The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171634 Message #4151679
Posted By: cnd
01-Sep-22 - 08:23 AM
Thread Name: World War I songs: laundered
Subject: RE: World War I songs: laundered
There's aleady a pretty lengthy thread on the song this author seems to take the most issue with the bowdlerization of, Madamesoille de Armentieres (aka Inky Dinky Par Les Vous), but I'll add a few bits I typed out about it here.
Considering the source, there's a surprisingly bawdy version of Mademoiselle from Armentieres from a budget Hallmark release available here. I haven't compared the lyrics to those available online, so if it sounds interesting to you, I can transcribe it.
The Gordon "Inferno" Collection features what Wikipedia describes as a typical example of the impolite version (link). Given your interpretation above, this would seem likely to be similar to the version Mr. McKillipps had in mind:
September 17, 1923
INKY DINKY PARLEZ VOUS
Madamoiselle from Armenteers, parlez vous, Mademoiselle from Armenteers, parlez vous, Madamoiselle from Armenteers, She hadn't been tamped for umpteen years Inky-dinky-parlez-vous .
The general won the Croix de Guerre And the son of a bitch was never there.
Madamoiselle from Say Paree She had the crabs and she gave 'em to me.
The French they are a funny race They fight with their feet and they f--- with their face.
"and then of course the stock one sung by any army in reference to any other."
The ------- are hairing a hell of a time Winning the war behind the line.