Origins: Where Did You Get That Hat?

Subject: LYR REQ: Where did you get that hat?
From: judy
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:02 PM

I was (finally) watching a tape of a show about Cecil Rhodes aired on my local PBS show and heard a song I'd learned a while back "Where Did You Get That Hat". Does anyone have all the verses?

chorus:
Where did you get that hat?
Where did you get that tile?
Isn't it a nappy one,
And just the proper style
I would like to have one
Just the same as that
Wherever I go, people shout "HELLO!
Where did you get that hat?"

We've used the tape since but I've got (only) the chorus in my head

Thanks in advance
enjoy!
judy

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Where did you get that hat?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 12 May 98 - 02:23 PM

How I came to get this hat is really kind of funny:
My grandpa died and left to me his property and money,
But when the will it was read out, they told me straight and flat--
If I would have his money, I would have to wear his hat. CHORUS

Now when I go to the opera house all in the opera season,
Someone's sure to shout at me without the slightest reason.
And when I go to a chowder club to get a bite to eat,
Someone in the party is sure to shout at me: CHORUS

[There's a third verse, but I don't recall it now: it's been a long time since I performed this.]

Hope this helps a bit, at least.

Bill

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Where did you get that hat?
From: judy
Date: 13 May 98 - 12:03 AM

Thanks SO much!

enjoy! judy

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Where did you get that hat?
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 13 May 98 - 02:17 PM

Judy:

THIRD VERSE!

At twenty-one I thought I would to my sweetheart be married;
The people in the neighborhood had said too long we'd tarried.
So off to church we went right quick, determined to get wed;
I had not long been in there, when the parson to me said: CHORUS

Words & music by J.J. Sullivan. "Sullivan, comedian and acrobatic dancer, home for vacation and searching in the attic for possible make-up material, came across an old plug hat, too small for his head and absurdly tall for his short, plump figure. Wearing it, he ventured into the street and was ridiculed and jeered at by a group of small boys, who yelled: 'Where did you get that hat?' The phrase gave him the title for his celebrated song, one of the best-remembered hits of 1888, which for years after was sung and played everywhere." (From "Songs of the Gilded Age," by Margaret Bradford Boni).

Subject: Lyr Add: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 May 98 - 01:22 AM

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?
(Words and music by James Rolmaz)
(Copyright by Francis, Day & Hunter, Ltd.)
(From "Music Hall Song Book, by Peter Gammond, 1975)
(Not dated, but from the 1890's chapter)

Now how I came to get this hat, 'tis very strange and funny,
Grandfather died and left to me his property and money;
And when the will it was read out, they told me straight and flat,
If I would have his money, I must always wear his hat.

CHORUS:
"Where did you get that hat? Where did you get that tile?
Isn't it a nobby one, and just the proper style?
I should like to have one Just the same as that!"
Where'er I go, they shout "Hello! Where did you get that hat?"

If I go to the op'ra house, in the op'ra season
There's someone sure to shout at me without the slightest reason.
If I go to a concert hall to have a jolly spree,
There's someone in the party who is sure to shout at me: CHORUS

At twenty-one I thought I would to my sweetheart get married;
The people in the neighbourhood had said too long we'd tarried.
So off to church we went right quick, determined to get wed;
I had not long been in there, when the parson to me said: CHORUS

I once tried hard to be M.P. but failed to get elected,
Upon a tub I stood, round which a thousand folks collected;
And I had dodged the eggs and bricks (which was no easy task),
When one man cried, "A question I the candidate would ask!" CHORUS

When Colonel South, the millionaire, gave his last garden party
I was amongst the guests who had a welcome true and hearty;
The Prince of Wales was also there, and my heart jumped with glee,
When I was told the Prince would like to have a word with me. CHORUS

Here's what the songbook says:
"Where Did You Get That Hat?" written by James Rolmaz, was the one great success of its original singer J.C. Heffron, who died in 1934. His name would hardly be remembered today were it not for that immortal catch phrase. The touch of topicality so often found in music-hall songs in the owner's meeting with the Prince of Wales (a popular subject himself) whom he met at the last of Colonel South's garden parties. The Prince (later Edward VII) was fond of using the phrase and was said to have once directed it at the Archbishop of Canterbury.
I can't figure out why this is attributed to two different songwriters. The text above makes me believe that Rolmaz must have been the songwriter.

I typed up a tune on Noteworthy Composer, but I couldn't get it to convert on Alan's MIDITXT program. I'm going to send it to him and see if he can fix it.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: Tune Add: WHERE DID YOU GET THAT HAT?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 May 98 - 03:16 AM

Well, apparently MITXT doesn't like common time, but it worked when I did it in 4/4. Here's the tune:

ABC format:

X:1
T:Where Did You Get That Hat?
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
GCCEGccc|ccGFEED2|-DDDD/2D/2DAdd|dcBGABAG|
-GGecdBcA|GEFGAcD2|-DECCEGcc|cGEFEDC2|-C2C2EGcc|
cccGECD2|-D2DDFAdd|dcBGA^FG2|-G2ecdBc2|G2AcGED2|
-DDCCEGAA|GFEGFDC2|-C3/4||

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Where did you get that hat?
From: judy
Date: 20 May 98 - 01:20 AM

Thanks, Joe for the extra verses, tune and the authorship dilema. Maybe someone out there has a third source and we can choose best two out of three

enjoy!
judy

Subject: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From:
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 08:58 PM

Am looking for the lyrics to a tune called "where did you get that hat" it's from around the 1880's in England. Anybody know it?

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: alison
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 09:01 PM

Where did you get that hat?
Where did you get that tile
Isn't it a nobby one and just the proper style
I should like to have one
Just the same as that
wherever I go they shout "Hello,
Where did you get that hat."

there are probably verses.....

welcome to mudcat

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: alison
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 09:13 PM

I knew there were verses..... allan C has found an older thread

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: Chris Seymour
Date: 12 Apr 00 - 10:51 PM

Bob Carlin has recorded this song, I believe. He has a website somewhere, too, I believe. I'll look for it and come back when I've found it.

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: Chris Seymour
Date: 13 Apr 00 - 10:32 PM

Well, I can't find Bob Carlin's website. Tried three or four different search engines and didn't find it. Nuts.

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From:
Date: 14 Apr 00 - 06:50 PM

Yes, obviously there are verses, and you will find them all at the earlier thread to which Alison has referred you.

But if the verse lyrics are not bad enough on their own, the song also includes spoken words (see below.

They don't write em like that anymore, thank God. Tune and words are definitely down to James (sometimes called Charles) Rolmas (sometimes spelt Rolmaz). No idea why Margaret Bradford Boni credited J J Sullivan.

After Verse 1 Spoken: And everywhere I go, everyone shouts after me:

After Verse 4 SPOKEN: I told him that I was ready to reply to any qustion that could be put to me. The man said: "Thousands of British working people are anxiously awaiting enlightenment on the subject on which I am about to address you. It is a question of national importance, in fact; THE great Problem of the day - and that is, Sir: After verse 5 SPOKEN: I was immediately presented to His Royal Highness, who immediately exclaimed:

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: Chris Seymour
Date: 18 Apr 00 - 09:57 PM

And here, if you've been anxiously awaiting it (and even if not) is the website of Bob Carlin:

www.cartunesrecordings.com

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: GUEST,tina mitchell
Date: 16 May 05 - 05:38 AM

Lyrics can all be found in 'The Jolly Herring' pub A&C Black ISBN 0 7136 2095 1 / 0 7136 2094 3

Subject: RE: lyrics to 'where did you get that hat
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 16 May 05 - 12:54 PM

Come now, Peter Kirker, it's a pretty good song, isn't it? And considering it is a commercial music hall number, written by no one of note and sung by no one in particular, it is quite remarkable that it is still current and fairly widely known after 117 years. And I've seen and heard it work on a modern audience.

Kilgarriff notes that authorship was claimed on both sides of the Atlantic in 1888. The American J J Sullivan certainly sang it, but the credit (or blame, if you prefer) for the song probably rests with Rolmaz and his London publishers Francis Day and Hunter.

Subject: Recording - Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: GUEST,William
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 04:40 PM

Is anyone able to help me!? I am after a recording of Where Did you Get that Hat which exists on a now lost '78. It was recorded sometime between 1930 and 1950 I think, and is sung in a clipped English accent, and has a political speech in the middle to which someone answers something along the lines of "yes, but the burning question of the day is...Where did you get that hat etc", sung by a male chorus.

Does this ring any bells? My fiance and I are getting married on the 12th August, and would dearly love it as our first dance (! well it beats Barry White anyday) and would much appreciate any help...

Thanks in advance for any tips!

William

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: Beer
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 05:13 PM

My goodness, I haven't heard that song since Mum was dressed up as a man in a variety show. I was 4-5 years of age at the time and I am now 59.
Thanks for the memories.
Beer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: Big Mick
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 05:22 PM

Google gives you any number of hits for the lyrics, broadsides, and a couple of recordings.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: GUEST,Bob Bunting
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 05:10 PM

Ok, here is more info.
The song was published originally about 1880 in Scotland, and was popular in America. J.J. Sullivan was probably not the original songwriter, and James Rolmaz rewrote the song again with added lyrics about the Prince of Wales for music hall performances in 1901.

I am sure the song was popular in Tombstone, Arizona by 1881, because it was involved in a shooting late in the year.

The short version--A man who had been drinking bought a new shirt, which was loud in color, with garish stripes. He put it on in the store, and everyone on the street began teasing him as in the song, with "Where Did You Get That Shirt?"

At first he thought i was funny, but as it went on, he became angry, and was heard to mutter, "the next sonofabith who says that is going to get shot." And, as luck would have it, his best friend, equally tipsy, walked up to him, and asked the fatal question. The man drew his gun, and fired twice at his friend, who fired back, but at the third shot was struck in the mouth and was killed.
Reported in the Tombstone Epitaph

Great history on this little ditty!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 06:39 PM

Correct me if I am wrong---but did not Donovan record a version?

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: Stewart
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 07:38 PM

Ann Hills recorded it on Never Grow Up
It's a great CD.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: iancarterb
Date: 03 Nov 06 - 11:23 PM

There is a fragment of it on The Warner Collection cd. I'd write it out but the cd is at work and I'm not. carter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 05:53 AM

There is a recording of the song on CD by would you beleieve ace five string banjo player Bob Carlin. Don't have label or number at present but it shouldn't be difficult to locate.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: GUEST,GBR
Date: 21 Aug 08 - 06:22 PM

Stanley Holloway certainly recorded it, since that's where I learned it (all the verses except the MP one were on it). My version was on a cassette, but my guess is that it was copied from a 78.

Many others were there, too: Down at the Old Bull and Bush; I was Walking through the Park, one day; Any Old Iron? She's my Lady Love,
etc.

If any one can locate that 78, I'd be very grateful.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Where Did You Get That Hat?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Dec 10 - 10:00 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4Kuu-FnB20