Lyr Req: Tessy

Subject: Lyr Req: Tessie
From: GUEST,Bluejay Young
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 01:38 PM

Ken Burns' Baseball series, in describing the 1903 World Series between the Red Sox and Pirates, mentioned Boston's hysterical "Royal Rooters" Red Sox fans and their theme song, a pop tune called "Tessie".

There's a bit about it here, and a few of the lyrics.

http://baseballguru.com/jholway/analysisjholway26.html

"Tessie, you make me feel so badly
Why don't you turn around?
Tessie, you know I love you madly,
Babe, my heart weighs about a pound.
Don't blame me if I ever doubt you,
You know I couldn't live without you.
Tessie, you are the only, only, only."

"Tessie" was recorded in 1903 by pop singer Billy Murray, who in 1907 did the first recording of Albert von Tilzer and Jack Norworth's "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". Red Sox fans are thinking of reviving the tradition of singing "Tessie" in hopes of breaking their World Series curse.

Has anyone got the full lyrics and melody? Has it been re-recorded anywhere?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tessy
From: GUEST,Su Rynas
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 01:44 PM

Just to let you know, many popular songs from the early twentieth century were quite short. In some songs, after singing the verse, the melody would be played by instruments, then the verse was repeated.
:-) Keep in mind, it wasn't until the late 1950's that songs longer than 2:30 were even seriously considered for pop airplay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tessy
From: masato sakurai
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 11:16 AM

Sheet music is at Levy:

Title: Tessie, You are the Only, Only, Only.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Words & Music by Will R. Anderson.
Publication: New York: M. Witmark & Sons, 1902.
Form of Composition: strophic with chorus
Instrumentation: piano and voice
First Line: Tessie is a maiden with a sparkling eye
First Line of Chorus: Tessie, you make me feel so badly
Performer: John C. Fisher's Stupendous Production "The Silver Slipper". Sung With Great Success by Mr. Stanley Hawkins.
Engraver, Lithographer, Artist: unattrib. photo of Hawkins; Edgar Keller
Advertisement: ads on back cover for M. Witmark & Sons stock
Plate Number: 5139-4
Subject: Portraits
Subject: Pets
Subject: Parrots
Subject: Courtship
Subject: Distress
Subject: Love
Call No.: Box: 150 Item: 042

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: TESSIE, YOU ARE THE ONLY, ONLY, ONLY
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 10:26 PM

Here's my transcription from the sheet music at the Levy site:

TESSIE, YOU ARE THE ONLY, ONLY, ONLY
(Will R. Anderson, 1902)

Tessie is a maiden with a sparkling eye.
Tessie is a maiden with a laugh.
Tessie doesn't know the meaning of a sigh.
Tessie's lots of fun and full of chaff.
But sometimes we have a little quarrel, we two.
Tessie always turns her head away.
Then it's up to me to do as all boys do,
So I take her hand in mine and say,

CHORUS: "Tessie, you make me feel so badly,
Why don't you turn around.
Tessie, you know I love you madly,
Babe, my heart weighs about a pound.
Don't blame me if I ever doubt you.
You know I wouldn't live without you.
Tessie, you are the only, only, only."

Tessie has a parrot that she loves quite well.
Polly's just a-learning how to woo.
Tessie tells him ev'rything she has to tell.
Polly thinks he knows a thing or two.
Tessie gave a party at her home one night.
Polly said he'd like to sing a song.
Tessie thought she'd never seen a bird so bright,
When Polly started off in accents strong: CHORUS