Sarah, Sarah

Subject: origin of
From: GUEST,Jeff Barnhart
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:20 AM

Trying to discover origin of comedy ballad, "Sarah, Sarah."

First verse: Sarah, Sarah, sitting in her Chevrolet
             Sarah, Sarah, sitting in her Chevrolet
             All Day long she sits and shifts
             All night long she shifts and sits
             She sits and shifts and shifts and sits and
                   sits and shifts and shifts and sits
             Sarah, Sarah, sitting in her Chevrolet

Subject: RE: Sarah, Sarah
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:28 AM

sounds like a derivation of "Sarah was a sheet slitter" and similar tongue-twisters

Subject: RE: Sarah, Sarah
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 11:28 AM

You may have to wait until Seamus Kennedy sees your thread and responds. He has a great recording of this on one of his albums. Of course, there are other verses, too.

Subject: RE: Sarah, Sarah
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 12:27 PM

It's a version of the Music Hall song "sarah, Sarah Sitting in a Shoe-Shine Shop" - there's an earlier thread about that here. Each verse has Sarah sitting somewhere else.

Subject: RE: Sarah, Sarah
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 23 Mar 04 - 01:13 PM

It's the same tune as the old song, "Jada, Jada, Jada Jada Jing Jing Jing" I think it's from the 20s or 30s.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Sarah, Sarah
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 12:50 AM

I learned it from a friend of mine from Belfast who used to perform it in the old variety shows at home.
I've no idea where he got it, but it's been around for a long time in various guises.
I've also heard it as "Susie, Susie sitting in a shoeshine shop."
It's essentially a tongue twister with double-entendre Spoonerisms.
When the audience tries to repeat the verse they mess it up, with ensuing hilarity (hopefully.)

Seamus