Lyr Req: Somebody threw a tomato at him

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Jan 08 - 06:17 PM

See Delivering the Morning Milk on this page.
I have also heard those lyrics somewhere else but can't remember where!
Giok

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Harmonium Hero
Date: 12 Jan 08 - 06:10 PM

I remember my parents singing bits of this song, back in the '50s. My recollections are a bit sketchy, but it wasn't the same as the Mike Harding version.
It had refrain lines, thus:
I called on my sweetheart, her name was miss brown
With a heigh, ho, come to the fair.
She was having a bath, and she couldn't come down
With a heigh, ho, come to the fair.
I said "slip on something and come down a tick";
She slipped on the soap and came down pretty quick
With a heigh, ho, (la la la la la la la la la la) in the morning.
Sorry, but that line escapes me; the first four las might have been 'come to the fair' again, but the others are lost in the mists of time J.K.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST,Bry
Date: 06 Jan 08 - 03:44 AM

When I was a kid, this was the verse that I knew

I went to the circus with my uncle Jim
Somebody threw a tomato at him
Tomatos are usually soft to the skin
But this one half killed him,
and it came in a tin

Subject: Lyr Add: Threshing Machine
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 07:35 PM

They are different enough to count as two different songs: same basic theme and same tune, but completely different words and emphasis.

Threshing Machine (RUGBY VERSION)

I worked for a farmer, you know him quite well,
And he had a daughter, her name were Sweet Nell
And though she were only the age of 16
I showed her the works of my thrashing machine

I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er away
I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er away
I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er away
And I led that virginal creature astray.

We went to a barn where it was quite dry
Some hay in the corner we there did espy
She worked the throttle and I worked the steam
When I showed her the works of my thrashing machine

Six months have passed and all is not well
There's something the matter with our little Nell
For under her apron can plainly be seen
The works of my naughty old thrashing machine

A year has gone by and all is now well
A son has been born to our little Nell
And under his nappy can plainly be seen
A brand-new 2-cylinder thrashing machine

My Threshing Machine (ADGE CUTLER)

Now I farmed in Carlsbury when I were a boy
A courting of Rose, she were my pride and joy
Now Rosie was pretty and just 17
When I showed her the works of my threshing machine
Threshing machine, threshing machine,
I showed her the works of my threshing machine

She told me that she were a much-travelled girl
Seen faces, been places all over the world
But there was one sight that her eyes never seen
A vertical piston-drive threshing machine
Threshing machine, threshing machine,
A vertical piston-drive threshing machine

We went to the barn and I took her inside
And said "If you're good I might give 'ee a ride"
It stood there all sparkling and shiny and clean
She said "That's what I call a threshing machine"
Threshing machine, threshing machine,
"That's what I call a threshing machine"

She asked me to demonstrate how the thing worked
So I let out the clutch: the machine went berserk
You couldn't see nought for the smoke and the steam
When I started revving my threshing machine
Threshing machine, threshing machine,
When I started revving my threshing machine

When I said Rose could drive it, for better or worse,
The whole damned contraption went into reverse
The camshaft seized up - well, you know what I mean
And that was the end of my threshing machine
Threshing machine, threshing machine,
Now that was the end of my threshing machine

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Scrump
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 11:36 AM

Adge Cutler's Threshing Machine has completely different verses to the Rugby Club version I learned. Perhaps he wrote/adapted it himself

I think Adge was forced by EMI to keep it clean in those days. It was originally issued on a single and would probably have been played in jukeboxes in pubs, etc., so would have to be cleaner than the rubgy version (assuming the version you know is as filthy as the rest!)

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST,Dr Price
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 09:24 AM

When I was but a lad in the Valley Folk Club, Pontardawe, I heard Jim Harper (of Neath, fabulous singer) singing:

I went up to Cardiff to call on Miss Brown,
She was up in the bath and she wouldn't come down.
Says I: "Slip on something, and be very quick,"
So she slipped on some soap – she was down in a tick

CHORUS: Tooraloo, tooralay,
                The cream of society lives down our way.

To market, to market to buy me a hen,
For I thought as I might like some eggs now and then;
But when I got home I had a hell of a shock,
Said the hen: "I can't lay eggs because I'm a cock".

I was a-walking down our main street
I saw a man with no shoes on his feet
I took pity on him, and right and there
Went into a fruit shop and brought him a pear.

I was a-walking with our brother Jim,
Somebody threw a tomato at him.
That may be all right when they're still in their skin,
But this bugger wasn't - it was inside a tin.

I went and died and to heaven did go,
Where did I come from, they wanted to know.
"I comes from South Wales" – oh, how they did stare,
They said: "Come right inside – you're the first one from there."

CHORUS: Tooraloo, tooralay,
                The cream of society lives down our way.

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 09:03 AM

I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er away
And I led that virginal creature astray.

Adge Cutler's Threshing Machine has completely different verses to the Rugby Club version I learned. Perhaps he wrote/adapted it himself.

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 08:09 AM

If I remember rightly it's on Mike Harding's L.P. "A Lancashire Lad". The chorus goes "toora loo, toora lay, the best of society lives down our way".

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Scrump
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 08:01 AM

Re. the Threshing Machine (or Thrashing Machine as it's sometimes called) - some versions have a slightly different chorus from the one mentioned above:

I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I ay
I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I ay
I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I 'ad 'er, I ay
An' I upped an' I showed 'er the way

(Fred Wedlock sang that on his version; whereas Adge Cutler didn't, at least, not on his live recording of the song.)

I would guess that Peter Sellers must have heard this version as he sang a chorus very similar to the above in his "Suddenly It's Folk Song" spoof of the folk revival, recorded in the laste 1950s.

I think the Threshing Machine/Thrashing Machine usually tells a slightly bawdy tale about a bloke showing a girl his threshing machine and the consequences of this (ooerr missus!); whereas 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 or variations thereof are just a rag-bag of (usually slightly rude) funny verses thrown together for laughs.

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Scrump
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 04:27 AM

There must be an infinite number of versions of this song. One that springs to mind is by Fivepenny Piece on their live album "On Stage". On that the song was called 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10. Sung as others have said to the tune of Villikins and his Dinah. Many of the verses mentioned above are in their version.

(Not sure if that's the version the above GUEST was thinking of? I think Mike Harding may have sung it with the band on one of their joint TV shows in the 1970s, on BBC TV)

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:13 PM

I seem to remember Mike Harding singing this one

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:42 PM

Kitty, I know the verse you mean, but it's missing from the (old) recording I have: perhaps they had to do a sanitised version for the BBC!

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Compton
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:33 PM

I'll put a vote in for "The Thrashing Machine"...it's where I heard that verse!

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:43 PM

Snuffy

Is that before or after the verse saying "Farmer Brown looked at Gwendolyn and he looked at young Ned"?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 03:57 PM

The Yetties do that verse in Dorset is Beautiful

Now Sarah went milking with Nellie the cow
She pulled and she tugged, but she didn't quite know how
So after a short while, Nellie turned with a frown
Said "You hang on tight love, I'll jump up and down."

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Mo the caller
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:44 PM

Was it the Yetis who sang a version of the verse that was in the first post
"Mary the Milk Maid was milking her cow
The trouble with Mary, she didn't know how
The farmer came by & gave Mary the sack
So she flipped the cow over & poured the milk back!"

As I remember their verse ended
The old cow turned round and it said with a frown
You hang on tight love, I'll jump up and down.

And to the same tune The Muck Spreader song (I can only remember the chorus)
Fling it here, fling it there,
If you're in the way you will all get your share.

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at
From: GUEST,SallyP
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:13 PM

This is an old 'traditional' Scout song, sung (yes) to the tune of 'Villikins & his Dinah'

As i was out walking with my Uncle Jim,
Somebody threw a tomato at him.
"Tomatoes don't hurt you", he said with a grin
"Only that one was 'specially wrapped in a tin".

The song 1 2 3 4.....4 3 2 1 etc. encompasses the above verse very nicely, and there are DOZENS more 'floating' humorous verses that also fit very well.   e.g.

"Jonah the Prophet was caught by a Whale
By whome he was swallowed or so goes the tale.
But then after three days and nights Jonah found
The truth that "You can't keep a good fellow down".

and F A R too many more !!

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:32 AM

Get Away
To market, to market went my uncle Jim,
When somebody threw a tomato at him,
Now tomatoes are soft and they don't hurt the skin,
But this one it did 'cos it was in a tin!

The chorus:
Get away, get away,
It's a mighty fine song so I'll sing it all day,
With a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,
And a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
It's a mighty fine song so I'll sing it again.

Now Mary the milkmaid was milking a cow,
But poor little Mary she didn't know how,
She went and she tried, but she pulled the wrong mit,
And all of a sudden was covered in ****!

Chorus

I called on my girlfriend, her name is Miss Brown,
She was having a bath so she couldn't come down,
I said 'slip on something, be down in tick',
She slipped on the soap and, by God she was quick!

Chorus

from

www.djmorton.demon.co.uk/scouting/songs/getaway.htm

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:03 AM

A Version found in an old school-book:

I went to the market with my brother Jim
When someone throw a tomato at him
Now, tomatos don`t hurt, when they come in their skin
but this one hurt, it came in a tin.

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Chris/Darwin
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 09:01 AM

I meant, of course, last two lines...

Regards
Chris

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Chris/Darwin
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 08:06 AM

Isn't it amazing what the folk process does. I learned this one from someone in Port Moresby about 30 years ago. I have made up verses to suit particular gigs.

The original:

To market, to market, went my Uncle Jim
When somebody threw a tomato at him
Tomatoes are soft, and don't bruise the skin
But this one it did, it was wrapped in a tin

I went to my girl friends, her name is Miss Brown
She was having a bath, and couldn't come down
I said "Slip on something, be down in a tic"
So she slipped on some soap, and my God she was quick!

I dreamed I did die, and to heaven did go
"Where do you come from" they wanted to know
When I told them from Moresby (substitute the name you want) they said "come right in"
"You're the first one we've had from that cesspool of sin"

Chorus:
Singing toora li oora li oora li a
Singing toora li oora li oora li a
Repeat last two verses

Regards
Chris

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 07:35 AM

Sing high sing low where ever we go
The boys of the Royal Navy never say no
There's C/Os and P/Os and CPOs too
They stand on the F'ocsle with fuck all to do
For all they're worth they might as well be
shovelling up shit on the isle of Capri

Theres MPs and GIs so tall and so slim
till somebody threw a tomato at them
Now tomatoes dont hurt when they come in the skin
but this fucker did cause it came in a tin

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Roughyed
Date: 03 Aug 02 - 03:11 AM

I think Fivepeny Piece recorded a version. I can remember a couple of verses.

As I was a-walking down Stamford Street
I saw a poor bloke with no shoes to his feet
Now I having plenty of brass for to spare
I nipped into a fruit shop and I bought him a pair.

My cousin Jim one day for a stunt
Went out one day with his coat back to front
A bloody big bus come and knocked our Jim down
He would have been saved but they turned his head round

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: GUEST,Brien
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 10:30 PM

I heard someone sing this:

I went to the market with my brother Tim
When somebody lobbed a tomato at him
Now, to throw a tomato is not such a sin
But this little bugger was still in the tin

The chorous went:

I did her, I did her, I did her, I did
I did her, I did her, I did her, I did
I did her, I did her, I did her, I did
I did her, I did her, I did her, I did

Brien

Subject: RE: Looking for a Song: Somebody threw a tomato at him
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 02 Aug 02 - 07:30 AM

This and the other verses above are all just "floaters" fo a variety of comic songs sung to the tune of "Villikins and his Dinah". I use a couple of them for "The Thrashing Machine".

My version of one of Jim's verses is rather more explicit:

I called on my girlfriend - her name is Miss Brown.
She was having a bath and she couldn't come down.
I said, "Slip on something", she called "Half a tick."
Then she slipped on the soap, and slid down on my .....
(I usually play the guitar break a bit early and just mouth the word)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for a Song
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Aug 02 - 09:09 AM

Jim, I remember a different tune for Oh, Jemima (it was a bit like Oh Mr Porter crossed with Gounod's Soldiers' Chorus). I think there's been a thread about Oh Jemima.

WassaiL! V

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY THREW A TOMATO AT HIM
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jul 02 - 10:36 PM

I used Google to search for "Somebody threw a tomato at him" and found several versions of the song. The title varies; sometimes it's "Brother Jim", "Uncle Jim", "1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10", or "To Market, To Market." Sometimes the verses appeared as part of "Wild Rover" or a parody of same, and appeared with other parody verses, some of them obscene. Some clean versions were called "scouting songs."

I didn't find any American versions; they would have to say "can" instead of "tin."

Additional verses found at http://members.iinet.net.au/~oneilg/scouts/songs/tomarket.html:

I called on my girlfriend. Her name was Miss Brown,
She was having a bath and she couldn't come down,
I said, "Slip on something, you'd better be quick."
She slipped on the soap, and by gad she was quick [or "was down in a tick"].

I looked out my window too early one morn,
And there was a tramp, he was chompin' the lawn.
I said, "My young man, if you feel like a snack,
The grass is much longer around at the back."

With different chorus, the song was called "Get Away" at http://www.djmorton.demon.co.uk/scouting/songs/getaway.htm:

Get away, get away,
It's a mighty fine song so I'll sing it all day,
With a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,
And a 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
It's a mighty fine song so I'll sing it again.

More verses AND a different chorus found at http://www.thepelicans.co.uk/history7.htm:

Oh, Jemima, just look at your Uncle Jim,
All there in the duck pond a-learnin' to swim
He first tries the backstroke, he then tries the side
But he's now underwater, aswim 'gainst the tide.
CHO: Tooraloo, tooralee, O how would you, how would you like to be me?

Oh, the oul' barn door was the table we had
And the table we had was the oul' barn door
And the oul' barn door was the table we had
Yes the table we had was the oul' barn door,
CHO: Tooraloo, Tooralee...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for a Song
From: Snuffy
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 07:12 PM

One of our morris side sings it to the tune of Villikins and his Dinah (Sweet Betsy from Pike to our transatlantic cousins) and the chorus is:

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The first verse is similar to yours, and the second goes:

Down on the farm I was milking a cow
But how to milk it I didn't know how
I pulled its tail instead of its tit
And all that I got was a bucket of
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 etc

Those are the only two verses he does, and if it has a title I suppose it would be "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1"

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for a Song
From: Noreen
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 02:09 PM

LOL!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for a Song
From: GUEST,Kernow Jon
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 01:34 PM

I heard a version of Spanish Lady the other day with the chorus:
18, 16, 14, 12, 10
8, 6, 4, 2, none,
19, 17, 15, 13, 11,
9, 7, 5, 3, and 1
It were a bu**er to sing!
But I don't suppose that helps your quest.
KJ

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Looking for a Song
From: Noreen
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 01:10 PM

Don't know it myself, but somebody here will...

Subject: Looking for a Song
From:
Date: 27 Nov 00 - 11:55 AM

I was wondering if anyone knows of a song with the following lyrics:

" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 9 8 4 6 5 4 3 2 1

To market, to market with my brother jim
Somebody threw a tomato at him
Tomatoes are soft & they don't bruise the skin
But this one killed Jim; it was wrapped in a tin!

Chorus- Get away, get away
It's a mighty fine song & I'll sing it all day.

(repeat counting)

Mary the Milk Maid was milking her cow
The trouble with Mary, she didn't know how
The farmer came by & gave Mary the sack
So she flipped the cow over & poured the milk back!

(repeat chorus & counting)"

I know there's at least one more verse, maybe two. If anyone know the rest of the words and/or the title of the song, I'd appreciate the help. Thanks.

Craig

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Line breaks added. --JoeClone