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Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...

Related threads:
Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's (70)
Lyr Add: Horses Run Around (Boy's Best Friend Is.. (5)
Lyr Req: A Boy's Best Friend Is His Mother (15)
Lyr Add: The Second Story Window (various songs) (40)
Leaning against the lake? (18)


cnd 24 May 20 - 12:54 AM
femuse 19 May 20 - 08:35 PM
GUEST,Uncle Al 18 May 20 - 12:15 AM
GUEST,GUEST - Kris 23 Sep 18 - 04:02 PM
GUEST 09 Jun 18 - 08:37 PM
GUEST,Krista 23 Jan 18 - 05:00 AM
GUEST,Starman 10 Dec 15 - 09:33 AM
GUEST 07 Apr 15 - 07:22 PM
GUEST 31 Mar 15 - 08:28 AM
GUEST,mynpyn 17 Jul 14 - 04:57 PM
GUEST,B. Day 22 Jun 13 - 08:10 PM
Neighmond 13 Jun 12 - 04:18 PM
GUEST,P.S. Ruckman, Jr. 13 Jun 12 - 01:55 AM
GUEST,Jeff 08 Jul 11 - 12:39 AM
GUEST 05 May 11 - 12:36 AM
GUEST,GAL11O 16 Mar 11 - 01:58 PM
GUEST 02 Mar 11 - 02:41 PM
GUEST,my father taught us to sing this on long car 25 Aug 10 - 05:37 PM
GUEST,Spike Woods 11 Aug 10 - 03:25 AM
GUEST,ama 24 Jan 10 - 04:56 PM
GUEST,Gabe Ragland 16 Jan 10 - 07:06 PM
GUEST,Great Stuff -- Happy Memories 07 Aug 09 - 08:35 AM
GUEST,Le Messurier 02 May 09 - 05:24 PM
GUEST 27 Apr 09 - 02:13 PM
Joe_F 18 Dec 08 - 08:43 PM
wysiwyg 18 Dec 08 - 09:43 AM
GUEST,zhudson 18 Dec 08 - 09:08 AM
Joe Offer 02 Dec 08 - 07:47 PM
GUEST,Skim 02 Dec 08 - 04:33 PM
GUEST,Mandy 25 Nov 08 - 12:04 AM
GUEST,Charles J. Fish 22 Nov 08 - 10:51 PM
Charley Noble 22 Nov 08 - 07:56 PM
GUEST,Sandy in Arkansas 22 Nov 08 - 07:50 PM
Peace 05 Oct 08 - 10:18 PM
GUEST,cathiwim 05 Oct 08 - 10:11 PM
dick greenhaus 20 Sep 08 - 08:42 PM
GUEST,yes, i do 20 Sep 08 - 06:12 PM
Ebbie 09 Aug 01 - 01:56 AM
SeanM 09 Aug 01 - 12:34 AM
mousethief 08 Aug 01 - 11:35 PM
SINSULL 08 Aug 01 - 11:16 PM
Mark Cohen 08 Aug 01 - 09:01 PM
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: cnd
Date: 24 May 20 - 12:54 AM

Huh, I'd always assumed Homer & Jethro just made it up to be funny. Little did I know!

That song and their "She Made Toothpicks of the Timber of My Heart" are two of their favorites.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: femuse
Date: 19 May 20 - 08:35 PM

may have some connection with these ?

different weapon to kill that fly on the baby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maggie Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Baby's Head)
Carlisle Brothers ca 1945; composer: Bill Carlisle [true or not]

Well, there's always somethin happens when I want to go to bed
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head
There's always some darn trouble when my nerves are like a thread
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head

When I'm sleepy and I want to take a nap
That brat starts cryin and crawls upon my lap
Well I'm mad as stirred up hornets and my eyes are seein red
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head

I wish I was in Iceland in an igloo all my own
Then I could rest so peaceful just to be there all alone

Well, there's always somethin happens when I want to go to bed
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head
There's always some darn trouble when my nerves are like a thread
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head

When I' m sleepy and I want to take a nap
That brat starts cryin and crawls upon my lap
Well I' m mad as stirred up hornets and my eyes are seein red
Oh, Maggie get the hammer, there's a fly on baby's head

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homer & Jethro:Mama - Get The Hammer (There's A Fly On Papa's Head)

A little fly upon the wall
Had no place to crawl at all.
All at once, his wings were spread
Right on dear old papa's head.

Mama, get the hammer. There's a fly on papa's head.
You heard what I said: there's a fly on papa's head.
If you can't get a hammer, get a crowbar, ma, instead.
There's a fly on papa's head.

Well, the fly flew through an open flue,
And flew till he was black and blue.
Instead of flying right straight home,
He flew on top of papa's dome.

Mama, get the hammer. There's a fly on papa's head.
You heard what I said: there's a fly on papa's head.
If you can't get a hammer, get a crowbar, ma, instead.
There's a fly on papa's head.

Horsefly, please don't bother me.
Go fly up an apple tree.
Horsefly says, "Now look here, Joe.
I'll go where I want to go."

Mama, get the hammer. There's a fly on papa's head.
You heard what I said: there's a fly on papa's head.
If you can't get a hammer, get a crowbar, ma, instead.
There's a fly on papa's head.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,Uncle Al
Date: 18 May 20 - 12:15 AM

https://youtu.be/_eMFJvDtWAo


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,GUEST - Kris
Date: 23 Sep 18 - 04:02 PM

Came from my dad, and since he was a camp director in Michigan, it probably got added to as it became a camp favorite:

The horse he ran around
his feet upon the ground
who will wind the clock when I am gone, am gone.
go get the axe, there's a fly on grandpa's neck
the mother chased her son around the flagpole, the flagpole.

She hit him with a shingle
which made his britches tingle
all because he killed his baby brother, no other.
He ran down the lane, his britches full of pain
A boy's best friend is his mother, no other.

The only girl I knew had a face like a horse and buggy
Why'd they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean.
Hang out the ice to dry... (Sung slowly and ominously)

While peeping through the window
the second story window
I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the sidewalk, the sidewalk
Mouth open wide, the burglar copped the bank,
She's the darling of my life, Sweet Adelaide, Sweet Adelaide.(Sung slowly,sweetly and with much drama)

Another verse started:
While peeping through the knothole in grandpa's wooden leg
I.....

(These verses were sung in various orders, as someone would remember them)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 18 - 08:37 PM

THERE WAS AN OLD MAN- as sung by my grandfather

There was an old man and he had a tin can and it surely was a growler
?(or …. He had a tin can and he surely was a brawler)
He went into a saloon on a Sunday afternoon and you oughta heard the old man holler
“No booze today, no booze today, you can’t get a drink on Sunday!”
“No booze today, no booze today, you’ll have to come-a back on a Monday!”

She was the only girl I loved, she had a face like a horse and buggy.
There she stood on the street, Oh! Fireman save my child!!!
The Fireman up the ladder, the child was bigger than the fireman
Oh who will wind the clocks when I am gone? When I am gone..
Go get the ax, there’s a fly on baby’s leg! A boys best friend is his mommer.

She spanked him with a shingle to make his britches tingle!
Why did they build the shore so near the ocean?
Oh they took all the knots out of Grandpa’s wooden leg
And they dug up Willie’s grave to build a sewer.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,Krista
Date: 23 Jan 18 - 05:00 AM

This is the version my mother taught me twenty years ago in Seattle, not passed down from her parents though. I think she was under the impression that her friend made it up in the Midwest in the 80s, but I suspected there were other variants...


I fell out of a window, a second story window
I caught my eyelash on the window sill, the sill
Fell on a train, I think it looks like rain
A boy's best friend is his mother, his mother

While looking through the knothole, on Grandad's wooden leg:
Why do they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean?
Who cut the sleeves off dear old Grandad's vest
And dug up Willie's grave to build a sewer, a sewer?

Will spearmint keep its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
Feed the baby garlic and you'll find it without light
Quick, get the ax, there's a fly on Baby's head!
Pink gum, pink pills for pale people, pale people.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,Starman
Date: 10 Dec 15 - 09:33 AM

This one's from Kansas, c. 1940, where "pavement" was not in the vocabulary:
Looking out the window, a second-story window,
I fell and sprained my eyebrow on the sidewalk, the sidewalk.
Oh quick bring an axe, there's a flea on baby's chin.
And a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 07:22 PM

The only girl I ever knew had a face like a horse and buggy.while strolling by the wayside, oh Fireman help my child. The fireman up the ladder went, the child was bigger than the fireman. Soon Daddy's teeth will fit, hang them on the ice to dry.    Run get an ace, there's a fly on baby's bean. Who will wind the clock when we are gone.
Peeking through the keyhole at Daddys wooden leg. A boy's best friend is his Uncle when he's dead.


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 15 - 08:28 AM

This is how my daddy taught it to me in the 60s:
I fell out of a window,
a second story window,
and caught my eyelash on the sill,
on the sill
go get an axe,
there's a fly on baby's moustache,
a man's best friend is his mother.
You're a bore and I'm another,
absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Christmas comes but once a year.
My father shot a horse.
Bang! Bang! You're dead!
Brush your teeth and go to bed!
Da da da da dump, bump bump!


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,mynpyn
Date: 17 Jul 14 - 04:57 PM

I fell out a window
A second story window
and caught my eyelash on the sill
(echo) the sill

Go get the ax
There's the fly on baby's mustache

A boy's best friend is his mother
You're a liar
I'm another

Absence makes the heart grow founder
Peroxide makes the hair grow blonder

My father bought a horse
Yeah Hedy Lamar


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,B. Day
Date: 22 Jun 13 - 08:10 PM

Looking through a window, a second story window
I slipped and broke my eyebrow on the sidewalk
Go get the axe, there's a fly on baby's neck
And a boy's best friend is his mother, no other


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: Neighmond
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 04:18 PM

While lookin' out the window, the second story window,
I Slipped and spraind my eyebrow on the pavement (woops, boom, ow)
Go fetch a rope, for to slice the loaf of bread,
For a boy's best friend is his moooother. (his moooooother!)

While looking through the knothole in Grandad's wooden leg,
Who'll wind the clock when I'm away (far awaaaaaaay)
Go fetch an axe, there's a flea on Lizzie's ear,
And a boy's best friend is his mooooother! (his moooooother!)


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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's...
From: GUEST,P.S. Ruckman, Jr.
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 01:55 AM

The way my old man delivered it (on piano):

While looking out the window,
The twentieth story window,
I slipped and sprung my eyebrow on the pavement,
The pavement.
Go find an axe
There's a fly on baby'y head.
We all hope grandma's teeth
Will soon fit Jenny. Fit Jenny.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 12:39 AM

Here's the version I used to sing with my Aunt.

I fell out a window, a second story window
I caught my eyelash on the window sill, a sill
Here comes the train
Do you think it looks like rain
A boys best friend is his mother,
No other

While looking through the knothole in Grandpa's wooden leg
Why do they put the shore so near the ocean, the ocean.
Who cut the sleeves out of dear old Daddy's vest
And dug up Billy's grave for a sewer
A sewer.

While chewing Wrigley's spearmint on the bedpost overnight
Feed the baby garlic and you'll sleep out every night.
Quick get the axe, there's a fly on baby's head
Eat Peck's Pink Pills for pale people
Pale people.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 11 - 12:36 AM

While looking out the window
The second story window
I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on
the pavement, the pavement.
Go get the axe
There's a hair on baby's chest.
Oh, I hope that Grandma's teeth will
Soon fit Jenny, fit Jenny.

The horses run around
Their feet are on the ground.
Who will wind the clock when I'm
away, away?
Go get the Listerine
Sister's got a beau.
Oh, why did they put the shore so
Near the ocean, the ocean?

Songs my mother taught me. Sharon G.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,GAL11O
Date: 16 Mar 11 - 01:58 PM

My Dad's version goes:

"While looking out a window, a second story window I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement.
Go get the axe, there's a fly on baby's chin.
Oh a boy's best friend is his Mother."

Dad just passed away Jan. 26, 2011 at the age of 91 - - and I miss hearing him sing this.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:41 PM

And from my family... (haven't seen anyone else come up with some of these, wonder where WE got them)

While looking through a knothole in father's wooden leg
Why did they build the shore so near the ocean
Well, a snake's belt slips because he has no hips
And his waistline is just below his necktie

(Two beginning lines)
Go get the axe there's a hair on baby's chest
And a boy's best friend is his mother

(two more beginning lines)
Go get the Listerine; sister has a beau
And we hope that Grandma's teeth will soon fit Jenny


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,my father taught us to sing this on long car
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 05:37 PM

Hello all....

I was trying to teach my teen age nephews and nieces the tune my dad (life long army) used to make us sing during long car trips. So I tried to look it up to see if anyone else passes this down to their kids, and found this site. After reading all your entries, I add our New Jersey Version which went like this:

I fell out of a window
a seventeenth story window
and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement.

Quick get an axe!
There's a hair on Baby's chest!
Man's best friend is his mother..
You're a Liar! You're another!
You've been drinkin too much Whiskey.......

Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
Peroxide makes the hair grow blonder,
Onions make the breath grow stronger!

"My Pappy shot a horsie! YEEAAH POP!"

Im a villain, a dirty rotten villain,
I get a great delight,
In stirring up a fight,
and beating little babies on the head!

I get a "D",
For puttin too much poison, in me mudders shredded wheat!

"AND I EAT... RAW... MEAT!"

Shave and a haircut.... Two Bits!


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Spike Woods
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 03:25 AM

Oh the horses run around and their feet all touch the ground,
Why did they build the shore so near the ocean?
Go get an axe, there's a hair on baby's chest,
And who's gonna wind your clock up when I'm gone.

While peeping through the knothole in Grandpa's wooden leg
A bookworm ate some glue and lost his supper.
Who cut the sleeves out of dear old Daddy's vest
And dug up Willy's grave to make a sewer.

While looking through a window, a second storey window,
I slipped a sprained my eyebrow on the ceiling.
A snake's belt slips 'cause it ain't got no hips -
You're the flower of my heart sweet Adeline.

Oh she hit him with a shingle and it made his britches tingle,
All because he bashed his baby brother.
He went running down the lane with his britches full of pain -
A boy's best friend is his mother.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,ama
Date: 24 Jan 10 - 04:56 PM

Hello, looking on Google for Snake wine information I found your website, do you have anything more posted here related to Snake wine liquor ?
Snake wine is shown there:
http://www.asiansnakewine.com/

I previously bought a snake wine I am now looking for any other creature wine as mice or tokay, any idea where to find ?

Thanks a lot for your help.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Gabe Ragland
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 07:06 PM

I have a few fragments of my family's version.

Looking through the keyhole
At Father's wooden leg
Oh, why did they put the shore so near the ocean,
the ocean?
Go get the flit, there's a fly in Grandpa's soup.

Horses running 'round
Their feet are on the ground
Oh, who will wind the clock when I'm away,
away?
Go get the listerine, sister wants a beau.

...

We feed our baby garlic so we'll find him in the dark.

...

Go get the axe -- here comes the man from the income tax!

[I bet dollars to doughnuts my second cousin made up that line.]


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Great Stuff -- Happy Memories
Date: 07 Aug 09 - 08:35 AM

Here's the Song my Mother Sang to us in the 60's -- She's from Brooklyn. Interesting how the same song has morphed!

I fell out of a Window
A second Story Window
Landed on my head and walked away, away

Go get an axe there's a fly on baby's mustache
man's best friend is his mother
you're a lair
I'm another
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
peroxide makes the hair go blonder
you've been drinking too much voodoo liquor
Hiccup, no I haven't

My mother bit a horse
hooray, [Spiro Agnew][the Beatles]!


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Le Messurier
Date: 02 May 09 - 05:24 PM

Here's the midi link: http://www.contemplator.com/england/gogetax.htm

Here is the version I learned:

Peeping through the knothole in father's wooden leg
who'll wind the clock when I am gone?
Go get the meat ax, there's a fly on baby's bean
a boy's best friend is his mother.

Peepin' through the knot-hole of grandpa's wooden leg,
Why do they build the shore so near the ocean?
Who cut the sleeves out of dear old daddy's vest,
And dug up Fido's bones to build the sewer?

Here is the HARVARD VERSION of the first verse:

Peering through the aperture in father's artificial appendage
who'll tighten the chronometer when I cross the bar?
go procure the viand dissector, there's an insect on baby's cerebellum
one of the greatest sociological factors of the development of the male of the species Homo Sapiens is his immediate maternal ancestor.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 02:13 PM

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5la0r_hare-trigger_shortfilms


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Joe_F
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 08:43 PM

The DigiTrad version is identical to that in The New Song Fest.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 09:43 AM

WANT MIDI!

~S~


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,zhudson
Date: 18 Dec 08 - 09:08 AM

OK, I have to add my family's version:

Looking through the knothole on Grandpa's wooden leg
Why do they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean?
Quick get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chin
And a boy's best friend is his mother (no other).

Going through the window, the second story window
I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement.
Quick, get the listerine, sister's got a beau
And a boy's best friend is his mother (no other).


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 07:47 PM

Lately, I've been feeling like that snake with the belt problems....


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Skim
Date: 02 Dec 08 - 04:33 PM

My family still sings this song in a version that is yet again slightly different from all of those above:

When horses run around. Their feet are on the ground.
Who wound the clock while I'm away, away?
Run get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chin;
Who cut the sleeves off Grandpa's vest?

While leaning out the window, The second story window,
I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement.
They feed the baby garlic, to find her in the dark.
When Grandpa died Aunt Hattie got his false teeth.

While looking through the knothole of Grandpa's wooden leg,
Why do they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean?
Run get the listerine; sister's got a beau.
They shifted Willie's grave to build a sewer.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Mandy
Date: 25 Nov 08 - 12:04 AM

This is how I grew up singing this song. It has been passed down from generations in my family. It's a family favorite.


The horses run around. Their feet are on the ground
Oh, who will wind the clock when I'm away, away
Go get the axe there's a fly on baby chin
Oh, we hope that grandpa's teeth will soon fit Jenny, fit Jenny.

We're peeking through the knot hole in Daddy's wooden leg.
Why do they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean.
A snake's belt slips because he had no hips.
Oh, why did you go away and leave me, and leave me.

We feed our baby garlic so we can find him in the dark.
A boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.
Go get the listerine sister wants a beau.
Oh, yes we all like baked potatoes, potatoes.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Charles J. Fish
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 10:51 PM

I learned from mother a more condensed version:

"Looking through the knot-hole in Grampa's wooden leg,
Who will wind the clock when I am gone?
Go get the axe, there's a fly on Lizzy's ear,
And a boy's best friend is his mother."


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 07:56 PM

Peace-

I associate the "Fireman, save my child" line with the drinking song "No More Booze" as sung by Oscar Brand and others.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,Sandy in Arkansas
Date: 22 Nov 08 - 07:50 PM

This is the way I learned it in church summer camp when I was a kid. The first two lines of the fourth verse have flown from my brain, so there are asterisks there....

Oh, the horses run around, their feet are on the ground,
Oh, who will wind the clock when I'm away, away,
Go get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chin,
A boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.

Lookin' through a knowhole in grampa's wooden leg,
Why did they put the shore so near the ocean, the ocean?
Feed the baby garlic to find him in the dark,
And who cut the sleeves off father's vest, his vest?

Lookin' out a window, a second story window,
I slipped and sprained my eyelash on the pavement, the pavement,
Go get the Listerine, sister has a beau,
We hope that gramma's teeth will soon fir Jenny, fit Jenny.

**** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** ****
A snake's belt slips, because he has no hips,
And his waistline is just below his necktie, his necktie.

If anyone can fill in those two lines for me, I sure would be thankful.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Peace
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 10:18 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Peeping through the knothole in Father's
From: GUEST,Jo in South Carolina - PM
Date: 07 Oct 07 - 08:52 PM

My mother used to sing this song and started it like this:

Oh, the only girl I knew had a face like a horse and buggy
Peepin down the fire 'scape oh fireman save my child
Oh, the fireman up the ladder went,
The child was bigger than the fireman,
Mother's teeth will soon fit
Hang out the ice to dry.

Oh, I fell out the window, the second story window
Caught my eyelash on the window sill
I feed my baby garlic so we can find him in the dark
Oh, a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.

The horses run around, their feet are on the ground
Oh, why'd they put the shore so near the ocean, the ocean
A snake's belt slips because he hasn't any hips
Oh, his waistline comes just below his necktie, his necktie.

Oh, peepin through the knothole in father's wooden leg
An onion is a husky vegetable, a table
Go get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chin
Oh, who cut the sleeves from father's vest, his vest.

I know there were more verses, it seems it went on forever but I don't remember them all. One line was "Oh who will wind the clock while I'm away, away" but I don't remember the rest.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,cathiwim
Date: 05 Oct 08 - 10:11 PM

Sure do! My father and grandfather both specialize in this sort of stuff. I learned it in the 50's growing up, but my great grandfather used to sing it to my fathers cousins in the 1930s
I remember the tune, but dont' have MIDI access...

THE HORSES RUN AROUND

The horses run around, their feet are on the ground,
Oh, who will wind the clock while I'm away, away,
Go get the axe, there's a fly on baby's ear;
Oh, a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.

While looking out the window, a second story window,
I fell and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement,
We feed our baby garlic so we'll find him in the dark,
And a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.

A-peeking through the knothole, in grandpa's wooden leg,
Why did they build the shore so near the ocean, the ocean,
A snake's belt slips, because he has no hips,
And his waistline is just below his necktie, his necktie.


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 08:42 PM

From Digitrad:
THE HORSES RUN AROUND

The horses run around, their feet are on the ground,
Oh, who will wind the clock while I'm away, away,
Go get the axe, there's a hair on baby's chest;
Oh, a boy's best friend is his mother, his mother.

While looking out the window, a second story window,
I slipped and sprained my eyebrow on the pavement, the pavement,
Go get the Listerine, sister has a beau,
Who cut the sleeves off father's vest, his vest.

A-peeking through the knothole, in grandpa's wooden leg,
Oh, who has built the shore so near the ocean, the ocean,
Go get the alcohol, Willy wants a drink,
For grandma's false teeth will soon fit baby, fit baby.

While walking in the moonlight, the bright and sunny moonlight,
She kissed me in the eye with a tomato, tomato,
We feed the baby garlic so we can find him in the dark;
An onion is a husky vegetable, a table.

She spanked him with a shingle, and made his panties tingle,
Because he socked his little baby brother, his brother,
A snake's belt slips, because he has no hips,
And he wears a necktie around his middle, his middle.

@humor @kids @camp
Filename[ HORSERUN
SH
Apr01


Titles, it's been said, are a snare and a delusion


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: GUEST,yes, i do
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 06:12 PM

I fell out a window a second story window
And I caught my eyelash on a sill, a sill
Go get an axe there's a flying baby's mustache
Man's best friend is his mother
You're a liar
I'm another
You've been drinking whiskey
(hiccup) No I haven't
You're uncle bet on a horse named Roy Rogers
Dun dun dun

from my grandfather to my mother to me


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 01:56 AM

Haven't heard the song but I did do a funny line the other night. We were playing for a retirement party and between tunes, the mando player grimaced and showed me the palm of his hand which had a burst blister on it.

"Shovel," he informed me.

I tapped my guitar. "Axe," I said.

Well,I thought it was funny.

Ebbie


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: SeanM
Date: 09 Aug 01 - 12:34 AM

Gah!

I've got it in storage. I think it's either in Lomax's North American Folk Songs or Sandburg's American Songbag (leaning towards Lomax, but as noted, both are in storage).

In the meantime, there's a thread on the song here for your edification and amusement.

I personally first (and most frequently since) heard of it in an old Bugs Bunny cartoon.

M


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: mousethief
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:35 PM

Here is what I remember of the version my mother sang to me when I was a young-un. It's been heavily folk-processed, I think. (Does Ronco make folk-processors? Slices, dices, makes mounds of julienne lyrics?) Ahem. Anyway:

Fell from a window, a second-story window
Stubbed my eyebrow on the windowsill
Go get an axe, there's a flea in Lilly's ear
And a boy's best friend is his mother

Lookin' through the knothole on Grandpa's wooden leg
Who will wind the clock when I am gone?
Go get a flea, there's an axe in baby's ear
And a boy's best friend is his mother

Sittin' on a buzzsaw, a rotatin' buzzsaw
Why is the ocean near the shore?
(I forget this line; sorry)
And a boy's best friend is his mother

Alex


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Subject: RE: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 11:16 PM

Theme song from "The Piano"?


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Subject: Go get an axe...anybody know it?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 08 Aug 01 - 09:01 PM

When I saw the thread title, "A baby fell out of the window", I thought it might be about this song. It wasn't. I looked to see if it was in the DT. It wasn't. Anybody recognize this? It's the way I learned it in Philadelphia in the early 60s, and I'm sure there are other less garbled/processed versions around. I remember that my sister and I used to laugh ourselves into virtual paralysis every time we sang, "Go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's mustache"...

I fell from a window
A second-story window
And caught my eyelash on a sill, a sill
Go get an axe, there's a fly on baby's mustache
A boy's best friend is his mother
(I'm a moron, you're another)
Presents make the heart grow fonder
Peroxide makes the hair grow blonder
Christmas comes but once a season
My father shot a horse
Bang! Bang! Neeeeiiiiighhhhhh!

I could probably come up with a MIDI of the tune, but I doubt it would be worth it....

Aloha,
Mark


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