Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: BobL Date: 31 Jul 17 - 02:40 AM Try this one. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Mrrzy Date: 31 Jul 17 - 01:13 AM I didn't know half this stuff. Also, the Akond of Swat link no longer functions. Not surprising, it was from May '02. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: GUEST,Jack Doughty Date: 30 Jul 17 - 11:00 PM Here's one for those who know some Russian. (русско-английский словарь = russko-angliyski slovar = Russian=English dictionary) Abdul, Ivan and the translator The sons of the Prophet were brave men and bold, And quite unaccustomed to fear. But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah Was Abdul Abulbul Amir. Now the heroes were plenty and well known to fame In the troops that were led by the Tsar. And the bravest of these was a man by the name Of Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. Now Abdul and Ivan once fought a great fight, And each killed the other at last. And Ivan's young son, to record what they'd done, Wrote a poem on all that had passed. Ivan had a girl-friend, a Muscovite maid, A niece of the Great Russian Tsar. She tried to translate his great work, with the aid Of her русско-английский словарь. Their jibes at each other she coped with OK, Her translation was well above par. She managed to find all the right things to say In her русско-английский словарь. But at Abdul's weird weapon, she took a hard look. Thinking "What a strange object you are!" There was naught in the book when she sought for "skibouk" In her русско-английский словарь. In her trouble, she ran to the word "ятаган", Which isn't the same thing by far, But it seemed to her mind 'twas the best she could find In her русско-английский словарь. Some words she did not even have to translate, Like the race of her boy-friend's great Pa. She just had to stick to the same word, "калмык", From her русско-английский словарь. When the leaders came by to see their men die, She paused at the name of the Tsar. "Petrovich? A gimmick! That's his patronymic! Not his имя, not in my словарь!" At the tomb standing by the great river Дунай, She finally gave it up. "Bah! That's enough of this guff! I can't find this stuff In my русско-английский словарь!" A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps 'Neath the light of the pale polar star And the words that she murmurs so oft as she weeps, Are "русско-английский словарь". |
Subject: ADD Version: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Joe Offer Date: 22 Dec 14 - 02:20 AM The Frank Crumit recording is an abridgement of Percy French's second version of the song, which Dick Greenhaus posted above. We can fit only abridged lyrics in the upcoming Rise Again songbook, and I think I like Crumit's version. ABDUL ABULBUL AMEER The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold And quite unaccustomed to fear But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah Was Abdul Abulbul Ameer. Now the heroes were plenty and well-known to fame In the troops that were led by the Czar And the bravest of these was a man by the name Of Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. One day this bold Russian had shouldered his gun And donned his most truculent sneer Downtown he did go, where he trod on the toe Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer. "Young Man" quoth Abdul "Has life grown so dull That you wish to end your career- Vile infidel know, you have trod on the toe Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer". Said Ivan: "My friend, your remarks in the end Will avail you but little, I fear, For you ne'er will survive to repeat them alive Mr. Abdul Abulbul Ameer." "So take your last look at sunshine and brook, And send your regrets to the Czar For by this I imply, you are going to die Count Ivan Skivinsky Skivar." They fought all that night 'neath the pale yellow moon The din it was heard from afar And huge multitudes came, so great was the fame Of Abdul and Ivan Skivar. [As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life (In fact he was shouting "Huzza") He felt himself struck by that wily Calmuck Count Ivan Skivinsky Skivar] The Sultan drove by in his red-crested fly Expecting the victor to cheer But he only drew nigh to hear the last sigh Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer. Czar Petrovitch, too, in his spectacles blue Rode up in his new-crested car, He arrived just in time to exchange a last line With Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. There's a tomb rises up where the Blue Danube flows Engraved there in characters clear "Ah, Stranger, when passing, oh, pray for the soul Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer" A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps 'Neath the light of the pale polar star And the name that she murmurs, so oft as she weeps Is Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. [the part in brackets is not included in the Crumit recording, but I think it's needed to make sense of the story - the fact that each man killed the other is pertinent, dontchathink?] |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Sanjay Sircar Date: 14 Jan 13 - 09:03 AM Dear Mr Offer: Your hatred for yourself will be far outweighed by the opposite emotion you have ispired in at least two of us. My grandmother's record was not RCA, as far as I can remember, so a pre-1927 recording might be opssible. It is the right decade, but the wrong end of it to fit the myth... The sequels are not as good as the original, but they *are* funny... "Grandpa" or "Grampaw" an option for "Grandad", perhaps? Sanjay Sircar |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 14 Jan 13 - 05:10 AM Joe: You may hate yourself for it, but you've given me a few wry smiles over the last ten minutes. I did wonder in the 'Grandson' version: Said the Count to Abdul, "Our grandfathers fought At that war," and his face bore a sneer. "Well I don't know the cause, but my grandfather whipped yours." Said Abdul Abulbul Amir. Is the third line accurate? I haven't seen it before, but grandad would scan better, and avoids using the same long word twice in one verse. Cheers Nigel |
Subject: ADD: Minnie Skavinsky Skivar (Crumit) From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jan 13 - 03:15 AM ....and for the sake of completeness: MINNIE SKAVINSKY SKIVAR (Frank Crumit) I was standing one day in a shop in Bombay, I could hardly believe mine own ear, When a lady in black said, "Charge the whole rack To Mrs. Abulbul Amir." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As I opened my eyes with a gasp of surprise, My nerves got another slight jar. When the clerk said she, "Does thou knowest me?" I am Mrs Stravinsky Skivar." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then said Mrs Skivar, "Well at last here we are," And her voice sounded dangerously queer. "For most of my life I have hated the wife Of Abdul Abulbul Amir." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then Mrs Abdul said, "Nay, do not hate me that way." On her cheek was the trace of a tear. "When Abdul broke ground, it was them that I found His insurance had lapsed for a year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Thou thinkest I'm rich, but I'm sunk in the ditch," Said Mabel (the fairest by far), "When Abdul gave up the ghost I was left at the post With the payments still due on my car." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well it seemeth to me, we are in the same boat, We've been left high and dry on the bar, So why should we quarrel? The fault was not ours," Quoth Minnie Skavinsky Skivar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Well, thou hast taken the wording from my very mouth, We must be good friends always my dear. And you must come to my house for contract some night," Replied Mabel Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh, dost thou play contract?" queried Minnie with joy, Then the gods have sent you from afar. Let's make a date now, for I love it, and how!" Said Minnie Skavinsky Skivar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ That night round the table four people sat down To play contract (and fate stepped in here), For when they cut for partners, 'twas Minnie Skivar Played with Mable Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the evening progressed, (all playing their best) Came a hand that was way below par. Fourth hand, like a chump, said "I bid two no-trump." It was Minnie Skavinsky Skivar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When the hand was played out, they went 600 down. Then I heard someone say with a sneer, "Huh! with a trick and a half – and you bid? What a laugh!" It was Mabel Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Now listen my dear, let me tell you right here – My bridge game is known near and far. All you do is say 'Pass – oh alack and alas.' Why I once played bridge with the Tsar." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With faces so dour, they fought for an hour, As the others stood watching the fray. And though murder was done – it was only with words, So that everything came out okay. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And now every night, they renew the old fight, As two kibitzers watch from afar. And the spirit of Abdul Abulbul looks down, Joined by Ivan Skavinsky Skivar. Source: http://www.irishmusicforever.com/minnie-skavinsky-skavar I think Crumit shouldn't have attempted songwriting.... Hey, there's a YouTube Video I'm gonna hate myself in the morning for having posted these. -Joe- |
Subject: ADD: The Grandson of Abdul Abulbul Amir From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jan 13 - 03:09 AM And now we have.... THE GRANDSON OF ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR (Frank Crumit) On the links by the Bosporus near ancient Istanbul, O'er the fairways with nothing to fear, Went the greatest of those with a driver-like nose Mr Abdul A bulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One day in the clubhouse there came a strange man From a land that was distant and far, And his visiting card bore the name of this bard – Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Said the Count to Abdul, "Our grandfathers fought At that war," and his face bore a sneer. "Well I don't know the cause, but my grandfather whipped yours." Said Abdul Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh you think you're a golfer, Mr Abdul Amir? You think you're a promising star? Well if you play at this sport like your grandfather fought, Lord help you," said Ivan Skavar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Oh you're no Bobby Jones or Frankie Howmet – Why you hold your iron like a spear. You're a count, without doubt, but count yourself out, In golfing," said Abdul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They were matched now, you know, for an eighteen-hole go The prize was a brass samovar. As they strode to the tee, they were wondrous to see, Mr Abdul and Ivan Skavar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ They were evenly matched – you could tell by their shots They made the first ten holes in par. He lived up to his name in this breath-taking game Did Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the fifteenth hole Ivan a bunker he struck He was stroking his way to the clear "How may strokes did you take; were you killing a snake?" Yelled Abdul Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ivan turned each hip, then felt something slip "My braces have parted, I fear." To the sand-trap he flew, while they took in the view Even Abdul Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And so much did he laugh, that he doubled in half; In doubling himself, poor Amir Collapsed and alack, he sprained his poor back Did Abdul Abulbul Amir. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh the boys never ended their classical match For neither could finish their score. Though they ended the game, we can't tell you his name But the referee called it a draw. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oh the bunkers that lie on the fairways at night Do call to all who can hear And this old family feud shall oft be renewed By the grandson of Abdul Amir. Attributed to Frank Crumit Source: http://www.irishmusicforever.com/grandson-of-abdul-abulbul-amir I dunno, I dunno.... |
Subject: ADD: The Return of Abdul Abulbul Amir (Crumit,1930 From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jan 13 - 02:28 AM I really think we need to post the Frank Crumit sequels to "Abdul." ArabKitsch.com has "The Return of Abdul Abulbul Amir": THE RETURN OF ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR (Frank Crumit) By the Sea of Sargossa I wandered one night. The moon it was shining quite clear. For no reason at all I heard someone call For Abdul Abulbul Amir. Now Abdul Abulbul I knew to be dead. The story had spread near and far How he'd lost his life while plunging his knife Into Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. As I pondered, the moonbeams descended quite low, Casting shadows so ghostly and then I discovered that I was standing close by The tombs of these two famous men. Then in the tomb's shadow there rose from the grave The form of a Russian hussar And my skin nearly peeled as he stood there revealed. It was Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. 'Twas he who was calling; I hardly dared breathe. My heart 'most stopped beating from fear When out of the grave, in need of a shave, Rose Abdul Abulbul Amir. "Wouldst speak with me, Ivan?" quoth Abdul quite low. "I wouldst," replied Ivan quite clear. "That quarrel we had, it was all to the bad, Friend Abdul Abulbul Amir." "I've lain here for ages with that on my mind, And that's why I called you tonight." "Well, I'm in the same state," quoth Abdul the Great. "'Twas foolish for we two to fight." "Old friend, thou art blameless," cried Ivan in haste. The fault lie in mine hands alone." But Abdul said, "Nay, it was never that way. The fault was no one's but mine own." "But thou wert the greater! And I but a knave To cast such a truculent sneer." "I said it was ME, and so it must be," Quoth Abdul Abulbul Amir. "Dost think I'm a coward? Not Ivan Skavar! Step forth and I'll slice off thine ear." "O son of a cat, you'll never do that," Quoth Abdul Abulbul Amir. Then once more they battled and fought as before And multitudes came from afar And lauded with cheers these bold Buccaneers: This Turk and this Russian hussar. The ghost of the Czar on a fiery black steed Came rushing to witness the fray While the Sultan sat there in his royal gold chair. 'Twas just like a scene from a play 'Twas just at that moment each sword found its mark And I heard a blood-curdling scream. Then came the surprise, for I opened my eyes And found it was only a dream. The Digital Tradition has a transcription of "Return" here (click). I have good reason to doubt the accuracy of both the DT version, and the version I've posted in this message. And my skin nearly pealed as he stood there reveled???? How 'bout: "And my skin nearly peeled as he stood there revealed"? Text corrected based on a recording by Crumit. --one of the clones |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Joe Offer Date: 14 Jan 13 - 02:22 AM Hi, Sanjay- This YouTube Video dates Crumit's RCA recording of the song at 1927, Victor 20715-B, and this link (click) gives a completely credible documentation of the recording date as April 8, 1927 - release date August, 1927. Mind you, it's entirely possible that Crumit recorded the song earlier on another label. Crumit apparently liked the song. He wrote three sequels: "The Return of Abdul Abulbul Amir", "The Grandson Of Abdul Abulbul Amir", and "Minnie Skavinsky Skavar" -Joe- |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Tiger Date: 13 Jan 13 - 08:32 PM It was "Return of" not "Son of". Sorry. It would have been early 1930's. I'll check my stuff. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Sanjay Sircar Date: 13 Jan 13 - 08:13 PM Does anybody have the date of the Frank Crumit recording, please? It was said that my grandmother brought this back from America in 1924, and a date would clear this up. From "Abdulla Bulbul" to "Abdul a Bulbul" to "Abdul the Bulbul" is a nice set of mutations. Does it "count" as a folksong now, as a result of these and the other changes, accretions etc.? I was told that, like "we'll drink-a drink-a drink to Lily the pink-a pink-a pink" and "The Ash Grove", that in Australia this was one of those songs better known by its obscene parody/parodies than in its original. I never knew the parody-versions of any of them, am grateful for it here, and for the sequel with the widows, of which I had never heard. The Near East, Bombay: all the same general "foreign" clime of comic, posturing heroes ith the codes of honour. Sanjay Sircar |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Tiger Date: 13 Jan 13 - 04:50 PM Joe/Kendall....... I think your "son of" cover was done by Frank Crumit, as was the "Minnie" version. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 13 Jan 13 - 04:38 PM Also the MGM Cartoon is available. The cartoon character looks (as described above) like Grouch Marx, but is given a different name. The words do not appear to exactly match any of the forgoing versions, but I have yet to take the time to fully copy them. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 13 Jan 13 - 04:34 PM As mentioned earlier, there are parodies of this used as beer adverts in the 1980's. Two I couldn't find for my earlier post are now online: Here Now legend lampoons one old humpy galoon, Who loved Whitbread Best Bitter beer. But he got an eyeful of his canny rival One Abdul the Bulbul Ameer. Now that man with his can really shook poor Ivan Thinking drinking from tins irregular. If it's take home he needs let him take home this steed Reasoned Ivan Skavinsky Skavar Oh Abdul had this ploy of a female decoy Fooling Ivan who fools he rejects. Be it draught or in cans well we don't give a *** But the best best needs no etiquette. and Here From the old hist'ry books come two battling bazooks. Count Ivan and Abdul Ameer But on the dot of half five, they knock off feeling dry, And request Whitbread Best Bitter beer. Now Abdul likes his jug in the men only snug, Telling blue jokes not for ladies' ears. While Ivan's lip curls, "Whitbread's best with the girls." And I think the advantage is clear. So we now see Abdul break his 'men only' rule "But at Whitbread they say 'What the heck' Drink with ladies or gents" it makes no difference 'Cos the best best needs no etiquette. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: tritoneman Date: 04 Oct 12 - 05:16 PM I first heard this song on an old Frank Crumit record. I often heard it sung by Diz Disley, Malcolm Price and a few others in the London folk clubs during the late 1960s too. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: kendall Date: 04 Oct 12 - 01:47 PM It's on my new CD titled "Pieces too short to save." |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: GUEST,Mike Buckley Date: 04 Oct 12 - 10:55 AM I recall this song from car journeys in Ireland - my father sang it - this being in the late '60's / early '70's. He would have learned it from a 78 record, which I had for many years and which was one of many Percy French records in the family. Sadly, they are long since gone. That would, I suppose, have dictated the length of the song - and I suppose would account for some of the verses quoted in the versions mentioned earlier not being included. This is how I recall it - and still sing it: The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold And quite unaccustomed to fear But the bravest by far in the ranks of the Shah Was Abdul Abulbul Ameer. If you wanted a man to encourage the van Or harass the foe from the rear Storm fort or redoubt, yon had only to shout For Ahdul Abulbul Ameer. Now the heroes were many and well-known to fame In the troops that were led by the Czar But the bravest of these, was a man by the name Of Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. One day this bold Russian shouldered his gun And donned his most truculent sneer Down town he did go, where he trod on the toe Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer. "Young Man" quote Abdul "Has your life grown so dull That you wish to end your career- Vile infidel, know you have trod on the toe Of Abdul Abulbnl Ameer". Said Ivan:" My friend, your remarks in the end Will avail you but little, I fear, For you'll never survive to repeat them alive Mr. Abdul Abulbul Amneer." "Then take your last look at sunshine and brook, And send your regrets to the Czar By this, I imply, you are going to die Count Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. Then the bold Mameluke drew his trusty shibouk With a cry of "Allah Akbar" And with murderous intent he ferociously went For Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. They fought through the night in the pale yellow light The din it was heard from afar Huge multitudes came, so great was the fame Of Abdul and Ivan Skivar. As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life (In fact he was shouting "Huzza") He felt himself struck by that wily Calmuck Count Ivan Skivnsky Skivar The Sultan drove by in his red-crested fly Expecting the victor to cheer But he only drew nigh to hear the last sigh Of Abdul Abulbul Ameer. Czar Petrovitch, too, in his spectacles blue Drove up in his new-crested car, He arrived just in time to exchange a last line With Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. A tomb rises up where the Blue Danube rolls Engraved there in characters clear Are: "Stranger, when passing, please pray for the soul For Abdul Abulbul Ameer" A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps 'Neath the light of the pale polar star And the name that she murmers, so oft as she weeps Is Ivan Skivinsky Skivar. Mike |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: MGM·Lion Date: 11 Oct 09 - 05:51 AM For the record: a variant of my own. I learned this song just after WWii, in 1946, when I was 14. That year, the recently-founded, all-conquering Moscow Dynamo football team triumphantly toured UK, winning lots of matches, with their famous goalkeeper Tiger Khomich their star. They were of course feted as representatives of our gallant wartime ally agaist the powers of Axis darkness: just about before Cold War was declared. They beat Cardiff City 10-1! Concessions were made as the offside rule wasn't applied in the Soviet league in those days; but even so they did pretty well. Anyhow, I learned Abdul/Ivan/Whoever about then: so it made sense to state in verse 2 that Ivan was "The cream of the Dynamos team"; which, from habit or loyalty or whatever I still do if ever I have occasion to perform it, or even when I just sing it over in my head — & even tho Spartak have now probably taken over from Dynamo as the pre-eminent Muscovite team. Just thought I'd mention it... |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: Abdul Abulbul Amir (Percy French) From: GUEST,threelegsoman Date: 11 Oct 09 - 04:28 AM I was delighted to find the lyrics to Abdul Abulbul Amir by Percy French on this discussion site and even more so to find Frank Crumit's sequels. I have uploaded them all on youtube should any of your readers be interested. (I hesitate to sing the rude version though!!) I first came across the original song in a book of songs a friend had when I was at college and also remember having seen a cartoon version of the story which was accompanied by the song itself. The playlist can be found by following the following link: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BAE9CC2D81EC6EE1 |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Wilfried Schaum Date: 21 May 03 - 10:22 AM From the orientalist's point of view: - Abdullah, usually Abdallah: Servant of God (Abd = servant, Allah can be substituted by any other of his 99 names) - Bulbul, turk. bülbül: the nightingale - Amir, emir: a commander i.e. a military superior from sergeant to general Wilfried |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Steve Parkes Date: 21 May 03 - 09:14 AM Reading through the whole thread again has reminded me of G W Hunt's song of 1878, performed by G H ["The Great"] Macdermott on the British Music Halls: We don't want to fight, by by jingo if we do, We've got the ships, we've got the men, we've got the money too! We've fought the Bear before, and while we're Britons true, The Russians shall not have Constantinople! The song gave rise to "jingo", meaning the brainless patriotism which was still in evidence in the Falklands War, and probably in the current unfortunate business in the Gulf. Leslie Stuart, in his 1895 song "Soldiers of the Queen", has a dig at it: When we're roused we buckle on our swords, We've done with patriotic lingo. We'll do deeds to follow on our words, We'll show we're something more than "jingo" ... It didn't catch on until the first Boer War in 1899, which suggests most people were quite satisfied with "jingo". Steve |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: ard mhacha Date: 21 May 03 - 08:26 AM Martin and Joe, I still believe his daughters, that would be the missing ten per cent Joe. Ard Mhacha. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: MartinRyan Date: 20 May 03 - 04:49 PM He doesn't. Regards |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 08 May 03 - 10:23 AM Joe There's a short biography of French HERE where, BTW, it says he wrote Abdul under a pseudonym, when a student. Far be it from me to be sceptical of scepticism - but I have never heard his authorship of the song questioned in Ireland. Healy can be tolerably vague and unreliable about some things, but his biography is very thorough. For that matter, the alternative would be that French was obsessively claiming it for base or other motives. That seems totally at variance with his known character. Wonder if Collinson, who composed some of his tunes and arranged others, says anything about it? He wrote a book describing a "concert tour" of ireland at the beginning of the 20th c. Don't think he mentions Abdul, of the top of my head. Regards |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Joe Offer Date: 07 May 03 - 11:34 PM I have to say that I'm still not thoroughly convinced that French is the author. Ninety percent sure, perhaps - but there still is a tiny, nagging whisper of incredulity in my mind. The proof of authorship is quite a bit weaker than what we have to prove authorship of other songs. Healy's explanation (above) sounds credible, but I'm still not thoroughly convinced. I learned the song from the Boy Scout Songbook where it was unattributed. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: John MacKenzie Date: 03 May 03 - 04:50 PM Yes but to an old bugger like me the nostalgia of vinyl is sensuous. Well we got to get our thrills where we can........Giok |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: ard mhacha Date: 03 May 03 - 03:18 PM Giok. The cassette is still available in most retailers in Ireland. Ard Mhacha. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: John MacKenzie Date: 03 May 03 - 02:15 PM I just managed to buy an old vinyl of this song, by the aforementioned Brendan O'Dowda for the princely sum of 10p in a charity shop. It's an EP, remember them? It has "Abdul" and "The Oklahoma Rose" [P French] on one side, with "The Hoodoo" [Collison-French] and "That's why we're burying him" [P French} on the other side. It's a bit scratchy but it's nearly 40 years old, so who wouldn't be a bit worn after all that time. It's good nostalgic stuff......Giok |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: GUEST,dcrehr@earthlink.net Date: 03 May 03 - 09:51 AM I found this year-old thread and hope some of you are still reading. I am researching a TV documentary on Dwight D. Eisenhower. Among the facts I have uncovered is that "Abdul" was Ike's favorite song. I believe his son is quoted in one of the books as saying his Dad knew 37 different verses. I wonder if he ever sang the dirty version? Darryl Rehr Los Angeles |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: ard mhacha Date: 15 Mar 03 - 02:19 PM I was listening to a programme on RTE Radio this morning on the life of Irish Tenor Brendan O`Dowda. O`Dowda was a great interpeter of Percy French`s songs, and he stated that he had gone to the London Music Publishers who had all of those years ago pilfered the song. O`Dowda stated, he produced proof that Percy French had indeed written the song while a student at Trinty College in Dublin, The Music Company obliged O`Dowda and credited French with the song. Percy French`s daughters had told O`Dowda that their father in those early days was ignorant of copywrite and after Abdul Abulbul Ameer was stolen, he never made the same mistake again. Ard Mhacha. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 14 Mar 03 - 05:44 PM In the next to last verse, I long ago learned the line about the Danube as ...."where the Danube doth roll", which I believe is probably the original, because it rhymes. Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Jon Bartlett Date: 14 Mar 03 - 05:07 PM Thank you, Nigel. I have "Prose, Poems and Parodies of Percy French edited by his sister Mrs. De Burgh Daly", published by the Talbot Press of Dublin in 1929 (repr. 1954). The book gives 37 titles under "Songs and Poems", 6 under "Parodies", 36 under "Further Songs and Poems" and 8 under "Short Plays and Dialogues". These include all his well-known pieces (Eileen Oge, Shlathery's Mounted Fut, Mountains of Mourne, "Are ye right there, Michael?",, etc.) but there is no mention (in the body of the text or in the introduction by Alfred Perceval Graves) of Abdul. I wonder why this is? Is Healy our only authority for French's authorship? Neither Spaeth nor Sandburg give an author, though Spaeth does give two tunes (did French make them both?). Jon Bartlett |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Nigel Parsons Date: 13 Mar 03 - 04:03 AM Jon: If you see Joe's entry above: Subject: ADD Version: ABDULLA BULBUL AMEER From: Joe Offer - PM Date: 25 May 02 - 12:49 PM You'll see that French is quoted as both author and composer. This obviously gives the origin of the tune, as that does not appear to be queried anywhwere else. The tune was written for the song. Nigel |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Jon Bartlett Date: 13 Mar 03 - 12:51 AM My friend Phil Thomas is desperately looking for information concerning the TUNE of Ivan. Does anyone know whence it comes, and does anyone know any other songs (not close parodies as most of these things are) which use the tune? Many thanks, Mudcatters! Jon Bartlett |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: greg stephens Date: 30 May 02 - 06:27 AM Attempts to localise this song in the Crimean War (or any other specific conflict) seem essentially a waste of time. It is set in the mythical world of conflict between Christian powers (basically Russian) and Islam (basically Ottoman Turk) of the 19th century, and surely that is as close as we need to get. References to the Shah and the Danube in the most standard versions show a vagueness of locality and allegiances: Percy French was drawing on a long tradition of adventure stories, poems, history books, anecdotes and newspaper articles, and came up with a brilliant and enduring parody of the conflicts involved, which is incidentally extremely relevant to the current world political scene. That is surely as far as we need to go. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Nigel Parsons Date: 30 May 02 - 05:19 AM The version Given By John in Kansas, and found from Sandburg (1927) can be dated earlier that that. "The Scottish Students' Song Book" 6th edition (Dec 1897)gives identical words, including the repetition of the last line, as a chorus. No name is given for the author, but the composer is listed as "Ali Baba", with some variations on what I remember to be the tune. The SSSB were rigorous in checking copyright (if possible) and this song appears "By special permission of Mr John Blockley, 3 Argyll Street, Regent Street, London W" Can we assume that this is the person, or firm who had 'appropriated' the song direct from French ? I am not au fait with posting music, but if required I can scan the two pages and send them as an e-mail attachment Nigel |
Subject: Thread Drift: Edward Lear & Newman Levy From: Haruo Date: 29 May 02 - 07:33 PM The Akond of Swat Reminds me of the mighty bailiff of the caliph of Kelat in the Newman Levy song "Bluebeard" (also in the DT, here (and with MIDI) but with less certainty in the attribution... I learned it as a kid from Song Fest, myself. If it is in fact by Newman Levy then it may still be under copyright. Haven't investigated yet. Liland |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Mrrzy Date: 29 May 02 - 12:53 PM I had this by Ed McCurdy, slight variations on the lines and some omitted verses. And the Akond of Swat, if I recall correctly, was a poem by Edward Lear in his Book of Nonsense - who or why or (something) or WHAT is the Akond of Swat? |
Subject: Lyr Add: YE OLDE BALLAD OF SOMETHING OR OTHER From: Joe Offer Date: 27 May 02 - 08:45 PM Thread #43566 Message #640216 Posted By: GUEST,Bob Nelson, with no more cookie ... help! 01-Feb-02 - 04:33 PM Thread Name: Haywire Mac Songs Subject: RE: Haywire Mac Songs I'm going to post another song I know was written by the late Haywire Mac. It was taught to me by Willi Waw Willy, in the fishing village of Westport, Washington, about 1950. I know I've screwed up one line, so I hope that someone out there can correct me. I never wrote the words down, so this is all from memory ... I've never heard it it sung by anyone and I've never seen it in print. This is a wonderful parody of Abdull the Bull Bull Ameer. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: dick greenhaus Date: 27 May 02 - 12:33 PM Here's the version that French's estate finally got copyrighted: ABDUL ABULBUL AMEER Later version of the original
The sons of the Prophet are brave men and bold
Now the heroes were many and well-known to fame
One day this bold Russian shouldered his gun
Said Ivan:" My friend, your remarks in the end
Then the bold Mameluke drew his trusty shibouk
As Abdul's long knife was extracting the life
Czar Petrovitch, too, in his spectacles blue
A Muscovite maiden her lone vigil keeps |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 May 02 - 10:19 AM You mean, Willie-o, that anyone who sings Abdul is likely to be an overblown patriarchal bullshitter? Or just that the song is about those kind of people? |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Willie-O Date: 27 May 02 - 09:33 AM There's a bit in the movie "Alice's Restaurant" where the "lord of the manor", Ray, sings part of Abdul Abulbul Amir while renovating the interior of the building. Quite appropriate to his character, since he is portrayed in the movie as an overblown patriarchal bullshitter. WO |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: kendall Date: 27 May 02 - 09:11 AM I first learned this song when I was in grammar school; and, the line I learned was...he could sing like Caruso both tenor and bass..spanish guitar etc. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 May 02 - 08:48 AM John Lawrence Toole Well, he waspopular during the Crimee. But also in 1877.
And since Percy French was only born himself in 1854, I think it's a lot more likely he was thinking in terms of the war that started in 1877, the year it was published. |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Tiger Date: 27 May 02 - 07:37 AM Frank Crumit also sings this sequel. Minnie Skivinski Skivar
I was standing one day, in a shop in Bombay.
As I opened my eyes with a gasp of surprise
Then said Mrs. Skivar, "Well at last here we are."
Then Mrs. Abdul said "Nay, do not hate me that way."
"Thou thinkest I'm rich, but I'm sunk in the ditch,"
"Well, it seemeth to me, we are in the same boat, We've been left high and dry on the bar.
"Well, thou hast taken the wording from my very mouth.
"Ooo, dost thou playest contract?" Quered Minnie with joy.
That night 'round the table, four people sat down,
As the evening progressed, (all were playing their best)
When the hand was played out, they went 600 down.
"Now listen, my dear, let me tell you right here -
With faces so dour they fought for an hour,
And now every night, they renew the old fight, |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Nigel Parsons Date: 27 May 02 - 07:10 AM The song was also made into a "Looney Tunes" cartoon in the early 1940s, with a cartoon Groucho Marx narrating the fight as an outside broadcast. Can anyone confirm whether it stuck to the original words ? or, if not, can the replacement words be noted ? The song would,presumably, have still been in copyright at that time. Do the titles credit the author? or was it treated as 'Traditional'. Anyone got it on video and care to comment please. Nigel |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Nigel Parsons Date: 27 May 02 - 05:29 AM As Gareth has already pointed out, this oft parodied song has been used as a beer advert: Whitbread Best Bitter advert, 1982 This was a parody on Abdul Abulbul Amir. One of a series of two or (possibly) three. The first concerned our two combatants arguing over whether beer should be drunk in "The Bar" which tended to be men only, and suitable for telling 'blue' jokes; or in "The Lounge" where one has the benefit of the presence of ladies. The second is shown below, and was found, complete with video, at Whitbred Ad Whitbread Best Bitter advert, 1982 Now stories are told of a brave man of old Whose interest was Whitbread best beer But he new a klutz who drove him nearly nuts That was Abdul the Bulbul Amir Now that snake in the grass was a pain in the neck Claiming Whitbread tastes best from the jar, And this man most irate, with his own glass quite straight Was Count Ivan Skavinsky Skavar. Well those boastful old goats went out canvassing votes But one thing they both did forget, Be it straight glass or jar, Whitbread's not particular, 'Cos the best "Best" needs no etiquette. Nigel |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: Haruo Date: 27 May 02 - 01:42 AM But the bravest of all was a man, I am told, named... Liland |
Subject: RE: DTStudy: ABDUL ABULBUL AMIR From: GUEST Date: 27 May 02 - 12:29 AM Consult the Rugby Song Thread |
Share Thread: |
Subject: | Help |
From: | |
Preview Automatic Linebreaks Make a link ("blue clicky") |