Lyr Req: See What Percy's Picked Up in the Park

Subject: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: Blowzabella
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:10 PM

It's a music hall song, sung by Vesta Victoria - I'm desperate for the words and cursing myself because I had them, loaned them to someone and can't get in touch with said person. Have tried to track 'em down on the net, but to no avail.

Anyone able to help? Many thanks in anticipation

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:31 PM

At 6 o'clock on Saturday night, I first met Percy Brown
At 7 o'clock you see, he was making love to me
At 8 o'clock he took me 'round to see his Ma and Pa
Because you see his Ma and Pa were most particular
And… Percy's mother fixed me with a look, such a funny look, read me like a book
Percy's father walked 'round me, and the dogs in the yard began to bark, "bow wow wow"
And all the children piled through the door, through the parlor door, then began to roar
Singing "Oh, Jerusalem, come and see what Percy's picked up in the park!"

I've never heard the song so I do not know whether these lyrics are complete. Lemme know, will ya?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: GUEST,999
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:34 PM

Vesta Victoria's "Look What Percy's Picked Up in the Park"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At 6 o?clock on Saturday night, I first met Percy Brown
At 7 o?clock you see, he was making love to me
At 8 o?clock he took me ?round to see his Ma and Pa
Because you see his Ma and Pa were most particular
And? Percy?s mother fixed me with a look
Such a funny look
Read me like a book
Percy?s father walked ?round me
And the dogs in the yard began to bark, ?bow wow wow?
And all the children piled through the door
Through the parlor door
Then began to roar
Singing ?Oh Jerusalem, come and see what Percy?s picked up in the park!?


The two above are all I could locate. FYI

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: Blowzabella
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 06:52 PM

Thanks - I recall the first verse now, thanks to this - you'd found some, but not all - it goes:

At 6 o'clock on Saturday night I first met Percy Brown
At 7 o'clock you see, he was making love to me
At 8 o'clock he took me home, to see his ma and pa
Because he ma and pa, you know, were most particular
As I stood in the parlour wondrin' what they'd think of me
I heard somebody giggling, then in marched the family ...

Chorus:
And… Percy's mother fixed me with a look, such a funny look, read me like a book
Percy's father walked 'round me, and the dogs in the yard began to bark, "bow wow wow"
And all the kids came peeping through the door, through the parlor door, then they all began to roar
"Oh, Jerusalem, come and see what Percy's picked up in the park!"


(Vesta Victoria also sang 'How much is that doggie in the windo' so probably made a lot of the 'bow wow wow' bit)

I've heard a recording of her singing it and am sure there's more verses, but can't find them - most frustrating!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: beeliner
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 07:15 PM

Like Albert Chevalier's "My Old Dutch", discussed recently on another thread, Ms. Victoria's original recording of "Look What..." is available on "The Golden Years of Music Hall", Saydisc CD-SDL 380.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: beeliner
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 08:45 PM

"Vesta Victoria also sang 'How much is that doggie in the window'"

Oh, what a tangled web. Vesta Victoria died in 1951. "Doggie in the Window" was written in 1952 by Bob Merrill, and popularized in the USA by Patti Page ("The Singing Rage").

HOWEVER, it was also a big hit in the UK, sung by Lita Roza.

ALSO, Vesta Victoria did, much earlier, popularize a song called 'Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow' which might have been at least a partial inspiration for "Doggie in the Window".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: Blowzabella
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 04:23 AM

Yes - Daddy wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow was what I meant - hence my commenting on the 'Bow wow wow' line in 'Percy'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 08:38 AM

Sylvia Needham still sings "Percy" I believe, so she'll have the words! Send her a PM..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: Blowzabella
Date: 12 Dec 09 - 08:52 AM

Thanks, MoorleyMan - I've emailed her and Keith - Cheers
Val

Subject: Lyr Add: SEE WHAT PERCY'S PICKED UP IN THE PARK
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 02:45 PM

From the sheet music at National Library of Australia:

SEE WHAT PERCY'S PICKED UP IN THE PARK
Harry Castling and Joe Burley
London: Francis, Day and Hunter, 1912.
Melbourne: Allan & Co., 1912.*

1. At six o'clock one Sunday night, I first met Percy Brown.
At seven o'clock, you see,
He was making love to me.
At eight o'clock, he took me home to see his ma and pa,
Because his ma and pa, he said, were most particular.
As I stood in their best room wond'ring what they'd think of me,
I heard somebody giggling, then in march'd the family.

CHORUS: Then Percy's mother fixed me with a look
Such a funny look!
Read me like a book
Percy's father walked round me
And the dog on the mat began to bark, bow-wow-wow!
All the kids came peeping thro' the door,
Thro' the parlour door,
Then they all began to roar,
"Oh, Jerusalem! come and see
What Percy's picked up in the park!" (Wow-wow!)

2. His little brother said, "I wonder if the thing's alive!"
And then he got a pin
And, of course, he stuck it in.
And then his Uncle Jeremiah said, "This takes the bun!
What funny things you do see when you haven't got a gun!"
The young man lodger came in, look'd at me and said, "Dear, dear!
What curious little insects fly about this time o' year!"

3. His aunt came in and said she'd seen things like me in a field
Stuck up there all in rows,
To terrify the crows.
As Percy led me to the door, his mother said, "Look here,
You'd better go and lose it where you found it, Percy dear!"
I s'pose my style of dressing didn't suit his stuck-up ma
But you cannot judge the raspb'ry by the label on the jar.

[* The Australian edition says: "Miss Dolly Harmer's successful song in J. C. Williamson's spectacular pantomime 'Forty Thieves' staged by Chas. Wenman."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Look What Percy Picked Up in the Park
From: Blowzabella
Date: 13 Dec 09 - 03:33 PM

*claps excitedly*

Thanks Jim - that is brilliant! Eternally grateful xxx