Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech

Subject: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: GUEST,InOBU -Lorcan Otway
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 10:36 AM

You all might recall my mother, who has Alzhiemers has begun singing songs from her childhood, such as the Boston Irish street song Sharrup or I'll knock you dead...

Well, yesterday morning it was...
"I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech, and one hell of an engineer
on hell of a hell of a hell of a hell of a hell of an engineer.

She went to Cooper Union in the 30s, so it might be from the engineerings students. Anyone have any idea about this song, and more words?

All the best
Lorcan sans cookie, must sign on again...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tec
From: Mark Ross
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 10:49 AM

"For I'm a jolly good fellow and I like my whiskey clear,
I'm a ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech........."

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 11:25 AM

I am not a lot of help here, but we did have a recording of this when I was young. A very little bit of research led to the confirmation that it was a recording by Dick Powell on a Decca 78. The reverse side was the Notre Dame Victory March.

My sister and I used to sing both songs with a lot of volume and energy, though definitely deficient in the talent category!

I think a search of the Georgia Tech site will almost certainly turn up lots on this, lyrics, etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: ClaireBear
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 12:01 PM

Lorcan,

It's elsewhere in the forum: go

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: ClaireBear
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 12:04 PM

Let's try that again...

It's elsewhere in the forum. Go here for those lyrics.

Cheers, Claire

---

Thread #76708   Message #1361894

Posted By: Joe Offer

20-Dec-04 - 06:23 PM

Thread Name: Lyr Add: Son of a Gambolier

Subject: Lyr Add: The Ramblin' Wreck

The version of "Gambolier" in the DT is an exact transcription of the version in My Pious Friends and Drunken Companions (Frank Shay, 1927)[no tune in "Pious Friends"]. It could use an extra line break after the chorus, but otherwise looks good.
The version Q posted is a bit different, but both versions have basically the same three verses.

---

This Page at GATECH.edu has the lyrics that are more familiar to us (and a recording):

The Ramblin' Wreck
  By Frank Roman

I'm a ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech
  And a hell of an engineer--
A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, hell of an engineer,
Like all the jolly good fellows,
  I drink my whiskey clear.
I'm a ramblin' wreck from Georgia Tech
  And a hell of an engineer.

Oh! If I had a daughter, sir,
  I'd dress her in White and Gold.
And put her on the campus
 To cheer the Brave and Bold.
But if I had a son, sir,
 I'll tell you what he'd do
He would yell, "To hell with Georgia,"
 like his daddy used to do.

Oh! I wish I had a barrel of rum
  And sugar three thousand pounds,
A college bell to put it in
  And a clapper to stir it round,
I'd drink to all good fellows
  Who come from far and near.
I'm a ramblin', gamblin',
  Hell of an engineer! Hey!

---

This page of Georgia Tech Traditions gives some background:

The Georgia Tech Fight Song is perhaps the most widely known song associated with a school. The song began in 1885 when majority of the student body traveled to Athens to watch Tech defeat Georgia's baseball team. The tradition was established in the early 1900's. Bandmaster, Frank Roman, changed some things in the song and how he left it is how we know it today.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: maeve
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 12:25 PM

Lorcan- I do hope you are recording your mother's singing.

maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Aug 09 - 01:57 PM

I have refreshed the thread with full lyrics of "Rambling Wreck ...,"
(Son of a Gambolier).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I'm a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech
From: GUEST,Inobu Lorcan Otway
Date: 20 Aug 09 - 05:22 AM

Great! Thanks to all...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Nov 11 - 10:47 AM

According to the US Catalog of Copyright Entries, RAMBLING WRECK FROM GEORGIA TECH, with words and music by Frank Roman, was published in 1931 by Melrose Bros. Music Co., Inc. of Chicago.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Nov 11 - 04:47 PM

Information, various lyrics and history in thread 76708 (also linked by ClaireBear).
Lyr Add Son of a Gambolier

Also a link to song in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 09:19 AM

~words and music by Frank Roman~~

Surely the tune to which this generally sung is one of those most commonly used for "Our Goodman" (Child #274)?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 10:34 AM

Funny. I've heard of this song for years, but never known the tune. So here's a link to how it goes.

cute young guys

Hmmm. There seems to be some family resemblance to the Eighth of January, better known as The Battle of New Orleans.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 11:32 AM

But also, Leneeia, as I said above ~~

Home came the Goodman and home came he.
He spied a horse all in the stable where no horse ought to be.
My dear wife, my darling wife, now tell me wife, quoth he
How comes this horse here in the stable where no horse ought to be?

~M~

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 02:33 PM

Looking at Bronson entry for Child 274, "Our Goodman," shows several tunes.
To the Duncan MMM., the tune given is by a Mrs. Gillespie, 1905.
Another by William Carle, 1908.
A third by Lunsford, 1949.
One from Sharp, George Noble, 1921
One from Scarborough, 1937.

Which one is MGM referring to? All are later than "Son of a Gambolier.
I have not checked these tunes to see if one matches "Son ....."

Also, Bruce O discusses an old version of "Our Goodman .....", sung by a Mr. Geike. Tune in Scots Musical Museum # 454.

"Seven Drunken Nights" (1967), The Dubliners, essentially has the tune of "Rambling Wreck......"

First verse-
The first night when I came home,
Just drunk as I could be,
I saw a horse in the stable
Where my horse ought to be.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 02:43 PM

Words to Bruce O post of "Our Goodman Came Home at E'en (1776), and music, in thread 7291:
Our Goodman Came Home at E'en

MtheGM makes a good case.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 15 Nov 11 - 05:41 PM

I don't think there is much resemblance between the Georgia Tech song and 454 from the Scots Musical Museum.