The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #91960   Message #1752575
Posted By: Joe Offer
04-Jun-06 - 03:11 AM
Thread Name: Origins: Queen Anne Front (Robert Schmertz)
Subject: DT Corr: Queen Anne Front (Robert Schmertz)
Nice work, Peace! Thanks for the information. Here are the differences I hear on the Pete Seeger recording:

^^^ QUEEN ANNE FRONT
(Robert Schmertz)

When Great Grandfather was a gay young blade
And Great Grandmother was his bride
They found a lot, a perfect little spot
Over on the old North Side
It sloped down to the river, from River Avenue
Great Grandma said that it would give her
Such a lovely view
So they took a look in Godey's Ladies Book
To see what they could find
And they found a house, a jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front
And a Mary Anne behind.

Now, Great Grandfather was a handyman
Who never wasted any time
He found a crew that knew just what to do
With white pine, common brick, and lime.
He said, "We'll build a big veranda, where Amanda can perch.
"And I'll sit there myself on Sunday mornings
When everybody else has gone to church."
The neighbors said, "He's crazy in the head
He's surely lost his mind."
But he built that house, that jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front
And a Mary Anne behind.

Now, Great Grandpa at last was laid to rest
And Great Grandmother at his side.
Old Aunt Amanda said, "My land, a
Vacant house I can't abide.
I'll start a ladies' seminary, it will be very select.
Of course, it will be very necessary
That all my girls be circumspect."
As you may guess, it was a big success
The girls were so refined
In that self-same house, that jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front
And a Mary Anne behind.

Well, Aunt Amanda's work at last was done
And she had gone to her reward.
Appeared a sign that bore the line
Announcing simply, "Room and Board."
The old house soon was filled with roomers, of every degree
Red flannel underwear and bloomers
Hung out for everyone to see.
The old porch stoop had started in to droop
The house looked so resigned
That self-same house, that jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front
And a Mary Anne behind.

The poor old house got to looking worse and worse,
And so did River Avenue.
Wooden shacks across the tracks
Spoiled Great Grandma's lovely view.
When several very pretty ladies moved in there one day.
They were such charming Sues and Sadies
But a wagon came and took them all away.
One old dame said, "Isn't it a shame
My girls were so refined."
But they closed that house, that jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front
And a Mary Anne behind.

@home @nostalgia @whore
filename[ QUANFRNT
JB



Note that we don't have a tune. If anybody would like to transcribe it for us, please e-mail it to me for posting.
-Joe Offer-
joe@mudcat.org

Here's the version from the Robert Schmertz Website, www.robertschmertz.com:

The Queen Anne Front (and the Mary Ann Behind)
(Robert Schmertz)

When Great Grandfather was a gay young blade
And great Grandmother was his bride,
They found a lot, a very pretty spot,
‘Twas over on the old North Side.
It sloped down to the river
From River Avenue.
Great Grandma said that it would give her
Such a lovely view.
They took a look in “Godey’s Ladies’ Book”
To see what they could find.
And they found a house, a jolly little house,
With a Queen Anne front and a Mary Ann behind.

Great Grandfather was a handy man
Who never wasted any time -
He found a crew who knew just what to do
With white pine, common brick and lime -
He said “We’ll build a big veranda
Where Aunt Amanda can perch,
And I’ll sit there on Sunday morning
When everybody else has gone to church” -
The neighbors said, “He’s crazy in the head,
He’s surely lost his mind!”
But he built that house, that jolly little house
With a Queen Anne front and a Mary Ann behind.

When Great Grandpaw at last was laid away
With Great Grandmother by his side
Dear Aunt Amanda said “My land,
A vacant house I can’t abide
I’ll start a lady’s seminary
Make it very select
It will be very necessary
That all my girls be circumspect!”
As you may guess it was a great success
And her girls were so refined
In that self-same house, that jolly little house
With the Queen Anne front and the Mary Ann behind.

When Aunt Amanda’s work at last was done
And she had gone to her reward
Appeared a sign which bore the line
Announcing simply “Room and Board”
The old house soon was filled with roomers
Of every degree,
Red flannel underwear and bloomers
Were hanging out for everyone to see -
The old front stoop had started in to droop
And the house looked so resigned
That self-same house, that jolly little house
With the Queen Anne front and the Mary Ann behind.

The poor old house got looking worse and worse
And so did River Avenue
And wooden shacks across the tracks
Spoiled Great Grandma’s lovely view.
When several very pretty ladies
Moved in there one day
They were such charming Sues and Sadies
But a wagon came and took them all away -
There was one old dame said, “It’s a dirty shame,
My girls are so refined!”
But they closed that house, that jolly little house,
With the Queen Anne Front and the Mary Ann behind!