ADD: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town

Subject: Shanty in old shanty town
From: J F Langan
Date: 22 Jan 97 - 06:46 AM

Would appreciate lyrics: "It's only a shanty in old shanty town The roof is so.....it touches the ground There's a queen waiting there, with a rose in her hair A shanty in old shanty town

Give all my millions(mansions?) if I were a King???? HELP please.

Subject: ADD: Shanty in Old Shanty Town & parody
From:
Date: 22 Jan 97 - 01:49 PM

It's only a shanty in old shanty town.
The roof is so slanty it touches the ground.
Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track.
Like a millionaire's mansion, keeps calling me back.

I'd give up a palace if I were a king.
It's more than a palace, it's my everything.
There's a queen waiting there, with a silvery crown,
In a shanty in old shanty town.

---

There's a corrupt perversion as well:

There's an outhouse among trash in our old back yard.
The roof is so slanty, the seats are so hard.
Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track.
Like a millionaire's mansion, keeps calling me back.

There's one hold for father, another for me.
The third is for mother, the unholy three.
Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track.
The outhouse in our old back yard.

Subject: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics.
From: ambrose
Date: 24 Apr 97 - 02:44 PM

I am in need of the original lyrics to Shanty in Old Shanty Town. Help appreciated.

ambrose

Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics.
From: gargoyle
Date: 24 Apr 97 - 10:31 PM

Do you have any hint of an idea how the lyircs begin?

I have several, some tucked away in corners.

The one sung to me in childhood begins:

"In a little shanty town, t'was on a night like this,"

Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics.
From: ambrose
Date: 24 Apr 97 - 10:42 PM

Lyrics go something like this:

There is a shanty in old shanty town; The roof is so slanty it touches the ground. dah dah da dah dah, etc. A tumble down shack, just a little ways from the railroad track...

Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics.
From: Kevin
Date: 25 Apr 97 - 04:31 PM

Type Shanty Town in the filter box and set the age box for 365 days. You'll find lyrics posted on 1/22/97.

Kevin

Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics.
From: gene
Date: 30 Apr 97 - 03:45 PM

How about this?

It's only a shanty in old shantytown.
The roof is so slanty it touches the ground.
Just a tumble-down shack,
By an old railroad track,
Like a millionaire's mansion, it's calling me back.
I'd give up a palace if I were a king.
It's more than a mansion. It's my everything.
There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown
In a shanty in old shantytown.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 9-Nov-02.

Subject: Shanty and Old Shanty Town
From:
Date: 19 Jun 99 - 10:06 AM

Trying to find not only the words, but also a recorded source for an old Tommy Dorsey song, "Shanty and Old Shanty Town.

Thanks, John

Subject: RE: Shanty and Old Shanty Town
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Jun 99 - 04:27 AM

Hi. You can find the names of countless recordings of this song by searching for "old shanty town" via your search engine. I found so many sites that, not knowing what kind of recording you wanted, I didn't try to identify any of them for you. BUT. Here are the words (from memory, watch out for mistakes!) of the chorus:

It's only a shanty in an old shanty town
The roof is so slanty, it touches the ground,
But that tumbledown shack by an old railroad track
Like a millionaire's mansion, is calling me back
I'd give up a palace if I were a king,
It's more than a palace, it's my everything
There's a queen waiting there, with her silvery hair
In a shanty in an old shanty town.

Good luck - Rita Ferrara

Subject: lyric request
From:
Date: 29 May 01 - 01:06 PM

I am searching for the words to an old song called "Old Shanty Town". I do not remember who sang it or who wrote it, but some of the words are: the roof is so slanted it touches the ground. I would apreciate any help you can give me, thank you,cyberaly

Subject: RE: lyric request
From: Noreen
Date: 29 May 01 - 01:10 PM

shantytown(Klik)

Subject: RE: lyric request
From: Noreen
Date: 29 May 01 - 01:17 PM

Neither link that I found on Google gives any information about the song, apart from it being included in a recording by the brothers creeggan. HTH

Noreen

Subject: ADDPOP: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 05:24 PM

I found an introductory "verse" at Lyrics World, but I was unable to verify whether it is part of the original song:

I'm up in the world,
but I'd give the world to be where I used to be,
A heavenly nest,
where I rest the best,
means more than the world to me.

---

Here are the lyrics I found in Warner's Most Fantastic Fakebook in the World (love that title):

IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
(Young/Little/Siras)

It's only a shanty in old Shanty Town
The roof is so slanty it touches the ground;
But my tumbled down shack,
By an old railroad track.
Like a millionaire's mansion,
Is calling me back.

I'd give up a palace, if I were a king
It's more than a palace, it's my everything.
There's a queen waiting there
With a silvery crown,
In a shanty in old Shanty Town.

The song was featured in the movie, Lullaby of Broadway starring Doris Day and Billy DeWolf (1951). It was a #1 hit for Ted Lewis and his Orchestra, and it was also recorded by Johnny Long.


Words by Joe Young
Music by Little Jack Little and John Siras
Copyright 1932, Warner Brothers

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Judy Cook
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 05:35 PM

my dad used to play it on the piano & sing along.
--Judy Cook

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: greg stephens
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 05:41 PM

What a load of pleasure all guitarist must have felt when they first experienced the joys of playing the chord changes C-E7-A7. And where is used more magnicently than the first line of this tune?

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 07:56 PM

In oral circulation, Putney School, Putney, VT, 1954:

There's a shanty in the town
On a little plot of ground
Where the green grass grows all around, all around.
The roof's so worn,
So badly torn,
That it tumbles to the ground.
It's a little old shack,
And it's set right back
Twenty-five feet from the railroad track,
Lingers on my mind
Most all of the time,
Keeps calling me back
To my little old shack --

Feeling just as sassy
As Haile Selassie --
If I were a king
'Twouldn't mean a thing.
Put my boots on tall,
Read the writing on the wall,
And it wouldn't mean a thing,
Not a goddam thing.
There's a queen waiting there
In a rocking chair,
Blowing her top on some gator beer.
Looking all around
And a trucking on down,
How I want to get back to my shantytown.

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Joe_F
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 08:01 PM

Sorry -- for "kind" read "king". (Vox emissa nescit reverti.)

The commercial versions seems to be missing quite a bit.

---

Correction made in lyrics above.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyrics/Chords Add: A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
From: Genie
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:30 AM

Here are the chords I use for this song:

A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
 (Young/Little/Siras)

         G          B7          E7
It's only a shanty in old Shanty Town.
         A7            A#7*      A7
The roof is so slanty it touches the ground,
                  D                     D7
But that tumble-down shack
            G                   E7
By an old railroad track.
              A                   A7
Like a millionaire's mansion,
       D               D7
Is calling me back.

         G            B7        E7
I'd give up a palace if I were a king.
         A7              A#7*           A7
It's more than a palace, it's my everything.
                  C                      A7
There's a queen waiting there
             G            E7
With a silvery crown,
         Am7        D7                G
In a shanty in old Shanty Town.

I usually do the song rather slowly in 3/4 time, wchich is the way I believe the song was written.  Then I switch to a boogie-woogie, faster 4/4 time and play it again, faster.
 

*  Technically, the chord I slide up to from A7 is not A#7, but I don't know it's 'real name.'  I slide up one fret from A7 (002020) to a variant on A#7 (0030030) and then back down again.

Genie

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Barry T
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 01:45 AM

In big band renditions, the lyrics provided by Joe_F are sung in counter-point to the main tune. While the lead soloist croons the main tune, the 'band' members sing the jazzy melody in the background... much in the same style as was done with the smash big band hit 'Marie'.

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Genie
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:20 PM

I'd love to hear it done that way, Barry. Know where I can find a recording?

Genie

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:22 PM

Look up the Ray Noble version. His big band recordings of 1930-1934 have been re-issued.
George Formby may also be reissued.

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,Barry T
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 02:59 PM

'Looks like it was originally performed (in the counter-point style) by Johnny Long in 1940...

"A young bandleader from North Carolina, Johnny Long, had his entire band sing a parody of the sentimental tune in an up-tempo rendition that became very popular."

There are MP3's on the web, so just search for "Johnny Long" and "MP3". (I can't right now; I'm at work!)

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 03:53 PM

There is a "soundie" of this tune that shows up occasionally on AMC, performed by Little Jimmy Little, who wrote the song--in swing tempo-
This tune was apparently very popular with ukulele players of the time--A couple years back, at an extended care facility in North Jersey, a very elegant black woman confided that when she was younger, she had played the ukulele--here favorite tune? This one, which I was happy to play--she had athritis, and couldn't play any more but she could still sing--

Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town
From: 12-stringer
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 06:58 PM

Bastin's RED RIVER BLUES names this song as part of the busking repertoire of Blind Willie McTell in the 1930s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 02:49 PM

Genie...thanks for the tab. I play this song similiarly, except that I play it in D, your * chord in that key is Bdim, which I think would mean that your * chord in G would be Edim...which worked well when I tried it. As I have to capo in D to fit my voice, I'm going to give your key a try. I liked very much your version of All of Me, too! Thx again for your input.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Genie
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 03:00 PM

Yeah, Mudlark. I just don't do the whole 4-finger diminished chord thing. Is it still called Edim, even though I'm just sliding the 2 fingers of A7 up one fret?

Glad to share chord patterns-- both ways.

(Actually, I usually capo 2, so I'm singing in A.)

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Mudlark
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 05:25 PM

You've got me there, Genie...all I know about chords can be found on my falling apart 35-yr old MelBay chord chart. And I don't see anything on it with the configuration you describe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Genie
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 09:55 PM

BTW, I tried playing the full diminished chord instead of that bowdlerized "A#7" thingy, and I like it better with just the two fingers slid up a fret.

(I do the same thing with the B7 chord in the key of E. And sometimes I slide an A major 7th up and down. Don't know what those chords are called, either.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Louie Roy
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 10:16 AM

Genie,the chord you use A#7 is actually (B flat 7th).Due to artheritic in my wrists I play B flat by barring the 4 string on the 3rd fret and the 1st string on the 6th fret and I use this chord a lot.I also play B the same way except I bar the 1st 4 strings on the 4th fret and the 1st string on the 7th fret.Hope this helps Louie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 10:37 AM

Joe O - the introductory verse was part of the original song. It appears on several lyric sites with it and if you check the 2 entries at Levy (search on shanty does it) the start of the verse if quoted (no sheet music for it unfortunately).

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: Genie
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 10:06 PM

Louie, not having studied much music theory, I can never keep straight how you decide when a chord is X# vs. Yflat. How DO you determine that, anyway?

But the chord I use is not a true dominant 7th. Bflat 7 would be 113131, and what I'm playing is 003030.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,Jay Young
Date: 05 Dec 02 - 01:05 PM

The "If I were as classy as Haile Selassie" version was recorded by the Miller Brothers Orchestra. If it hadn't been for the old Radio SonicNet service (now dead thanks to the RIAA), I'd never have heard it. I'm now trying to find this particular recording on vinyl or mp3.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,jess
Date: 09 Dec 02 - 06:51 AM

what is it like in a shanty town

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,MillieP
Date: 27 Dec 02 - 08:59 AM

to Joe F.
Thank you so much for the printing of the counterpoint lyrics. My Sister-in-law used to sing it that way at family parties but we never got her to write it down. We sang it a Christmas this year and it brought back many happy memories.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town
From: GUEST,Mikie
Date: 09 Oct 06 - 11:04 PM

I just watched a Lawrence Welk show on PBS in which they do a tribute to "sweet bands". They performed "shanty" with the uptempo counter melody. I haven't heard it in 40 years and wondered if I'd ever hear it again. Now, thanks to this blog I have the lyrics to it an I am now on a mission to find a recording of it.

Subject: Lyr Add: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 12:23 AM

Here's the catalog entry from Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

Title: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
Composer: Little, Jack, 1900-1956
Composer: Siras, John
Lyricist: Young, Joe, 1889-1939
Performer: Abe Lyman; Alice Joy
Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons
Place of publication: New York
Date of publication: 1932
Call Number: M1 .D48 Box: 146 Item: 027
Performance Medium: Piano, Voice and Chords
First Line: I'm up in the world, but I'd give the world, to be where I used
Chorus First Line: It's only a shanty in old shanty town, the roof is so slanty
Artist: Harris
Genre: Popular song
Subject term: Home Sweet Home (Home, House, Cottage, Cabin, Hideaway)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can hear a recording of Ted Lewis and His Band performing this song at The Red Hot Jazz Archive. I don't know the name of the vocalist, but I think you might be amused by his verbose style of embellishing the lyrics.

IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
(Young/Little/Siras)

Say, I'm up in the world,
But I want to tell you, folks, that I'd give the whole world
To be back, way, way back, where I used to be,
You know, it's a heavenly nest,
That's where, that's where I rest the best,
And it means more than the world to me.

Oh, say, it's only a little shanty, a shanty in old Shanty Town.
Why, the roof, it's so slanty, it nearly touches the ground.
That tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track,
Like a millionaire's mansion, it's calling me back.

Ah, say, I'd give up a palace, a palace, if I were a king.
Why, to me it's more than a palace, folks. It's my life. It's my everything.
And there's a queen waiting there, a queen, I tell ya, uh-huh, with a silvery crown,
In a little shanty in Shanty Town.

And I've played with the big stars down east and out west,
And I've lived, and, yes, lived like a big star, and I've mixed, mixed with the best,
Ah, but you can turn out those lights, turn 'em out, I tell ya, and take my name down,
And you'll be welcome in my little shanty in old Shanty Town,
Yes, sir!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,Christine Rebbert
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 11:01 PM

I just finished reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", and this song is mentioned several times in it. I was born in Brooklyn and was familiar with almost all of the songs referred to in the book. It made me feel "at home"-ish in a way I haven't felt for years and years... My mom used to sing the jazzy version after the standard version when I was growing up, and I've spent a lotta time tonight searching for those jazzy lyrics. Now I have to memorize it! Who'd-a thunk I'd want to recreate anything that my mother used to do...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,hh
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 01:12 PM

Here's the version I know:

It's only a shanty in our old backyard,
The roof is so slanty, the seats are so hard,
It's hot in the summer, cool in the spring
But oh, in the winter, speed is the thing!
There's one hole for Father, another for me,
The third one's for Mother, the unholy three,
I sit all alone like a king on a throne,
In the shanty in our old backyard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,June-Sth. Cant. Sth.Is. NZ
Date: 25 Sep 11 - 10:22 PM

I heard this old song sung, accompanied by a four string banjo, with vocals & Banjo interludes. Fantastic. Played slow.
Some great fingering/chords etc.
Unfortunately I didn't hear the name of the group.
Would very much like to hear it again as I play Uke & Banjo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 26 Sep 11 - 05:12 AM

One posting above refers to Bruce Bastin's book where it is noted that this song was in the busking repertoire of Blind Willie McTell.
Another blues man /songster who included this in his repertoire was Big Bill Broonzy who also recorded it. I can remember trying to play it his way on my first guitar. Another of Bill's "pop" songs was 'The Glory of Love'. Wish I could play that one the way he did it too.

Hoot

Subject: Lyr Add: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 07:29 PM

Ted Lewis added a bit, but he did include a jazzed-up introduction, absent in other lyrics posted here.
Sheet music lyrics:

Lyr. Add:In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
Music, Little Jack Little and John Siras; Lyrics Joe Young, 1932

I'm up in the world
But I'd give the world to be where I used to be.
A heavenly nest
Where I rest the best
Means more than the world to me.

It's only a shanty
In old Shanty Town.
The roof is so slanty it touches the ground.
But my tumbled down shack by an old railroad track
Like a millionaire's mansion is calling me back.

I'd give up a palace if I were a king
It's more than a palace, it's my everything.
There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown
In a shanty in old Shanty Town.

Played and sung by Ted Lewis and his Orchestra in the film, "The Crooner," 1932.
Later groups included the Ink Spots and Doris Day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: Joe_F
Date: 14 Jan 14 - 08:10 PM

I wonder who contributed that wonderful couplet, "Put my boots on tall, Read the writing on the wall". It seems to appear nowhere but in the version I learned in highschool.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 20 Feb 14 - 07:11 PM

My Dad used to play this on ukulele and these are the words he sang. I never heard it anywhere but from him so I have no idea if he made up this version or if it was popular in the 1920's when he was young:

There's a little old shack
by the railroad track
with the green grass growin' all around, all around.
The roof is so slanty, it touches the ground.
And Alice is there with her silvery gown,
in the shanty, in old Shanty Town.

I'd give up a castle, if I were a king.
I'd give up my mansion, my everything
Just to see Alice there in her silvery gown,
In the shanty, in old Shanty Town.

I've gotta get back to my Sha-an-ty Town.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,margaret
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 11:15 AM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: Joe_F
Date: 08 Nov 16 - 05:57 PM

It seems my version (boots & all) made it to Britain:
http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Shanty_Town.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,Don Robinson
Date: 27 May 20 - 05:57 PM

Something Smith and the Redheads had a recording also. They sang the counterpoint lyrics and then repeated the main lyrics. I haven't heard those lyrics in what seems a hundred years. Do you think you could find them? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 20 - 06:57 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJ4CI4iUkg

That's them singing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 Jun 20 - 09:45 PM

The Internet Archive has a boat load of recordings, by—

Coleman Hawkins and His All American Five
Dan Roberts and His Home Towners
Dick Robertson and His Orchestra
Doris Day with The Norman Luboff Choir & The Buddy Cole Quartet
Edmond Hall and His Quartet
Henry "Red" Allen & His Orchestra
Johnny Long and His Orchestra
Pepi Adorno and His Orchestra
Quaker City String Band
Somethin' Smith and The Redheads
Ted Lewis and His Band

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,BrianW
Date: 13 Jun 21 - 07:11 PM

AFAIK the counterpoint lyrics, including the "boots on tall, read the writing on the wall" come from Slim Gaillard's Royal Rhythm Boys recording in 1939. That version also features Slam Stewart bowing his bass and scatting along with with his riff, a signature of his in many recordings. It was copied by Johnny Long in 1945 as a big band arrangement which included Slam Stewart's riff done for orchestra. Both versions are available on Youtube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Jun 21 - 08:15 PM

https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/inashantyinoldshantytown.html

There's more info on the song at that link, including a list of who did it and when. The 1952 lyrics are there also.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: GUEST,#
Date: 13 Jun 21 - 09:48 PM

Sorry. That should read 1932.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town
From: The Og
Date: 14 Jun 21 - 10:05 AM

Somethin' Smith and the Redheads did a countermelody in 1956 that went something like this...

There's a shanty in a track an' although it's just a shack
There's a G.I. loan, gotta pay it back, the paint's brand new,
But the loan is overdue, and I'm gonna, blow my stack
It's a knocked-out pad, but the neighbors are mad, 'cause the cat next door is a swingin' lad
Out o' my mind most all o' the time, this squaresville settlement's drivin' me mad
I'd be just as sassy as Trigger or Lassie, I wouldn't even pay my union dues
A toast to all, let's have a ball, hi-fi records blow rhythm and blues
Gotta queen waitin' there in a contour chair, gave up rockin' 'cause she's no square
But I'm jumpin' up and down an' I'm actin' like a clown
'Cause I gotta get back to my shanty town