The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #115692   Message #4225139
Posted By: Jim Dixon
04-Jul-25 - 11:45 AM
Thread Name: Songs about ghosts
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GHOST OF THE VIOLIN (Kalmar,Snyder)
From the sheet music at Indiana University:


THE GHOST OF THE VIOLIN
Words by Bert Kalmar, music by Ted Snyder, ©1912.

1. In a quaint old antique store,
For a thousand years or more,
Laid a musty, laid a dusty violin.
Suddenly a ghost appeared,
Played upon it wild and weird,
And the ghost, and the ghost, owned a violin.
He made his violin moan
In a weepy, creepy tone!

CHORUS: The ghost (the ghost, the ghost) of the violin,
The ghost (the ghost, the ghost) played the violin.
His bony fingers are shivering.
Each moan just sets me a-quivering.
Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, make a sound,
Or he’ll know we’re around.
His eyes (his eyes, his eyes) have a mournful glare.
His cries (his cries, his cries) haunt me ev’rywhere.
He’s here! He’s there!
Beware! Take care!
Keep away from the ghost of the violin!

2. Pretty soon the tale went ’round
That a wierd old ghost was found
With a moaning, with a groaning violin.
Ev’ry night when twelve would chime,
People made it meeting time,
And they’d creep from their sleep to the violin.
They’d whisper soft and low
As the ghost would wield his bow: CHORUS.

- - -
The Internet Archive has the following recordings:
Arizona Jack, “Cinch” Record 5057, 1913.
Columbia Quartette, Columbia A1244, 1912.
H. Cove and T. Jackson, The Winner 2254.
Standard Band, United Record A1292.
YouTube has the following recordings:
Frank Weston, Homochord
Peerless Quartet, Columbia A-1244, 1912.
Prince’s Band, Columbia A-1292, 1913.
Walter J. Van Brunt and Maurice Burkhardt, Victor 17195-B, 1912.