The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #1479 Message #4132802
Posted By: Jim Dixon
18-Jan-22 - 01:51 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Sow Song (Suzanna's a Funicle Man)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD SOW SONG (Smith-Vallée-Daniels)
THE OLD SOW SONG (Smith-Vallée-Daniels) As recorded by Rudy Vallée and his Connecticut Yankees, vocal refrain by Cyril Smith,* Bluebird B-7078-A, 1937.
[Spoken:] I would like to present Cyril Smith, who is best known for his rendition of old English folk songs and Christmas carols. He will sing a very lovely and beautiful one that English mothers have been singing to their children for many years. It is the custom in England for the audiences, especially the ladies, to assist the singer, and after you’ve heard the song once or twice, we’d like you to join in with him. It’s an old madrigal, and the title: “I Heard Three Birds.” Cyril Smith:
1. Oh, there was an old man and he had an old sow, [honk]-ow, [ppppt]-ow, [tweet]-hi-diddle-dow. There was an old man and he had an old sow, Lassa-fa-ral-da-ray! Oh, Susanna's a funny old man, [honk]-an, [ppppt]-an, [tweet]-an, Susanna’s a funny old man.
[Spoken:] Now, er, do you get the idea, ladies? You see, it’s not so much a question of making the noises, as getting them in the right order. See, all you’ve got to do is [honk], [ppppt], [tweet]. I mean, there’s really nothing to it, and now that you’ve grasped the fundamental principles, I would like you to all join in the second chorus of this beautiful old song with me. The ladies, please:
2. Now this old sow had nine little pigs, [honk]-igs, [ppppt]-igs, [tweet]-hi-diddle-jigs. Now this old sow had nine little pigs, Lassa-fa-ral-da-ray! Oh, Susanna's a funny old man, [honk]-an, [ppppt]-an, [tweet]-an, Susanna’s a funny old man.
[Spoken:] Ladies, I am sorry to say that I am not receiving the cooperation and support to which I am accustomed. I asked you to join in and help me out with this thing. I mean, after all’s said and done, what’s a little [ppppt] between friends? Now, I had the pleasure of singing this song in Chicago three weeks ago, and I met with a much better response than I am receiving tonight. Of course, I know Chicago's the windy city, but I mean, why can’t you join in, anyway?
3. They tried to climb over the garden wall, [honk]-all, [ppppt]-all, [tweet]-hi-diddle-dall. They tried to climb over the garden wall, Lassa-fa-ral-da-ray! ([Spoken:] All together!) Oh, Susanna's a funny old man, [honk]-an, [ppppt]-an, [tweet]-an. Susanna’s a funny old man.
- - - * I believe the opening speech is by Vallée; the rest is sung and spoken by Smith. [honk] is a guttural snort—close the epiglottis and inhale. [ppppt] is the traditional “raspberry”—tongue between the lips and blow. [tweet] is an actual high-pitched whistle. The Internet Archive has similar recordings by— Cyril Smith and the Notables, United Artist EN-324A, no date, but probably the same as below. Cyril Smith and the Notables, Enterprise 259-A, 1947. Cyril Smith, Castle 159, 1949. Jay Bird, Harmad 108A, 1956. On the Smith recordings “(Smith-Vallée-Daniels)” are always credited as songwriters. On the Bird recording, only Smith is cited.