Subject: RE: Origins: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Richard Mellish Date: 13 Jan 23 - 04:28 AM I suggest that They met in a forest place, should be They met in a forest glade, to rhyme with And drank pink lemonade |
Subject: ADD Version: Animal Fair (from Tex Ritter) From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Jan 23 - 01:18 AM I really like the Tex Ritter version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q3EmqLX7GE ANIMAL FAIR (from the singing of Tex Ritter) I went to the animal fair, The birds and the beasts were there, The big baboon by the light of the moon, Was combing his auburn hair, The monkey lit some punks, And burned the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, And that was the end of the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk. I went to the animal fair, The birds and the beasts were there, A Kangaroo from Kalamazoo, Sat down in a rocking chair, The monkey sat ker-plunk, Right on the elephant's trunk, The elephant coughed and fell in the trough, And that was the end of the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk. I went to the animal show, Where all of the animals go, A tall giraffe was making me laugh, A' yellin' look out below, The monkey pulled a chunk, Of hair from the elephant's trunk, The elephant snored, fell down on the floor, And that was the end of the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk. I went to the animal park, And the beasts from Noah's ark, Had gathered all and were havin' a ball, One day when the moon was dark, They met in a forest place, And drank pink lemonade, They laughed and talked and hooted and squawked, And here is the sound they made, They made, they made, they made, they made, they made, they made. (Animal Noises) I went to the animal zoo, To call on a gnu I knew, For the gnu I knew was new, And knew all the news on the avenue, The gnu said how do you do, And I said how are you, The gnu said, Eww I got the flu, Ka-choo, Ka-choo, Ka-choo, Ka-choo, Ka-choo, Ka-choo, Ka-choo. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Jim Leahy Date: 12 Jan 23 - 06:16 PM I'm amazed no one has mentioned the Jesse Fuller version here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ku7GxWyXc |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Senoufou Date: 24 Aug 16 - 03:59 AM We sang this in the Brownies (early fifties) The monkey (NOT a monk!) didn't get drunk, that wouldn't have been PC for Brownies to sing. He fell out of his bunk. We were split into two sides, and when the first side finished the verse, they just kept repeating the word 'monkey,monkey monkey..' while the others sang. We adored that bit. I can't imagine what a blooming MONK would be doing there! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST Date: 24 Aug 16 - 12:10 AM Mother added a verse: I went to the Animal Fair and OH what a crowd was there! The whiffle-ma-poof with snaggely toof (tooth) and Dizzy, the Dancing Bear. I saw a pink giraffe, but the thing that made them laugh Was when Mr. Monk bought the elephant's trunk For a dollar and a half (a half - a half - a half) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Indira Date: 24 Sep 12 - 06:00 AM My husband and I were watching the TV show called "Monk" the other day, and for some reason, the last line of the song, "And what became of the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk" came to mind. At the time I couldn't remember the rest of the song (or even the title), but I told my husband that the line was from a song that my mother used to sing to me when I was a young child (in the '50s in Minnesota). My husband (who grew up in California in the 50s, like the originator of this thread!), had NEVER heard the song before. He seemed to think I was just making it up on the spot! So while it's a song with a LONG history, apparently not everyone of that generation has heard of it! The next day I remembered some of the rest of the words of the song, and then I finally Googled to find out the rest of the lyrics. It has been fun reading everybody's comments on this website!! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Marisa Date: 20 Oct 11 - 12:25 AM I am from the US and I had a small "golden book" called Animal Fair that had this song in it and at the end of the book it had a sheet music that went along with the song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Bob Coltman Date: 28 Apr 11 - 01:39 PM The following seems like a pop-song attempt to extend the basic lyric, but it's quite old. Found in Wehman's Songster #7, which was published probably in the mid-1880s. That would make it roughly contemporary with Thomas Talley's printed version. Found at http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/songster/07-the-antmals-fair.htm Now listen to my lay, I'll do my best to please you, The song I'm going to give is a popular kind of thing, I had a dream, and It did seem to me so very queer, The birds and beasts they had a fair, and I was overseer. Chorus. "Twas at the animals' fair, all birds and beasts were there, The gay baboon, by the light of the moon, he combed his auburn hair, The monkey he got drunk, and fell on the elephant's trunk; The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, now how was that for the monk? The jay-bird played the flute, the muskrat took the fiddle, The Tom-cat he did prompt, as he tuned his light guitar, The alligator hugged the bull-dog's wife, the bear got up his dander, The camel smashed the fox In the eye, and thumped the nose of the gander. The bear began to cry, the crocodile wiped his eye, The fox he took a walk with the goose, the spider eloped with the fly, Says the 'skeeter to the flea, "This is no place for me," The horse-fly stung the tiger's nose, and the lion swallowed the bee. The rabbit passed the beans, the squirrel passed potatoes, There was fish-balls made of mud, and cobblestone succotash, There was nice green peas from button-ball trees, grape soup and peanut salad, The pig he cried, "Root hog, or die!" and the bull In chorus bellowed. It soon began to rain, and the fair to an end it came, The jackass kissed the elephant's wife, I heard her laugh quite plain The grasshopper jumped up quick, and the kangaroo he did kick, He threw a flip flap up against the fence, and scraped his shins with a brick. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Genie Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:38 AM It seems pretty obvious to me that substitutions of "The monkey fell out of his bunk" or "The monkey bumped the skunk" for "The Monkey, he got drunk" are "politically correct" lines meant for the consumption of girl/boy Scouts, school kids, and the like. Kind of like "Take Me Home, Country Roads" has been incorporated into many contemporary school music books with lines like "Misty haze of moonlight" substituted for "Misty taste of moonshine ... ". Or like, when I was a young'un, our school/church groups on bus rides would sing "Ninety-nine bottles of pop on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of pop. If one of those bottles should happen to fall, ninety-eight bottles of pop on the wall ... ". |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,alice Date: 18 Apr 11 - 02:17 PM My grandfather, who was born in 1896 used to sing this to me - one line was different tho - "the monkey, he got drunk, he stepped on an elephant's truck" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Birds in the wildreness Date: 29 Mar 10 - 05:41 AM I learnt this song as "Down In Demarara" the other verses about wasps in marmalade are clearly a later addition as in the previous version, this stanza served as the chorus. More info here http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=30683 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Lucy, Taplas editor Date: 19 Feb 10 - 07:36 AM "Another favourite was Here we sit like birds in the wilderness Birds in the wilderness Birds in the wilderness Here we sit like birds in the wilderness Down in Alabama" I can remember other verses to that one being "Spuds in the billycan" "Wasps in the marmalade" "Bees in a honey pot" But can't find any other reference to the song. Anyone else remember it? I can remember singing it in third year juniors, the equivalent of Year Five now I believe. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: goatfell Date: 16 Jan 10 - 06:54 AM squish |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:46 AM Anyone Have the music for this as in series of notes sheet music style. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,A Guy Who Remembers... Date: 10 Jan 10 - 08:57 PM I had this song on a casette tape when I was little; it also included (if I remember correctly) "Daisy", so it must've been a collection of public domain songs. What I heard went like this: I went to the animal fair, The birds and the beasts were there; The big baboon, by the light of the moon, Was combing his auburn hair... You ought to've seen the monk; He sat on the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed, and sat on his knees, And that was the end of the monk! The monk! The monk! The monk! I wish I knew who wrote the song. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Richard Mellish Date: 06 Jan 10 - 05:40 PM I note that in a few versions it's the gay baboon. The version that my mother used to sing to me when I was a nipper (1950-ish) had a fairy baboon -- who however was combing her golden hair. That version ended with "What became of the monkey, monkey, monk". Richard |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,My version Date: 06 Jan 10 - 03:04 PM I went to the animal fair, The birds and the beasts were there, The big baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his auburn hair. The monkey bumped the skunk, And sat on the elephant's trunk; The elephant sneezed and fell to his knees, And that was the end of the monk! The monk!!! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair From: GUEST,Bob k Date: 26 Nov 09 - 08:31 PM We had men's quartet (barber shop style) back i9n the '40s when I was in high school and the version I sorta remember went like this: The animals had a fair The birds and beasts were there The big baboon by the light of the moon Combed his auburn hair The monkey he got drunk And climbed up the elephant's trunk The elephant sneezed And fell on his knees And that was the last of the monk, the monk, the monk etc |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,A Nonny Mouse Date: 08 Jul 09 - 02:31 PM Fascinating that this thread has been going for almost eleven years! Anyway, I remember a version from an old 45rpm vinyl record, called I think "3,4,5 Nursery Course", and the words used in that version were: The Animals went to the fair, The birds and the beasts were there, The old baboon by the light of the moon, Was combing his golden hair. The monk(ey) fell out of his bunk, Right onto the Elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, And what became of the monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey..... Then one of the kids said: "Now let's sing it again, and I'll sing monkey all the time!" Whereupon they repeated the song again, but one girl sang "monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey" all the time in the background. How interesting :-) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:03 AM Further to the version I posted back in December '03, and adjusting it slightly (memory was NOT perfect) the following is how it appears in "The Scout Song Book" published by "The Boy Scouts Association" 25 Buckingham Palace Road London S.W.1 (second edition published 1954) The Animal Fair I went to the Animal Fair The birds and the beasts were there, The gay baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his auburn hair; The monkey fell out of his bunk Slid down the elephant's trunk, The Elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, And that was the end of the monkey monkey monkey, Monkey, monkey, monkey, monkey ... Scout traditional Complete with stave notation for the melody line (C Maj in 6/8 time) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,RLE Date: 18 Jan 09 - 07:58 PM I had the 78 RPM record as a kid in the 50's, too. I probably still have it, in storage. It was sung by Arthur Godfrey. I think he got rid of the monkey getting drunk because it was for children. The version I recall is: I went to the Animal Fair; The birds and the beasts were there. The big baboon, by the light of the moon, Was combing his auburn hair. You ought to have seen the monk, He sat on the elephant's trunk. The elephant sneezed, and fell on his knees, And what became of the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, And what became of the monk? On the flip side was The Bull-dog. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Carol Date: 15 Feb 08 - 05:52 PM Oh My Goodness! I've taught this song to my godchildren (now 8 and 7). I remember from my parents as: I went to the animal fair The birds and the bees were there The great baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his golden hair. The monkey fell out of his bunk (boom) And slid down the elephant's trunk (wheeee) The elephant sneezed (achoo) and fell on his knees, And what became of the monkey monkey monkey monkey... They still love it and have to sit on my lap facing me so they can fall through my knees with the "monkey fell out of his bunk" - but it's a bit of a struggle now as my godson is so heavy! Still it brings back such wonderful memories. Thank you for making my day Carol |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Snowy Date: 26 Nov 07 - 07:50 AM My father(who passed in March) sang this song to us from the time we were small. I taught it to my granddaughters recently. What i'd like to know is if the book "I Went to the Animal Fair" has any of the lyrics or is from the same song? I wanted to buy it for her or at least a copy of the music. She is an avid reader and would love to have the book if its one in the same. Thanks. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Ian Mearns Date: 15 Nov 07 - 05:58 AM The Monkey he got drunk |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: MystMoonstruck Date: 09 Sep 07 - 07:12 PM This is my Daddy Claude's version (my mom's father): I went to the animal fair The birds and the beasts were there The big baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his auburn hair. The monkey he got drunk And fell on the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed, and fell on his knees, And that was the end of the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, And that was the end of the monk. My mom, who is nearly 80, said he sang this to her and her two sisters when they were children. He continued his lively performances for the grandchildren. The auburn hair was always a special joke because my mom was a redhead till into her 20s, when her hair darkened; and I've always been a redhead, with coppery tresses when I was little. So, that was always a giggle and blush line since I'd inevitably get my long locks tugged teasingly. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Alice Date: 09 Sep 07 - 07:03 PM that was the end of the monk. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Michelle (UK) Date: 09 Sep 07 - 06:29 PM I went to the animal fair The birds and the bees were there The big baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his auburn hair. The monkey fell out of his bunk And slid down the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed, and fell on his knees, but what became of the monkey, monkey, monkey |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Aug 07 - 08:13 PM Azzizi's post above seems to support a minstrel song origin for this song, which would place the song in the last quarter of the 19th century. Works for me. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 27 Aug 07 - 12:56 PM My mother sang that song to me as early as 1943 or '44. I was but a tot, but I remember it well because I heard it so frequently. The first version of those above was what I remember, save the color of hair, which was auburn, not amber. I was somewhat amazed to see the words in print again, after all these many years. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Beverly Date: 27 Aug 07 - 11:37 AM My father always said............. The Dutchess County Fair The cats and the dogs will be there The big baboon by the light of the moon was combing his curly hair The monkey he got drunk He sat on the elephants trunk The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees And what became of the monk? The drunk? It is so intersting to see how this local fair song evolved from an older rhyme/song. I always wondered where it came from. Thank you all for your interesting tidbits! Beverly |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Apr 06 - 12:46 PM Here's the catalog, in PDF format, of The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Collection at the Library of Congress. It lists the following sheet music: Frederick Johnson, Harry LaForrest and Harley Rosso THE ANIMAL FAIR. Chicago: Forster Music Pub., Inc., 1923. The John Held Band Manuscript Collection at the Utah State Historical Society has the following listing: John [sic], LaForrest, & Rosso. THE ANIMAL FAIR. Forster, 1923. The Louis B. Schnauber/Film Music Society Collection lists it this way: Johnson, Frederick G.; La Forrest, Harry; Rosso, Harley. THE ANIMAL FAIR. Chicago, IL: Forster Music, 1923. 17 parts. "this is the last time" ; novelty Fox Trot descriptive wrapped. The Kirk Collection: Dance Band Index at Indiana State University has this: Title: THE ANIMAL FAIR: novelty fox trot descriptive / <,> Harry La Forrest & Harley Rosso; arr. by Harry L. Alford. Frederick G. Johnson P/P/D: Chicago : Forster Music, 1923. One would hope that librarians and music publishers would at least spell names consistently, but that doesn't seem to be what happens. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Mar 06 - 09:02 AM I just realized that the "Do" in "Casino Do" (in the information I posted above) must be an abbreviation, because it appears many times on the page I took that information from, e.g. "MAJESTIC DO", "ELITE DO", "HOLLYWOOD DO". The entire list is in all caps. I'm guessing it stands for "Dance Orchestra." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair From: GUEST,Tom Bliss Date: 30 Mar 06 - 04:06 AM Our baboon was blue (and he slid out the bunk as above), and half the car had to keep the 'monk ee monk ee' going, while the others sang the verse again till they got to the chant, then it swapped over. Another favourite was Here we sit like birds in the wilderness Birds in the wilderness Birds in the wilderness Here we sit like birds in the wilderness Down in Alabama and you had to keep THAT going while the starboard watch sang Yellow Submarine! (How's that for the folk process?)! And speaking of which - as it's nearly sping in the UK: Spring is sprung, de grass is riz I wonder where dem boidies is? De liddle boids is on der wing. But dat's absoid... De liddle wings is on der boid! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Mar 06 - 12:45 AM The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project lists several early recordings: Finzel Arcadia Orchestra of Detroit, THE ANIMAL FAIR, Okeh #40069, 1923. Casino Do (C.Fry), ANIMAL FAIR, Pathe #10616, 1923. Casino Do, ANIMAL FAIR, Perfect #14189, 1923. Carl Fenton & His Orchestra, ANIMAL FAIR, Brunswick #2683, 1924. W[alt?] Peterson, LAZY OLD MARY-ANIMAL FAIR, Silvertone #8202, c1927. King's Men, I WENT TO THE ANIMAL FAIR MEDLEY, Decca #18195b, 1941. Authorship is credited to "Johnson-Laforrest-Russo" or "Johnson-Laforest-Ross." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,Merle Date: 28 Mar 06 - 08:46 AM I have always been of the opinion that I Went To The Animal Fair was very old, possibly going back to England. The words tend to have that Swiftian flavor wherein politics is satired in children's song. The citizens of England were Catholic and then Henry the Eighth challenged the Pope's authority over him with his six successive wives. The "Monk" is the Pope. The Elephant would be the powerful King of England, Henry the Eighth. The Pope is combing his hair and get's drunk with his power and steps on the Elephant's trunk (excommunicates Henry) whereupon the elephant sneezes (talks back to the Pope) falls on his knees (prays on his own) and "that was the end of the Monk, the Monk, the Monk." In other words the break with the power of the Pope is accomplished by the creation of the Church of England with the King as the chief officer. The last words of Henry the Eighth upon his death was: "The monks! The monks! The monks!" Replies to this may be made to mgraffam@canyoncountry.net. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 22 Dec 04 - 01:53 AM Brown, North Carolina Folklore, vol. 5, The Music of the Folk Songs, has music and the first verse of a version collected in 1920, and mentions a version in ESB 125- Joe Offer has all the volumes of this great work; ask him for the complete reference and song. I wonder how I missed the song in Talley, which I have and have quoted from a number of times. When I posted "Hamburger Fair," I must have looked at the material in "The Traditional Ballad Index" (the date 1927 there, but they didn't check many references) and looked no further. Randolph said his informant got it about 1900, and that was a parody. Some sources say it is a minstrel song. The only minstrel song book available to me of the many issued is the Christy Songster which is on line. It sounds more like a vaudeville song to me. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair From: Ferrara Date: 22 Dec 04 - 01:01 AM Don't know anything about the origins but my father sang it and taught it to us kids. The version, just for the record, was this one: I went to the animal fair All the birds and the beasts were there The big baboon by the light of the moon Was combing his auburn hair. The monkey he got drunk And sat on the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed, and fell on his knees, And that was the end of the monk, The monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, the monk, [repeat at will, but at least four times], And that was the end of the monk. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Azizi Date: 21 Dec 04 - 11:21 PM Hello Q. I've been wandering through old threads and found this one. In Sept 04 you said that the earliest printed version of THE HAMBURGER FAIR [a song like "Animal Fair"] was in 1927. Did you mean that 1927 was the earliest printed version thus far of "Animal Fair" ? I found this one in Thomas W. Talley's Negro Folk Rhymes, originally published in 1922. In the 1968 Kennikat Press edition "Animal Fair" is on page 159-1960. Four days ago I had posted in the Elephant & Hippo thread, and I thought this one would be appropriate for it also. ANIMAL FAIR Has you ever hearn tell 'bout de Animal Fair? Dem birds an' beast wus all down dere. Dat jaybird a-settin' down on 'is [his]wing! Has you ever hearn tell about sitch a thing As whut 'us [was] at dat Animal Fair? Well, dem animals had a Fair. Dem birds an' beast wus dere. De big Baboon, By de light o' de moon, Jes comb up his sandy hair. De monkey, he git drunk, He kick up a red hot chunk, Dem coals, dey 'rose; An' bu'nt 'is toes! He climb de Elephan' trunk. I went down to de Fair. Dem varmints all wus dere. Dat young Baboon Wunk at Miss Coon; Dat curled de Elephan's hair. De Camel den walk 'bout, An' tromped on de Elephan's snout. De Elephan' sneeze An' fall on his knees; Dat pleased all dem monkeys. end of quote. Are there earlier printed versions than this one? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Sep 04 - 08:22 PM Tex Ritter recorded "Animal Fair" with "Born a Hundred Years Ago" on the flip side (10', 78 rpm). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Sep 04 - 08:05 PM Two entries needed. The lyrics at www.hartenshield.com/animalfair.html Animal Fair Lyrics |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Sep 04 - 08:01 PM Oops! read Hartenshield as Barten- www.hartenshield.com/animal_fair_sample.jpg Animal Fair |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Sep 04 - 07:56 PM New verses by William Copper, and partial sheet music, here: Animal Fair Bartenshield group Edition 0419 copyright 2002 William P. Copper. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Zany Mouse Date: 15 Sep 04 - 07:51 PM Yes, I certainly remember it from Brownies, Guides and later teaching it to Cubs. We always sang the last line as: "And that was the end of the monkey, monkey ..." Rhiannon |
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HAMBURGER FAIR (from Vance Randolph) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 15 Sep 04 - 07:31 PM Earliest printed appearance, so far, in Randolph, "Ozark Folksongs," 1927. THE HAMBURGER FAIR I went to the hamburger fair, The birds and the beasts were there, The old raccoon, by the light of the moon, Was combing his auburn hair. The monkey he got drunk, Down under the elephant's trunk, The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees, And what became of the monk? Collected in Missouri, 1927. The singer said that he heard the song in Joplin, MO, about 1900. Randolph, Ozark Folksongs, vol. 3, no, 451, p. 207. Spaeth and others have speculated about animal shows going back to 1854, but no evidence of the song itself. Randolph says an "Animal Fair" text in the Aurora [MO] Advertiser, 1935, is "said to date back to 1895. I would not be surprised if it is found that this song dates to the Chicago World's Fair or the St. Louis World's Fair. Also see "At Barnum's Show," where: The monkey and the Elephant Were playing seven-up. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,jackallemang@hotmail.com Date: 15 Sep 04 - 06:50 PM MOre lyrics can be found in the main title of the 1959 film, Face of Fire. Hard to get, but they are there. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST,sh0r7 13u5 Date: 08 Aug 04 - 01:50 PM This has to be the funniest forum I have ever read! Now sure how I came along to it, but yea! lol. Anyway, I've heard every version that was just mentioned above! I don't think there was a definite version to this song. Maybe made up by a drunk guy, and every-time he sang it, he changed the words a bit, causeing people from different places to know it by different ways. IDK. Anyway, yea, I agree, he ran away with the priest (the monk) to find him some good altar boys also! |
Subject: RE: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: GUEST Date: 26 Mar 04 - 06:33 PM I learned the one where he got drunk too, and at the end it when "and that was the end of the monk, the monk, the monk!" where the monkey's fate is not in doubt by virtue of being smashed by the elephant. |
Subject: RE: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: brid widder Date: 26 Mar 04 - 01:59 PM I also remember this from Guides & Brownies... it was an ANIMAL fair remember...why would a monk be there?.. no it was Monkey... he'd got drunk, slid down the elephants trunk and we don't know what became of him when the elephant sneezed & fell on his knees... but we could guesssshhhhhssshhhhhhssssspppplllllaat |
Subject: RE: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: DonMeixner Date: 26 Mar 04 - 08:08 AM At the ecumenical fair, The nuns and the priests were there Congregations swooned in the light of the moon At the hell-fire preachers there, You ought to have seen the monk, The barrels of wine he drunk, The bishop wheezed as he fell to his knees, To pray for the soul of the monk, the monk, To pray for the soul of the monk. Don |
Subject: RE: what became of the monk? (Animal Fair) From: Nigel Parsons Date: 26 Mar 04 - 05:36 AM Guest: how do you "alter boys" ? or should that read 'altar' Nigel |
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