ADD:I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover + parodies

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ADD:I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover + parodies

20 Nov 98 - 05:36 PM (#46290)
Subject: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:

Does anyone happen to know the words to "I'm looking over a four-leaf clover?" No one seems to know anything but the first two lines.

20 Nov 98 - 07:35 PM (#46300)
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
From:

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before
One leaf is sunshine. The other is rain.
Third is the roses that bloom on the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
Oh, I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

20 Nov 98 - 07:51 PM (#46304)
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
From: Brack&

Here's the verse.

Farewell ev'ry old familiar face,
It's time to stray, it's time to stray,
Only wait till I communicate,
Here's just what I'll say

Regards Mick Bracken

20 Nov 98 - 08:06 PM (#46306)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:

Thank you all kindly.

20 Nov 98 - 11:34 PM (#46321)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:

Does anyone remember the naughty kids version...

"I'm looking under, a two legged wonder..."

That's all I recall.

Frank i.t.s.

21 Nov 98 - 03:13 PM (#46383)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: Jerry Friedman

Also "I'm looking over/ My dead dog Rover/ That I overran with the mower..."

21 Nov 98 - 03:27 PM (#46385)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: Barbara

Isnt that Mad Magazine, Jerry?

21 Nov 98 - 07:29 PM (#46396)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From:

My dead dog Rover is in the database

24 Nov 98 - 05:47 PM (#46690)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: DonMeixner

I'm lookin over my dead dog Rover, Which overlooked before, One leg is broken, the other is maimed I ran him down with my Cocopuff train. No need for sorrow, until tomorrow when I have to mop the floor. I'm lookin over my dead dog Rover, Which overlooked before,

Best I can do,

Don Meixner

24 Nov 98 - 06:51 PM (#46703)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: John in Brisbane

And how could I resist:

I'm getting over the worst hangover that I ever had before, The first was a whiskey, the second a gin, the third was a beer with a cigarette in, No need explaining the one remaining, it's over the bathroom floor, I'm getting over the worst hangover that I ever had before.

Regards John

24 Nov 98 - 11:45 PM (#46724)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: gargoyle

I don't believe it was Mad Magazine; it was a "standard" in the late 70's on the Dr. DeMento Show and was perhaps performed by Barnes & Barnes

All my old listings for DeMento links are now defunct.

25 Nov 98 - 02:27 AM (#46733)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: baxter@home.com

I'm lookin over a four leaf clover That I've overlooked before One leaf's for sunshine, Another's for rain, A third one's for [its midnight and I can't recall this 1.5 lines]

No need explaining, The one remaining Is left for the one I adore. I'm lookin over a four leaf clover That I've overlooked before

25 Nov 98 - 08:06 AM (#46749)
Subject: RE: I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
From: SteveF

Frank - The version we sang in the Cub Scouts went

I'm looking under A dress of wonder That I underlooked before First comes the ankles And then comes the knees Then comes the bloomers That blows in the breeze.

Maybe there is more to the song than the one verse, but our Den Mother decided she had heard enough :-)

21 Aug 00 - 05:23 PM (#281890)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

I found some details as to the author and date:

Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Written in 1927 - popularized in 1948 by Art Mooney

22 Aug 00 - 01:05 PM (#282473)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: DougR

Also popularized in the late 1940s by Arthur Godfrey.

DougR

22 Aug 00 - 03:05 PM (#282582)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: Liz the Squeak

I prefer the Bugs Bunny version - I'm looking over a three leafed clover that I overlooked be three.....

Ain't I a stinker?!

LTS

22 Aug 00 - 04:26 PM (#282645)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover
From: GUEST

Hit Parade recordings (chronological by and in year):
1927- Nick Lucas, Ben Bernie, and Jean Goldkettle.
1948- Art Mooney, Rus Morgan, Alvino Rey, Three Suns, Uptown String Band, Arthur Godfrey.

Data from Joel Whitburn's 'Pop Memories: 1890-1954'

13 Jun 01 - 07:29 AM (#482297)
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
From: Tiger

Typically, everyone has forgotten the first verse. Here it is and now, you know WHY it was forgotten.

I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Copyright 1927 by Remick Music Corporation

Farewell ev'ry old familiar face,
It's time to stray,
It's time to stray.
Only wait till I communicate
Here's just what I'll say.

13 Jun 01 - 07:41 AM (#482305)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen (hospital nursery, nearly 2AM)

Yeah, but how about this gem from, oh, let's say, fifth grade:

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
That I overlooked before
One leg is broken, the other's in pain
He got run over by the Cocoa Puffs Train

Anybody who's willing to embarrass him- or herself is welcome to come up with the lines I've forgotten.

Aloha,
Mark

13 Jun 01 - 08:36 AM (#482332)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: Snuffy

I'M LOOKING OVER MY DEAD DOG ROVER is here at Mudcat in the DT database

13 Jun 01 - 10:55 AM (#482428)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen

Well, yes, of course I should have checked the DT. But they don't have the line about the Cocoa Puffs train, so, as Marty Feldman said in Young Frankenstein, "They're wrong, then, aren't they?" At least that's the way we sang it at Rhawnhurst School in Northeast Philly...

Aloha,
Mark
(Go Sixers!)

05 Aug 10 - 10:09 AM (#2958756)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST

The way I remember the parody is this:
I'm looking over My dead dog rover who I overlooked before
One leg is broken The other is sprained The third I ran over With my electric train
No need explaining The one remaining The one I slammed in the door
I'm looking over My dead dog rover Who I overlooked before!

Can't remember where I heard it originally though.
Scott

05 Aug 10 - 08:18 PM (#2959131)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Joe_F

A filk version

01 Jul 11 - 03:35 PM (#3179895)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST

ok - THIS IS AWFUL, but... my Dad (of all people) taught it to me, he said the pilots used to sing it in the United Airlines cockpits as they crossed country.. :

I'm looking over the balls of Rover
for fleas that I missed before;
one's on the left ball, and ones on the right,
one's way down under, and clear out of sight,
Oh-oh-oh, I'm looking over the balls of Rover for fleas that I missed before, If I don't see them, if I can't find them, then I'll end up with a bite!

really, really.. bad!

19 May 13 - 06:21 PM (#3516885)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,oldcmt

Next lines
"No use explaining, what's left remaining,
It's nothing I've see before,
Oh, I'm looking under (on to refrain)

19 May 13 - 07:24 PM (#3516895)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: YorkshireYankee

This is how I remember the version heard on Dr Demento's show:

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover,
That I over-ran with the mower.
One leg is missing the other is gone.
The third one is scattered all over the lawn.
No need explaining the one remaining
It's splattered on the kitchen door.
I'm looking over my dead dog Rover,
that I over-ran with the mower.

And a second verse I didn't remember (found on the Boy Scout Trail website):

I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
Who died on the kitchen floor.
One leg is broken, the other is lame,
The third leg is missing, the fourth needs a cane.
No need explaining, the tail remaining
Was caught in the oven door.
I'm looking over my dead dog Rover
Who died on the kitchen floor.

20 May 13 - 01:54 PM (#3517230)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Stilly River Sage

I just now tried recreating that childhood song, resulting in a few gaps. When I read the first version that Yorkshire Yankee posted it scanned perfectly with what I remember of the song I learned in the early 1960s.

SRS

22 May 16 - 03:06 PM (#3791566)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Benny

This one's from an early 60's Mad Magazine, and refers to a Soviet proposal to replace the UN Secretary General with a three person panel:

I'm looking over a three man troika
to head up the UN floor,

One man's a Commie, the other's the West,
Third one is neutral - a Cuban is best...

No need explaining that chaos reigning
is something that I'd adore...

If the three we're using is not confusing
then maybe we'll make it four!

01 Mar 20 - 10:56 AM (#4036903)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Bruce

I'm looking under a two-legged wonder that I've under-looked before.

One leg is straight out, the other's in front, and in between there is a big cun*.

No need explaining why I'm remaining (can't remember the rest of the line)

I'm looking under a two legged wonder that I've under-looked before.

01 Mar 20 - 11:13 AM (#4036910)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Starship

Two Legged Wonder

I'm looking under,
A two legged wonder,
That I overlooked before,
First comes the ankles,
and then comes the knees,
then comes the thighs,
and then the hinney.
I'm looking under,
A two legged wonder,
That I overlooked before.

That is from https://www.jollyrogerh3.com/Songs.htm

01 Mar 20 - 12:46 PM (#4036939)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: GUEST,Sol

I remember there was a joke about a baker who had a knife that was so long it could cut through four loaves of bread at once, and he would sing -
"I'm looking over a four loaf clever".

(That's a groaner, I know).

01 Mar 20 - 04:34 PM (#4036991)
Subject: RE: ADD:I'm looking over a four-leaf clover & parodies
From: Stevebury

I was a camp counselor in the mid-1960's and I learned "Dead Dog Rover" (maimed/Coco Puff train) from one of my campers on a canoe trip.

06 Mar 20 - 12:55 PM (#4037928)
Subject: Lyr Add: I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
From: Jim Dixon

I made this transcription from two recordings I found at the Internet Archive. (Click the links below.)

I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR LEAF CLOVER
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods, ©1927.

I. As recorded by Honey Duke on Radiex (2321 (a)), 1927.

1. Farewell, ev'ry old familiar face!
It's time to go; it's time to go
Backward, backward, to the little place
I left behind so long ago.
Watch Mister Casey Jones
Carry this lazy bones.
I should arrive in a day.
Only wait till I communicate.
Here's just what I'll say:

CHORUS: I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sunshine; the second is rain.
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining:
The one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

2. Hello, homestead in the new-mown hay!
I'm glad I'm here; I'm glad I'm here.
Hello, humble mill across the way,
Beside the pond so cool and clear!
Right to my sweetie's home—
Oh, what a place to roam!
She'll be as glad as can be.
Up the trail and over hill and dale—
Don't you envy me?

II. Nick Lucas on Brunswick (3439-A), 1927 sings the following additional variant chorus:

CHORUS: I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sweetheart; the second is bad.
Third is the best pal that I ever had.
No need complaining;
The one remaining
Is home where I'll weep no more.
I'm looking over
A four leaf clover
That I overlooked before.

HOWEVER, the sheet music is viewable at Baylor University, and the words correspond to the ones posted by Tiger above on 13-Jun-2001. I can't explain where the variations came from.