Lyr Req: Lydia, the Tattooed Lady

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Allan C.
Date: 12 Oct 98 - 08:14 AM

Thanks Ralph, et. al. The tune I recall sounds quite a bit like "Ta Ra Ra Boom De A". As for the tonic, I prefer it with a twist of lime.

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Oct 98 - 02:44 AM

OK, Barbara - that's why it sounds so familiar. I've listened to the Kingston Trio recording several times, and I just couldn't figure out what the tune was. I'm not completely clear on your "tonic," but I get the idea. Thanks.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Rich "Guitarzan" Mondak
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 09:25 PM

I don't recall Groucho singing it in a particular film...(must have been the part I fell asleep), however, he did perform it on the premier of the first Bill Cosby Show in the mid to late 60's. I remember this as it was the first television performance of "Noah!"... I was sitting with my younger siblings and remember beingblown away by the tune and trying to remember the lyrics and write them in school the next day...

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Oct 98 - 02:06 PM

The second part, as I recall, Joe, sounds a lot like Sipping Cider thru a Straw. Actually the two tunes are quite similar, now that I sing them thru. The second part is just missing the tonic note, stays on the 3 instead. (Do you know what I'm talking about?)
I heard Michael Cooney do this years ago.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 08:51 PM

Hey, Tiger, what's the tune? It's real familiar, but I'm not quite sure. It's almost like ta-ra-ra-doom-di-ay at the beginning, but then it changes. Darn it! I just can't remember the name of that tune.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE TATTOOED LADY (from Kingston Trio)
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 08:45 PM

OK - Here it is. Talk about misunderstood lyrics!....Tiger

THE TATTOOED LADY - Kingston Trio

We came to town to see
That old tattooed lady,
She was a sight to see,
Tattooed from head to knee.

My Uncle Ned was there,
He came to gape and stare.
"I've never," he declared,
"Seen such a freak so fair!"

And on her jaw
Was the Royal Flying Corps,
And on her back was a Union Jack,
Now could you ask for more?

All up and down her spine
Marched the Queen's own guards in line,
And all around her hips,
Sailed a fleet of battleships.

And over her left kidney,
Was a bird's-eye view of Sydney,
But what we liked best
Was upon her chest,
My little home in Waikiki.

(What did you say?)

REPEAT

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Jaxon
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 02:23 PM

Allan, I can remember the Kingston Trio doing this. I can't remember all of the lyrics but the opening verse started this way.
We went to town to see, the great tattooed lady
She was a sight to see, tattooed from head to knee
My uncle Ned was there, he took us round the fair...

The chorus went something like this (it's been too long)
And on her jaw, was a royal flying claw
And on her back was a Union Jack, now could you ask for more
All up and down her spine ran different colored lines
And all around her hips sailed a fleet of battleships.
And over her left Kidney, etc.
Good luck with the rest.
Jack Murray

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Bert
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 01:02 PM

Talking of tattoos, my Dad sings one about a tattood man.

All over me, all over me,
ships of war, easter eggs, Indian Ink all down me legs
I'm just like a picture gallery
you ought to see the sights of London
all over me.

I don't know any more to it, it sounds like a music hall song to me.

Bert.

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Allan C.
Date: 09 Oct 98 - 08:25 AM

What about that other Tattooed Lady? The only words I can recall are:

And over her left Kidney was a bird's eye view of Sidney
But what we liked best was upon her chest: a little home in Waikiki

Anybody know the rest?

Subject: Lyr Add: LYDIA, THE TATTOOED LADY
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 10:21 PM

From Dr Demento:

From: Unclejack

APOLOGY/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT What follows is a transcript of the lyrics of E.Y. Harburg and Harold Arlen's classic comic song, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," as sung by his royal majesty Julian (Groucho) Marx at Carnegie Hall in 1971. It is being presented because loyal, earnest fans who either cannot locate the sheet music nor a copy of "At the Circus" (which film is distinguished primarily by the introduction of this song) desparately wish to learn the lyrics. If anyone is upset with me for printing the lyrics without compensating the publishers, please reply by EMail and I will do what (little) I can to make up for the slight. Remember, the Internet is an educational device; now, you've learned your lesson!

Now join Marvin Hamlisch in the background vocals!

(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia?
Lydia the tattooed lady
She has eyes that men adore so
And a torso even more so
Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of tattoo
On her back is the Battle of Waterloo
Beside it the Wreck of the Hesperus, too
And proudly above waves the red, white and blue
You can learn a lot from Lydia

(la la la la la la)

When her robe is unfurled, she will show you the world
If you step up and tell her where
For a dime you can see Kankakee or Paree
Or Washington crossing the Delaware

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia?
Lydia the tattooed lady
When her muscles start relaxin'
Up the hill comes Andrew Jackson
Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of tattoo
For two bits she will do a mazurka in jazz
With a view of Niagara that nobody has
And on a clear day, you can see Alcatraz
You can learn a lot from Lydia

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Come along and see Buffalo Bill with his lasso
Just a little classic by Mendel Picasso
Here's Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon
Here's Godiva but with her pajamas on

(la la la la la la)
(la la la la la la)

Lydia, oh Lydia, that encyclopedia
Lydia, the queen of them all
She once swept an admiral clean off his feet
The ships on her hips made her heart skip a beat
And now the old boy's in command of the fleet
For he went and married Lydia

I said Lydia
He said Lydia
I said Lydia
He said Lydia
Ole!

Rest in peace, Grouch! Your ever-devoted, ever-lovin' Unclejack!

Regards
John

Subject: RE: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 09:32 PM

Click here for the previous thread on this song, which didn't produce any new lyrics. Didn't find sheet music for Tiger, either. Maybe we ain't as good as we'd like to think we are.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: LYDIA, THE TATTOED LADY
From:
Date: 08 Oct 98 - 09:23 PM

There is a version of this in the database but it doesn't seem to be complete. I distinctly remember Lydia having ships tattooed on her thighs, and marrying an admiral who ends up being "in command of the fleet, for he's gone and married Lydia!" Also, somebody, a ballet dancer IIRC, dancing the rhumba (which rhymes with "social security numbah") and chorus that goes La la la, la la la.

Haven't viewed the scene where Groucho sings this in some years, so I don't know if these verses were in the original movie or something someone else wrote.