17 Nov 98 - 09:12 PM (#45864) Subject: Tune Add: HALLELUJAH I'M A BUM From: John in Brisbane Bums were mentioned in a recent thread re The Great American Bum. This one lacks a tune in the DT. Regards John
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18 Nov 98 - 08:53 AM (#45928) Subject: RE: MUS ADD: Hallelujah I'm A Bum From: Sir You can find the tune for the above song in a revivalist hymnal under "Revive Us Again". |
28 Dec 04 - 07:31 PM (#1366344) Subject: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: sixtieschick Here's some interesting research on this song. I was always told it had been found scrawled on the wall of a jail cell. ---------------------------------------------------------- www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/bum.html HALLELUJAH, I'M A BUM (HARRY McCLINTOCK) (1897/1908) Tune: "Revive Us Again" (trad.) This old song heard at the water tanks of railroads in Kansas in 1897 and from harvest hands who worked in the wheat fields of Pawnee County, was picked up later by the I. W. W.'s, who made verses of their own for it, and gave it a wide fame. Carl Sandburg, The American Songbag, New York, NY, 1990 (originally published in 1927), p. 184.For years "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" was considered a folk song authored by no one in particular -- at least no one whose identity was known. However, Harry McClintock, an old Wobbly songleader who recorded the song in 1926, has made a good case for his authorship. Edith Fowke and Joe Glazer, eds., Songs of Work and Protest, New York, NY, 1973, p. 127.The I.W.W. was using songs to inspire militancy and solidarity in its ranks and to help enlist new members prior to the time Joe Hill joined the organization, probably in 1910. The date of the first I.W.W. parody is not certain, but the technique of using songs in organizational activities was perfected in Spokane, Washington, around 1908 by J. H. Walsh, a national organizer for the I.W.W., who moved to Spokane from Alaska, late in 1907.... In late 1908, as economic conditions began to improve and jobs were more readily available, the "employment agencies" became active. In retaliation, the I.W.W. in Spokane warned incoming workers of the treachery of the sharks.... I.W.W. soapboxers... found themselves competing against the Salvation Army band with sufficient frequency to rouse the suspicion that the employment agencies had persuaded the band to time its performances to interfere with Wobbly meetings. It was Walsh who hit upon the idea of using I.W.W. parodies, some based on Salvation Army tunes, to compete for the attention of crowds, and he organized a red-uniformed I.W.W. band to accompany the Wobbly singers. Cards bearing improvised lyrics to familiar tunes were printed and sold to the audience. These Wobbly innovations began a noisy contest for followers between the I.W.W. and the Salvation Army. Gibbs M. Smith, Labor Martyr Joe Hill, New York, NY, 1969, pp. 16-17.First published on a four-tune song card in 1908.Why don't you work like other folks do? ADDITIONAL AND ALTERNATE VERSES:I can't buy a job 'cause I ain't got the dough, ADDITIONAL VERSES FROM CARL SANDBURG, THE AMERICAN SONGBAG, New York, NY, 1990 (originally published in 1927), p. 185.I went to a house,
Click to playClick for "Revive Us Again' |
28 Dec 04 - 07:51 PM (#1366360) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Amos Thanks, 60's Chick!! One of my favorites from my grandfather's repertory. A |
28 Dec 04 - 07:53 PM (#1366362) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Q (Frank Staplin) Hallelujah, I'm a Bum- Two versions in the DT Haywire Mac thread: 43566: Haywire Mac Hallelujah, I'm a Bum chords: 27921: Hallelujah chords Great American Bum: Thread 7324: Great American Bum (Attributed to Haywire Mac) |
28 Dec 04 - 10:28 PM (#1366463) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: masato sakurai Lyrics & midi for REVIVE US AGAIN is at The Cyber Hymnal. The music (for what song?) was composed before the words. John Jenkins Husband died in 1825. Words: William P. Mackay, 1863. Music: John J. Husband, 1815 The tune is also set to REJOICE AND BE GLAD! Words: Horatius Bonar, circa 1875. Music: John J. Husband, 1815 "Rejoice and Be Glad" is in New Christian Hymn and Tune Book (1882), p. 197. |
28 Dec 04 - 11:09 PM (#1366479) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: dick greenhaus If anyone wants to hear Haywire Mac sing this (and 21 others) on CD, CAMSCO now carries "The Great American Bum" (BACM 082) |
28 Dec 04 - 11:46 PM (#1366503) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: GUEST,Art Thieme Dick, If that's the same bunch of songs as the LP I used to have, it is a wonderful bunch of songs. I put Mac's "Jerry Go & Oil That Car" on my last CD. Art Thieme |
29 Dec 04 - 10:29 AM (#1366734) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Mark Ross Dick, what are the other tracks on that CD? Mark Ross |
29 Dec 04 - 10:51 PM (#1367300) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Stewie Mark, I posted you a link to the tracks of that album in a previous thread in November - you must have missed it. CLICK HERE. --Stewie. |
30 Dec 04 - 01:12 AM (#1367386) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: LadyJean There was a movie made in the 1930s called "Hallejuah I'm a Bum". |
30 Dec 04 - 01:28 AM (#1367392) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: NH Dave And then the folk process took this tune and its lyrics and used them in song from the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Civil Rights protests of the 60's, whose chorus ran: Hallelujah we're a ridin' Hallelujah ain't it fine Hallelujah we're a ridin' In the front seat this time! Dave |
31 Dec 04 - 12:05 AM (#1367771) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: dick greenhaus Back in the late 20s, Al Jolson sang this. When he performed in England, I'm told, he had to change it to Hallelujah I'm a Tramp. |
31 Dec 04 - 12:25 AM (#1367786) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: GUEST,Clint Keller This is a song I learned literally at my mother's knee, in the early '30s... I didn't know it was a song of work & protest until I grew up. Thanks for all the information. clint |
31 Dec 04 - 12:45 AM (#1367797) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: sixtieschick Cool, huh? I learned it from my father, who would sing it off-key and with great gusto. I'm convinced he loved it so much because he worked so hard. It's inspiring to read that others learned the song from parents or grandparents, and are equally fond of it for that reason. |
31 Dec 04 - 01:23 AM (#1367812) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Jimmy Twitcher This was one of the very rare songs that my dad will sing at the drop of a hat. Like Sixtieschick's dad, he was a real nose-to-the-grindstone type, so I always wondered that he had such an appreciation of this song. |
31 Dec 04 - 08:44 AM (#1367993) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Jim McLean The following notes to the song Hallelujah... printed in a song book by Eric Winter: '.... the tune is a revivalist hymn basedon a dance tune used by Sir Henry Bishop in the overture to an English opera 'The Miller and his Men' (1813) |
10 Jan 05 - 11:37 AM (#1375825) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: GUEST "The Miller and His Men", a melodrama in 2 acts, written by Isaac Pocock and performed at Covent Garden in October 1813. Not sure if it was actually an opera, though it was performed at the opera house. :-) |
10 Jan 05 - 12:35 PM (#1375920) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Q (Frank Staplin) The play was popular, and there are many versions (some 40 according to one website). Sir Henry Rowley Bishop composed the incidental music, but who has the score and can verify Winter's remark?. The music disappeared from performances and the play has been performed recently with music by Bush and other composers. |
10 Jan 05 - 02:51 PM (#1376052) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Mark Ross Just got the Haywire Mac CD from CAMSCO and it's wonderful. Thanks to everyone. Mark Ross |
10 Jan 05 - 05:17 PM (#1376174) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: MoorleyMan I just found Haywire Mac's version also on a compilation called The Road To Nashville (a cheap but very good 3-CD set on the Indigo label), if anyone's interested .... |
11 Jan 05 - 01:34 AM (#1376445) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: NH Dave For those interested in more of the IWW/Woblies songs, they have a main office on Philadelphia, PA, and an web site at IWW.ORG, where you can join for $ 6/$12/$36 depending on your monthly income. They produce their Little Red Songbook for a small fee, and you can find many of their old time songs therein. Dave |
22 Apr 10 - 03:49 PM (#2892260) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: GUEST,Christiana Drapkin Great thread on the "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" song. I'm singing it on Friday, April 30 at the Copiague Public Library in Long Island, New York State. Together with the original church hymn, and with the song by the same title (but opposite political outlook) by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, written in 1932. The following year, the movie "Hallelujah, I'm a Bum" came out with Al Jolson in the title role. I'll be singing lots of other Depression era songs, including Irving Berlin's "Let's Have another cup of coffee". |
10 Jan 11 - 12:21 PM (#3071406) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: GUEST Oh, Spring-time has come. i'm just out of jail. with-out any money. with-out any bail. this is what it say's on my lantern slide from around 1906 |
10 Jan 11 - 12:59 PM (#3071439) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Mark Ross If I was a banker with fold in the vault. I'd steal all the money and say it's your fault. The trickle down theory's a horse the rich ride, Guess which end of that nag is our supply side. Why don't you work like other folks do, How can I find a job if you're holding down two. Mark Ross |
10 Aug 17 - 03:07 AM (#3870830) Subject: ADD Version: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Joe Offer I came across the 1928 Harry McClintock recording this evening. HALLELUJAH! I'M A BUM Rejoice and be glad, for the springtime has come, We can throw down our shovels and go on the bum. CHORUS Hallelujah, I'm a bum; Hallelujah, a bum again; Hallelujah, give us a handout to revive us again. The springtime has come, and I'm just out of jail, Without any money, without any bail. I went to a house, and I rapped on the door, And the lady says, "Bum, bum, you've been here before!" I like Jim Hill, he's a good friend of mine, That is why I am hiking down Jim Hill's mainline. I went to a house, and I asked for some bread, And the lady says, "Bum, bum, the baker is dead!" Why don't you work like other men do? Now, how can I work when there's no work to do? Why don't you save all the money you earn? If I didn't eat, I'd have money to burn. I don't like work, and work don't like me, And that is the reason I am so hungry. Harry McClintock recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uKbIkYGsIg James Hill was chief executive of the Great Northern Railway |
31 Oct 19 - 11:18 AM (#4016361) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Lighter Spectator (Dec. 16, 1916), p. 765: From the Manchester Guardian we take some curious specimens of the accidental literature of the song- writer. "Hallelujah, I'm a hobo, " is one of the popular songs at the front. It seems that this song was first sung by the unemployed in Canada when they paraded the streets. In its original form it ran something like this, being modelled on a well-known revivalist hymn : " I walked up the street And I knocked at tho door, And she said, ' You're a hobo, I've seen you before.' Chorus : Hallelujah, I'm a hobo, Hallelujah, amen ! Hallelujah, get your hand down. Revive us again ! Oh, why don't you save All the money you earn. If I'd money to save, I'd have money to burn. Hallelujah, &c. Oh, I love my boss, He's a good friend of mine, That is why I am starving Out in the bread line. Hallelujah, &c. |
26 Feb 24 - 03:13 PM (#4198080) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Jim Dixon Sheet music for found HALLELUJAH I’M A BUM!, published by Villa Morét, San Francisco, in 1928 can be seen at the website of Mississippi State University. A blurb on the cover says: ‘As originally arranged and sung by / Harry McClintock / “Mac” / The famous radio and record artist’ The lyrics are practically identical to those posted by Joe Offer above, give or take a couple of “Oh...”s and some punctuation. |
26 Feb 24 - 04:46 PM (#4198088) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Lighter Perhaps I should have noted my suspicion that the Spectator in 1916 substituted the word "hobo" for the real word "bum," which may have been considered to rude to print. |
27 Feb 24 - 05:49 PM (#4198158) Subject: RE: Origins: Hallelujah I'm a Bum From: Thompson Jim Hill, by the way, was a railroad director. |