Lyr Req: That's What's the Matter (Stephen Foster)

Subject: That's what's the matter by S.Foster
From: GUEST,sarastro
Date: 01 May 02 - 11:53 AM

hi, I'm searching lyrics of two Stephen Foster songs :

- That's what's the matter - My wife is the most knowing woman

Thanks a lot

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's what's the matter by S.Foster
From: Sorcha
Date: 01 May 02 - 11:58 AM

My Wife
Matter
From:http://www.pdmusic.org/foster.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's what's the matter by S.Foster
From: masato sakurai
Date: 01 May 02 - 12:04 PM

hey both are in the Levy Collection.

THAT'S WHAT'S THE MATTER

Title: Foster's Melodies No.56. That's What's The Matter. Dan Bryant's Celebrated Song.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Written and Composed by Stephen C. Foster.
Publication: New York: Firth, Pond & Co., 547 Broadway, 1862.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: We live in hard and stirring times, too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes
First Line of Chorus: That's what's the matter, the rebels have to seatter
Performer: As Sung by Him With Great Success.
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Wakelam; Engvd. at Clayton's

MY WIFE IS A MOST KNOWING WOMAN

Title: Foster's Melodies. No.19. My Wife is a Most Knowing Woman.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Poetry by George Cooper. Music by Stephen C. Foster.
Publication: New York: Horace Waters, 481 Broadway, 1862.
Form of Composition: strophic with refrain
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: My wife is a most knowing woman, She always is finding me out First line of refrain Oh! my wife is a most knowing woman
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: Warren, Stereotyper, 43 Centre, N.Y.

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: THAT'S WHAT'S THE MATTER (Stephen Foster)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 May 02 - 09:42 AM

Copied from http://www.pdmusic.org/foster/scf62e.txt

THAT'S WHAT'S THE MATTER
(Stephen Foster)

1. We live in hard and stirring times,
Too sad for mirth, too rough for rhymes.
For songs of peace have lost their chimes,
And that's what's the matter!
The men are held as brothers true,
Have turned into a rebel crew.
So now we have to put them through,
And that's what's the matter!

CHORUS: That's what's the matter,
The rebels have to scatter.
We'll make them flee,
By land and sea,
And that's what's the matter!

2. Oh! yes, we thought our neighbors true,
Indulged them as their mothers do.
They stormed our bright Red, White, and Blue,
And that's what's the matter!
We'll never give up what we gain,
For now we know we must maintain
Our Laws and Rights with might and main,
And that's what's the matter! (CHORUS)

3. The rebels thought we could divide,
And Democrats would take their side.
They would let the Union slide,
And that's what's the matter!
But, when the war had once begun,
All party feeling soon was gone.
We joined as brothers, ev'ry one!
And that's what's the matter! (CHORUS)

4. The Merrimac, with heavy sway,
Had made our Fleet an easy prey.
The Monitor got in the way,
And that's what's the matter!
So health to Captain Ericsson.
I cannot tell all he has done.
I'd never stop when once begun,
And that's what's the matter! (CHORUS)

5. We've heard of Gen'ral Beauregard,
And thought he'd fight us long and hard.
But he has play'd out his last card,
And that's what's the matter!
So what's the use to fret and pout?
We soon will hear the people shout,
"Seccession dodge is all played out!"
And that's what's the matter!

Subject: Lyr Add: MY WIFE IS A MOST KNOWING WOMAN (Foster)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 May 02 - 09:44 AM

Copied from http://www.pdmusic.org/foster/scf63x.txt

MY WIFE IS A MOST KNOWING WOMAN (1863)
(Words, George Cooper, 1838-1927. Music, Stephen Foster, 1826-1864.)

1. My wife is a most knowing woman. She always is finding me out.
She never will hear explanations, but instantly puts me to rout.
There's no use to try to deceive her, if out with my friends, night or day.
In the most inconceivable manner she tells me where I've been right away.
She says that I'm "mean" and "inhuman."
Oh! my wife is a most knowing woman.

2. She would have been hung up for witchcraft if she had lived sooner, I know.
There's no hiding any thing from her. She knows what I do, where I go.
And if I come in after midnight and say, "I have been to the lodge,"
Oh, she says while she flies in a fury, "Now don't think to play such a dodge!
It's all very fine, but won't do, man."
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman.

3. Not often I go out to dinner and come home a little "so-so."
I try to creep up through the hallway, as still as a mouse, on tip-toe.
She's sure to be waiting for me, and then comes a nice little scene:
"What? You tell me you're sober, you wretch, you! Now don't think that I am so green!
My life is quite worn out with you, man."
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman!

4. She knows me much better that I do. Her eyes are like those of a lynx,
Though how she discovers my secrets is a riddle would puzzle a sphinx.
On fair days, when we go out walking, if ladies look at me askance,
In the most harmless way, I assure you, my wife gives me, oh! such a glance,
And says, "All these insults you'll rue, man."
Oh, my wife is a most knowing woman.

5. Yes, I must give all my friends up if I would live happy and quiet.
One might as well be 'neath a tombstone as live in confusion and riot.
This life we all know is a short one, while some tongues are long, heaven knows,
And a miserable life is a husband's who numbers his wife with his foes,
I'll stay at home now like a true man,
For my wife is a most knowing woman.

Subject: Stephen Foster Songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 May 02 - 11:59 AM

It's always worth taking a look at the Public Domain Music site that Jim posted the URLs for. Benjamin Robert Tubb has done admirable work, transcribing lyrics and tunes from 19th-century songwriters like Foster and Work.
Can't say I like some his MIDI arrangements all that much, but at least they give you a good idea what the song sounds like.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: That's what's the matter by S.Foster
From: GUEST,sarastro
Date: 03 May 02 - 01:26 PM

thanks a lot to everybody, this was obviously easy to find, I shall really search next time best regards sarastro