The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10435   Message #1038037
Posted By: Jim Dixon
19-Oct-03 - 02:12 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY (from Bert Williams)
A complete recording of Bert Williams' performance is included in an archived radio show that you can find here. This song begins about 29 minutes into the program. Here's my transcription. Williams uses a change of tone to indicate different speakers. This is usually clear, but sometimes ambiguous. I have used punctuation, especially the dash, to indicate my understanding of when the speaker changes.

SOMEBODY a.k.a. SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME
(Words, Ballard MacDonald. Music, James F. Hanley.)
(As recorded by Bert Williams, 1919.)

1. Great moments come to every man,
Some situation where he can
Attain such fame that folks acclaim
The very mention of his name.
Now the circus played our town one day
And three Bengal tigers got away.
And the manager looked right straight at me.
Said he, "Now here's your opportunity." –"Yes sir."

–"Somebody's got to go and get them cats." –"Uh, yes sir."
–"Yes, sir, somebody's got to go." –"I'm with you there."
–"The tiger man is sick in bed.
Now all you got to do is put on your hat and coat," he said,
"Because the man who, uh, catches them alive,
A real hero is gonna be. Now, say, isn't that wonderful!"
He says, "Yes, it is a wonderful chance for somebody."
–"Ah, yes sir, yes sir. I agree with you. Somebody else, yes sir, not me!"

2. Two ivory bones with ebony dots
Oft lead to cemetery lots.
A game last night brought on a fight
Which finished up with pistol shots.
I was the furthest from the door.
The others all got there before.
A body on the floor lay dead.
And through the transom someone said:

"Somebody's got to stay behind." –"Uh huh."
–"Somebody must remain." –"Oh, do tell!"
–"And when the officers arrive, of course,
Explain how this brother here ain't alive." –"Yes, sir."
–"The man who stays and, uh, sees it through,
He's gonna gain notoriety." –"Yes sir!
It's a wonderful chance for somebody. I agree with you there.
But it's got to be somebody else, yes sir, not me!"


Bert Williams, 1919: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze3DKv4OWXM