Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)

Subject: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:26 PM

I am looking for the lyrics of a song, probably a dance, called "The Boopsadaisy". It could be about 70 years old.Would appreciate any replies.
Cheers,
Pete.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 10:28 PM

Hi, Pete - a preliminary search indicates that the name of the song may be "Boompsadaisy," but that's as far as I got. This page has it listed, but I haven't figured out how to get deeper information without buying the entire discography.
This page has it in Swedish. Is that good enough? [grin]. Words and music by Annette Mills, 1938. There's an online recording here (click), such as it is.
This Arthur Murray Dance Dictionary says

BOOMPS-A-DAISY: A dance similar to the Lambeth Walk. The dancers bump hips at regular intervals. It is performed in Waltz time to one special tune. 1940.

This Google Search may help you find it - I'd better cook dinner for my starving family.
Oh - take a look at this page about 1930's fad dances.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: BOOMPS-A-DAISY
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 10:45 PM

G'day GUEST Pete,

I guess the song you are looking for is Hands knees and Boomps-a-Daisy. I remember doing the song and dance when I was a kid in the 50s, but though the tune is still with me, my lonely brain cell can't recall the details. A Google search on "Boomps-a-Daisy" brought up sevral discographis with the song included, and the following verse.

Hands knees and Boomps-a-Daisy!
I like a bustle that bends
Hands knees and Boomps-a-Daisy!
What is a boomp between friends?
Hands knees now don't be lazy
let's make the party a WoW!
And it's hands knees and Boomps-a-Daisy!
Turn to your partner and bow - Bow Wow!

Alas, the 'intermediate' lines don't ring a bell, or prtod my memory - but it does fit the tune and theme I remember. All I recall of the dance is on HANDS you clap, on KNEES slap said item of anaotmy on BOOMPS bend over, sticking your bottom out as far as possible.

Undoubtedly some of our more erudite 'Catters' will come up with more help.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Joybell
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 10:46 PM

This site gives the instructions for the dance/game. It says you can see the dance in the film "flottans glada kavaljerer" ("happy knights of the fleet")
The words as we sang it, in school in Melbourne, in 1950 began:

Hands knees and boomsadaisy
I've got a bustle that bends....

and finished with:
... turn to your partner and bow! Bow! Bow!

We danced it pretty much the way the Swedish site explains it. If nobody comes up anything I'll try to remember the rest of the words and be back. Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 10:51 PM

G'day Joe,

Trust you to whip in with 'blue clickies' while I was composing my post. Go and boil an iceberg for the family dinner to make sure they don't get obese.

Cheers - Sam - chuckling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Joybell
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 10:54 PM

A little cross-posting here. Well Sam you were a little kid in 1950 too. We turned around and bumped bottoms at the boomps-a-daisy line. We did the dance at our school ball. We were five years old and the grown-ups thought it was soooo cute when we bumped each other over. I didn't like being laughed at I remember. AND the boys took great delight in bumping us onto the floor. Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boopsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 11:04 PM

G'day Joy,

YUP. it was the same here in NZ - How did you translate the Swedish page on the motions? My interpretation was more like going through the motions.

BTW - go and cook your family's lunch. Ain't Time Zones grand?

Cheers - Sam - Stewart Island (NZ)

PS - "Take me back to 1950 - I'm Lost!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Joybell
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:47 AM

Hello Sam, I've got a secret weapon. My true-love spent some years in Sweden and speaks and reads the language. He was also a linguist until he dropped out. Very handy.
AND he just informed me that they did "Hands knees and etc." at Harvard! Who would have thought that Hutton Street State School and Harvard had something in common.
1950 Ah! a great year. Joy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Cool Beans
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 10:29 AM

There are verses, too, but I can't remember all the words. You can find the whole song on Sharon, Lois and Bram's CD "Elephant Party." SL&B do kids' songs and they're wonderful.

The intro begins
In the naughty nineties, ladies were so gay..

The middle verse ends with:
Grandpa says boomping is shocking,
You might show a glimpse of your stocking.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:23 AM

Words by Hans Neesund

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 08:36 AM

BOOMPS-A-DAISY was used in the 1938 Broadway musical "Hellzapoppin'" which became a film in 1941.

It is performed by Jack "Trump" Doyle and His Aces of Rhythm on the various-artists compilation "A V.-E. Day Party," Pearl CD 7063.

It is also performed by Sharon, Lois and Bram on the kids' album "Elephant Party," 1996.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: Compton
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 06:28 PM

As a small lad me auntie Min had a 78 of Annette Mill singing this....She used to be on early tele with Muffin the Mule...which, of course was illegal in them days!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 07:43 PM

During the second world war there were a large number of Norweign sailors stationed in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia - as a safe haven. This was from 1939 to 1945. many of these sailors came to the local dances and some always wanted to dance the Boompsadaisy. This was very popular with the young ladies as it was somewhat of a contact dance and quite daring from the more formal waltz and old time squares of the area; requiring clapping of hands, knees and hips or the rear atonomy , depending on how agressive the dance got. I cannot remember the tune these days, but seems it was in 3/4 time and we were taught it at the time by a Norweign accordion player.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: teech
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 03:17 AM

On behalf of my friend, Pete, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who replied to my request for information about the song, Boomps-a-daisy, which we asked about early this month. We were absolutely thrilled with the information received and thank you for taking the time to respond. You guys rock, as does Mudcat Cafe. This is what the internet is really all about.

Cheers,
Teech.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'The Boompsadaisy' ( c 1930s ?)
From: GUEST,The Music Hall Chairman
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 11:47 AM

Can anyone tell me if Boomps a Daisy was sung by any music hall stars prior to Annette Mills and if so who and when?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Igor Mortis, Singapore.
Date: 12 Mar 07 - 10:43 PM

But how does the music go?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 09:14 PM

The Online 78 rpm Discographical Project lists these recordings of BOOMPS-A-DAISY:

Will Osborne Slide Music (with vocalist Barbara Bush), Varsity #8153, 12/39.

Vincent Lopez & Suave Swing (with vocalist Paul Parker), Bluebird #10579, 1/8/40.

Dick Robertson & His Orchestra, Decca #2973, 1/11/40.

Olsen & Johnson, Varsity #8318, 05 or 06/40.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Elizabeth Cleary (Ireland)
Date: 07 May 07 - 05:10 AM

There is a mp3 of Boomps a Daisy at this website.
http://www.trasksdad.com/MusicHall/MusicHall.html

Its a delightful site with many other favourites from my childhood (I'm now 70)including Daisy and the Lambeth Walk

Regards
Elizabeth

Subject: Lyr Add: BOOMPS-A-DAISY (Annette Mills)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 08 May 07 - 11:22 PM

Here's how it's described at The National Library of Australia:

Record ID: 1092694
Author: Mills, Annette.
Title: Boomps-a-Daisy [music] : a new old-fashioned party dance / words & music by Annette Mills.
Publisher: Sydney : Chappell, c1939.
Description: 1 score ([2] p.) ; 32 cm.
Notes: Cover title.
For voice, piano and guitar.
"Introduced by Monsieur Pierre and Miss Doris Lavelle"--Cover.
Full description of steps on back cover.
MUS: N, MUS/E91/39 ; A, MUS/E89/115 ; N/A, MUS/E87/122.
Subjects: Popular music.

And here's my transcription from the page called Edwardian Music Hall Songs. (Thanks to Elizabeth Cleary for the link.) A couple of phrases, marked by "...", were unintelligible to me. I'd appreciate it if someone else would listen and tell me what you hear:

BOOMPS-A-DAISY
(Annette Mills, 1939)

1. In the naughty nineties, ladies were so gay.
In the naughty nineties, this is how they'd play:
Waltzing as light as a feather,
And bumping their bustles together.

CHORUS: Hands, knees, and boomps-a-daisy! I like a bustle that bends.
Hands, knees, and boomps-a-daisy! What is a boomp between friends?
Hands, knees, oh, don't be lazy. Let's make the party a wow.
Now then, hands, knees, and boomps-a-daisy! Turn to your partner and bow. Bow-wow!

2. Gentlemen with whiskers whirl the ladies round,
Hoping that each bustle's fastened safe and sound.
Grandma says boomping is shocking.
You might show an inch of your stocking. CHORUS

[This song seems to be trying to sound older than it really is.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,GREG'S GREATS 78S
Date: 12 May 07 - 06:04 AM

IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED I AM PUTTING UP A MINT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ANNETTE MILLS/JOE LOSS 1939 REGAL ZONOPHONE 78 RPM RECORD ON EBAY TODAY.   Greg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 09:48 AM

You can see the song performed with gusto by a woman (I don't know her name) in a 1946 film, "The Locket", starring Laraine Day, Robert Mitchum and Brian Aherne.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Sue
Date: 11 Jan 08 - 10:13 PM

The woman that sang Hands Knees and boomps a daisy in the movie the Locket was Queenie Leonard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Gill
Date: 18 Oct 08 - 08:10 AM

My grandma used to play the piano and sing in the local pubs and Mum remembers her buying the sheet music for this which included a small badge showing a couple doing the dance, with the words "boomps-a-daisy" across the lady's dress. I still have the badge if anyone would like to see a photo of it. You can email me at [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Lbarnett
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 12:06 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp-g9QXPisE&feature=related (performance by Vera Lynn)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 02:43 PM

There are a few videos of this song, but this one seems to be the clearest demonstration of the dance.
I dunno, I don't think it will ever replace my personal favorite - the Chicken Dance.
The link that Jim Dixon gave above (click) has the only recording with verses that I've found. All others seem to have just the chorus.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,John
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 01:24 PM

I recently found a copy of the sheet music for this song, dated 1939, and published by Laurence Wright, with "a full description of the dance steps on back cover".
Let me know if any of that is of interest.

John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Oct 10 - 02:11 PM

Hi, John-
Yes, I think that would be of interest, if it's not too much trouble for you to type it up. It's kind of a silly song, but we do silly quite a lot around here.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,John
Date: 28 Oct 10 - 06:54 AM

Happy to add to the silliness.

The New Old- Fashioned Party Dance
Boomps-a-daisy

1.
In the naughty nineties Ladies were so gay.
In the naughty nineties This is how they'd play.
Waltzing as light as a feather
And bumping their busties together:

Chorus

Hands knees and BOOMPS_A_DAISY!
I like a bustle that bends.
Hands knees and BOOMPS-A-DAISY!
What is a BOOMP between friends?
Hands knees Oh! Don't be lazy
Let's make the party a WOW
Now the hands knees and BOOMPS-A-Daisy
Turn your partner and bow, Bow-wow.

2.
Gentlemen with whiskers Whirl the ladies round,
Hoping that each bustle's Fastened safe and sound.
Grandma says "Boomping is shocking
You might show an inch of your stocking."

Chorus as before

All in Key of C

The music has the Ukelele chords too!

When used as a dance, play intro and chorus only.

And now the dance

1st Bar

Partners stand facing each other, gentlemen facing the wall. On the first beat of the bar they clap each others hands (gents's right hand claps against lady's left and vice versa) as the clap they shout "HANDS!"

2nd Bar

In the same position as above, partners slap their own knees on the first beat of the bar shouting "KNEES!"

3rd Bar

Turning about 1/4 turn to left the gentleman "bumps" his right hip against the lady's left hip. The lady has turned about 1/4 turn to right, as they "bump" on the first beat of the bar they shout "BOOMPS!" and on the third beat they shout "A"

4th Bar

Turning back to the original position, the lady and gentleman bow to each other, shouting "DAI" on the first beat and "SY" on the third beat of the bar.

5th Bar

The gentleman steps to the side on the left foot on the first beat of the bar. On the second and third beats he swings his right leg across his left. The lady, facing gentleman, does corresponding movements, stepping to the side with the right foot and swinging left leg.

6th bar

The gentleman steps to the side on the right foot on the first beat of the bar. On the second and third beat he swings his left leg across his right. The lady, facing gentleman, does corresponding movements, stepping to the side with the left foot and swinging right leg.

7th and 8th bars

Gentlemen commencing forward with left foot in line of dance on the first beat of the 7th bar, dances 6 steps of reverse waltz on his own, finishing facing his partner. Lady dances six steps of natural waltz turn commencing forward with right foot in line of dance, finishing facing partner. At the end of the 8th bar they lady and gentleman should stand facing each other as in starting position, (beginning of 1st bar).

9th, 10th, 11th and 12th bars

Repeat 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th bars

13th, 14th, 15th and 16th bars

Lady and gentleman dance four bars of old-fashioned waltz natural turns.

NOTE: the gentleman should begin his old-fashioned waltz with the LEFT foot.


Hope that helps

John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,David J at 77
Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:52 AM

When I heard it as an innocent 7-year old I wanted to come up with a credible lyric, lest I should get it wrong in front of the lads, accepted the second line as: "Tra La the bucket again" and for nearly 70 years I've been embarrassingly stuck with that auditory mackle.

So...thanks, all, I am mightily relieved to be rid of that aberration.
'I like a bustle that bends' must have been what I heard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,June Davis
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 08:01 AM

Thank you so much for the words to this song. I am also after the music for it so we can perform it at a pensioners club. Would you have any idea as to where I might be able to get it please.
Thank you once again. Lovely to think we can look on the internet and find things like this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 19 Mar 12 - 08:09 AM

The above date of 1939 definitely fits in with my recollections. I distinctly remember, at lunchtime in the school hall of Goring Hall School, nr Worthing Sussex, on a rainy day in 1940 when I was 8, the big boys and girls dancing & singing this song.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Guest Alan
Date: 23 Mar 12 - 11:30 PM

The Australian Mastertouch Piano Roll Company issued Boomps-A-Daisy on roll AD 3891 in 1939.I picked up a copy yesterday but not in its original box so can't give details of who wrote the words and music.The chorus starts:-
Hands knees and boomps-a-daisy
I like a bustle that bends
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Dorothy's son a Guest
Date: 13 Nov 15 - 12:22 PM

Not sure if anyone is still following this thread but in case you are I thought you might be interested to know that my mum remembers promoting this song in Blackpool in the show "On with the Show" on Blackpool's North Pier in 1939 when she was aged just 13 years of age. Lawrence Wright was the promoter and Annette Mills was one of his artists. There is a video of the dance being performed on the North Pier if you look on you tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsfmDa4BlHk. If you do my mum called Dorothy is in it, the second blond haired girl coming into view on 45 secs. The first girl is called Betty and became mums partner in a double act that toured Britain in 1942 to the end of the war in 1945. We will be dancing the Boomps a Daisy at her 90th birthday party next week. Amazingly we knew nothing of any of her life on stage until about 8 weeks ago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,Ebor Fiddler
Date: 13 Nov 15 - 05:36 PM

I am too young to have heard Annette Mills as a slightly risque Music Hall Artiste. I only remember her as Muffin The Mule's sidekick - vairy refained!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,up2itru
Date: 04 Sep 18 - 04:07 PM

This song was from the 1930s written and composed by Annette Mills. I discovered the tune while watching the film "The Locket" on TCM last week. Queenie Leonard did a rousing rendition of the tune performed for guests visiting an English Lord's estate. I found several covers of the tune including Jack Hylton featuring Annette Mills, on YouTube. Good luck in your searches!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boomps-a-Daisy (Annette Mills)
From: GUEST,up2itru
Date: 04 Sep 18 - 04:10 PM

Words and music by Annette Mills

lyrics

Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
I like a bustle that bends
Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
what is a boomp
between friends
Hands, knees
Oh, don't be lazy
let's make the party a wow
Now then, hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
turn to your partner
and bow, bow-wow

Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
I like a bustle that bends
Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
what is a boomp
between friends
Hands, knees
Oh, don't be lazy
let's make the party a wow
Now then, hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
turn to your partner
and bow, bow-wow

Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
I like a bustle that bends
Hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
what is a boomp
between friends
Hands, knees
Oh, don't be lazy
let's make the party a wow
Now then, hands, knees
and boomps-a-daisy
turn to your partner
and bow, bow-wow