Frank Crummit? / Frank Crumit (songs)

Subject: Frank Crummit ?
From: Soncy
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 01:41 AM

Anybody know any biographic information about an old, novelty singer named Frank Crumit? In various searches of dusty bins of '78's, I've found a dozen or more delightful records he made, presumably in the 1920's - for instance, the best recording ever of "The Year of Jubilo", as well as "The Prune Song", "Life is only a Merry-Go-Round", and "Get Away, Old Man, Get Away", to name a few. I'd appreciate any details or sources of information about Frank Crumit. Also, if anybody knows "Life is only a Merry-Go-Round", I'm interested to learn the verses, which are pretty scratchy on my recording. Thanks. Tim.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 02:41 AM

I've got some stuff on Frank Crumit somewhere, but it is late (early?) and I don't know where it is. It will likely be a while before I can get back here, so don't hold your breath.

I am sure Arkie has information to share as well if he sees this.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Mike Billo
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 11:04 AM

I know that he accompanied himself on the ukulele, and along with Johnny Marvin, did much to make the uke so popular in the '20's.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 01:13 PM

Sorry, I believe it's spelled Crumit--

He was a very popular entertainer, in vaudville, on Broadway, on records, and later, on radio.He made hit records of a number of songs that are much beloved to us--such as "Abdul the Bubul Amir" "Ukulele Lady", "Frankie and Johnny", "The Pig Got Up and Slowly Walked Away", and "What Kind of a Noise Annoys an Oyster", having written the last--also popular was "There's no one with endurance like the man who sells insurance"--

He was born in Jackson, Ohio in 1889 studied to be an engineer but was attracted by the roar of the crowd and went into vaudville as a song and dance man 1913-

Move up to Broadway in 1918 for the show "Betty Be Good"--he was a big success and went on to "Greenwich Village Follies of 1920" which featured his hit song, "Sweet Lady" his first recording was for American Columbia in 1919, where he stayed until 1924 when he went to Victor Records, where he record most of his big hits--

He had several radio programs during the thirties and forties, where he performed with his wife, Julia Sanderson--he was known for his humorous material, particularly his puns, and his work with the ukulele apparently inspired George Formby,

The radio program particularly used much folk and traditional music, which he performed in a simple, unaffected style, with simple instrumentation, often only his guitar or ukukele and maybe a piano--the way that he mixed traditional, popular and novelty songs with pieces of his own composition, forshadowed many of today's folk performers in a way that is almost eerie--

He died unexpectedly in l943, only a short time after he and Julie had started a new, noontime radio program, "Singing Sweethearts"--

There are a number of CD compilations of his work, and all are worth a good listen--

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 05:53 PM

His sung rendition of Kipling's poem "The Women" is politically incorrect now---but it is simply a great song. Jim Kweskin used to sing it in his solo shows in the 70s.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 06:14 PM

Art, click here for what's supposed to be a complete collection of poems by Kipling - which poem is it that you're talking about?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Stewie
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 06:45 PM

I have an old Ace of Hearts LP called 'Frank Crumit, the Gay Caballero'. The sleeve has notes by JE Miller, but these add little to what M.Ted has provided above, except that Miller suggests that Crumit's inspiration for the ukelele was the success of Ukelele Ike and Wendell Hall (the Red Headed Music Maker.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 03:52 AM

It could be this one, Joe, but I think it's more likely to be this one. It contains the "N" word, as well as being frightfully sexist, but judge it by the standards of the day to do it justice, and remember Kipling was presenting the accurate view of the common Tommy, who'd been there and done that (they didn't have t-shirts then!). Oh, and don't forget it's meant to be entertaining, not a serious social document.

I've sung the Gay Caballlero with great success, and no-one gets the wrong end of the stick about it. I'd do the Prune Song as well, but my musicianing isn't quite up to filling the gaps in the words. The Pig Got Up goes down very weel too - I must kearn the words.

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Sapper_RE
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 07:51 AM

Over this side of the pond, he was noted for his songs about golf:- Oh the dirty little pill Went rolling down the hill, and rolled straight into the bunker....... Was to the tune "Brighton Camp", aka "Girl I Left Behind Me" Did have some of these on 78rpm many yaers ago. I think they may have been thrown out when my mother died. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 05:25 PM

Glad to hear people talking about Frank Crumit. (Note: one m) I have a ton of his songs on record (now CDs) and consider him to be one of the pioneers at getting folk music on record and on the air, thus paving the way for the first revival of Seeger, Guthrie, et al. His stock market song is a dandy, and "I Learned About Women from 'Er" was his melody, so he could create a good tune when he wanted to. AND, he also told a couple of stories on record, which I as a storyteller appreciate a lot.

Lorne Brown

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 07:54 PM

Joe,

"I Learned About Women From Her" was the song's title--although I seem to remember Kweskin calling it simply "The Women".

Art

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Dale Rose
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 08:35 PM

Here's an RA of Frank Crumit singing Oh Baby! (Don't Say No, Say Maybe) There are lots of other good things from the 20s and 30s on the page, too.

And here's where you can find a Frank Crumit CD. I have never dealt with them, but they have been around a good while, so I would assume that they are reputable. I am sure there are other sources as well.

As far as the info I have on Frank Crumit, it's been outdone by others, especially M.Ted, so there is no need to post it.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LADIES (Kipling, from Jim Kweskin)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 12:36 PM

from the singing of Jim Kweskin--1973--when we shared a gig at a folk club in a building that had once been a synogogue---Charlotte's Web in Rockford, Illinois. Jim said it was by Kipling and from a 78rpm record by Frank Crumit, but while I have heard Crumit's recording of this song (and have it on a cassette of my favorite songs) I've not seen it collected in any collection by Rudyard Kipling. As I've said, it's not P.C. now, but it is a great song; just one more paradox of our unique times.

Art Thieme

----------------------------------------------------

I've taken my fun where I found it,
I've rogued and I've ranged in me time,
I've had me pickin' of sweethearts,
Four of the lot was prime.One was a half-caste widow,
One was a woman at Brome,
One was the wife of a gemidore seise, (barber)
And one was a girl at home.

I was a young 'un at Oogli,
Shy as a girl to begin,
Aggie DeCastra she made me,
And Aggie was clever as sin,
Older than me, but my first 'un,
More like a mother she were,
Showed me the way to promotion and pay,
And I learned about women from her.

Then I was ordered to Burma,
Actin' in charge of bazaar,
And I got me a tidy live heathen,
From buyin' supplies off her pa,
Funny and yeller and faithful,
Like a doll in a teacup she were,
But we lived on the square like a true married pair,
And I learned about women from 'er.

Then I come home on a trooper,
Along with a kid of 16,
A girl from a convent at Mirit,
The straightest I ever have seen,
Love at first sight was her trouble,
She didn't know what it were,
But I couldn't do such, 'cause I liked her too much,
But I learned about women from her.

So I've taken my fun where I found it,
Now I must pay for me fun,
For the more you have known of the others,
The less you will settle to one,
In the end of it sittin' and thinkin',
And dreamin' hell fires to see,
So be warned by my lot---which of course you will not,
And learn about women from me.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 02:16 PM

Art - I think the phrase is "jemadar-sais", which means head groom.

Lorne Brown

Subject: Lyr Add: I LEARNED ABOUT WOMEN FROM HER (G Reeves)
From: Stewie
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 07:32 PM

Goebel Reeves, The Texas Drifter, recorded 'I LEARNED ABOUT WOMEN FROM HER' in San Antonio on 26 June 1929. In the Bear Family reissue of his work, the song is credited to Reeves. Reeves worked for a time as a merchant seaman. The lyrics differ significantly from those provided above by Art:

Now I've picked up my fun where I found it
I've ranged and I've roamed in my time
I've had my share of sweethearts
And four of the lot were prime
One was a half-caste widow
And one was a widow from Prome
And one was the wife of a Jemadar-sais
While one was a girlie from home

Not I'm not so much with the ladies
But taking them all the way 'long
You never can tell 'til you've tried 'em
And then you are like to go wrong
There are times that I thought that I might have
And times that I knew that I might
But the more you learn about the yellow and brown
Will help you a heap with the white

Now I was a young one at Ogli
Shy as a girl to begin
But Aggie Decaster she made me
Now that girl was as clever as sin
Older than me, but my first one
More like a mother she were
She showed me the way to promotion and pay
And I learned about women from her

Then I was transferred to Burma
Was acting in charge of a bazaar
There I got me a teeny-lipped heathen
From buying supplies off her pa
Funny and yellow but faithful
A doll in a teacup she were
We lived on the square like a true married pair
And I learned about women from her

Then I was transferred to Neemuch
Or I might have been keeping her now
Then I got me a shiny she-devil
The wife of a nigger at Mnow
She taught me the gypsy folks bollee
A kind of volcano she were
She knifed me one night when I wished she was white
And I learned about women from her

Then I came home on a steamer
'Twas long with a girl of sixteen
A girl from that convent at Meerut
The squarest I ever have seen
Love at first sight were her trouble
She didn't know what it were
I couldn't do such, 'cause I loved her too much
And I learned about women from her

Now I picked up my fun where I found it
Now I must pay for my fun
The more you learn about others
The more you settle to one
So in the end I'm sitting and thinking
And dreaming of hellfire to see
So be warned of my lot, which I know you will not
And learn about women from me

From Goebel Reeves 'Hobo's Lullaby'Bear Family BCD 15 680

It's little wonder that the lyrics changed over time, at least on recordings! As Art says, it is hardly PC today, but in the recording of folk material there is no place for bowdlerism.

Stewie.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 09:33 PM

Maybe we can settle this "I Learned About Women From 'Er". Frank Crumit recorded this in 1928. The words come from Kipling's poem "The Ladies", published in 1896. Kipling's poem contains eight verses. Crumit used five of these verses and called his song "I Learned About Women From 'Er". He thankfully left out Kipling's fifth verse which was too racist even for 1928. (Also the second verse which contains the unfortunate line "The things you will learn from the yellow and Brown/They'll help you a lot with the White!") (Good for Frank!) He left out Kipling's last verse, which contains a famous Kipling quote: "For the Colonel's Lady and Judy O'Grady/Are sisters under their skins!" I, personally, think Crumit chose wisely; his five verses tell the story nicely. I do miss the famous quote, though.

The music was composed by Frank himself, and is a beautiful tune. I sing this song often, but rarely (never?) in public, which is probably cowardice on my part, because it is a lovely song reflecting another age.

The lyrics quoted by Art Thieme are correct, other than misspelled placenames (Prome, Meerut)and the wrong phrase I mentioned earlier (jemadar-sais). The lyrics quoted by Stewie are incorrect. (Correct, by the way, means that they are Kipling's lyrics.) Bear Records' attributing the song to Geobel Reeves is horribly wrong and is a slight to both Kipling and Crumit, and is unworthy of Bear Records.

Lorne Brown

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Lorne Brown
Date: 22 Sep 99 - 11:26 PM

One last thing about Crumit (a favourite of mine, can you tell?) His most famous song was "The Gay Caballero" and it can be found in the data base. He also recorded its sequel - "The Return of the Gay Caballero". I seem to recall a character on a TV programme in the '60s who called himself the Gay Caballero.

Lorne Brown

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Sep 99 - 01:42 AM

Obviously, then, like so many other 19th century poems and songs, the Kipling poem underwent the folk process. Some of Reeves songs are full of floaters. Given that the Kipling poem has been identified above, who knows which of the changes are down to Reeves himself. Reeves' version, offensive though it is, must not have been considered 'too racist' in 1929 by the Okeh record company that released it as OK 45381, backing the sentimental 'The Tramp's Mother' - maybe it was considered a balancing act. The target audience of Reeves' recording was very different from that of Crumit's and the singers lived in totally different social contexts - Crumit was a popular artist, his milieu was Broadway and the north, and Reeves was a Texan, a drifter and a hillbilly singer.

Whilst on the subject of 'having a shot' at Bear Family records - an exemplary label notwithstanding a few blemishes - I too have a small bone to pick in this context. The fascinating essay on Reeves by Fred Hoeptner - it does not refer specifically to the song in question - is captioned: 'Fred Hoeptner, Los Angeles May 1994'. Hoeptner's essay is an almost word-for-word reprint of his essay that appeared in Old Time Music No 18 Autumn 1975. No credit at all is given to its previous publication in OTM. That is very disappointing because due credit should be given to Tony Russell for providing a forum for serious discussion of early country music at a time when very few others, with a few notable exceptions, were interested. A picture of Reeves graces issue No 18 and it includes a full Reeves discography by John Larsen and Richard Weize. The article also mentions the late John Edwards, the country music authority, an Australian who did more than most to draw attention to the importance of early American country music as an untapped reservoir of folk traditions.

Stewie.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: arkie
Date: 23 Sep 99 - 12:04 PM

I first learned of Frank Crumit from Glenn Ohrlin, a local rancher and an authority on authentic cowboy songs. He also sings Gay Caballero and I Learned About Women From Her and was fond of Frank Crumit's music. That perked my interest, but I certainly can add nothing to what has already been posted. Thanks to all for the information on Mr. Crumit. I have really enjoyed this. My World Reknown Folklorist acquaintance proposed a Frank Crumit issue to Collector's Choice Music, but they did not think there was a market. Wonder what would happen if the company was inundated with requests for a Frank Crumit recording?

An aside on the I Learned About Women from Her. There is a parody which starts I've taken the nags as I found them. I have never been able to get Glenn interested in it. He is kind of particular about what he will sing or play.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: richardw
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 08:32 PM

Here is the parody, a year later

From the Traditional Ballad Index at: http://www.csufresno.edu/folklore/BalladSearch.html

Cheers Richard Wribght

I Learned about Horses from Him

DESCRIPTION: The singer describes the horses (and others) he has met in his life. Every incident ends with the rueful comment, "I learned about horses from him." There is a "horse," Conscience, he hasn't ridden; he expects hereafter to learn about that horse from Him AUTHOR: George B. German EARLIEST DATE: 1932 KEYWORDS: cowboy horse humorous Gods FOUND IN: US REFERENCES (1 citation): Ohrlin-HBT 71, "I Learned about Horses from Him" (1 text, 1 tune) Notes: Modeled after Kipling's poem "The Ladies" ("I Learned about Women from Her"). - RBW File: Ohr071

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Troll
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 09:12 PM

A lot of Kiplings poems are highly singable. Leslie Fish has put music to several. I met her at the Pennsic War about 8 years ago and we spent an enjoyable evening trading songs.

troll

Subject: Lyr Add: I LEARNED ABOUT HORSES FROM HIM
From: Dale Rose
Date: 28 Oct 00 - 10:20 PM

I had forgotten about this thread, thanks to richardw for reviving it. I went to the aforementioned Glenn Ohrlin book, The Hell-Bound Train, University of Illinois Press, 1973, and here is what I found. I'll let Glenn take it from here:

71

I LEARNED ABOUT HORSES FROM HIM

This song, which is modeled on Kipling's "The Ladies" was written by George B. German for his old cowboy buddy Shorty Harris. According to German, Shorty Harris was a real character who rode broncs for years at rodeos and in ranch rough strings.

'Twas on the Horse Shoe in old Arizona
That I rode my first bucking outlaw.
He could throw any man on the rancho,
And how that caballo could paw.

Well, I lays down my Spanish guitaro,
It was money I needed, by jim.
I hoists myself into the saddle,
And I learned about horses from him.

Then I trails to a ranch in the rimrock,
Where broncos are thicker than men.
There was one needed tamin' right badly.
I needed a job there and then.

So I curls up my maguey so neatly,
And I hangs my old pack on a limb.
Then I slips through the bars quite discreetly,
And I learned about horses from him.

Next I wanders down into Sonora,
Where horses are horses, you bet.
There was good ones, had ones, and tough ones,
And some of them darned hard to get.

A senorita wanted one for a plaything,
A black filled with hall to the brim.
She begs me with a sweet little smile-o,
And I learned about horses from him.

Then I drifts on up into Texas,
Where horses are wild, rough, and game,
And I says to the pinto I'm ridin',
"I'll get me a good one to tame."

So I takes to the hills and the canyons,
And I waits till I'm haggard and grim.
Then my loop settles down on a picture,
And I learned about horses from him.

Well, I rides up into Wyoming,
For I'd heard of a bad one called Bear,
And I heard they were offering money
To the guy that got on and stayed there.

Well, I found him, a bleary-eyed loco,
With ears that were pointed and thin.
And from the time I stepped in his middle
I learned about horses from him.

Then I stopped in Cheyenne for the rodeo.
To win me some money I tried.
A horse you all know, name was Steamboat,
That's the bugger I drew for to ride.

Now, something says, "Mister, you're crazy!"
But my bankroll says, "Don't you give in!"
Three jumps from the time the gates opened
I'd learned about horses from him.

Now, I've heard a lot about horses,
And I've rode 'em both large and small.
Sometimes I got on and I stayed there,
Sometimes what a hell of a fall!

But they's one horse I never have ridden,
It's Conscience they call it, by grim.
But I reckon when we have the last roundup
I'll learn about that horse from Him.


I have put up the music from Glenn's book here. There are no other links to it except this thread. I have never heard Glenn do the song, but I can hear him doing it in my head, it would sure work as a recitation as well.

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: GUEST,Bill Sears
Date: 06 Jan 01 - 08:23 PM

Would anyone know where to get a recording of a song called "Down By The Railroad Track" by Frank Crumit? I am looking for it for my 92 year old Grandmother. All help would be very appreciated. My E-mail address is [e-mail]

Thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Morticia
Date: 07 Jan 01 - 08:46 AM

Try sending a PM to Micca ( sorry Bill, but you would have to join first to have that facility) as I happen to know he has at least one Frank Crumit album and could tape or MP3 it for you.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: GUEST,Deb (Mullin) Carbone
Date: 19 Jun 01 - 09:11 PM

Were you looking for the lyrics to the Prune Song. Trade you for the lyrics to Gay Caballero. deb

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: rangeroger
Date: 02 Nov 01 - 06:26 PM

Just picked a Victor 78 by Frank Crumit ( along with 2 Columbia 78's by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys) doing "The Song of The Prune" and "Down in De Cane Break".Paid $1.05 for the 3 of them at the local St. Vincent DePauls. I don't collect 78's, well I guess I do now, but I'm going to break out an old turntable that plays 78 and try to put these on tape.

There are more there, alot of Bob Wills and Montana Slim and the lady at the store said she would make me a deal on all the 78's.I just may do it.

I would have never known about Frank Crumit if not for this thread and the Mudcat.

rr

Subject: Lyr Add: GET AWAY OLD MAN, GET AWAY (from Dalhart)
From: Rank
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 06:26 PM

I recently borrowed a copy of "Get away old man, get away" and thought I'd post it as it has additional words to the one in the index. I borrowed the record as it also features some instrumental Jew's harp. The other side is "The runaway train" which used to feature on Uncle Macs on Saturday morning (children's programme in the UK) every other week. Don't know if it was this version though.

Crummit was definitely spelt with two m's, so are we talking about the same person? Also, out of idle curiosity, is there an easy way to find out the release date of 78 records? "Does shoo fly, don't bother me" appear commonly in American songs, as I seem to have heard it before?

GET AWAY OLD MAN, GET AWAY

Sung by Vernon Dalhart
Regal MR 346
Attr. Crummit

Now listen all you maidens, about to choose a man,
Don't take one who is ancient, get a young one if you can,
'Cos if you marry an old man, now list' to what I say,
You're sure to meet a young man, who will steal your heart away.

CHORUS: For an old man he is old, for an old man he is grey,
But a young man's heart is full of love, get away old man, get away.

Be sure to get a young man, with red and rosy cheek,
Don't get a man with a cane in his hand, whose back is very weak,
I'd rather marry a young man, with his pockets lined with silk,
Than to marry an old man with a hundred cows to milk. CHORUS

I'd sooner marry a young man, with an apple in his hand,
Than to marry an old man, with a hundred acres of land.
Don't ever marry an old man and here's the reason why,
His lips are all tobacco juice and his chin is never dry. CHORUS

Don't ever marry an old man, who's got a room of tears,
You'll have to rub his creaking joints; if that ain't work, what is?
Don't ever marry an old man, 'cos when the winter's cold,
A nice warm place to put your feet is better far than gold. CHORUS

Get away, get away, get away.
Get away, get away, get away.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Shoo fly, don't bother me.
Get away old man, get away.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 3-Sep-02.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 12:50 AM

Frank regularly reviewed his own lyrics - I've got evidence of two recordings of the Prune song, sung by Frank, with differing lyrics. So the changes in the words might be his own revision rather than a bowdler at work.

Mountain Greenery was one of his best known too, and again, dreadfully sexist, but if you put it into context of the time and era he was writing in (between the wars, when women were still very much considered the weaker sex and ladies were not expected to do anything more strenuous than open a handbag), then it makes sense.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:34 AM

I've heard him do 2 versions of the Prune song too - the during and after Prohibition versions.

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Micca
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 04:28 AM

I have a coupe of his CDs, unfortunately not containing the original song requested. but lots of other "Crumit classics"

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 09:37 AM

and I have a couple of copies of his ukulele song books entitled 'Strum it with Crumit!

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE TAKEN THE NAGS AS I'VE FOUND THEM
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 01:21 AM

So nice to see the return of Frank Crumit. I mentioned a western parody much earlier and it is different from the ones posted. Here it is.


I'VE TAKEN THE NAGS AS I'VE FOUND THEM

I've taken the nags as I've found them,
I've 'eeled and I've peeled in my time;
I've had my pickin of remounts,
An' four o' the lot was prime.
One wa a 'arf caste devil,
One was a 'orse but in name,
One I 'arf 'sited in Ogdan, Utah,
One fell in a ditch and went lame.

When I was a young one at Riley,
Tender as 'ell to begin,
Annie Austin they gave me,
And Annie was clever as sin.
Jumper they classed her at Riley,
Said she could go six feet nine;
She went up to a jump and came down on her rump,
Nurses are not in my line.

Then I was given a draft horse,
Schooled in the West Riding Hall;
Splendid four-gaiter they called him…
A walk, trot, stumble, and fall.
He wasn't so agile and supple,
But yet he could manage somehow
To turn at a trot in a four-acre lot,
So now he is hitched to a plow.

I've applied tannic acid diluted
To places not mentioned in print,
I've tumbled and fallen as yu have,
I've worn all my limbs in a splint.
But not I've a nice new remount,
And wonderful things he can do;
So because you're my friend and have something to spend
I'd like to sell him to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: GUEST,Dewey
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 03:23 AM

Don't Know Much Info. Would Highly Recommend the Frank Crumit tune, "The Parlor is a Pleasant Place" Neat Song, Cute Poem. Awesome Accordian! A Real Hoot!!

Dewey

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 04:31 AM

Will someone please post the words to the "Prune Song" - I know about half of it, but it would be nice to fil in the gaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Frank Crummit ?
From: GUEST,MCP
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 06:17 AM

Dave if you type the word Prune into the Filter box and set Age to 3 years, you'll find 2 threads from 2000 with the words in.

Mick

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From:
Date: 18 Aug 05 - 11:25 AM

Does anyone know the words of the Frank Crumit song "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" - I think that was the title but perhaps its not PC any more. It started by him singing in a high/light voice "Who'se that knocking at my door, cried the fair young maiden" and it continued with him singing in a deep voice "Its Barnacle Bill from over the sea says Barnacle Bill the sailor". I don't really know any more but it was a very funny song. Thanks. Hugh

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PRUNE SONG (compiled version)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 09:20 AM

TO: "Whispering" Dave Bryant from Thinbles O' Hooligan (aka the Croakin' Bullfrog)
If you still need those words here they are:

THE PRUNE SONG
(Crumit/DaCosta)

Nowadays we often gaze on women over fifty
Without the slightest trace
Of wrinkles on their face
Doctors go and take their dough to make them young and nifty
But doctors I defy
To tell me just why

No matter how young a prune may be, it's always full of wrinkles
We may get them on our face
Prunes get them every place
Nothing ever worries them, their life's an open book
But no matter how young a prune may be, it has a worried look

Every day in every way the world is getting better
We've even learned to fly
Days go passing by
But what about the poor old prune? His life is getting wetter
No wonder he can't grin
In that awful stew he's in

No matter how young a prune may be, it's always full of wrinkles
Now we may get them here and there
But prunes get them everywhere
babies fret until they hear a mother's lullaby
But no matter how young a prune may be, you'll never hear it cry

In the kingdom of the fruits the prune is snubbed by others
And they're not allowed
To mingle with the crowd
Though they're never on display with all their highbrow brothers
They never seem to mind
To this fact they are resigned

No matter how young a prune may be, it's always full of wrinkles
Beauty treatments always fail
They've tried them all to no avail
Yet other fruits are envious because they know real well
No matter how poor a prune may be hot water makes it swell

Peaches and bananas have that skin you love to touch
But no matter how fine a prune may be it don't amount to much
Prohibition bothers us but prunes don't sit and brood
No matter how young a prune may be it's always getting stewed

No matter how young a prune may be, it's always full of wrinkles
baby prunes look like their dad
Just not wrinkled, quite as bad
Prunes act very kind they say when sickly people moan
But no matter how kind a prune may be it has a heart of stone.


RtS
(I've heard a couple of FC versions of this, they differ slightly, I think I amalgamated both when I compiled this version)

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 09:07 PM

one and another version of Barnacle Bill from the Digitrad, but no mentions of Crumit as author. A search of the threads on 'Barnacle Bill' reveals 64 responses - too many for me to verify at the moment whether any contain a reference to Crumit.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: Snuffy
Date: 20 Aug 05 - 08:59 AM

Crumit may have adapted Barnacle Bill, but it's a much older sailor's song, sometimes known as Abraham Brown.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: Arkie
Date: 21 Aug 05 - 12:27 AM

I have found many versions of Barnacle Bill but have not seen in print the version that Glenn Ohrlin, a local cowboy singer, and a legitimate authority on western songs, sings.   I first heard of Frank Crumit from Glenn and wonder if his version may have been learned from Crumit.   He does the high and low parts and says the low parts are the hardest to do.   His version contains the line "Did you bring me a kangaroo".

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 05:59 PM

Just found a 78RPM recording by Frank Crumit singing "Early In The Morning (Down On The Farm)". The flip side is Al Jolson singing "In Sweet September".
Any takers? I found it at a church sale and couldn't leave it behind.
SINS

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 07:24 PM

Frank Crumit's
Book of Favourite Songs
20 complete songs
words and music
for Piano
with ukulele
accompaniment

Created and Complied by FRANK CRUMIT
and sung by him on Victor Records and also over the Radio
assisted by his wide, Julia Sanderson

Published by
George T Worth & Co
112 West 44th St NY

© MCMXXXII (1932) by George T Worth & Co NY


A Gay Caballero
A-Tale-Of-A-Ticker
Abdul Abulbul Amir
Billy Boy
Down By The Railroad Track
Figure It Out For Yourself
Foolish Facts (Just a Nut Song)
Frankie and Johnnie
Get Away, Old Man, Get Away
Granny's Old Armchair
I'll Meet Her When The Sun Goes Down
I'm Bettin' The Roll On Roamer
King Of Borneo
Low Bridge! - Everybody Down (Or Fifteen Years On The Erie Canal)
Pretty Little Dear
Song Of The Sea (Or The Brides' Lament)
The Return Of Abdul Abulbul Amir
The Return of The Gay Caballero
That Old Wooden Rocker
What Kind Of Noise Annoys An Oyster

~~~

Extracted from the Foreword by Frank Crumit
"I wrote most of them, sometimes the words, sometimes the music. Some of them came from the distant past and have been adapted to modern use."

~~~~

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 07:30 PM

Or, if you want to hear him, he's available on CD. From CAMSCO, of course.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 08:41 PM

The book above was a Secret Santa pressie from last year. When I get more time, I will go thru each song and list who else is listed as 'words or music'.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Nov 05 - 09:09 PM

Wonder who that Secret Santie was...heh heh. Want the 78RPM?
SINS

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Nov 05 - 01:53 AM

I'm sure that it would not get delivered without damage. Thanks though.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From:
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 04:28 PM

Iam looking for the words of Abdul the Bubul Amir. Can anybody help?

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 05:21 PM

Neleh - if you go to the box at the top of the page that says DT Lyrics and press the Browse button beside it (leave the drop-down set to A), you'll see links to the words.

Mick

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: Barbara
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 05:27 PM

Hi Nemeh, Try this clicky. Abdul Abulbul Amir One of the tricks to using the database is to use a word in the song that is unusual and is unlikely to be misspelled.
Blessings,
Barbara
Who just bought a CD of "The Gay Caballero so she could hear what Frank Crumit sounded like.

Subject: RE: Frank Crummit ? (Frank Crumit)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 13 Oct 08 - 12:02 PM

The Prune Song as performed by Frank Crumit, on YouTube!!

And there's more there, of course.

~ Becky in Tucson
over her breakfast prunes...