Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter

Subject: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Haruo
Date: 09 Oct 00 - 07:29 PM

Anybody know the author/composer of the "Salvation Army Song" I sing at AA meetings? (Link) Or where I can find a MIDI of the tune to play with? (Do not be deceived by that link, it is not sung to "Stand Up for Jesus" — that's the tune of my other AA song.)

My brothers and I have sung this since we were kids, and I imagine as with Thaïs the 1954 Song Fest was our immediate source, but I'd be interested in its earlier history.

Liland

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 05:10 PM

One week later, no word on this. Anybody? Author? Date? Other stanzas? Copyright?

Liland

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 05:10 PM

One week later, no word on this. Anybody? Author? Date? Other stanzas? Copyright?

Liland

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: mousethief
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 05:14 PM

Give us some words. I have a Temperance Union Songbook at home and I'll see what's there.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Haruo
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 05:19 PM

Click on the link in the first post in the thread, Alex ;-) (but be sure to disregard the background music, which is for the song just above the one in question. But I'm afraid the lyrics are too tongue-in-cheek to have actually been used by the WCTU (though you never know; some people sing some pretty silly stuff with a straight face and a pious heart). À propos of which, do we have "There are no flies on Jesus" in the DT? (I believe it was also sung to Webb, and I've read that it was actually sung in the Sally Ann.)

Liland

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 06:44 PM

Are you talking about the Pig walking away song?

I sing a version of it all the time.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 06:56 PM

Does anyone have a copy of My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions handy? Author's name (beware of faulty memory here) is Shay, I think. I can't locate my copy right now, but the song may well be in that book.

Sandy

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PIG AND THE INEBRIATE
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 08:00 PM

THE PIG AND THE INEBRIATE
from SONGFEST by Best and Best

It was early last December, as near as I remember
I was walking down the street in tipsy pride
No one I was disturbing, as I lay down by the curbing
And a pig came up and lay down by my side

As I lay there in the gutter, thinking thoughts I cannot utter
A lady passing by was heard to say,
"You can tell a man who boozes by the company he chooses,"
And the pig got up and slowly walked away

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Oct 00 - 08:43 PM

Here's the MIDI for The Pig and the Inebriate CLICK

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Musicman
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 02:25 AM

Dave/ Stewart... the song your thinking about is "The Pig Got up and Slowly walked away".... done in the 30's by Frank Crumit... wonderfully funny song, but not the won that is being asked for......

Subject: ADD: No Flies on Jesus ^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 03:09 AM

I can't believe nobody has posted this gem. I stole it from The Brothers Frail Songbook
-Joe Offer-

---

NO FLIES
(Patrick Adair, words; Music by Patrick Adair, Jeff Gillis, Brian Toole, Wes Canaday)

--VERSE 1
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead
Those are angels, not big buzzards
That are circling 'round His head
Well, if on Jesus you saw a fly
Then you'd be seein' wrong
'Cuz, yes, sir Jesus He did die
but He didn't stay that way for long

--CHORUS
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
No, there ain't no flies on Jesus
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
No, there ain't no flies on Jesus
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead

--VERSE 2
Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
'Cuz Jesus ain't deceased
He was barely in there long enough
For Him to get His grave-clothes creased
Yes, sir, Jesus is not dead
And Jesus does not stink
If that's the thought that's in your head
You better think another think

--CHORUS

--VERSE 3
Well, there ain't no grave for Jesus
'Cuz Jesus, He's alive!
Although He was beaten and cursed and mocked
And then was crucified
I know they put Him in the ground
But after that 3 day weekend
Jesus rose, my soul to save
He's my live and kickin' friend!

--CHORUS

---

I dare somebody to come up with the music for this. Apparently, it's from a 1969 musical called Salvation.
-Joe Offer-

---

Chords:

  --VERSE 1 
  C 
  Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus
   G 
  'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead 
  F 
  Those are angels, not big buzzards 
  C                            G 
  That are circling 'round His head 
  C 
  Well, if on Jesus you saw a fly 
  G 
  Then you'd be seein' wrong 
  F 
  'Cuz, yes, sir Jesus He did die 
  C                        G 
  but He didn't stay that way for long 
  
  --CHORUS 
   F 
   Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
   C                           G 
   No, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
   F 
   Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
   G                   C 
   'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead 
   F 
   Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
          C                           G 
   No, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
          F 
   Well, there ain't no flies on Jesus 
   G                   C 
   'Cuz Jesus He ain't dead 

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Micca
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 03:20 AM

Joe, at first glance, it Might fit "What a friend we have in Jesus"

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 06:36 AM

G'day Liland,

The title - I was lying in the gutter made me immediately think of The Pig and the Inebriate type of songs, but I also remember a song called either The Salvation Army or The Temperance Union. This liost the unlikely thing that either group does not use because they may lead to drink - eg
"We don't use tobacco, because we do think
That the people who use it are liable to drink ...
and this has a stanza:
We don't eat fruit cake, because fruit cake has rum
And one little bite turns a man to a bum.
Oh, can you imagine a greater disgrace,
Than a man in the gutter ... with crumbs on his face!
Chorus:
Away, away, with rum, by gum,
With rum, by gum, with rum, by gum
Away, away, with rum, by gum,
Tyhe song of the Salvation Army

I must admit that I could not image singing this at an AA meeting - but then, I couldn't really imagine singing the one on your link, either!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 08:12 AM

There was some discussion of this song, and others in the same vein, here:  Salvation Army / Throw a Nickel on the Drum

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Anglo
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 09:49 AM

Well, I'd say Joe's song above is fairly obviously a parody of the old-timey song "There Ain't No Flies on Me."

Subject: RE: Source Req: I Was Lyin' in the Gutter
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Oct 00 - 10:41 AM

I had The Pig and the Inebriate on an old, old Ed McCurdy, also with The Face on the Barroom floor, and other "backroom" ballads. Will look up the cover info next time I'm at Mom's.