Discuss: Hi Roger Rum

Subject: ADD Version: Hi Roger Rum
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 12:40 PM

I came across this song in a Woodcraft Folk Song Book the other day:

HI ROGER RUM

The was a rich man in the days of Old Methusalem
Glory Halleluja, Hi Roger Rum
He gave swell dinners to the nobs of Old Jerusalem
Glory Halleluja, Hi Roger Rum

Hi Roger Rum, Hi Roger Rum
Skidel me rink a doddle um
Skidel me rink a doddle um
Glory Halleluja, Hi Roger Rum

or

Hi Roger Rum, Hi Roger Rum
Oh what a funny un
Skin of a spanish onion
Glory Halleluja, Hi Roger Rum

The second chorus comes from a version by the Oldham Tinkers

Does anyone know its origins?

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Fergie
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 01:15 PM

Recorded by Barry Gleeson on "Path Across the Ocean" under the mondegreen title "Roy Roger um" you will find it in the DT under the title THE RICH MAN AND THE POOR MAN
Fergus

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 02:24 PM

It's a parody on Dives and Lazerus (Child 56)
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 03:31 PM

I heard the late Bob Cooney sing this at Aberdeen Folk Club some 30 years ago. He had a book of his songs and poems printed which I still have, I think. I'll look and see if it's in there.
"Rosia Rum", I think he used to sing - don't think it means anything in particular. And the song - or at least Bob's version of it - did mention Coca-Cola, which might date it a bit.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Declan
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 04:21 PM

There have been many previous threads on this song. There is a version in the Digitrad database here

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 04:30 PM

One old thread

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Lighter
Date: 04 Mar 07 - 04:57 PM

Well known in the British Army in the Great War.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 03:48 AM

Thanks that's most helpful. I did try the DIgitrack but asyou can see the variaties of Hi Roger Rum make it tricky.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 05:22 AM

Also recorded, would you believe, by the Treorchy Male Voice Choir...

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 05 Mar 07 - 12:49 PM

Their seems to be about 5 or 6 threads about this song but none find an origin. They are all quite close in the words and the story is straightforward.

The consistancy suggest a recent (early 20C?) origin.

Could all the threads be pulled together?

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: mikesamwild
Date: 17 Apr 11 - 08:05 AM

I just played the tune on the anglo concertina in G in Digtrad and it sounds like John Kanaka shanty.

I remember Sean Cannon singing something like it and I heard Bob Cooney my dad Sam's Spanish Civil War comrade sing it
Good marching song in 4/4

I found myself going into Ten Green Bottles and Hanging on the old barbed wire.
Ripe for parodies.

Quite a few of the Brigaders had fought in WW1

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: GUEST,Bob Connor down under,
Date: 09 May 20 - 04:41 AM

Hi Folks.
      The version I heard originally was only a tiny bit like yours.
It was an Australian Army poem with a sung chorus which went.

"Oh Roger Rum. Oh Roger Rum. Sligga marig menorium. Oh Roger Rum!"

Sung with beery gusto which got worse as the evening wore on.
The only verse I can remember is the first one.

"So when Roger Rum was just a lad, He did earn a precarious fee.
Leading blind whores from the brothel doors,
down to the river ,,,,, to pee."

Cheers. Regards Bob.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 09 May 20 - 09:44 AM

I heard Desi Wilkinson singing what I assume was an Irish version of this song at last year's "Jimmy McHugh Memorial Concert" in Glasgow in January.
Incidentally, I found Bob Cooney's book of songs and poems - unfortunately, this song is not in it. Only seems to have taken me 13 years to find it and reply.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 09 May 20 - 10:13 AM

"what I assume was an Irish version of this song"
I'm pretty sure it's an Irish parody of the Child ballad - we have a recording of the singer I was told by an authority, made the song (I have never checked)
It's one of several such parodies, Dublin balland, 'Johnny Doyle, is said to be a version of Lord Saltoun and Auchannachie (Child 239) - this is disputed, though I believe it is, at least a parody of it
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: GUEST,Huw Richards
Date: 17 Jan 23 - 02:48 PM

It gets a mention in Gerald Durrell's book 'My family and other animals' - he sings it when out with his Greek professor friend in the countryside of Corfu between the first and second world wars.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Joe_F
Date: 17 Jan 23 - 05:38 PM

I thought it was "Hi, ho, jerum".

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jan 23 - 04:31 AM

No doubt, Joe, but "Hi Roger Rum" is certainly an interesting variant.

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: r.padgett
Date: 19 Jan 23 - 02:00 PM

www.fresnostate.edu › folklore › balladsHi Ho Jerum - California State University, Fresno


there was an old man and he lived in Jerusalem, glory halleluja, high roserum was sung by Sean Cannon

Ray

Subject: RE: Hi Roger Rum
From: Lighter
Date: 19 Jan 23 - 03:10 PM

Keighley Snowden, "Barbara West" (1901) p. 24 [ref. to Yorkshire, 1880]:

"All the fellows sat up until three o'clock at a social, and had all the good old songs, 'The Old Rogerùm,' 'Jack Hall,' ‘The Fine Old English Gentleman,' 'The Darby Ram,' 'Three Jews went to Jerusalem,' and 'Down in Alabama.'"