Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)

Subject: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 20 Apr 99 - 05:22 PM

I'm not really sure of the name of this song but I think it may be SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME. It was on a record (long lost) that I had back in the late 40's and I only remember it in bits and pieces. One verse contained: '...... a game last night, brought on a fight, that finished up with pistol shots. Now I was furthest from the door, the others all got there before, a brother on the floor lay dead, while through the transom some one said. Somebody has to stay behind, yes someone must remain, and when those police officers arrive, just explain why this here brother ain't alive..............now thats a wonder full chanch for some one, its got to be somebody else not me.' most likely not the exact words.

CAP'T BOB

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: dwditty
Date: 20 Apr 99 - 08:38 PM

Dave Van Ronk does this on one of his albums (I think by the same name). I would love to get the chords as well as the lyrics. Since I don't know either, it'll have to be Somebody Else, Not Me.

DW

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 20 Apr 99 - 11:09 PM

DW ~ Well, er, not exactly what I was looking for ~ However, for not knowing the words your response gave me one really big chuckle. I guess I never thought about the cords before. I have been working on them for the past fifteen minutes and so far only have the first two! Now I really have problems.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: TequilaRon (inactive)
Date: 21 Apr 99 - 06:29 PM

Ok, guys maybe I can help you, help yourselves. While driving home this afternoon I think I heard this song on my favorite community radio station. This is WMNF 88.5 out of Tampa. The best little radio station on planet earth and not a member of the Big Brother Broadcasting network. This station can be accessed by computer. the address is http://www.wmnf.org . Check out the play list for April 23 between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. Even if this isn't the right song, you will love this web site. By the way dw I am mightily impressed by your screen name. Well envious actually. I suppose if I were a better person I would look this up for you guys, but since I am a slave to time pressures it will have to be done by (big finish all together now) "Somebody else, not me." Ron

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: TequilaRon (inactive)
Date: 22 Apr 99 - 07:46 PM

I sent WMNF an E-mail about the song I heard. It was "It Wasn't Me" by Chuck Berry. It is on several of his early Chess albums. I hope this is the one you guys want. Ron.

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME (from Dave Van Ronk)
From: GUEST,non member Bertie
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 10:59 AM

SOMEBODY ELSE - NOT ME! (Text: Williams verse1+2/Ronk-verse3

1. Great (B7)moments come to (E)every man
Some (fis)situations where he can
A(gis)chieve such (Es7)fame that (gis)folks ac (Es7)claim
The (gis)very mention (gis)of his (B7)name.
A (B7)circus played our (E)town one day
Three (fis)Bengal tigers got away.
The (gis)mana(Es7)ger looked (gis)straight at(Es7) me,
Said, (gis)here's your oppor(E)tu(C7)ni(B7)ty.

Some(E)body has got to (B7)get those cats,
Some(E)body has got to (A)go
Our (fis)tiger (Cis7)man is (fis)sick in bed,
So (Fis7)put on your hat and coat,
(B7)That is what the(Bb7) man (B7)said.
(E)The man that brings them (B7)back alive,
(E7)a hero is gonna (A)be,
It's a (A/Cis)wonderful (Cdim)chance for (E7)somebo(Cis7)dy,
(Fis7)Somebody (B6)else - not(E) me! - (Fis7) - (B6) - (E).

2. Two ivory bones with ebony dots
Often lead to cemetery lots.
Again last night brought on a fight
That ended up in pistol shots.
I was the furtherest from the door.
The others all got out before.
Upon the floor a man lay dead.
And through the transom someone said—

Somebody's got to stay behind—
Somebody must remain—
And when the officers, when the officers arrive explain
Why this brother isn't alive. Yeah.
The man who stays and sees it through
Is gonna gain celebrity, yeah.
It's a wonderful chance, a wonderful chance for somebody –
Somebody else, not me.

3. I did a little time in world war two,
When them panzer tanks came roll on through
In the middle of a minefield beneath barb wire,
They pinned us down with machine gun fire
There were bullets flying through the air
And shrapnels shrapening everywhere
Our captain there would shout: "No fear,"
Says he, "I need a volunteer."

Somebody has got to storm that hill.
Somebody has got to go.
Just to charge up that hill where them mines are lying
And blow them to hell with a hand grenade, right.
The man, who storms that hill," he said,
"Will live in history!"
I'd rather live in Hackensack.
That's gotta be somebody else – not me!

(Big letter - major chord, small letter – minor chord, dim – diminished chord, A/Cis – A-major chord with Cis Bass)
Dave's chords are a little bit more complicated, but I think the tune can be played with these above-
Sorry bout my language mistakes, I have often problems to understand what Dave sings, BERT – geman non member and big DVR Fan

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 02:31 PM

There are lyrics in the thread "Need Lyrics, Van Ronk's Somebody Else Not Me

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 02:10 PM

Here are the results of my effort to pin down the correct title and attribution of this song.

This impressively thorough Bert Williams discography (in pdf format) says he recorded "Somebody" in 1919. It doesn't mention a songwriter, however.

"Somebody" performed by Bert Williams, is on the Archeophone CD "His Final Releases 1919-1922" (2002). (Mistakenly called "His First Releases 1919-1922" at AMG - All Music Guide.) AMG credits "Hanley" as the songwriter. That would be the composer James F. Hanley.

The Harlem Blues and Jazz Band also performs "Somebody" on "From Past to Present: Featuring and Dedicated to Laurel Watson" (2001).

Under the title "Somebody Else, Not Me," AMG lists 6 recordings, one of which is apparently a different song. Four of them are attributed to "Hanley/MacDonald" as songwriters. That would be the lyricist Ballard MacDonald. Several sources confirm that he and James F. Hanley co-wrote many songs, e.g. "(Back Home Again in) Indiana", "Rose Of Washington Square", "Autumn in New York". The one performed by Dave Van Ronk on the album "Somebody Else, Not Me" is attributed to "Van Ronk/Williams."

Sam Deacon McDaniel also performs "Somebody Else, Not Me" on the Storyville CD "The Jubilee Shows, Vol. 3."

On Van Ronk's live album "Statesboro Blues" the title is given as "Somebody Else But Me" and the only writer credited is Van Ronk himself. I assume this is a publisher's mistake.

By the way, Bert Williams also recorded songs called "Nobody" and "Everybody."

Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEBODY (from Bert Williams)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 03 - 02:12 PM

A complete recording of Bert Williams' performance is included in an archived radio show that you can find here. This song begins about 29 minutes into the program. Here's my transcription. Williams uses a change of tone to indicate different speakers. This is usually clear, but sometimes ambiguous. I have used punctuation, especially the dash, to indicate my understanding of when the speaker changes.

SOMEBODY a.k.a. SOMEBODY ELSE NOT ME
(Words, Ballard MacDonald. Music, James F. Hanley.)
(As recorded by Bert Williams, 1919.)

1. Great moments come to every man,
Some situation where he can
Attain such fame that folks acclaim
The very mention of his name.
Now the circus played our town one day
And three Bengal tigers got away.
And the manager looked right straight at me.
Said he, "Now here's your opportunity." –"Yes sir."

–"Somebody's got to go and get them cats." –"Uh, yes sir."
–"Yes, sir, somebody's got to go." –"I'm with you there."
–"The tiger man is sick in bed.
Now all you got to do is put on your hat and coat," he said,
"Because the man who, uh, catches them alive,
A real hero is gonna be. Now, say, isn't that wonderful!"
He says, "Yes, it is a wonderful chance for somebody."
–"Ah, yes sir, yes sir. I agree with you. Somebody else, yes sir, not me!"

2. Two ivory bones with ebony dots
Oft lead to cemetery lots.
A game last night brought on a fight
Which finished up with pistol shots.
I was the furthest from the door.
The others all got there before.
A body on the floor lay dead.
And through the transom someone said:

"Somebody's got to stay behind." –"Uh huh."
–"Somebody must remain." –"Oh, do tell!"
–"And when the officers arrive, of course,
Explain how this brother here ain't alive." –"Yes, sir."
–"The man who stays and, uh, sees it through,
He's gonna gain notoriety." –"Yes sir!
It's a wonderful chance for somebody. I agree with you there.
But it's got to be somebody else, yes sir, not me!"

---

Bert Williams, 1919: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze3DKv4OWXM

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: dwditty
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 06:53 AM

Guest, not a member Bertie,

Thank you so much for your post. I have been trying to figure out the chords to this song for ages. Watching Van Ronk was no help, as I am pretty much a first position guy.

Could you please explain your chord notation just a bit more. (yes, I did see the info you provided at the bottom of your post.) For example:

(fis) I understand to be Fm, but I do not understand the significance of the "is"

Thanks again for taking the time. I too am a huge fan of all that DVR gave us.

dw

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: GUEST,Bertie
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 02:55 PM

Dear DW - Happy to hear from you.
First I try to explain my german notation:
Small letters = minor chords, so fis can also be notated as Fis-minor:
Baree second fret (first finger) and third and fourth fingers for on the fourth fret, 5. and 4. string.
By the way its my hobby to listen to Daves music and to write it down. I have written the whole piece (the way DVR plays it) in traditional notes, if you can play guitar from notes, I'd be glad to send you the sheet, mail me your post adress, if possible.
Greetings
Bertie

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: lamarca
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 03:05 PM

I remember hearing (or reading in the liner notes?) that Dave van Ronk credited the first two verses to Williams, and wrote the third verse himself (his growling voice declaiming "I'd rather live in Hackensack" is one of my quintessential Van Ronk images...)

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: dwditty
Date: 23 Oct 03 - 04:36 PM

Thank you Bertie. You can find my address at www.dwditty.com.

Subject: RE: Lyrics - Somebody else not me
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 11:32 AM

Bertie, I am not able to email you my address as you contacted me via sonic bids and they did not include your email. Please send email to [e-mail]. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 01:50 PM

Check our Tommy Burton on youtube he sings this song. Unfortunatly now departed Tommy was a real entertainer as I'm sure you will see

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: kendall
Date: 31 Jan 10 - 01:53 PM

Phil Harris recorded this back in the 40's as a recitation.He did other things as well.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 05:11 PM

Thanks to Everyone here for providing the lyrics to this ancient ditty. I had only a vague memory of my older brothers singing this around the house when I was a baby back in the mid 40s, and strangely enough today I remembered a few of the words but not the music. I did this search not really expecting to find much because I didn't have much to go on, and here it is. Having the actual music would give my younger brother and I a few more moments of fond distant memories of loved ones no longer with us and so is the object of my next search. Thanks again.
Diane

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: pdq
Date: 07 Mar 10 - 06:18 PM

I hope this works on your computer...Bert Williams most famous song:


                                                          Nobody ~ Bert Williams, 1913

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams
From: GUEST,D. Elder
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 03:20 PM

Jim Dixon got it right. As a young boy back in the early 1930's, I remember playing that record on my aunts wind up Victrola. I thought the song was sung by the Vaudevillians, "Two Black Crows," but maybe not. In any case, my memory of the lyrics coincides exactly with those Jim Dixon listed.

BTW: Another great song from that era was, "The moon shines on the moonshine. I have the lyrics if anyone is interested.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 12:32 AM

I like this Tommy Burton version of SOMEBODY ELSE, NOT ME, complete with a pretty good joke.

dw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST,Jon James
Date: 17 Sep 10 - 08:24 AM

I remember it as a 78 by Pee Wee Hunt - great version and available on iTunes :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST,Roger Taylor's daughter
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 12:59 AM

Ivory cubes with ebony dots
Often lead to cemetery lots.
The game last night brought on a fight that ended up in pistol shots.
I was the furthest from the door,
The others all got there before --
The body on the floor lay dead
And through the transom somebody said,
"Somebody's got to stay behind, somebody must remain:
And when da Officerz arrive -- 'splain why this Brother here ain't alive.
The Man who stays and sees this through will gain some notoriety."
--It's a wonderful chance for somebody:
Somebody else, not me.

--The Circus played our town one day,
Three Bengal tigers got away!
Boss-man, he looked straight at me and said.
"Son, here's yo' Opportunity! --
Somebody's got to get dem cats,
Somebody's got to go --
Tiger-man is sick in bed so get yo' coat and hat"
He said --
Beecause
The Man who brings them back alive
A Reel Hee-ro's going to be!"
It's a wonderful chance for somebody ---

Somebody else -- not me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 07:48 PM

I think there ought to be a rule that, if you're going to post lyrics more or less like lyrics that have already been posted, you have to explain why you're posting them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST,Steve Munslow.
Date: 21 Sep 11 - 03:06 PM

The circus played our town one day. Two bengal tigers got away. The manager looks straight at me and says:

Somebody's got to get them cats. Somebody's got to go. The man who catches them cats and brings them back to me alive a real hero is gonna be. Well that's a wonderful chance for somebody. It's got to be somebody else not me.


Two ivory bones with ebony dots oft times leads to cemetery plots.
Game last night brought on a fight which finished up with pistol shots.

A brother on the floor lay dead while through the transom somebody said:
Somebody's got to stay behind, somebody must remain. Then, when the police officers arrive they c'n explain how it is our brother ain't alive.

Well that's a wonderful chance for somebody. It's got to be somebody else not me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: Max
Date: 11 Jan 13 - 09:18 PM

See also: Lyr Req: Somebody Else, Not Me (from Dave Van Ronk)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Somebody (Else Not Me) (Bert Williams)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Apr 13 - 12:16 PM

I've seen the lyrics/chords posted here as well as the video of DVR playing "Somebody Else Not Me." What I'd like is something closer to the tab for his version of that song. Guest,Bertie mentioned having something approaching this. And others have mentioned lessons with DVR. I know his notation is a little strange, but I've got one of his books so I think I could work it out, with a little more help. Email me at [e-mail] if you can help. Thanks.