An old lady, unused to receiving telegrams, was put into a pleasurable tizzy when the Western Union operator called to say there was a wire for her. "Is it one of those singing telegrams?" asked the old lady. "No, ma'am," said the operator. "It's just a message to be read to you." "But I've always wanted a singing telegram," protested the old lady. "Now, you just sing that wire to me or I'll report you to the supervisor." "Okay," said the operator, with a note of resignation in her voice. "You asked for it. Here goes:
Da-Da De Dum Dum-Dum: [and to the tune of "Happy Birthday"] 'Your sister Rose is dead'..."
Brackets & indicated tune in the original
From Bennett Cerf's The sound of laughter. 1970. Pg 290.