ADD: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...

Subject: They're burning down the house I wuz bru
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 09:49 AM

I thought I'd asked for this before but couldn't find it when I checked my threads, I probably committed the cardinal Mudcat sin of mentioning it in a thread on something else.
It's a song that was played on UK radio in the 1950s in a similar vein to "Cigareets and whusky and wild wild women",in a pseudo hillbilly style. Not, I think, by Spike Jones but in a similar raucous way. I'll post below the chorus and one verse I "remember" and the start of the second verse. In italics I'l put my own ending for the second verse (just to prove I'm no threat to Ira Gershwin). I'd be glad of the real words to verse 2 and any subsequent verses (and any corrections to my memory). Just another of those songs that buzz round my head all the time!

THEY'RE BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE I WUZ BRUNG UP IN

Chorus: They're burning down the house I wuz brung up in
They're yellin' "Come on out and meet yer bride"
They're burnin' down the house I wuz brung up in
But I would be a fool to go outside

Verse 1: There's her pappy by the door with a loaded .44
He's yellin' " come on out or else I'll shoot"
I don't know if he knows
I've got on hisSunday clothes
If he fires it'll be goodby to Pappy's suit

Chorus

Verse 2: There's her brother by the gate
With a loaded .38
He's yellin' " Come on out, let's git yer wed"
But I don't fall for that trick
'Cause he's known as Deadeye Dick
And If I show myself he'll surely shoot me dead

RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 10:39 AM

I think Elton Britt recorded this song. Not exactly the kind of thing one would have expected from him.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:11 AM

Thanks, Arkie, the name didn't ring a bell but the dates looked right. I've just checked on the AllMusic Guide and it is on a CD of his work The RCA Years (Collector's Choice 31). It is credited to Lee/McCarthy/Redmond. I'll try Cowpie for the lyrics.
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:11 AM

I have that cut on an LP or 8-Track-
will look for it

Elton Britt
The RCA Years

Patent Leather Boots
They're Burning Down the House (I Was Brung Up In)

There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
I'm a Convict With Old Glory In My Heart
Blueberry Lane
Blue Texas Moonlight
Wave to Me, My Lady
Detour
Rogue River Valley
Gotta Get Together With My Gal
Chime Bells
Mabe I'll Cry Over You
Candy Kisses
In a Swiss Chalet
Beyond the Sunset
Quicksilver
The Yodel Blues
Mockin' Bird Hill
Cannonball Yodel
The Skater's Yodel
The Jimmie Rodgers Blues
The Bitter Taste

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 11:27 AM

Nope,Cowpie came up empty (probably getting their own back for the rude things I've said about New Country!) so I'd appreciate your input, Gene. Thanks in anticipation.
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: Dale Rose
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 01:56 PM

I have it by Elton Britt as well, but it is on a cassette, so I am not at all sure where that might be at the moment. Listened to his version no more than a month or two ago.

Arkie, looks this would be a good place to put in a plug for the Elton Britt Tribute concerts in July!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 15 Mar 00 - 03:45 PM

Thanks for the reminder Dale. Elton Britt Tribute at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas, July 28-29 featuring David Bradley and Janet McBride. Lots of yodeling, lots of Britt songs, and a yodeling contest to boot. Elton grew up in Zack, AR, a little community about 40 miles from Mountain View. The folks here just wanted to say thanks to Elton for the music he gave us and remember this musical treasure of yesterday. Do I have to beg forgiveness for this crass commercialization of the Mudcat Cafe?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From:
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 06:45 AM

I heard an Australian version on a 78 played in a store that catered to record collectors. It was too long ago to remember the words, except that the chorus was "They're burning down the house that I grew up in.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From:
Date: 17 Mar 00 - 06:45 AM

I heard an Australian version on a 78 played in a store that catered to record collectors. It was too long ago to remember the words, except that the chorus was "They're burning down the house that I grew up in.

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From:
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 05:12 AM

Hah! I'll bet you think I made a mistake and double posted--Not so. I heard the record twice ;}

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: Dale Rose
Date: 18 Mar 00 - 08:23 AM

It DOES serve to keep it fresh in our minds and at the top of the list no matter how momentarily. Think I will go cassette hunting. No promises, though.

Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE I WAS...
From: Dale Rose
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 10:51 PM

Tape finally surfaced, naturally when I was looking for something else that I still can't find. A few notes: Elton does not sing the second “Oh” in the first chorus, but does in the others. The roast beef line does not make a lot of sense, but then, neither does the whole song for that matter! I no longer have the LP, so I have no other information. As I remember it, there wasn't much there anyway.


THEY'RE BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE I WAS BRUNG UP IN
As sung by Elton Britt

Here's a story I will tell, about my Rocky Mountain belle
She was everything to me, my very life
We had smiles, we had tears for 27 years
She promised me someday she'd be my wife
With the ceremony planned, I had bought a weddin' band
And invited all the neighbors from the farms
But the day we were to wed, I was tired and stayed in bed
Now the whole darn countryside is up in arms!

CHORUS: Oh, they're burnin' down the house I was brung up in
They're shoutin’, "Come on out and take your bride!"
They're burnin' down the house I was brung up in
But what a fool I'd be to go outside!

Never thought my mountain queen would be causin' such a scene
Poor old sheriff can't hold back that mob
I'll admit we would have wed, but she went ahead and said
When we married she was gonna quit her job
Now there's her pappy at the gate with a loaded .48
He's yellin', "Come on out before I shoot!"
Well, I wonder if he knows, I've got on his Sunday clothes
If he shoots at me, goodbye to pappy's suit! CHORUS

Now they've brought along their lunch, and I'll bet that whole dern bunch
Think they're gonna sit around and starve me out
Here inside I've got a cow who's a corkin' roast beef now
So you see they don't know what it's all about
Oh, to me it's just a joke; I can stand a lot of smoke
In the fireman's band I used to play trombone
Well, they've got me on the spot and it's gettin' mighty hot
But to me this burnin' shack is home, sweet home! CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: Dale Rose
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 11:27 PM

CDNow has a sound clip on this page for those who "need" to know what the song sounds like. It is from the Collector's Choice CD mentioned above.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: Dale Rose
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 11:34 PM

Nothing like being REALLY prepared. After listening to the clip, I realize it is from a different recording than the one I have. He sings PRAIRIE Queen rather than MOUNTAIN Queen ~~ must have moved the locale between recordings. Now I am done. For sure. Maybe. ?????

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're burning down the house I wuz
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 22 Mar 00 - 11:26 AM

Dale , you're a scholar and a gentleman! Many thanks. I must have invented all the verse about the brother (CRS/CRAFT disease I guess). Now I can annoy people in many verses!
RtS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 11 - 02:13 AM

Song Lyrics - Kisses Sweeter Than Wine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: Arkie
Date: 19 Nov 11 - 10:16 AM

Guest are we to assume that you would like to have the lyrics for "Kisses Sweeter than Wine"?

If so here they are. I think the name Paul Campbell was used by members of the Weavers (Seeger, Hayes, and Gilbert)to copyright songs.

"Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"
(Words by Paul Campbell and Music by Huddie Ledbetter)
Well, when I was a young man never been kissed
I got to thinkin' it over how much I had missed
So I got me a girl and I kissed her and then, and then
Oh, lordy, well I kissed 'er again
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well I asked her to marry and to be my sweet wife
I told her we'd be so happy for the rest of our life
I begged and I pleaded like a natural man
And then, whoops oh lordy, well she gave me her hand
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well we worked very hard both me and my wife
Workin' hand-in-hand to have a good life
We had corn in the field and wheat in the bin
And then, whoops oh lord, I was the father of twins
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well our children they numbered just about four
And they all had a sweetheart a'knockin' on the door
They all got married and they wouldn't hesitate
I was, whoops oh lord, the grandfather of eight
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm, mmm, kisses sweeter than wine
(Sweeter than wine)
Well now that I'm old and I'm a'ready to go
I get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
Had a lot of kids, a lot of trouble and pain
But then, whoops oh lordy, well I'd do it all again
Because she had kisses sweeter than wine
She had, mmm…kisses…sweeter…than…wine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: vectis
Date: 19 Nov 11 - 12:06 PM

My version is slightly different. I got it from a local chap about 40 years ago.


They're burning down the house I was brung up in

CH) They're burning down the house I was brown up in
They're shouting "come on down and meet your bride".
They're burning down the house I was brown up in
That what a fool I'd be to go outside.

A story I will tell about my Rocky Mountain Belle,
She was everything to me my very life.
For 27 years I had smiles, I had tears,
And someday I swore she'd be my wife.

With the ceremony planned, I had bought the wedding band,
And invited all the neighbours to the farm.
But the day we was to wed, I got tired and stayed in bed,
Now the whole countryside is up in arms.

There is old Pappy at the gate, he's got a loaded 38,
He's shouting "come on down before I shoot!" (Yee Haw!)
Pappy doesn't know I've got on his Sunday clothes,
If he shoots it's goodbye to Pappy's suit.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 15 - 12:27 AM

If anybody is out there, thank you so much for this. I have spent over fifty years wondering about the lyrics to this song. I won't tell you the nonsensical lyrics I have sung in my head for over fifty years, but they certainly weren't "the house I was brung up in." The song now makes sense.

However, I will comment that I never heard "chow who's a corkin' roast beef now." Rather, I heard, "Here inside I've got a cow who's a cooking roast beef now, so you see..."

If the people who wrote this are still there, and if my message gets through, thank you.

Now I guess I'll start looking for "Elton Britt" to see if that's the version on the 78 that my family had.

I am skeptical that Ramblin' Jack Elliot wrote the song. He's not old enough. (But skepticism is not truth.)

Kevin Widen, Smithers BC, Canada

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: GUEST,noni
Date: 26 Jun 15 - 01:31 PM

Rex Allen used to sing this when he was on National Barn Dance

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: GUEST,Hrothgar
Date: 07 Jul 15 - 04:36 AM

From an old LP (transferred to CD) called "On Tour" by a group called The Countrymen, ca 1965, another verse (relying a bit on memory - it's a couple of hours since I played it):

Her whole family's at the door, and they're yelling "Come on out!"
They've got shotguns, forty-fours, and forty-fives,
So I better get to church, 'cause if I leave her in the lurch,
I reckon I'll be the deadest guy alive.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: They're Burning Down the House I Was ...
From: GUEST,guest - Corvus
Date: 04 Mar 24 - 02:22 PM

deep apologies for the thread necromancy but seconding the thanks for this thread.
i will say that, at least in the recording i have, "Yodeling" Dick Lee sang this chiefly the same as Elton's lyrics with the eight mile river band- nothing about brothers, or indeed the rest of the family, with an arsenal.
that's the joy of folk music; lots of folks had their own little touches.