And Finian's Mondegreen

Subject: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 10:42 PM

Okay, put this in BS if necessary, I wasn't sure. Just wanted to share a link and a little merriment for anybody who loves a delicious mondegreen or twelve.

I stumbled on this lyric sheet, and it is amazing. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present: Yip Harburg and Burton Lane's "When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich".

the link

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 02:52 AM

Is it me ? I found it stupid and boring.

eric

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 10:58 AM

Yep, I guess if you're not familiar with the song, there's nothing to it.

Meanwhile, here's a cut and paste, because I realized some compulsive person will correct the lyrics and wreck it.


Sharon-
When de idle poor
Become the idle rich
You'll never know
just who is who
or who is witch.
Won't it be rich
Whenever wants poor relatives,
becomes a "Rockefellative",
and pans no longer itch
What a switch!

Female Ensemble-
When beyond my permine
And plastic team
How would we do determin
Who's who under me?

Male Ensemble-
And when all your neighbours
are upper class
- You won't know your 'georges'
from your 'astors'.

Sharon-
Let's toast a day
The day we drink that drinkin' up
But with a little pinkie up.
Company- The day on witch
The idle poor
Become the idle rich

Sharon-
When a rich man doesn't want to work
He's a bon vivant.
Company-
Yes, he's a bom vivant.
Sharon-
But when a poor man doesn't want to work,
He's a laughter, he's a lounger
he's a lazier good for nothing
Company-
He's a jerk!

Sharon-
When a rich man looses on a horse
Oh, isn't it disport!
Company-
Oh, isn't it disport!

Sharon-
When a poor man looses on a horse
He's a gambler, he's a spender
He's a low life, he's a reason for divorce!

When a rich man chases after dames
He's a man about town,
A man about town.
But when a poor man chases after dames
He's a bounder, he's a rounder
He's a rotter, and a lot of dirty names!

Company-
You'll never know
just who is witch.
When de idle poor
Become the idle rich.

Sharon-
When de idle poor
Become the idle rich

Company-
When de idle poor
Become the idle rich
You'll never know
just who is who
or who is witch.

Sharon-
No one will see
The Irish or the Slavonian
'cause when you're on Park Avenue
Cornelius and Mike
Look alike

Female Ensemble-
When poor tweedle Doe
This rich tweedle Dee
Company-
This discrimination will no longer be.
Male Ensemble-
When we leave undone
and out of the nuts
Sharon-
You won't know your banker.
from your but...ler.
Let's make the switch.
We just a few a'newer 'n' this
We'll ride this incongruityies
With clothes from Ava Crombing Fitch

Female Ensemble I-
Wheeeeeeeeeen de idle poor
Female Ensemble II-
Wheeeeeeen become the
Male Ensemble-
Wheeeeeeeen idle rich

Company-
When de idle poor
Become the idle rich

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: GUEST,pattyClink
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 11:02 AM

And I apologize for the thread, I didn't see "Mangled Lines" was already going.

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 12:00 PM

A song for those with a sense of humour only...it's hilarious...thanks Patty!! :-)

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's Apprentice
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 12:06 PM

More Mondegreens

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: Joe_F
Date: 06 Dec 07 - 08:51 PM

Apprentice: That is the funniest collection of mondegreens I have seen. One might note that "turkey" for "Turk he" actually appears in print in _The Coffee House Song Book_.

As to the initial song, cf. "The Bum on the Rods and the Bum on the Plush". The question whether the idle poor or the idle rich are a greater burden on society is one of which, I firmly believe, there will never, ever, be objective consideration.

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: JJ
Date: 07 Dec 07 - 08:27 AM

"With clothes from Ava Crombing Fitch"

This reads as if it were written down by Brecht, setting it down by ear with little knowledge of English.

Very funny for those who know the show.

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Dec 07 - 06:11 PM

I'm gunner wade forty mid nigh tower ...

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 12 Dec 07 - 08:05 AM

http://www.amiright.com/misheard/song/amazinggrace.shtml

Amazing Grace, how sweet the taste
That saved a wrench for me
I once was in the lost and found
Was blind but found my keys.


Through many dangerous toyland scares
I have already come.


and many more....

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: Mo the caller
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 05:32 AM

I was looking for the words for for We'll gather Lilacs (see my colours quiz thread). In my head it was "and wander (??Something??) down an English lane. So google to the rescue.
I had it wrong, it should have been " and walk together..."
But Frank Sinatra apparently sings "and walk together down an endless lane" (which sounds much less rural and very frustrating)

Subject: RE: And Finian's Mondegreen
From: Flash Company
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 10:46 AM

Saw a singer/pianist called Ian Shaw earlier this week who closed his evening with Mel Torme's 'Christmas Song'. After the first line he burst out laughing and said, Oh God, I always want to sing that as 'Geoff's nuts roasting on an open fire'

FC