Who sang I was born under a wandering star?

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Sep 21 - 04:21 PM

Joe - cleanup and consolidate

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST,therogue1000
Date: 28 Dec 12 - 10:22 PM

James Barton who played Ben Rumson in the original cast. The Marvin lyrics were wildly (and poorly, IMHO> altered for reasons unknown. The original lyrics were far better. I just listened to the original cast recording remastered in 1989 to double check my own memory.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:21 PM

Spike Milligan's 'I talk to the Trees, that's why they put me away' unattributed above.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Van
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 03:15 PM

My Dad

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 07:36 AM

It was lee Marvin in the Film I think called Paint your Wagon. Clint Eastwood sang 'I talk To The Trees'in the same film

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 06:24 AM

You are all wrong!

It was written and sung by Lenin!

"I was born,
Under a squandering Czar"

Amen & druse

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: alanabit
Date: 19 Nov 10 - 02:51 AM

I do not recall Lee Marvin decking a horse in Cat Ballou. I can recall a character called "Mongo" doing it though. That was in Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles".

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST,Bill Clinton
Date: 18 Nov 10 - 08:36 PM

Dean Martin sang it once on stage

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: mayomick
Date: 03 Aug 09 - 03:30 PM

Does the song remind anyone (apart from me) of Fine Broom Besom ?

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 03 Aug 09 - 12:38 AM

excellent song ,excellent lyrics, always thought it was a song that Bob Dylan could do and im surprised he has not?

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Celtaddict
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 09:14 PM

Lyric correction: I don't know how Lerner wrote it, but Marvin sings it
'Do you know where hell is?
Hell is in hello.
Heaven is goodbye forever, it's time for me to go.'

And another verse:
'Wheels were made for rollin'
Mules were made to pack,
I never seen a sight that didn't look better lookin' back.'

And separately, in Cat Ballou, Lee Marvin at one point punches the horse, and decks it.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Aug 09 - 06:36 PM

Lonesome EJ got it right.

If you can't appreciate Lee Marvin singing this song you ain't lived long enough to understand the lyrics.

Anyone knocking Clint Eastwood's singing is correct, but Marvin nailed this song, absolutely nailed it.

---

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-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST,Joerg
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 08:32 PM

Message to anybody who calls him/herself a singer:

If you can do 'Wandrin' Star' some way as charming as Lee did it (needn't be the same way), I'll believe that you really are a singer.

Joerg

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 07:33 PM

I loved Paint Your Wagon -- we got to see it in the original wwwwwwiiiiiiiiddddddeeeee screen that videotape will never equal. Lee Marvin did a great job with the song, but the director really added to the atmosphere of it with the chorus behind him.

PYW is also the source of another favorite of mine. "They Call the Wind Maria." Ah. Where is that CD?

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Bernard
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 06:21 PM

Did you know there was a 'Prequel' to 'Paint Your Wagon'?

It was 'Sand and Prime Your Wagon'...

'I talk to the trees... that's why they put me away...'!!

Funniest scene ever in a movie - in 'Cat Balou' where Lee Marvin and his horse are propped up against a wall, both blind drunk... and the horse never won an Oscar!!

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Abby Sale
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 06:09 PM

This was a marvelous performance! One of the earliest musicals to attempt "natural" settings & singing instead of breaking to a Busby Berkley sort of thing. You cant really do that, of course, but it was a good try. And 'talking' a song isn't so bad - Rex Harrison did well with the idea in that show/movie they made out of Shaw's Pygmalion, after all. It's more like 'folk' stuff - heimish instead of stage performances.

In this line, I've sort of been collecting movies & stars that wended their way through genuine trad. material. Eg, Eastwood (again) singing "Rose of Alabammy" and Bogart, himself, singing the New York State version of "The Bold Fisherman." There must be more...

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:37 PM

It wasn't sung , it was talked all the way through (like most of my bloody audiences do).

Spot

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Snuffy
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 05:11 PM

Wasn't it "Happy Birthday To You" that he sang in Cat Balou? (to a coffin)

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: mousethief
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 03:48 PM

Nothing is so obscure that somebody can't use it to rain on someone else's parade. Whose taste trumps?

Alex

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 11:33 AM

Earl Wrightson

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From:
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 09:38 AM

Lee Marvin

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: oilchick_01
Date: 21 May 99 - 02:38 PM

Thank you all so much for the great response I never expected we'd find out the lyrics too MUCHAS GRACIAS!! I am bound and determined to see the film just to have the experience first hand of listening to old Lee warble!! Adios Amigos oilchick_01

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: leprechaun
Date: 21 May 99 - 12:25 PM

A most astute observation, Casey, and until you've had a shot of whiskey and cigar, you're missing the second and third best things in the world.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: gargoyle
Date: 21 May 99 - 12:40 AM

Original Broadway performance:
Starring James Barton, Olga San Juan, and Tony Bavaar

A good source for Broadway performance information:Ithaca Musicals-Database

Subject: ADDPOP: Wand'rin Star (Wandering Star)
From: gargoyle
Date: 20 May 99 - 11:51 PM

WAND'RIN' STAR
Words by Alan Lerner Music by Frederic Loewe
Copyright 1951 by Lerner & Loewe

4/4 time Key Eb Chording = classic cycle of 5ths/4ths
Eb,Bb7,Eb,Bb7,Gm,Dm,Dm,Dm,Fm,Cm

I was born under a Wand-rin' Star.
Mud can make you pris-ner
and the plains can my you dry
Snow can burn you eyes
but only people make you cry.

Home is made of com-in' from, for dreams of goin to
Which with any luck
will never come true

Do you know where hell is?
Hell is in hello
First its time for meetin' people
and then its time to go

I was born under a wand-rin' star
When I get to heaven
tie me to a tree
Or I'll begin to roam
And soon you'll know wheere I will be

I was born under a wand-rin' star.
A wand-rin', wand'rin' star.

Contains one of my favorite line "Do you know where hell is................."

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 20 May 99 - 11:27 PM

I don't envy Dick Greenhaus who is under some form of self imposed creed to eventually include all sorts of shite into the DT database, but if anyone is prepared to submit the lyrics for Wandrin Star, I'll do likewise for The Ballad of Cat Ballou (Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole as I recall) which I have tucked away in a long forgotten book somewhere. Any takers? I hope W Star is not in the DT - the offline version for Oct 98 gives up the ghost before reaching the letter 'W'.

Regards
John

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: casey
Date: 20 May 99 - 11:02 PM

In addition to Ben Rumson's Wand'rin' Star this great movie also featured The Gospel Of No Name City-----"You wanna embrace the Golden Calf--ankle and thigh and upper half--here it is --I mean here it is--" Quite obviously the best movie that Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood ever sang in. casey

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 20 May 99 - 10:39 PM

Again one man's Lee Marvin is another man's Art Thieme. Anyway,I thought Lee's version was great! The gut-bucket whisky-voiced rasping was in perfect character for the dirty old bastard that Lee played in the movie. I have found that on certain mornings-after I am his equal, and I enjoy bellowing this song just to watch people scramble for shelter.

LEJ

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: John Hindsill
Date: 20 May 99 - 09:01 PM

Sorry to disagree with Alison, here. CE's singing wasn't better period. He and Lee Marvin are too bad even for a singing Hall of Shame. I know of only one worse singer anywhere...your humble correspondent.-John

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: alison
Date: 20 May 99 - 10:31 AM

Hi,

Clint's "I talk to the trees" also from "Paint your wagon, wasn't much better.

Julian Clary does a pretty good "Wandering star".........

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 20 May 99 - 07:54 AM

To any and all who think "my voice isn't good enough". Just listen to old Lee warble away.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: WyoWoman
Date: 20 May 99 - 01:25 AM

Lee Marvin, in "Paint Your Wagon," 'pon my word.

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: Rasta
Date: 20 May 99 - 12:27 AM

Cat Balou with I believe the late Lee Marvin . I think Lee sang it or was it Clint Eastwood-thats the best I can come up with.---good Luck oh --Cat Balou was the name of the Movie tip a canoe and tyler too ---el rasta reno---

Subject: RE: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 May 99 - 12:26 AM

Lee Marvin in the movie "Paint Your Wagon". I had a friend who was a firefighter. Crashed his car into the river after working all night and getting drunk. It was his favourite song and his parents had it sung at his funeral.

katlaughing

Subject: Who sang I was born under a wandering star?
From:
Date: 20 May 99 - 12:19 AM

Who sang "I was born under a wandering star"?