Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's

Subject: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's & '30's
From: GUEST,bobbybuzz
Date: 01 May 01 - 01:19 PM

Hi again. I'm looking for songs to play for my friends at the Nursing home. Been playing there for 5 yrs. now, and they're getting a little used to the dozen or so I have. Any links out there, MIDI or whatever? I'm getting a little better at reading music, can play most chords with no problem, but for some of these old tunes, it would help if I could hear the melody. I've been to MELODY LANE, but after getting one tune form there, I can't seem to get anymore. Thanks for any help.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: MMario
Date: 01 May 01 - 01:32 PM

well, I was going to reccomend MelodyLane - but if you are having problems with the site, I guess that is out.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: nutty
Date: 01 May 01 - 01:44 PM

These may help

CLICK HERE


CLICK HERE

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Hollowfox
Date: 01 May 01 - 02:22 PM

If you're in the USA, try going to your public library and looking at the Reader's Digest songbooks. My library's music collection isn't that great, but we have ten titles: Treasury of Best-Loved Songs, Popular Classics, Family Songbook, Festival of Popular Songs, etc.

Subject: MIDI Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 01 - 02:26 PM

Melody Lane is a great site, but it's heavy on graphics and takes a long time to load some pages. It says it works best with Crescendo, but I have an intense hatred for Crescendo and the technical problems it causes. If you have Crescendo and you're having MIDI problems, I recommend that you go to Control Panel and uninstall Crescendo (ALWAYS use Control Panel's Add/Remove function to remove programs). I have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, and Windows Media Player 6.4, and Melody Lane plays the tunes for me very nicely.

I wish it were easier for me to troubleshoot MIDI problems from a distance. Many people have trouble playing the MIDI tunes from the Digital Tradition, even though they're able to play the tunes on the Mudcat MIDI Page. There's one MIDI page that everybody seems to be able to work with - Lesley's Contemplator Page. Take a look at the Contemplator and see if the tunes play for you there. Then try a few of the Mudcat MIDI tunes, and then some from the Digital Tradition. If all of those work, then go back to Melody Lane and wait a long time - maybe it's just the slow loading that's giving you fits.

---

Click here for leads to other MIDI sites you can check out. You can also find various MIDI sites listed on the Mudcat Links Page. Another site you may want to check is Public Domain Music, with MIDIs by Benjamin Robert Tubb.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: mousethief
Date: 01 May 01 - 02:41 PM

Also look at the Golden Oldies section in RUS. The footnotes list a bunch of songbooks from that era.

Alex

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: GUEST,Willa
Date: 01 May 01 - 02:50 PM

bobbybuzz
I have the chords for Ain't she sweet(1927)
Among my Souvenirs(1927)
Carolina Moon (1928)
I can't give you anything but love(1928)
On the sunny side of the street (1930)
Side by side (1927)
Have you ever been lonely (1933)Stormy weather (1933)
Sweetheart of all my dreams (1926)
Will post them, with the words, if they're the sort of things you want.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 May 01 - 03:55 PM

At the risk of raising ire, I'll suggest that you download a copy of Napster and start searching for songs that you remember---there are an awful lot of old things that you would have trouble finding anywhere else there-- I am downloaded an old Nora Bayes side, "The Japanese Sandman"(The lyrics and a MIDI are at Melody Lane, but when you hear Nora Bayes sing it, you will know why people love the song!)

Also,it can be fun to do some homework--which really is to read a bit about the old times and events and performers--watch the old movies, and get a feel for what was popular when--and learn the songs that appeal to you--make a point of picking up some of those great compilation CD's that are available--it is important to remember the stuff that isn't listened to much anymore, because often, that's the stuff that brings back memories!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 May 01 - 04:12 PM

Ah, there's a point, M. Ted - "watch the old movies." Anything with the name "Astaire" or "Gene Kelly," for instance. I almost feel like I'm cheating when I watch the three "That's Entertainment" movies and "That's Dancing" - they show the "good parts" of so many of the best of the movie musicals. I wonder when those movies will come out on DVD and make it easy for me to find my favorite song-and-dance numbers.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 01 - 01:01 AM

I have two songbooks that address the time period you are interested in:

SINGALONG FUNFEST, a Hal Leonard Songbook with pull-out lyric sheets. More than 30 playable guitar arrangements, melody line and piano accompaniment.

SING SESSION SONGBOOK, a Warner Bros. songbook with optional lyric booklets. Over a hundred items. Piano and guitar arrangements, but too many chord changes and odd keys. Also the vocal line is not separated out-- the melody is within the piano part.

Even with both of these, I agree-- not really knowing how the songs are supposed to go is a big problem.

But-- GOOD NEWS! You CAN get your hands on people who know how they go. And you CAN find recordings.

LIVE MENTORS. Next time you go to the nursing home to play, ask the people who come to hear you what they WISH you would play-- they will tell you! (They may even be able to sing them for you, so have a tape recorder handy.) Take note of the song names and go find those to start on.

Most every nursing home my pastor husband has ever conducted services for has at LEAST one resident who had been an active piano player, and usually singers too. Ask your place's activities director to hook you up with someone who can teach you these songs, and work with them to make a practice tape. If YOUR place has no one like this, call around. Someone will dress up in her Sunday best and give you the afternoon of your life!

Another place to find someone would be the larger local churches-- organists or choir directors who will either know these songs or will know a choir member or someone else who does. Solicit the help of the church secretary to contact the people to talk with about this.

Even if you cannot find someone to TEACH you the songs, you CAN find a resident who will tell you which ones to learn first and whether you are doing it RIGHT.

Local senior center? Ask the director for help finding a piano player to teach you the songs.

RECORDINGS. The library, or a flea market, for a start. I am lucky-- I live near a flea market where the owner has been collecting boatloads of old LPs and 78's. He rents them. But surely some are in re-issue as CD's by now... look online. Also try E-bay for collectible LP's.

OTHER SONGBOOKS. Do not discount the EZ Play keyboard books that are all over the sheet music stores right now. They have collections for every kind of music there IS. Look for an older employee to help you find the book for you... or take a nursing home resident along on a field trip! A cheap keyboard with rhythm capabilities can help you get a feel for how the songs should be done-- since the book will tell you what settings to use. Then you take the guitar and adapt the arrangement for your range. The EZ Play books do have chords indicated... great way to learn to read music better, too.

Try any or all of these ideas and you'll be cookin' in no time. And do not worry if you only learn one new one each time you go to play at the nursing home-- you'll make them so happy they will not be disappointed that you are just learning their music.

Good luck!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: M.Ted
Date: 02 May 01 - 01:17 AM

Just remembered something, and that is Band-in-a-Box, which is a great program that runs on either Mac or Windows--you can either type chords in or simply chose one of about 500 songs from the songbook--plays an accompaniment, with melody, with highlighted lyrics and chords on the screen--you can push a button and change the key, and of course, you can sing along. Even better, you can print out the chords on the screen, and the lyrics--it is not free-ware, but it only costs 50-60 bucks(I have had mine for eight years, and still use it a lot). The thing is, it sounds a lot like a real band---

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Helen
Date: 02 May 01 - 09:15 AM

Try this really good site. I go back regularly - just to listen, and often to download. The arrangements, and the songs they have chosen, are very good.

Click here

http://www.smickandsmodoo.com/

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 01 - 09:49 AM

Helen, is that link right? I tried to go there to cross reference with the songbooks I have and didn't get there.

~S~

Subject: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's & 30's
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 02 May 01 - 10:29 AM

You may also find this link enjoyable.

Old time Victrola Music at:

http://www.besmark.com/

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: PaulBobbyBuzz
Date: 02 May 01 - 01:40 PM

Wowee wow wow wow! I knew you guys would come thru for me; what a treasure-trove of information. The comments about the residents are all right on; I've become close to many of them, and already do a number of their personal favorites. The residents of the Low-Stress(a.k.a. Alzheimer's) unit are the BEST!!!! Music is the universal language, to be sure; and it is timeless. Altho' many of them can't remember breakfast, they smile & sing along with so many of the classics; "She'll Be Comin' 'round the Mountain('yee-haw'), "When the St.s Go Marching In", and #1 favorite "You Are My Sunshine". Those of you who participate in this music ministry know that we get as much from it as they do. I've pulled some from the Reader's Digest Collections; Willa, thanks for the offer; I'll let you know. I still need to get tunes for the ones I can hear in my head but can't quite get. And, if you're interested, I could post some of the stuff I've got.(about 30-35 tunes). Susan...THANK YOU! So much input...I do work with one of the activity aides, and have tapped the EZ books. What an idea...tape recording the residents...hmmmm! You've got the wheels turning. There is a guy who's written a couple books (and audio too I think) of recordings he has made over the years of our elders. His work is a masterpiece! Thank you all for the help and the MIDI sites...God bless the musician in ALL of us...PBB

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 May 01 - 03:43 PM

AND WELCOME TO MUDCAT. Just joined? Check out the FAQ, chock full of good info you can count on.

Where you at?

Do ya have those songbooks? Do you want to borrow them?

~S~

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 01 - 04:34 AM

Hi, PBB - I think it was Willie Nelson who introduced me to the popular music of the first half of the 20th century. Take a listen to his classic "Stardust" album, along with many other Willie Nelson recordings of the "old chestnuts." Great stuff.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: MY LITTLE BIMBO (DOWN ON THE BAMBOO...)^^
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 May 01 - 02:13 AM

My Little Bimbo is in the "Digitrad". and they'll play the tune too. But, they only have one verse. Here's the other./ Almopst anyone who was around in the 20's will remember this one, I think it was the first Genuine Million copy seller.

MY LITTLE BIMBO.

Sailor Bill McCoy was a handsome sailor boy
His ship got wrecked awhile, on a Fiji Iji Isle.
He led a savage life and he hunted with a knife
He said, "I'll tell you all about it, don't tell my wife, because

(Chorus)
I've got a Bimbo down in the bamboo isles.
She's waiting there fr me, beneath a bamboo tree/
Believe me,
She's got all the other Bimbo's beat a mile,
She dances daily, gayly, she'd make a hit with Barnum Bailey
I'll build a bungalow in the Bamboo Isle,
'Cause when I go again, I'll stay awhile.
I've seen wrecks, plenty of wrecks oput on the ragin' sea.
But, by heck, you've never seen a wreck like the wqreck she made of me.
And, all she wore was a reat big Zulu smile,
My little Bimbo Down in the Bamboop Isle.

IIWilliam's boss said, "Bill, a Captain's job you'll fill
On a ship that's going North, today it's going forth."
A Captain's job is fine, but Bill said, "I'll decline,
I'll Take half pay as a sailor on that ship of mine" ..'Cause......
I've got a Bimbo Down in the Bamboo Isle.
She's waiting there for me beneath a bamboo tree,
Believe me, she's got all the other Bimbo's beat a mile.
She dances daily. gayly She plays a mean Ukelele.
I'll build a bungalow in the bamboo Isle,
"Cause when I go again, I'll stay a while
"What's that? What's a Bimbo mean? Please take my advice.
I don't know what "Bimbo" means, but I think it's something nice.
Everybody loves her, even the crockadiles,
MY LITTLE BIMBO (DOWN ON THE BAMBOO ISLE).^^

---

Click for sheet music

at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

Subject: Lyr Add: OH! BY JINGO! (OH BY GEE, YOU'RE THE...^^
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 May 01 - 03:20 AM

Continued from last "reply"

This song (My little Bimbo) was a popular song, not a folk song. Most of the people (lovely souls that they are) are "Folk Song" afficionato's, but, it is very probable that the people in a nursing home are not. (I could be wrong) Ilearned these from my Dad who was born in 1898, and my Mom (who's still alive and kickin') The following is another song that was extremel;y popular in the 20's. If you E=Mail me your adress, I'll send you a tape or CD of the very record my E mail adress is [e-mail]. or you can send me a P.M. here at the "mudcat". Here's one verse anyway. Oh, there's a line here and there that is not sung or played, instead, tap out the rhythm ,"BOOM-CHIKA-BOOM CHIKA-BOOM CHICKA-BOOM," on the side or top of your guitar, and "Say" the words, "boom-chika-boom chicka-boom chika-boom." along with it. You should get the idea when you read the lyrics. Here goes.............Oh, I forgot, the "ya....ya...yata...yata....ya....ya...ya..." is sung , "A-capella" (as indicated. ) This one is worth the effort to learn, it's a sure fire "Old timers crowd pleaser"

OH, BY JINGO

I
Out in the land of San Domingo,
Lived a girl named "Oh By Jingo"

YA.YA..YATA YATA YA..YA..Boom-chika-boom chika boom chika boom.
From the hills and from the Marshes, came the little, "Oh By Goshes"
Ya...ya...yata yata ya ya ..Boom-chika-boom chika boom chika boom.
They all spoke with a certain "Lingo"
And they all loved "Oh by Jingo"
And every night, they sang in the pale moonlight,

(chorus
"Oh by Jingo, Oh by Gosh , by Gee"
Buzz around, Buzz around, keep a-Buzzin' round,
Oh By Jingo, Gee what you do to me.
We can build a little hut
You will be my favorite nut
Well have a lot o' little "Oh By Gollies" and we'll put them in the "Follies"
Oh,By Jingo, Oh by Gosh, By Jove
Oh By Jingo, Gee won't you be my love?"
Then they all ran around singin', "Oh by Jingo"
"Gee by Gosh, by Jimminee Ringo"
"Oh by Jingo, Gee you're the one for me."

I'll also send you a tape or CD of , There'll be Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover."
(1939-1940 or so) which I KNOW they all will remember. it was a song of "Desperate Hope" during the darkest days of WWII when no one was sure whether or not Great Brittain would survive. Things were so bad that the English people were sending their children away to the US and Canada, hoping that they, at least would survive. The first time I heard this song on the radio I was 10 years old (My dad was 42). I looked over at him and he had tears in his eyes, so I, of course, cried my little heart out. Make no mistake about this. Our supplies kept the U.K. and the Soviet Union alive, and if Great Brittain had fallen, we would not have come out of the war unscathed as we did. The German people are a very resourcefull, courageous and strong people who, unfortunately, followed a leader who took them to the very brink of total destruction. And, that's what this song is all about. (I'll see if this is in the digitrad and if it isn't I'll be right back) (You will very definitely want to learn this one) "

---

Click for sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER^^
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 May 01 - 03:37 AM

The White Cliffs of Dover.

I
I'll never forget the people I met
Braving those angry skies
I remember well as the shadows fell
sThe light of hope in their eyes
And though I'm far way, I still can hear them say,
"Thumbs Up, 'Cause when the dawn comes up

(chorus)
There'll be bluebirds over The White cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow, just you wait and see
There'll be love and laughter and peace ever after
Tomorrow when the world is free.
The Shepherd will tend his sheep
The valley will bloom again
And Jimmy will go to sleep
In his own little room again
There'll be bluebirds over the White cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow just you wait and see.


You're right, this is a "soul satisfying" pastime, Donna and I have been down that road also .

Kindest regards

Jody Gibson
Newport, Rhode Island.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 May 01 - 11:08 AM

Three unforgettable songs--of the "This one of those songs that you thing you forgot, but one of those songs you cannot catagory" thanks for posting them!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: PaulBobbyBuzz
Date: 04 May 01 - 11:20 AM

Thanks guys...Joe, I agree about Willie's "Stardust" album; I pulled 4-5 off that gem. Jody...love the lyrics to My Little Bimbo; tried to hear it, but no luck. Let me 'splain...I'm running an iMac(yeah yeah I've heard it before) and Quicktime is my player. I got a broken URL link when I tried to play it; same thing happens(I think) at Melody Lane. I'm looking into other players, hope to find one soon. Off to search the sites you've offered.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 May 01 - 03:19 PM

There are other "pop" 20''s, 30's &40's songs that my dad used to sing. When I get the time, probably this evening, I'll send some more. From the middle 30's on, I remember them as "Popula songs" AND I KNOW A LOT OF SONGS.So, over the next couple of weeks I'll either scan and send the sheet music, or put together a tape (or CD) of sure fire "The old folks will love them" songs. After all, I'm now IN the (Chronological) old folks category, and I know what I'd like to hear if I were in a nursing home, which I'm not.here are a whole lot of songs that the "present generation" people know the chorus to and none of the verses. For instance, "The Bowery" "The Band Played on". etc. When I was younger, we had a longer attention span, I guess, and the verses to a lot of the old "pop" or "traditional" songs are dynamite.

If you have the time, find a printed copy of "Home on the range" with all 5 verses. There's some beautiful poetry there. Excuse me a minute while I look in the Digitrad, I'll be right back.

Jody

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 04 May 01 - 03:39 PM

There are other "pop" 20''s, 30's &40's songs that my dad used to sing. When I get the time, probably this evening, I'll send some more. From the middle 30's on, I remember them as "Popula songs" AND I KNOW A LOT OF SONGS.So, over the next couple of weeks I'll either scan and send the sheet music, or put together a tape (or CD) of sure fire "The old folks will love them" songs. After all, I'm now IN the (Chronological) old folks category, and I know what I'd like to hear if I were in a nursing home, which I'm not.here are a whole lot of songs that the "present generation" people know the chorus to and none of the verses. For instance, "The Bowery" "The Band Played on". etc. When I was younger, we had a longer attention span, I guess, and the verses to a lot of the old "pop" or "traditional" songs are dynamite.

If you have the time, find a printed copy of "Home on the range" with all 5 verses. There's some beautiful poetry there. Excuse me a minute while I look in the Digitrad, I'll be right back.

Jody

"Home on the range is in the digitrad,with all the verses. "The Bowery" is listed in the index of the Digitrad, but the song "The Bowery" isn't, all the lyrics under that index heading are of songs that refer to the Bowery, such as, "She's More to be Pitied than Censured", another sure fire hit. , I'll include "the Bowery on he tape I'm going to put together for you. Here's some background on this song.

A "Bowery" is a place where anchors are made and/or stored. The "Bower" is the big anchor that is carried in the bow of a ship. New York City's "Bowery" section was once a very popular "hang out" there were music halls, theaters, etc. And, then someone wrote a song entitled "The Bowery, citing several examples of swindlers, drunken brawls, etc. The public BELIEVED these stories to be true, people quit going to the Bowery and from that time on, it was N.Y.'s "skid row". I've got to get off the line for a moment, Donna has to use the phone.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: PaulBobbyBuzz
Date: 05 May 01 - 01:36 PM

Jody, you're so right. Most of us only know the chorus to so many of these old songs. I watch the lips of some of the residents and I see some of the verse lyrics sometimes, especially "You Are My Sunshine", but much more recognition of the choruses. I got "Home on the Range"(yeah, all 5 verses) from "The All-American Songbook" copyright 1942(cost 95c!!!) It's great for the lyrics and music, but no chords(my preferred way of learning a new tune, along with an audio recording of some type).That's why I'm looking at some of the MIDI sites, and will resort to Napster(just got White Cliffs of Dover from there). I'll post a list of the songs I now have, and if anyone's interested I can (in my rookie Cyber-way) send them along(lyrics & chords). I am in the second half of my personal century, and if I were in a nursing home right now, I'd want Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Don Henley, Beatles, etc. But that's all for another post & another time. Thanks again and "keep it in 'A' " as my jammin' buddy used to say. PBB

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Bert
Date: 06 May 01 - 04:14 PM

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Sing-a-long songs from the '20's &
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 May 01 - 03:57 AM

Hi, Jody - here's The Bowery (click). If you search for "Bowery," you'll get every single song we have that has that one word (Bowery). I searched for "never go there any more," and it came right up.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD Verses: The Bowery ^^
From: CRANKY YANKEE
Date: 08 May 01 - 12:43 AM

hI JOE OFFER Her're two more verses to the Bowery, there is another, but I don't sing it because the phrase"New Coon in Town" is in it, yeah, I know, take into consideration when it was written and "The riggs of the time". But I don't like it anyway, Here're the other two.

III
I went into an auction store
I'd never seen any thieves before
First they sold me a pair of socks
Then they asked, "How much for the box"?
Someone said,"two dollars," I said "Three".
He emptied the box and gave it to me
"I sold you the box, not the sox", said he
And I'll never go there anymore.

IV
Then I went into a barber shop,
He talked so much I thought he'd never stop
I said, "Cut it short", he misunderstood
cut my hair short as he possibly could
Shaved me with a razor that scratched like a pin
Took off my wiskers and most of my chin
That was the worst scrape I've ever been in
And I'll never go there anymore.


I'd send you the music if I knew how to send scanned images. It says, "words by Chas. Hoyt, music by Percy Gaunt" Hell, Joe, I don't even know how to do the "Click here" thing, or even to get the printer to print what's on the screen accurately. But, nevertheless, I really like this machine mostly because I get to shoot the shit with you lot,. My Dad told me about how the Bowery went to the dogs because of this song. Maybe I'll learn how to do the things you do as I gop along, I sure hope so./ I found "Gunga Din " Just by typing "Gunga Din" in the "Keyword" box and clicking "Go".

Why don't they write these programs in everyday English?

regards, Jody.^^

Subject: ADD Verses: The Bowery ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 May 01 - 03:11 AM

Here's the whole thing, Jody. We usually try to post the whole song when verses are added - that way, they end up in the correct order. I added the "Coon" verse - we try to post the complete, original, unsanitized versions of songs. Thanks.
-Joe Offer-

---

THE BOWERY
(words Charles H. Hoyt, Music Percy Gaunt)

Oh! The night that I struck New York
I went out for a quiet walk
Folks who are "on to" the city say
Better by far that I took Broadway
But I was out to enjoy the sights
There was the Bow'ry ablaze with lights
I had one of the devil's own nights
I'll never go there any more.

cho: The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry
They say such things and they do strange things,
On the Bow'ry! The Bow'ry!
I'll never go there any more.

I had walked but a block or two,
When up came a fellow and me he knew;
Then a policeman came walking by
Chased him away and I asked him, "Why?"
"Wasn't he pulling your leg?" said he,
Said I, "He never laid hands on me!"
"Get off the Bow'ry, you Yep (fool)!" said he
I'll never go there any more.

I went into an auction store,
I never saw any thieves before;
First he sold me a pair of socks
Then said he, "How much for the box"?
Someone said,"two dollars," I said "Three."
He emptied the box and gave it to me,
"I sold you the box, not the socks," said he,
I'll never go there any more.

I went into a concert hall,
I didn't have a good time at all;
Just the minute that I sat down
Girls began singing "New Coon in Town,"
I got up mad and spoke out free,
"Somebody put that man out," said she;
A man called a bouncer attended to me,
I'll never go there anymore.

I went into a barber shop,
He talked till I thought he would never stop
I said, "Cut it short," he misunderstood
Clipped down my hair just as close as he could;
He shaved with a razor that scratched like a pin,
Took off my whiskers and most of my chin;
That was the worst scrape I ever got in
I'll never go there any more.

I struck a place that they called a "dive,"
I was in luck to get out alive
When the policeman heard my woes,
Saw my black eyes and my battered nose.
"You've been held up!" said the "copper" fly!
"No, sir! But I've been knocked down!" said I;
Then he laughed, tho' I couldn't see why!
I'll never go there any more.


note: From a musical show "A Trip to Chinatown," 1892
Transcribed from the original sheet music, reproduced in "Favorite Songs of the Nineties" (Dover Publications, 1973)

filename[ BOWERY
play.exeÿBOWERY
RG JG JRO
OCT98

---

From The Wordsworth Dictionary of Phrase and Fable:

The Bowery. (Dutch bouwerij, a farm) A densely populated cosmopolitan street in New York City which runs through the former farm or bouwerij, of Governor Peter Stuyvesant (1592-1672). Noted for its many cheap lodging houses, saloons, and shops, it was once the haunt of the notorious ruffians called the "Bowery Boys."

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:36 AM

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,DrWord
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:40 AM

^oops
One tune that I love to sing for/with the older folk, I like to introduce by asking everyone--nursing home staff and all--to join in as soon as they recognize the song. This one, with a beautiful lyric and melody, goes unrecongnized until the chorus, and is then universally recognized. It's "Put on your old grey bonnet" which I *think* is from about 1908.
Love the thread.
Dennis

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 10:29 PM

"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" is another one.
"Wait 'Til The Sun Shines Nellie" earlier but most know the chorus.
"I Don't Want to Play In Your Yard" also earlier but popular.
This is a great thread. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Genie
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 03:49 AM

Here are some very popular songs that were written in the 1920s or 1930s and have survived very well:

Here are some songs that were written in the '20s/'30s which have "survived" over the decades:

5'2 (Has Anybody Seen My Gal?)
Ain't Misbehavin'
Ain't She Sweet?
All Of Me
Always
Any Time
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
As Time Goes By
Baby Face
Basin Street Blues (may be older)
Beer Barrel Polka
Blue Hawaii
Blue Moon
Blue Skies
Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?
Button Up Your Overcoat
Bye-bye, Blackbird
Bye-bye, Blues
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Georgia
Harbor Lights
Have You Ever Been Lonely?
Heart And Soul
Heart Of My Heart
I'll Get By
I'm Lookin' Over A Four-Leaf Clover
I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
If You Knew Susie
It Ain't Necessarily So
It Had To Be You
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
It's Only a Paper Moon
Jeepers, Creepers!
Just Because
Lazy Bones
Lovesick Blues
Makin' Whoopee
Marie
Me And My Shadow
My Blue Heaven
My Buddy
My Funny Valentine
My Happiness
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Over The Rainbow
Paper Doll
Red Sails In The Sunset
San Antonio Rose
Second-hand Rose
September In The Rain
September Song
Shanty In Old Shanty Town
Side By Side
Someone To Watch Over Me
Sonny Boy
Stardust
Stormy Weather
Summertime
Swanee
Tea For Two
The Glory Of Love
Them There Eyes
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Three Little Fishes
Up A Lazy River

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Genie
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 03:29 AM

When The Red, Red Robin Goes Bob-bob-bobbin' Along.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From:
Date: 22 Oct 02 - 11:38 PM

I am wanting to know who wrote TEA FOR TWO?

Joan

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Oct 02 - 11:55 PM

Hi, Joan - music for "Tea for Two" was by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Irving Caesar, published 1924.
-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

Subject: RE: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Genie
Date: 23 Oct 02 - 12:08 AM

and it's from the Broadway musical "No, No, Nannette."

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,Frankham
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 03:20 PM

Hi Bobby,

We do a lot of senior assisted living programs and nursing homes. The aforementioned song titles are mostly good but bear this in mind please. Long jazz ballads are best avoided such as My Funny Valentine. Older people have a propensity for going to sleep. Keep it up beat. They like young energy. Depending on the facility or home, they probably like religious type music such as spirituals, gospel tunes and the like unless they are Jewish. Songs in Yiddish, Hebrew, uptempo Israeli songs are in order and stay away from Christian oriented material.

Light, jazzy, bouncy tunes work best and a few plaintive melodies such as "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and Irving Berlin's "Always" or "Beautiful Ohio" ....songs that have a melodic accessibility work.

If you really want their attention, you might do some homework and tell them about the backgrounds of the songs you choose. Some have fascinating histories and life stories behind the songwriters such as Irving Berlin etc. Also, the stories behind the "stars" who sang these songs such as Jolson, Cantor, Kate Smith, Rudy Vallee and others who were on the radio at that time.

Don't sing (as a general rule) esoteric material that requires too many footnotes such as Child Ballads or chain gang songs. And avoid the singer-songwriter styled songs that you hear nowadays. Generally, a lead balloon. Early rock and roll works such as early Elvis, Buddy Holly ,Chuck Berry. Avoid "rap" and "hip hop", heavy metal or any music that's angry entirely. The exception might be a labor song depending on where you play. If you can supply useful information about the latter, it might work occasionally. Many people remember the Depression and unions. It opens up a lot of memories.

That's the key. Open the memory doors.

I would stay away from songs with racist overtones.

Frank




It's a very rewarding work and if you can get them on their feet dancing, you'll be called back.

Frank

Subject: RE:Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Genie
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 03:41 PM

Just so you folks who are seriously looking for songs to play (or not play) in nursing homes, my "Songs NOT to sing in nursing homes" thread" was intended as a JOKE!

Please don't think that I don't sing "Don't Fence Me In" (which is, BTW, not from the 20s or 30s) at nursing homes. I do it all the time!

Genie

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 05:01 PM

Genie,

"Don't Fence Me In" was written by Cole Porter in 1935 for a movie soundtrack, but it was not used, and "sat on the shelf" at Harms Music for ten years before it was recorded and made popular by Roy Rogers--The lyrics were reworked from another song of the same name, written by one Bob Fletcher, a film studio asked Porter to re-work it, and Fletcher assigned him the rights to the lyrics, which he tighted up considerably and accompanied with a new melody--When the song was officially published, Fletcher's name inadvertantly was left off, but Porter immediately had the error corrected--

Claims that Porter did not write the song occasionally come up, but Porter always shared the credit for the lyrics with Fletcher--I have a copy of Fletcher's original lyrics though, and Porter's editing changed the feel considerably--


Probably more than you ever needed or wanted to know;-)

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Helen
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 06:22 PM

Listen to the David Byrne (of Talking Heads) version of Don't Fence Me In, for an inspirational mambo twist to an old song.

Also, I only just read WYSIWYG's note that the

      Smick and Smodoo

http://www.smickandsmodoo.com/

link may not have been working. (I'm only a couple of years late, give me a break!) I just checked it and it is still the same. It really is one of my favourite midi sites, ranking equal first with Lesley Nelson's Contemplator site.

Helen

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Genie
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 10:44 PM

M.Ted, when I said the song was not from the 30s, I was referring to when the public became aware of it and embraced it.

There are several previous threads that discuss Fletcher's contribution.

Click here

and here

and here

Some versions of the story say that Porter wanted to share authorship credit all along, but his publishers would not allow it -- until Fletcher got legal help.

BTW, Frankham, "My Funny Valentine," "It Had To Be You," "Harbor Lights," "Somewhere, My Love," "Edelweiss," and other slow ballads are among the songs I find most requested at both retirement and nursing homes. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (popular in the 20s but introduced to the public earlier) has gotta be in the top 5 most requested songs for this group, and they like it slow. I do include a lot of upbeat songs, but, I get more complaints about not slowing songs down enough for these folks than I ever do about singing too many slow songs or playing too slowly.

But getting folks to move is great.

Genie

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 04 Dec 02 - 11:16 PM

One thing to consider is that most people in nursing homes these days have no firsthand recollections of songs of the 20s. They may know and enjoy them, as any of us might enjoy songs written before we wer born.But they were most likely born in the twenties. The songs of their youth would be songs of the forties and even fifties. So don't think they enjoy songs from the 20s more than later songs. I recently played at home for "Senior Living" and got the best response for "Fever" which was recorded by Peggy Lee in the 50s.

Subject: Lyr Add: IF YOU KNEW SUSIE (LIKE I KNOW SUSIE)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 01:00 AM

Copied from http://persweb.direct.ca/fstringe/oz/i5888.html

IF YOU KNEW SUSIE (LIKE I KNOW SUSIE)
Words & music by B. G. De Sylva, 1925.

I have got a sweetie known as Susie.
In the words of Shakespeare, she's a "wow."
Though all of you may know her, too,
I'd like to shout right now:

If you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh! Oh! Oh! What a girl!
There's none so classy
As this fair lassie.
Oh! Oh! Holy Moses, what a chassis!
[We went riding. She didn't balk.
Back from Yonkers, I'm the one that had to walk.]*
If you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh! Oh! what a girl!

Susie has a perfect reputation.
No one ever saw her on a spree.
Nobody knows where Susie goes.
Nobody knows but me.

If you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh! Oh! Oh! What a girl!
She wears long tresses
And nice tight dresses.
Oh! Oh! What a future she possesses!
[Out in public, how she can yawn!
In a parlor, you would think the war was on.]*
If you knew Susie like I know Susie,
Oh! Oh! What a girl!

[*VARIANTS:
I had a mustache as cute as a pup,
Susie kissed me and she burned the darn thing up.

Out in public, she's meek and mild,
But in the parlor, mother dear, come save your child!

[The Virtual Gramophone has a recording by The Happiness Boys (Billy Jones & Ernest Hare) made in 1925. The recording starts off with some lame patter, but when they start singing, they really cook! They get nearly orgasmic on the "Oh! Oh! Oh!" parts.]

Subject: Lyr Add: IF YOU WERE THE ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 08:52 AM

IF YOU WERE THE ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD (AND I WERE THE ONLY BOY)
Words, Clifford Grey. Music, Nat D. Ayer. 1916.

VERSE: Sometimes when I feel bad and things look blue,
I wish a pal I had, say, one like you.
Someone within my heart to build a throne,
Someone who'd never part to call my own.
[I'll cry a ..., dear, fond and true.
I'll sigh a ... to reach, dear, just made for me and you.]*

CHORUS: If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy,
Nothing else would matter in the world today.
We could go on loving in the same old way.
A Garden of Eden just made for two, with nothing to mar our joy--
I would say such wonderful things to you.
There would be such wonderful things to do,
If you were the only girl in the world and I were the only boy.

[VERSE 2: No one I'd ever care for, dear, but you.
No one I'd fancy there for [to?] love me too.
Your eyes can set me dreaming all night long.
Your eyes have set me scheming, right or wrong.]**

[The Virtual Gramophone has a recording by Henry Burr from 1917. *I found these lines only in the Burr version.

[This First World War site has a duet version sung by Violet Lorraine and George Robey in 1916. (The performance is overwrought, in my opinion.) **I found these lines only in the Lorraine/Robey version.]

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 11:25 AM

Thanks for the lyrics, Jim--they go into the permanent collection--

A bit late to comment, perhaps, but Nathan's thinking is wrong in a couple of respects--first, there are many, many, folks in nursing homes who were teenagers and adults for some portion of the twenties, second, that people who were born in the twenties have direct "firsthand" memories of those songs, just the way that those of us born in the 50's have direct "firsthand" memories of Elvis, Frankie Laine, The Weavers, etc--and, third, that many songs introduced in the 20's continued to be popular for many years after, in recordings, in movies, on television, in clubs, etc. and were not even considered to be "oldies" or nostalgia--in fact, many of the songs that were popular standards in the 50's had been written in the 20's and 30's--

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 01:27 PM

You're right, M.Ted. I think popular songs had a longer "shelf life" in the past than they do today.

There was a lot more homemade music in the past. If people liked a song, they would buy the sheet music and learn to play it, usually on the piano. Once you've put that much energy into learning a song, you don't abandon it as quickly as people abandon songs today, in favor of something newer.

Arrangements were simpler, and weren't considered an integral part of the song. (Nowadays, LAYLA wouldn't be considered the same song without the guitar riff, unless Eric Clapton rearranged it himself.) It was easier for lots of musicians to "cover" a song—although they probably didn't use the word "cover" because there was less feeling that a song belonged to the person who first recorded it. In the 50s, people like Dinah Shore or Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme made their careers by covering other people's songs—if it's even appropriate to call them "other people's songs."

Sometimes an old Broadway show would be revived, causing an old song to revive in popularity. IF YOU KNEW SUSIE, for example, became Eddie Cantor's theme song, and he would sing at least a few lines of it, rather like "bumper music" every time he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the 50s and maybe 60s.

Somewhere along the line, though, it became fashionable to sing only the chorus, not the verse, and so a lot of old popular songs had their verses forgotten. That's why I think it's fun to hear these old recordings with the verses intact.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: M.Ted
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 02:03 PM

Exactly so, Jim--I love the verses. I also miss the days when songs were written for people to play and sing, rather than as vehicles for recording artists--Generally, if a song was popular, several different artists would record it. In fact, in beginning, recordings were not cross compatible,so if you wanted a recording of a particular song, you had to buy one made by an artist who recorded for your phonograph company.

As I understand it, the trend toward singing the choruses only came about on radio variety shows--in order to fit more material into the shows, they simply shortened the songs--Some of those old shows were only five or ten minutes long, and they had to cut things down a lot to allow for opening and closing theme, commercials and a little chatter-I have a couple airchecks from old country radio shows, and the songs were often only a minute and a half or so long--

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-a-long songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:03 PM

well - granted that I grew up in a town that was several decades behind a lot of the world - but there were a lot of the 2o's and 30's songs that were still being played and sung at our community sing-alongs in the 60's. yup - we still had weekly band concerts in the summer - a good portion of the town's population would show up - frequently with picnic suppers - and sing. Likewise both WWI and WWII songs -

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY BABY (Kahn/Jackson/Van Alstyne)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 04 - 11:11 PM

Lyrics from Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection:

PRETTY BABY
Words, Gus Kahn. Music, Tony Jackson and Egbert Van Alstyne. 1916.

1. You ask me why I'm always teasing you.
You hate to have me call you pretty baby.
I really thought that I was pleasing you,
For you're just a baby to me.
Your cunning little dimples and your baby stare,
Your baby talk and baby walk and curly hair,
Your baby smile makes life worthwhile.
You're just as sweet as you can be.

CHORUS: Ev'rybody loves a baby; that's why I'm in love with you,
Pretty baby, pretty baby;
And I'd like to be your sister, brother, dad and mother too,
Pretty baby, pretty baby.
Won't you come and let me rock you in my cradle of love,
And we'll cuddle all the time.
Oh! I want a lovin' baby and it might as well be you,
Pretty baby of mine.

2. Your mother says you were the cutest kid.
No wonder, dearie, that I'm wild about you.
And all the cunning things you said and did,
Why, I love to fondly recall.
And just like Peter Pan, it seems you'll always be
The same sweet, cunning, little baby dear to me.
And that is why I'm sure that I
Will always love you best of all. CHORUS

[The Virtual Gramophone has 2 recordings: one by Harry Macdonough and the Orpheus Quartet; and another by Henry Burr; both from 1916.]

Subject: Lyr Add: THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 May 04 - 11:47 PM

[Lyrics from The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Words by Dorothy Terriss. Music by Julian Robledo. Revised by Frank E. Barry. 1922.

[CHIME SOUNDS]
[A] It's three o'clock in the morning;
We've danced the whole night through.
And daylight soon will be dawning;
Just one more waltz with you.
That melody so entrancing
Seems to be made for us two.
I could just keep right on dancing,
Forever, dear, with you.

[B] [CHIME SOUNDS]
There goes the three o'clock chime,
Chiming, rhyming.
My heart keeps beating in time.
[CHIME SOUNDS]
Sounds like an old sweet love tune.
Say that there soon will be a honeymoon.

[REPEAT A.]
[CHIME SOUNDS]

[The Virtual Gramophone has 2 recordings: one by Billy Jones, no date; and one by Lewis James, 1922.]

Subject: Lyr Add: BE MY LITTLE BABY BUMBLE BEE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 16 May 04 - 09:09 PM

The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music

BE MY LITTLE BABY BUMBLE BEE
Words, Stanley Murphy. Music, Henry I. Marshall. 1912.

1. Queenie Bee lived o'er the lea and she was a bunny little honey bee
Billy Bumble used to mumble 'round the rosemary
Where she would meet him, greet him, and then treat him to some honey sprees.
Then start a-buzzin' in a dozen diff'rent lovin' keys:

CHORUS: Be my little baby bumblebee,
(Buzz around, buzz around, keep a-buzzin' 'round.)
Bring home all the honey, love, to me.
(Little bee, little bee, little bee.)
Let me spend the happy hours
Roving with you 'mongst the flow'rs,
And when we got where no one else can see,
(Cuddle up, cuddle up, cuddle up.)
Be my little baby bumblebee.
(Buzz around, buzz around, keep a-buzzin' 'round.)
We'll be just has happy as can be.
(You and me, you and me, you and me.)
Honey, keep a-buzzin', please.
I've got a dozen cousin bees,
But I want you to be my baby bumblebee.

2. Willie, he flew o'er the lea to call on her mama and her papa bee.
Papa bee said "Goodness me!" and mama said, "We'll see
If you can pay your way, for ev'ry day the price of honey grows dear!"
But little Queenie said: "That for Sweeney," and whispered in his ear: CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: FOR ME AND MY GAL (Leslie/Goetz/Meyer)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 08:02 PM

From the The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

FOR ME AND MY GAL
Words, Edgar Leslie and E. Ray Goetz. Music, George W. Meyer. 1917.

1. What a beautiful day
For a wedding in May!
See the people all stare
At the lovable pair,
She's a vision of joy.
He's the luckiest boy
In his wedding array.
Hear him smilingly say:

CHORUS: The bells are ringing
For me and my gal.
The birds are singing
For me and my gal.
Ev'rybody's been knowing
To a wedding they're going,
And for weeks they're been sewing,
Ev'ry Susie and Sal.
They're congregating
For me and my gal.
The Parson's waiting
For me and my gal;
And sometime, I'm goin' to build a little home for two,
For three or four, or more, in Loveland for me and my gal.

2. See the relatives there,
Looking over the pair.
They can tell at a glance,
It's a loving romance.
It's a wonderful sight
As the fam'lies unite.
Gee! it makes the boy proud
As he says to the crowd: CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER, LOVEY MINE
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 08:21 PM

From the The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER, LOVEY MINE
Words, O. A. Harbach. Music, Karl Hoschna. 1908.

1. On the summer shore,
Where the breakers roar,
Lovers sat on the glist'ning sand;
And they talked of love,
While the moon above
And the stars seemed to understand.
Then she grew more cold,
And he grew more bold,
Till she tho't that they had better go;
But altho' he heard,
He not even stirred;
Only murmured in tones soft and low:

CHORUS: Cuddle up a little closer, Lovey mine.
Cuddle up and be my little clinging vine.
Like to feel your cheek so rosy.
Like to make you comfy, cozy,
'Cause I love from head to toesie,
Lovey mine.

2. Then she deigned to rest
On his manly chest
Her dear head with its flowing curls;
And she said, "I'd stay
On this lap for aye.
How I envy the Capland girls!
For Miss Esquimaux,
'Mid the ice and snow,
Has no steam-heat when he comes to call;
Not a single glim,
So it's up to him
To whisper in summer or fall:" CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: I'M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 08:42 PM

Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection:

I'M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES
Jaan Kenbrovin and John William Kellette. 1919.

1. I'm dreaming dreams.
I'm scheming schemes.
I'm building castles high.
They're born anew.
Their days are few,
Just like a sweet butterfly;
And as the daylight is dawning,
They come again in the morning.

CHORUS: I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high,
Nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding.
I've looked ev'rywhere.
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.

2. When shadows creep,
When I'm asleep,
To lands of hope I stray;
Then at daybreak,
When I awake,
My bluebird flutters away.
Happiness, you seem so near me!
Happiness, come forth and cheer me! CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL (Brown/Ayer)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:04 PM

From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL
Words, Seymour Brown. Music, Nat D. Ayer. 1911.

1. Honey dear,
Want you near.
Just turn out the light and then come over here.
Nestle close up to my side.
My heart's afire
With love's desire.
In my arms, rest complete.
I never thought that life could ever be so sweet,
Till I met you, some time ago;
But now you know I love you so.

CHORUS: Oh! you beautiful doll,
You great, big beautiful doll!
Let me put my arms about you.
I could never live without you.
Oh! you beautiful doll,
You great, big beautiful doll!
If you ever leave me, how my heart will ache!
I want to hug you but I fear you'd break.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, you beautiful doll!

2. Precious prize,
Close your eyes.
Now we're goin' to visit Lovers' Paradise.
Press your lips again to mine,
For love is king
Of ev'rything.
Squeeze me, dear! I don't care!
Hug me just as if you were a grizzly bear.
This is how I'll go through life:
No care or strife when you're my wife. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:13 PM

These are old songs? Seems like they're mostly my favorites.

The was some discussion early on in the thread about troubles with connecting to sites to hear music. Being cursed with a slow POTS line that usually disconnects me half way through the download when I try to play something direct from a link, I often just download and play later.

Apologies if I'm repeating, but I don't think anyone mentioned that if you right click most links, you can select "save target as" and then go about your business while the file downloads in the background. The download to disk seems often to be much more reliable and more likely to complete than the "piecemeal - bursts - fits - and - starts" download I get if I try to just listen on the link.

Some sites do block(?) this sort of download (i.e sometimes it doesn't work), but it often does work. (And it often lets you download a "page" or "file" from sites that attempt to block saving or copying when the page is open. You can often "save target" when you can't easily save the page while you're looking at it or listening to it.)

John

Subject: Lyr Add: PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, HONEY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:25 PM

From Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection:

PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME, HONEY
Words, Junie McCree. Music, Albert Von Tilzer. 1910.

1. Night time am a-fallin'. Ev'rything is still;
And the moon am a-shinin' from above.
Cupid am a-callin' ev'ry Jack and Jill.
It's just about the time for making love.
Someone is awaiting all alone for me.
No more hesitating; I must go and see.
How de do, dear. It's with you, dear,
That I love to be.

CHORUS: Put your arms around me, Honey. Hold me tight.
Huddle up and cuddle up with all your might.
Oh, babe, won't you roll dem eyes,
Eyes that I just idolize?
When they look at me, My heart begins to float;
Then it starts a-rockin' like a motorboat.
Oh! Oh! I never knew
Any girl like you.

2. Music am a-playin' such a "lovin' glide"
That my feet keep a-moving to and fro;
And with you a-swayin', I'll be satisfied
To dance until we hear the roosters crow.
I love seven-'leven. I love chicken, too.
Nearest thing to heaven is to be with you;
For I'm spoony, moony, loony, but my love is true.

Subject: Lyr Add: ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY WITH A DIXIE MELODY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 09:48 PM

From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY WITH A DIXIE MELODY
Words, Sam Lewis and Joe Young. Music, Jean Schwartz. 1918.

1. Mammy mine,
Your little rollin' stone that rolled away,
Strolled away,
Mammy mine,
Your rollin' stone is rollin' home today,
There to stay,
Just to see your smilin' face,
Smile a welcome sign.
When I'm in your fond embrace,
Listen, Mammy mine:

CHORUS: Rock-a-bye your baby with a Dixie melody.
When you croon, croon a tune from the heart of Dixie.
Just hang my cradle, Mammy mine,
Right on that Mason Dixon Line,
And swing it from Virginia,
To Tennessee with all the love that's in ya.
"Weep No More My Lady," sing that song again for me;
And "Old Black Joe" just as though you had me on your knee.
A million baby kisses I'll deliver,
The minute that you sing "The Swanee River."
Rock-a-bye your rock-a-bye-baby with a Dixie melody.

2. Any time
I hear a mammy sing her babe to sleep,
Slumber deep,
That's the time
The shadows 'round my heart begin to creep
And I weep.
Wonder why I went away.
What a fool I've been!
Take me back to yesterday
In your arms again. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU (I DIDN'T WANT TO...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 10:49 PM

From Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection:

YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU (I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT)
Words, Joe McCarthy. Music, James V. Monaco. 1913.

1. I've been worried all day long.
Don't know if I'm right or wrong.
I can't help just what I say.
Your love makes me speak this way.
Why, oh why, should I feel blue?
Once I used to laugh at you;
But now I'm crying.
No use denying:
But no one else but you will do.

CHORUS: You made me love you.
I didn't want to do it.
I didn't want to do it.
You made me want you,
And all the time you knew it.
I guess you always knew it.
You made me happy sometimes;
You made me glad;
But there were times, dear,
You made me feel so bad.
You made me sigh, for
I didn't want to tell you.
I didn't want to tell you.
I want some love that's true,
Yes, I do,
'Deed I do,
You know I do.
Give me, give me what I cry for.
You know you got the brand of kisses that I'd die for.
You know you made me love you.

2. I had pictured in my mind
Someday I would surely find
Someone handsome, someone true;
But I never thought of you.
Now my dream of love is o'er.
I want you and nothing more.
Come on, enfold me;
Come on and hold me
Just like you did before. CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: I WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 May 04 - 11:14 PM

From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

I WONDER WHO'S KISSING HER NOW
Words, Will M. Hough and Frank R. Adams. Music, Joseph E. Howard. 1909.

1. You have loved lots of girls in the sweet long ago,
And each one has meant Heaven to you.
You have vowed your affection to each one in turn,
And have sworn to them all you'd be true.
You have kissed 'neath the moon while the world seemed in tune
Then you've left her to hunt a new game.
Does it ever occur to you later, my boy,
That she's probably doing the same?

CHORUS: I wonder who's kissing her now,
Wonder who's teaching her how,
Wonder who's looking into her eyes,
Breathing sighs, telling lies;
I wonder who's buying the wine
For lips that I used to call mine;
Wonder if she ever tells him of me;
I wonder who's kissing her now.

2. If you want to feel wretched and lonely and blue,
Just imagine the girl you love best
In the arms of some fellow who's stealing a kiss
From the lips that you once fondly pressed.
But the world moves apace and the loves of today
Flit away with a smile and a tear,
So you never can tell who is kissing her now,
Or just whom you'll be kissing next year. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 04:00 AM

MMario, have you secured tunes for the above?

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: MMario
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 08:31 AM

john - any of the ones with links to the sheet music we are okay on. any of the others - feel free!

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: OtherDave
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 09:22 AM

Browsing this thread, I think of songs my mother (now 86) used to sing. She was fond of nonsense or novelty songs -- the Mairsie Doats kind of thing, "A Little Dutch Girl in Cheboygan," and "The Hut Sut Song." In searching for the lyrics to that last, I came across http://www.rienzihills.com/SING/Index.html, the "Put Another Nickel In" site, which seems to have lyrics and midis for hundreds of old-time songs.

You might also look for vinyl albums recorded by Mitch Miller and his chorus during the "Sing Along with Mitch" era. Miller, a Columbia Records exec, had a television program in the 60s during which he'd lead a chorus, encouraging viewers to join in, with lyrics streaming along on the screen ("just follow the bouncing ball"). This was a hugely popular show and many retirement-home folks will recall the songs readily.

(Footnote: one site I consulted said that one member of Mitch's chorus was Bob McGrath, who went on to greater fame as Bob on Sesame Street.)

My mother, who was a nurse in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, also used to sing a number of military songs, some standards and some specific to her time and place. Example of the latter:

(tune: The Old Grey Mare)
I don't want to ride with the cavalry
March with the infantry
Shoot with the artillery
I don't want to fly over Germany
I'm in the King's nigh-vee [navy]

Of course, she was also found of a song about the death of Anne Boleyn, a kind of black-comic thing ("...she walks the bloody corridor / and never makes a sound / wi' 'er 'ead tooked underneath her arm...")

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Snuffy
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 09:52 AM

Dave,

I heard that song about 1960 in Llandudno. There was some kind of
group having an open-air kid's religious service on the beach, and they sang:

I don't want to ride with the cavalry
March with the infantry
Shoot with the artillery
I don't want to fly over Germany
I'just want to serve the Lord

Subject: Lyr Add: BABY FACE; BYE BYE BLACK BIRD; etc.
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 05 Oct 04 - 11:10 AM

Here's a further selection from the 20's and 30's. Pardon me if I've duplicated anything from above. I'll add the lyrics to NWC files at a later stage, hence the breaks into syllables.

Regards, John

BABY FACE
Words and Music by Davis & Akst – 1926

Verse:
Ros -y cheeks and turn'd up nose and curl -y hair
I'm rav -ing 'bout my ba -by now
Pret -ty lit -tle dim -ples here and dim -ples there
Don't want to live with -out her I love her good -ness knows
I wrote a song a -bout her And here's the way it goes: 

Chorus:
Ba -by Face You've got the cut -est lit -tle Ba -by Face
There's not an -oth -er one could Take your place. Ba -by Face
My poor heart is jump -in; You sure have start -ed some -thin'
Ba -by Face; I'm up in heav -en when I'm In your fond em -brace,
I did -n't need a shove 'Cause I just fell in love
With your pret -ty Ba -by Face.

BYE BYE BLACK BIRD
Music by R. Henderson, Words by M. Dixon – 1926

Verse:
Black -bird Black -bird sing -ing the blues all day
Right -out side of my door
Black -bird Black -bird Why do you sit and say
"There's no sun -shine in store"
All thru the win -ter you hung a -round
Now I be -gin to feel home -ward bound
Black -bird Black -bird got -ta be on my way
Where there's sun -shine ga -lore 

Chorus:
Pack up all my care and woe here I go sing -ing low
Bye Bye Black -bird
Where some -bod -y waits for me sug -ar's sweet so is she
Bye Bye Black -bird
No one here can love and un -der stand me
Oh what hard luck stor -ies they all hand me
Make my bed and light the light I'll ar -rive late to -night
Black -bird Bye Bye

Breezin' Along With The Breeze
Words & Music by Haven Gillespie, Seymour Simons & Richard A. Whiting
- 1926
-
Verse:
I have been a rov -er Since I was a child
No one to love or care for me
Knock'd a -round all o -ver Kind -a grew up wild
My home's where -ev -er I may be 

Chorus:
I'm just breez -in' a -long with the breeze,
Trail -in' the rails, roam -in' the seas,
Like the bird -ies that sing in the trees,
Pleas -in' to live, liv -in' to please,
The sky is the on -ly roof I have o -ver my head
And when I'm wea -ry Moth -er Na -ture makes me a bed,
I'm just go -in' a -long as I please,
Breez -in' a -long with the breeze. breeze.

California Here I Come
Words and Music by Al Jolson, Bud De Sylva and Joseph Meyer - Copyright 1924

Verse:
When the win -try winds are blow -ing,
And the snow is start -ing in to fall,
Then my eyes turn west -ward, know -ing
That's the place I love the best of all.
Cal -i -for -nia, I've been blue,
Since I've been a -way from you,
I can't wait 'til I get go -ing, e -ven now
I'm start -ing in to call Oh, 

Chorus:
Cal -i -for -nia, here I come
Right back where I start -ed from
Where bow -ers of flow -ers bloom in the sun
Each morn -ing, at dawn -ing, Bird -ies sing an' ev -'ry -thing.
A sun -kist miss said, "Don't be late"
That's why I can hard -ly wait
O -pen up that Gold -en Gate
Cal -i -for -nia, here I come.

Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Words by Gus Kahn, Music by W. Schwandt and F. Andree – 1931

Verse:
We meet at eve -ning time, 'Tis sweet at eve -ning time,
To know I'll spend an hour or two, Just with you.
Then when the hour grows late; I love to hes -i -tate__
The mo -ments seem so fleet -ing, While I am here re -peat -ing. 

Chorus:
Stars shin -ing bright a -bove you, Night breez -es seem to whis -per, "I
love you,"
Birds sing -ing in the syc -a -more tree, "Dream a lit -tle dream of Me."
Say "night -ie -night" and kiss me, Just hold me tight and tell me you'll
miss me;
While I'm a -lone and blue as can be, Dream a lit -tle dream of me,
Stars fad -ing, but I lin -ger on, dear, Still crav -ing your kiss;
I'm long -ing to lin -ger till dawn, dear, Just say -ing this:
Sweet dreams till sun -beams find you, Sweet dreams that leave all wor -ries
be -hind you,
But in your dreams what -ev -er they be, Dream a lit -tle dream of me.

FASCINATION
Words by D. Manning, Music by F. D. Marchetti – 1932

It was fas -ci -na -tion, my dear,
I was in a par -a -dise when you were near,
I was all a -glow More than you coud know;
It was just a dream, Now I see things more clear -ly,
It was fas -ci -na -tion, that's true,
There I was en -tranced by the star -light and you,
Then you turned a -way, love, and oh, when you left me,
Fas -ci -na -tion van -ished too.

Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue
Words by Sam Lewis and Joe Young, Music by Ray Henderson – 1925

Verse:
I just saw a ma -ni -ac, ma -in -ic, ma -in -ic,
Wild, and tear -ing his hair,
Jump -ing like a jump -in' jack, jump -in' jack, jump -in' jack,
Child, you should have been there,
Laughed so loud I thought that I would cave in,
When I heard that sil -ly, daf -fy -dil -ly rav -in':

Chorus:
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue, But oh, what those five foot could do,
Has an -y -bod -y seen my girl?
Turned up nose, turned down hose, Nev -er had no -oth -er beaus,
Has an -y -bod -y seen my girl?
Now if you run in -to a five foot two, cov -ered with fur,
Dia -mind rings and all those things Bet -cha' life it is -n't her,
But could she love, could she woo? Could she, could she, could she coo?
Has an -y -bod -y seen my girl?

Honeysuckle Rose
Words by Andy Razaf, Music by Thomas ("Fats") Waller – 1929

Ev -'ry hon -ey bee fills with jeal -ous -y when they see you out with me,
I don't blame them, good -ness knows, Hon -ey Suck -le Rose.
When you're pass -in' by flow -ers droop and sigh, and I know the rea -son
why.
You're much sweet -er, good -ness knows, Hon -ey Suck -le Rose.
Don't buy sug -ar, you just have to touch my cup.
You're my sug -ar, it's sweet when you stir it up.
When I'm tak -in' sips from your tas -ty lips, seems the hon -ey fair -ly
drips.
You're con -fec -tion, good -ness knows, Hon -ey Suck -le Rose.

I Want A Girl
Words by William Dillon, Music by Harry Von Tilzer – 1911

Verse:
When I was a boy my moth -er oft -en said to me,
Get mar -ried boy and see, how hap -py you will be,
I have looked all o -ver, but no girl -ie can I find,
Who seems to be just like the lit -tle girl, I have in mind,
I will have to look a -round un -til the right one I have found.  

Chorus:
I want a girl, just like the girl
That mar -ried dear old Dad,
She was a pearl and the on -ly girl
That Dad -dy ev -er had,
A good old fash -ioned girl with heart so true,
One who loves no -bod -y else but you,
I want a girl just like the girl
That mar -ried dear old Dad.

I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time
Words by Neville Fleeson, Music by Albert Von Tilzer - Copyright 1920

Verse:
I'm writ -ing you dear, just to tell you,
In Sep -tem -ber, You re -mem -ber,
'Neath the old ap -ple tree, You whis -pered to me,
When it blos -somed a -gain, you'd be mine.
I've wait -ed un -til I could claim you,
I hope I've not wait -ed in vain,
For when it's spring in the val -ey,
I'm com -ing, my sweet -heart a -gain. 

Chorus:
I'll Be With You In Ap -ple Blos -som Time
I'll be with you to change your name to mine,
One day in May, I'll come and say,
"Hap -py the bride the sun shines on to day."
What a won -der -ful wed -ding there will be,
What a won -der -ful day for you and me,
Church bells will chime, You will be mine,
In ap -ple blos -som time.

Love Letters In The Sand
Words by Nick and Charles Kenny, Music by J. Fred Coots
Copyright 1931 by Irving Berlin, Inc.

Verse:
The sun -beams kissed the sands My fate was in your hands
The day I met you dear
And though I find you've gone Your mem -'ry ling -erss on
I can't for -get you dear.  

Chorus:
On a day like to -day We passed the time a -way
Writ -ing Love Let -ters In The Sand
How you laughed when I cried each time I saw the tide take our
Love Let -ters In The Sand
You made a vow that you would al -ways be true
But some -how that vow meant noth -ing to you
Now my poor heart just aches With ev -'ry wave it breaks ov -er
Love Let -ters In The Sand.

MAKIN' WHOOPEE!
Music by Walter Donaldson, Words by Gus Kahn – 1928

Verse:
Ev -'ry time I hear that march from Loh -en -grin I am al -ways on the out
-side look -in' in.
May -be that is why I see the fun -ny side When I see a fall -en broth -er
take a bride.
Wed -dings make a lot of peo -ple sad, But if you're not the groom you're
not so bad. 

Chorus:
An -oth -er bride, an -the -er June, An -oth -er sun -ny hon -ey -moon,
An -oth -er se -son an -oth -er rea -son For Mak -in' Whoop -ee!
A lot of shoes, a lot of rice, The groom is ner -vous, he an -swers twice.
It's real -ly kill -ing that he's so will -ing To make whoop -ee.
Pic -ture a lit -tle love nest Down where the ros -es cling,
Pic -ture the same sweet love nest, Think what a year can bring.
He's wash -ing dish -es and ba -by clothes, He's so am -bi -tious he ev -en
sews.
But don't for -get folks, that's what you get folks For Mak -in' Whoop -ee!

Margie
Music by Conrad and Robinson, Words by B. Davis
Copyright 1920 by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder

Verse:
You can talk a -bout your love af -fairs,
Here's one I must tell to you;
All night long they sit up -on the stairs,
He holds her close and starts to coo:  

Chorus:
"My lit -tle Mar -gie, I'm al -ways think -ing of you,
Mar -gie, I'll tell the world I love you;
Don't for -get your prom -ise to me,
I have bought a home and ring and ev -'ry thing, for
Mar -gie You've been my in -spir -at -ion,
Days are nev -er blue;
Af -ter all is said and done, There is real -ly on -ly one Oh!
Mar -gie, Mar -gie, it's you."

OH, LADY BE GOOD!
Music by George Girshwin, Words by Ira Girshwin  -  1924

Verse:
Lis -ten to my tale of woe, It's ter -ri -bly sad, but true.
All dressed up no place to go, Each ev -'ning I'm awf -'ly blue.
I must win some win -some miss; Can't go on like this.
I could blos -som out I know, With some -bod -y just like you, so,

Chorus:
Oh, sweet and love -ly la -dy, be good!
Oh la -dy, be good! to me!
I am so awf' -ly mis -un -der -stood,
So la -dy be good to me.
Oh, please have some pit -y
I'm all a -lone in this big cit -y I tell you
I'm just a lone -some babe in the wood
So la -dy, be good to me!

Painting The Clouds With Sunshine
Words by Al Dubin, Music by Joe Burke  -  1929

Verse:
This life's a play from the start, It's hard to play thru a part,
When there's an ache in your heart all day.
I have my dreams 'til the dawn, I wake to find they are gone,
But still the play "must go on" they say.  
Chorus:
When I pre -tend I'm gay I nev -er feel that way,
I'm on -ly paint -ing the clouds with sun -shine.
When I hold back a tear To make a smile ap -pear,
I'm on -ly paint -ing the clouds with sun -shine.
Paint -ing the blues beau -ti -ful hues, Col -ored with gold and old rose;
Play -ing the clown, Try -ing to drown All of my woes;
Tho' things may not look bright They'll all turn out al -right
If I keep paint -ing the clouds with sun -shine.

Pennies From Heaven
Words and Music by Arthur Johnston and John Burke  -  1936

Verse:
A long time a -go a mil -lion years B C
The best things in life were ab -so -lute -ly free
But no one ap -pre -ci -at -ed a sky that was al -ways blue;
And no one con -grat -u -lat -ed a moon that was al -ways new.
So it was planned that they would van -ish now and then
And you must pay be -fore you get them back a -gain:
That's what storms were made for And you should -n't be a -fraid, for

Chorus:
Ev -'ry time it rains, it rains Pen -nies From Heav -en.
don't you know each cloud con -tains Pen -nies From Heav -en.
You'll find your for -tune fall -ing All o -ver town
Be sure that your um -brel -la is up side down.
Trade them for a pack -age of Sun -shine and flow -ers.
If you want the things you love, You must have show -ers.
So when you hear it thun -der Don't run un -der a tree.
There'll be Pen -nies From Heav -en for you and me.

September In The Rain
Words by Al Dubin, Music by Harry Warren – 1937

Verse:
My day dreams lie bur -ied in au -tumn leaves,
They're cov -ered with au -tumn rain,
The time is sweet Sep -tem -ber, The place, a shad -y lane,
I'm rid -ing the wings of an au -tumn breeze, Back to my mem -o -ries;

Chorus:
The leaves of brown came tum -bling down, re -mem -ber?
In Sep -tem -ber, in the rain,
The sun went out just like a dy -ing em -ber,
That Sep -tem -ber, in the rain,
To ev -'ry word of love I heard you whis -per,
The rain -drops seemed to play a sweet re -frain,
Though Spring is here, to me it's still Sep -tem -ber,
That Sep -tem -ber, in the rain.

Sweet Georgia Brown
Words and Music by Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey – 1925

Verse:
She just got here yes -ter -day, Things are hot here now they say,
There's a big change in town.
Gals are jeal -ous there's no doubt, Still the fel -lows rave a -bout
Sweet, Sweet Geor -gia Brown;
And ev -er since she came The col -ored folks all claim:

Chorus:
Say, No gal made has got a shade On Sweet Geor -gia Brown,
Two left feet but oh so neat has Sweet Georgia Brown;
They all sigh and wan -na die For Sweet Geor -giea Brown
I'll tell you just why you know I don't lie Not Much!
It's been said she knocks 'em dead when she lands in town
Since she came why it's a shame how she cools 'em down
Fel -lers she can't get are Fel -ers she ain't met
Geor -gia claimed her Geor -gia named her Sweet Geor -gia Brown.

After You've Gone
Words and Music by Creamer & Layton – 1929

Verse:
Now won't you list -en dear -ie while I say, How could you tell me that you're
goin' a -way?
Don't say that we must part, Don't break my ach -ing heart;
You know I've loved you tru -ly man -y years, Loved you night and day;
How can you leave me, can't you see my tears? List -en while I say:

Chorus:
Af -Ter You've Gone, and left me cry -ing, Af -Ter You've Gone, There's no
de -ny -ing;
You'll feel blue, You'll feel sad, You'll miss the dear -est pal you've ev
-er had.
There'll come a time, Now don't for -get it, There'll come a time, when you'll
re -gret it;
Some day when you grow lone -ly, your heart will break like mine and You'll
want me on -ly,
Af -Ter You've Gone, Af -Ter You've Gone a -way.

Ain't She Sweet
Words by J. Yellen, Music by M. Ager – 1929

Verse:
There she is! There she is! There's what keeps me up at night.
Oh, gee whiz! Oh, gee whiz! There's why I can't eat a bite.
Those flam -ing eyes! That flam -ing youth!
Oh, Mis -ter Oh, Sis -ter Tell me the truth;

Chorus:
Ain't She Sweet? See her com -ing down the street! Now I
ask you ver -y con -fi -den -tial -ly Ain't She Sweet?
Ain't she nice? Look her o -ver once or twice. Now I
ask you ver -y con fi --den -tial -ly Ain't she nice? Just cast an eye
in her di -rec -tion Oh, me! Oh, my! Ain't that per -fec -tion?
I re -peat, don't you think that's kind of neat? And I
ask you ver -y con -fi -den -tial -y Ain't She Sweet?

All Of Me
Words and Music by Seymour Simons & Gerald Marks - Copyright 1931 by
Irving Berlin Inc.

Verse:
You took my kiss -es and you took my love, You taught me how to care;
Am I to be just the rem -nant of a one -sid -ed love af -fair?
All you took, I glad -ly gave, There's noth -ing left for me to save.

Chorus:
All of me why not take all of me,
Can't you see I'm no good with -out you.
Take my lips I want to lose them,
Take my arms I'll nev -er use them,
Your good -bye left me with eyes that cry,
How can I go on dear with -out you.
You took the part that once was my heart,
So why not take all of me.

ALWAYS
Words and Music by Irving Berlin - Copyright 1925 by Irving Berlin

Verse:
Ev -'ry -thing went wrong, and the whole day long,
I'd feel so blue,
For the long -est while, I'd for -get to smile,
Then I met you,
Now that my blue days have passed,
Now that I've found you at last. 

Chorus:
I'll be lov -ing you, Al -ways,
With a love that's true, Al -ways,
When the things you've planned Need a help -ing hand,
I will un -der -stand, Al -ways, Al -ways.
Days may not be fair, Al -ways,
That's when I'll be there, Al -ways.
Not for just an hour, Not for just a day,
Not for just a year, But Al -ways.

APRIL SHOWERS
Words by B.G. DeSylva, Music by Louis Silvers – 1921

Verse:
Life is not a high -way strewn with flow -ers,
Still it holds a good -ly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to A -pril show -ers,
Here's the point that you should nev -er miss. 

Chorus:
Though A -pril Show -ers may come your way,
They bring the flow -ers, that bloom in May,
So if it's rain -ing, have no re -grets
Be -cause it is -n't rain -ing rain you know, (It's rain -ing vi -o -lets,)
And where you see clouds, up -on the hills,
You soon will see crowds, of daf -fo -dils,
So keep on look -ing for a blue -bird And list' -ning for his song,
When ev -er A -pril Show -ers come a long.

Sweet Sue - Just You
Words by Will Harris, Music by Victor Young - Copyright 1928

Verse:
Sue, dry your pret -ty eyes of blue Tears were nev -er meant for you
Smile a while please do, Sue
Dear, don't be -lieve the things you hear
You know I'm lone -ly for on -ly sweet you:  

Chorus:
Ev -'ry star a -bove Knows the one I love
Sweet Sue Just you
And the moon up high knows the reas -on why
Sweet Sue it's you.
No one else it seems Ev -er shares my dreams
And with -out you dear, I don't know whatt I'd do
In this heart of mine You live all the time
Sweet Sue just you.

Tip-Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me
Lyrics by Al Dubin, Music by Joe Burke – 1929

Verse:
Shades of night are creep -ing, Wil -low trees are weep -ing,
Old folks and ba -bies are sleep -ing;
Sil -ver stars are gleam -ing, All a -lone I'm schem -ing,
Schem -ing to get you out here, my dear, -Come 

Chorus:
Tip -toe to the win -dow, by the win -dow, That is where I'll be,
Come tip -toe thru the tu -lips with me;
Tip -toe from your pil -low, to the sha -dow of a wil -low tree,
And tip -toe thru the tu -lips with me;
Knee deep in flow -ers we'll stray
We'll keep the show -ers a -way;
And if I kiss you in the gar -den, in the moon -light,
Will you par -don me,
Come tip -toe thru the tu -lips with me.

TOOT, TOOT, TOOTSIE!
Words and Music by Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Dan Russo – 1922

Verse:
Yes -ter -day I heard a lov -er sigh,
"Good -bye oh me, oh my"
Sev -en times he got a -board his train
And sev -en times he hur -ried back to kiss his love a -gain, and tell her

Chorus:
"Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Good -Bye!
Toot, Toot, Tootsie, don't cry,
The choo choo train that takes me,
A -way from you no words can tell how sad it makes me,
Kiss me, Tooot -sie, and then,
Do it o -ver a -gain,
Watch for the mail, I'll nev -er fail,
If you don't get a let -ter then you'll know I'm in jail,
Tut, tut, Toot -sie don't cry, Toot, Toot, Tootsie Good -Bye!"

Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Words and Music by Bob Nolan – 1934

Verse:
I'm a roam -ing cow -bow rid -ing all day long,
Tum -ble -weeds a -round me, sing their lone -ly song.
Nights un -der neath a prai -rie moon, I ride a -lone and sing a tune.

Chorus:
See them tum -bling down, Pledg -ing their love to the ground,
Lone -ly but free I'll be found, Drift -ing a -long with the tum -bling tum
-ble -weeds.
Cares of the past are be -hind, No -where to go, but I'll find, Just where
the trail will wind,
Drift -ing a -long with the tum -bling tum -ble weeds.
I know when night has gone that a new world's born at dawn,
I'll keep roll -ing a -long, Deep in my heart is a song, Here on the range
I be -long,
Drift -ing a -long with the tum -bling tum -ble -weeds. tum -ble -weeds.

UKULELE LADY
Words by G. Kahn, Music by R. Whitting - Copyright 1925 by Irving Berlin,
Inc

Verse:
I saw the splen -dor of the moon -light On Hon -o -lu -lu Bay
There's some -thing ten -der in the moon -light On Hon -o -lu -lu Bay,
And all the beach -es Are full of peach -es Who bring their "ukes" a -long
And in the glim -mer of the moon -light They love to sing this song; 

Chorus:
If you like -a Uk -u -le -le La -dy, Uk -u -le -le La -dy like -a you
If you like to lin -ger where it's sha -dy Uk -u -le -le La -dy lin -ger
too
If you kiss a Uk -u -le -le La -dy While you prom -ise ev -er to be true
And she see an -oth -er Uk -u -le -le La -dy fool a -round with you
May -be she'll sigh May -be she'll cry
May -be she'll find some -bod -y else Bye -and -bye
To sing to When it's cool and sha -dy Where the trick -y Wic -ki -Wack -ies
woo
If you like a Uk -u -le -le La -dy, Uk -u -le -le La -dy like -a you.

We'll Meet Again
Words and Music by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles – 1939

Verse:
Let's say good -bye with a smile dear, Just for a while dear, We must part,
Don't let the part -ing up -set you, I'll not for -get you sweet -heart. 

Chorus:
We'll Meet A-gain don't know where, don't know when
But I know We'll Meet A-gain some -sun ny day,
Keep smil -in' thru' just like you al -ways do
Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far a -way.
So will you please say hel -lo to the folks that I know, Tell them I won't
be long,
They'll be hap -py to know that as you saw me go, I was sing -ing this song.
We'll Meet A-gain don't know where, don't know when
But I know We'll Meet A-gain some sun -ny day.

When The Red, Red, Robbin Goes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
Words and Music by Harry Woods - Copyright 1926 by Irving Berlin, Inc.

Verse:
I heard a rob -in this morn -ing, I'm feel -ing hap -py to -day
Goin' to pack my cares in a whis -tle And Blow them all a -way.
What if I've been un -luck -y, Real -ly have -n't a thing,
There's a time I al -ways feel hap -py, As hap -py as a king. 

Chorus:
When the red, red, rob -in comes bob, bob, bob -bin' a -long, a -long,
There'll be no more sob -bin' When he starts throb -bin' his old sweet song,
Wake up, wake up you sleep -y head, Get up, get up, get out of bed,
cheer up, cheer up, the sun is red, Live, Love, laugh and be hap -py,
What if I've been blue now I'm walk -in' through fields of flow'rs,
Rain may glis -ten but still I lis -ten for hours and hours,
I'm just a kid a -gain do -in' what I did a -gain sing -ing a song
When the red, red, rob -in comes bob, bob, bob -bin' a -long.

You Do Something To Me
Words and Music by Cole Porter - Copyright 1929 by Harms Inc.

Verse:
I was might -y blue, Thought my life was through,
Till the heav -ens o -pened, And I gazed at you.
Won't you tell me, dear, Why, when you ap -pear,
Some -thing hap -pens to me And the strang -est feel -ing goes through me? 

Chorus:
You Do Some-thing To Me,
some -thing that sim -ply mys -ti fies me.
Tell me, why should it be,
You have the pow'r to hyp -no -tize me?
Let me live 'neath your spell,
Do do that voo -doo that you do so well,
For You Do Some-thing To Me,
That no -bod -y else can do.

IF YOU KNEW SUSIE
Words and Music by B. G. De Sylva – 1925

Verse:
I have got a sweet -ie known as Su -sie
In the words of Shake -speare she's a "wow"
Though all of you May know her too
I'd like to shout right now: 

Chorus:
If you knew Su -sie like I know Su -sie
Oh! Oh! Oh! what a girl!
There's none so clas -sy as this fair las -sie
Oh! Oh! Ho -ly Mos -es! what a chas -sis!
We went ri -ding She did -n't balk
Back from You -kers I'm the one that had to walk!
If you knew Su -sie like I know Su -sie
Oh! Oh! what a girl.

Easter Parade
Words and Music by Irving Berlin - Copyright 1933 by Irving Berlin

Verse:
Nev -er saw you look Quite so pret -ty be -fore
Nev -er saw you dressed Quite so love -ly, what's more
I could hard -ly wait To keep our date This love -ly East -er morn -ing,
And my heart beat fast As I came through the door for: 

Chorus:
In your East -er bon -net With all the frills up -on it,
You'll be the grand -est la -dy in The East -er Par -ade.
I'll be all in clov -er, And when they look you ov -er
I'll be the proud -est fel -low in The East -er Par -ade.
On the Av -e -nue, Fifth Av -e -nue,
The pho -to -graph -ers will snap us And you'll find that you're In the ro
-to -gra -vure.
Oh, I could write a son -net A -bout your East -er bon -net
And of the girl I'm tak -ing to The East -er Par -ade.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Flash Company
Date: 06 Oct 04 - 04:54 AM

Know what I like about this thread? VERSES!!!
All too often nowadays singers launch into the chorus of songs like these and completely ignore the verse. People like Gershwin, Berlin and Cole Porter took a lot of trouble over their verses, they deserve to be heard.

FC

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,Elaine Johnson
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 06:21 AM

Older people love to sing the old hymns. At www.HymnServe.com there are excellent classic hymn accompaniments to download.   They are played in the familiar way that people sang them in church with mostly piano and organ There is an introduction, and all the verses are included. There are also some familiar contemporary songs.

Guitarists and other instrumentalist can easily join in and hear the melody with the security of the piano in the background.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 10:21 AM

Can any one help please. I'm looking for an old song with lyrics ---

"how strange my love, that's why you and I will kiss in the moonlight and whisper goodbye. How strange my love so soon our love will fade away with the moon".....

I believe that this was recorded in the 1920s and 30s. I need the info of the song i.e. title, the full lyrics, singer, recorded what year.

Hope to hear from many of you. Thanks!

Subject: Req: Singalong songs from the '20s and '30s
From: Genie
Date: 24 Sep 10 - 04:15 PM

Thanks for all those lyrics, John.

Couple of corrections to the lyrics you posted, too.

CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME
It's "Where bowers of flowers bloom in the SPRING" (not "in the sun)
and
the English word is "sun-kissed" ("Sunkist" is a brand name).


LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND

"How you laughed when I cried each time I saw the tide
Take our love letters FROM the sand" (not "in").


And, of course, "Robin" has only one "b."


I appreciate the songwriter credits, etc., and the verses too.

I do use some verses when I sing for my very senior audiences, but less often when I want them to sing along. Folks now in their 80s and 90s were infants or young children when many of these songs were first popular, and, for the songs that became "standards," the remakes in later decades (e.g., when they were teens or young adults) did not include the verses. I find they often can't sing along on the verses because they are unfamiliar with the tunes to those.   

A notable exception is "Makin' Whoopee" - where you really lose most of the humor of the song if you don't include all (or at least several) verses and bridges.

And I think the second verse to Irving Berlin's "Always" is perhaps more important than the first:

"Dreams will all come true growing old with you
And time will fly,
Loving, each day, more than the day before
As spring goes by.
Then when the springtime has gone,
Then will my love linger on."

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST,Shelene
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 10:02 AM

Hi! I'm also looking for the title of this song, "How strange my love, that's why you and I will kiss in the moonlight and whisper goodbye. How strange my love so soon our love will fade away with the moon." Any information you could offer me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: caitlin rua
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 11:36 AM

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Daisy, Daisy yet (Bicycle Built For 2). When I was a kid we had a semi-rude version of it which always made me giggle because it had a Naughty Word in it. I can't remember all of it but the bit that sticks in my mind is "...but I'll be damned if I'll be crammed on a bicycle built for two."

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Clontarf83
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 01:21 AM

This is a timely thread for me as well--thanks to the contributors. I will be putting my toe into these waters February, with my first volunteer gig at an nursing home.

When I asked the volunteer cordinator what material I should use, she said they love livelier music, but they are getting tired of WW2 era songs.

That got me thinking that this is a new generation arriving in the residences now, and likely to be nostalgic about music of the 50s and maybe even the early 60s. My age cohort (I was born 1948)will probably want the Beatles and Stones etc when its our turn. Should be interesting when they are followed by the Led Zeppelin generation....

I will try some of the Pete Seeger era folk on them, with some 50's country and ballads (with an acoustic guitar, I don't think I could do much with blue suede shoes etc). I'll also try a little Buddy Holly.

Any thoughts on spiritual songs? For example I love to sing "I'll fly away" but it has direct references to dying and death--does that make it a no-go?

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: caitlin rua
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 03:19 AM

Maybe leave out anything that refers to dying. I was once singing for a group of terminal patients in a hospice ward, and blithely waded into Sloop John B... only to hit upon the "I want to go home" line...!

What about the Beatles' Ob-La-Di? I always liked it because it's so joyful and fun. Also maybe Da Doo Ron Ron? Both these songs are lighthearted, with easy-to-follow choruses.

Another time, as part of a choir, I did an informal Christmas concert in a a nursing home. Afterwords I heard one of the other singers say to a resident, "Did you enjoy it?" (Something I would not have asked.) The old lady replied, "No, I didn't. The music was nice but it made me too sad." So be careful what material you choose. Of course Christmas is loaded with family associations and memories, so perhaps any holiday songs would have depressed her. But it's something to bear in mind, so perhaps stay away from death & dying. Those folks aren't going anywhere -

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: Clontarf83
Date: 13 Jan 11 - 07:41 PM

Thanks Caitlin--sound advice.

Subject: RE: Req: Sing-along songs from the 20's & 30's
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 12 - 09:46 AM