested, a most important matter.
Through a bathroom window, a lady he peeks at 'er.
His eyesight's getting' better but his nose is getting' flatter,
'Cause Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.

Said Mister Wu:
What shall I do?"
And Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.
The laundry it didn't pay.
Now there's no clean collars down limehouse way.

Customers he's washed for now are in bad humours.
They've been quite neglected and I've heard the rumours.
Lots of girls on winter nights go out without their—garters,
'Cause Mister Wu's a window cleaner now.