Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair

Subject: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:02 AM

I vaguely recall this song from childhood; sounds like an old 'country' number or perhaps a music hall song. Can anyone remember it: the lyrics, who sang it etc. About the time of Big Bill Campbell.
Thanks
Doc John

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: Bainbo
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:16 AM

There's been a few threads about it. Try here, or here, or here, or here, or even here.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:21 AM

Here's one version.

My grandmother she, at the age of eighty three,
One day took sick and died;
And after she was dead, the will, of course, was read,
By a lawyer as we all stood side by side.
To my brother it was found she had left one hundred pound,
The same unto my sister, I declare;
But when it came to me, now the lawyer said, "I see,
She has left you her old armchair."

How they tittered, how they chaffed,
How me brothers and me sisters laughed,
When they heard the lawyer declare,
"Grannie's only left you her old armchair."

I thought it hardly fair but still I didna care,
And in the evening took the chair away;
The neighbours at me laughed and me brother at me chaffed,
And said, "It will be useful some day.
When you settle down in life, find a girl to be your wife,
You'll find it very handy, I declare;
On a cold and frosty night, when the fire burns bright,
You can sit in your old armchair."

My brother's words come true, for within a year or two,
I had settled down in married life;
I first the girl did court and then the ring I bought,
Then I took her to the church tae be my wife.
Oh the old gal and me were as happy as could be,
For when my work was over, I declare,
I was never one to roam, but each night stayed at home,
And was seated in my old armchair.

One night the chair fell down, when I picked it up I found,
The seat had fallen out upon the floor;
And there to my surprise, I saw before me eyes,
A lot of gowd, ten thousand pounds, or more.
When my brother heard of this, the fellow, I confess,
Went nearly wild with rage and tore his hair;
I only laughed at him and said unto him, "Jim,
Don't you wish you had the old armchair?"

How they tittered, how they chaffed,
How me brothers and me sisters laughed,
When they heard the lawyer declare,
"Grannie's only left you her old armchair."

Written by John Read and recorded by Billy Williams in 1909.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:55 AM

Thanks for the links and words. Couldn't find it in the search for some reason.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: deadfrett
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 01:58 PM

There used to be a radio personality here in Springfield MO ( KTTS )who sang a lot of old songs. His name was Barefoot Bob Kinney. He got requests for this song about every two or three months and would sing it. He had quite a inventory of old songs and good clear voice. I believe he said one time that he got the song from Ollie Gilbert. I looked at the John Wolf Collection at Lyon College but it wasn't included.(www.lyon.edu/wolf collection) Perhaps someone else remembers him. I always enjoyed his shows on Saturdays. Dave

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: sapper82
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 02:42 PM

didn't Frank crummit record this?

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 03:21 PM

I had an opportunity to bring Barefoot Bob to Mountain View for a couple of concerts and an occasion to correspond with him for a while late in his life. He was a fine singer with a great collection of songs and a real gentleman to boot. I met Bob and a host of other great old timers through my friend Bill, W.K. McNeil to the rest of the world and folklorist at the Ozark Folk Center. Ollie Gilbert is long gone now but still has family in this area. She had a phenominal reperatoire of songs and the Wolf Collection only scratches the surface. Aunt Ollie, as she was known locally, kept the titles to the songs she remembered written on a roll of adding machine paper which she would roll out on the floor among folk gathered to hear her sing. She would ask the folk to pick a title from the list if they found one they would like to hear. I have not checked but I think Max Hunter of Springfield, MO may have recorded Ollie. He did a lot of collecting in Arkansas.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:57 PM

Yep, the great Frank Crumit recorded this. We had the record at home when I was a boy. I learned to sing it, along with a few other Crumit songs, and still do. A grand song, great fun to sing and for audience participation. Burl.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: deadfrett
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:04 PM

Arkie.. I checked the Hunter Collection and it did indeed have Ms. Gilbert's version. I was pretty sure I'd seen it somewheres. I was surprised it wasn't in Wolf's fine collection. Dave

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: goatfell
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 01:00 PM

yes it was recoreded by Frank Crummit

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 12:10 PM

Please- Can someone give me the chords for this song?

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:18 PM

it can be harmonised with three chords,tonic sub dominant and dominant,if you were in d major thats d, g major and a7
I will try and put a verse up later with the chords.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:30 PM

My grandmother she, at the age of eighty three,
One day took sick and died;
And after she was dead, the will, of course, was read,
By a lawyer as we all stood side by side.
To my brother it was found she had left one hundred pound,
The same unto my sister, I declare;
But when it came to me, now the lawyer said, "I see,
She has left you her old armchair."
ok,
start with d chord,change to g[age]change to d on[one] and a7on died,after[d major] will[g major] lawyer[d major]all[a7]change to d major on the last []side].change to g major on left,change to d on same,change to a7 on declare,change to d on when,change to g on lawyer,change to d on left,change tpo a7 on old,and d on chair.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:32 PM

chorus is the same chord sequence

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 01:41 PM

how[d]they titterd how[g]theychaffed, how[d]my brothers and my sisters[a7]
when[d]theyheardthe lawyer[g]declaRE GRANNYS[D]gone and left you the old[a7]arm chair[d]
youchange chord as you sing the word not as I have marked it after it.its a fun song, enjoy.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Bill the sound
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 06:41 PM

Thanks a lot Good Soldier Schweik

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Aidan
Date: 11 Apr 11 - 06:24 PM

The words as they were sung by MY saited grandmother:

Oh, my grandmother she, at the age of eighty-three,
One day in May took very sick an died.
And when she was dead,
Her will, of course, was read.
As the lawyer spoke we all stood by his side.

Refrain:

How they titter-tittered, how they chaffed,
How me brother and me sister laughed,
When they heard the lawyer declare,
Grandma's only left to you her old arm chair.

When you settle down to life,
Find some girl to be your wife,
You'll find it might handy, I declare,
To be seated in an old arm chair.

(Refrain)

Well, one night the chair fell down,
and when I looked around I found,
The seat had fallen out upon the floor.
And much to my surprise, I saw before my eyes,
A note for ten-thousand pounds or more!

(Refrain)

When my brother heard of this,
The fellow I confess,
Was filled with rage and nearly tore his hair.
I merely turned to him,
And said unto him, "Jim,
Don't you wish you had the old arm chair?"

(Refrain)

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 02:58 PM

JOYCE F Balcome Being raised in the depression , the radio was our only entertainment , We memorized all of the music    I am now 87and was just singing the song only knew the first never dreamed I would really find all the words again    Thank you so much    You made an old lady happy today

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: CupOfTea
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 09:17 PM

David Jones ( with Tom Goslin ) has recorded an album of amusing music hall songs that included Granny's Arm Chair, Right Said Fred & , Body in the Bag, among others. Lovely fun stuff, from a splendid singer & very attractive man ( I was admiring his legs looking good in shorts while he was blowing out the candles on his 70th birthday's cake)

Joanne in Cleveland
( who also recommends Roberts & Barrand if this sort of song makes you happy)

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: Airymouse
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 10:03 PM

My grand daddy he at the age of 83
Got disgusted and made up his mind to die
Of course there was a will and to my brother Bill
He left the real estate that in the town did lie,
To my sister, Jane, he left a watch and chain
THe house and land he left to sister, Nance
But how it made me swear when the lawyer did declare
that he left to me his ol brown pants

How they did giggle
How they did yell
Even my sister and my dear Isabelle
How they did laugh whene'er they got the chance
Cause grand daddy left to me his ol brown pants

Now Bill and Maria (Ma rye ah) wed
and the boys and girls all said
Let's surprise em with an ol rag carpet bee
Colors were in demand and the ol pants came to hand
As they ripped and sewed the jokes went round on me

My Isabelle the waistband tore
Something rolled out on the floor
It's a thousand dollar Bill said sister Nance
Said sister, Jane to Bill
That wasn't in the will
Says I don't you wish you had the ol brown pants

How I did giggle etc.

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: Megan L
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 02:02 AM

Sorry for the cut and paste but I'm in a bit of a rush today.

Grandmother's Chair
DESCRIPTION: After the singer's grandmother died, her will was found to grant large sums to several siblings, but to the singer, only granny's old armchair. He is far from content, but takes the chair home -- and eventually discovers a fortune hidden inside
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1880 (broadside, LOCSheet, sm1880 02996)
KEYWORDS: money death hiding
FOUND IN: Britain(England(South),Scotland(Aber)) US(MW,SE,So) Canada(Mar)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
GreigDuncan3 705, "Grandmother's Chair" (1 text, 1 tune)
Wiltshire-WSRO Mi 658, "Old Armchair" (1 text)
Randolph 467, "Granny's Old Arm Chair" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Randolph/Cohen, pp. 360-362, "Granny's Old Armchair" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 467A)
Warner 100, "My Grandmother's Chair" (1 text, 1 tune)
Scarborough-SongCatcher, pp. 373-374, "Grandmother's Old Armchair" (1 text; tune on p. 457)
Ives-DullCare, pp. 123-125,252, "The Old Arm Chair" (1 text, 1 tune)
Spaeth-WeepMore, pp. 204-206, "The Arm Chair" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST R467 (Partial)
Roud #1195
RECORDINGS:
[Clarence] Ashley & [Gwen] Foster, "The Old Arm Chair" (Vocalion 02647, 1934)
Crockett's Kentucky Mountaineers, "Granny's Old Arm Chair" (Crown 3188/Montgomery Ward M-3026 [as Harlan Miner's Fiddlers], 1931)
Frank Crumit, "Granny's Old Arm-Chair" (HMV [UK] B-4059, 1932)
Pete Daley's Arkansas Fiddlers, "Granny's Old Armchair" (Varsity 5078, n.d.)
Charlie Parker & Mack Woolbright, "The Old Arm Chair" (Columbia 15694-D, 1931; rec. 1927)
Williamson Bros. & Curry, "The Old Arm Chair" (OKeh 45146, 1927)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Firth b.28(4a/b) View 3 of 8, "Grandmother's Chair" ("My grandmother she at the age eighty-three"), R. March and Co. (London), 1877-1884; also Harding B 20(62), "Grandmother's Old Arm-chair"
LOCSheet, sm1880 02996, "Grandma's Old Arm-chair", White, Smith & Co (Boston), 1880 (tune)
ALTERNATE TITLES:
The Old Arm Chair
NOTES: Warner notes that this piece was printed twice in 1880 -- once, under the title "Grandmother's Chair," credited to John Read, and the other, "Grandma's/Granny's Old Arm Chair," attributed to Frank B. Carr. No definitive information about the author has been forthcoming.
Cohen, however, notes sheet music from 1841, credited to Eliza Cook (words) and William Clifton (music), but cites Spaeth to the effect that it was composed by Henry Russell (credited with singing it in the Cook/Clifton printing) in 1840.
Scarborough claims that it is of "British origin," but cites no evidence. - RBW
See one version of "Grandma's Old Arm-Chair" [Sheet Music: digital id sm1880 02996], published in Boston in 1880, attributed to Frank B Carr, at the Library of Congress American Memory site.
There are three versions of an entirely different song as "The Old Arm Chair" beginning "I love it, I love it, and who shall dare, To chide me for loving that old arm chair." This is probably the Cohen reference since the words are attributed to Eliza Cook in two cases and the music is attributed to William Clifton and sung by Henry Russell ([Sheet Music: digital id sm1841 380380], published in New York in 1841), music attributed to Henry Russell ([Sheet Music: digital id sm1840 370920], published in Boston in 1840) and with no music attribution ([Sheet Music: digital id sm1842 381990], published in Baltimore in 1842); all three are at the Library of Congress American Memory site. This is also the song in three "[The] Old Arm[-/ ]Chair" broadsides [America Singing: digital id as110050/sb30397a/as110060] at the Library of Congress American Memory site.
[I concur with Ben in this; "The Old Armchair" can also be found in Scott-EnglishSB, pp. 90-91, and is a different song.]
As to Frank B Carr, here is a note from John Hill in the DigiTrad discussion of "Fields of Athenry": "Finding the published song isn't always the end of the story. Someone recently asked if I could find the words to 'Granny's old arm chair'. I found them in the collection of the Library of Congress. Written by Frank B. Carr 'America's Motto vocalist' (whatever that was) published in 1880 in Boston. Then about 3 weeks later (by accident) I found the same song in the same collection written by John Reid. pub 1881 Boston. There were other songs by John Reid but no other by Frank B. Carr. So was the later Publication the real writer and maybe the earlier one only the performer (Although he claimed to be the writer) What was odd was they were both published in the same town... " - BS
Last updated in version 3.6
File: R467

Subject: RE: Granny's Only Left You Her Old Arm Chair
From: GUEST,Lbrowntchr
Date: 04 Jan 17 - 01:11 PM

My grandfather played and sang the parody song My Grandfather Left to Me His Old Brown Pants for my siblings and myself. We loved it. We would dance and laugh. He was born in 1869 in Wales. We never knew where this song came from and never had it written down. When he emigrated to the US from the coal mining region of Southern Wales in 1891 he made a living in America with his musical talents. He either brought this song with him or he picked it up here. I have researched the lyrics and from memory have pieced together the song as he sang it. I have worked to put the cords together for my ukulele. Here is what I have done. Everyone who says they were entertained as a child by a relative singing this song or a version of it lightens my heart as music and fun are universal.
Grandfather's Old Brown Pants                                 
        "Country Music Records: A Discography, 1921-1942"; Tony Russell and Bob Pinson. recorded by Frank Morris
        The Southern Folklore Quarterly (no date given): Grandfather's Old Brown Pants
        Video: "The Old American Barn Dance 1953 Episode 2" Cousin Alvin 2:40 into video
G7       C                Am7         C                  D7
Oh, my grandfather, he, at the age of ninety three
C          Am7                     F       G7       C F C
Got discussed and made up his mind to die.
G7    C                      Am7 F   C                   D
Of    course he left a will, and to my brother Bill
C                                    F       G7          C F C         
left the old saw mill that in the town did lie.

G7 C                  Am7 F   C                      D
And to my sister, Jane, he left a watch and chain,
   C               Am7   F       G7      C F C
a house and lot he left to sister, Nance.
G7 C                      Am7    F             C             D7
But how it made me swear when the lawyer did declare:
       Am7   F       C       F       Am7 G7    C
that Grandfather left to me his old brown pants.

Refrain:
       C                        C7       F                   F*
Oh, how they did giggle. How they did yell.
C          Am7                D7       G7
Even my sisters and my dear Isabel.
C                   C7             F                      F*
How they did laugh when-e'er they had a chance,
            Am7   F       C       F         Am7 G7    C
Cause Grandfather left to me his old brown pants.


G7    C                   Am7 F    C                            D7
One day my brother Bill went down to Grime's old mill
Am7       C                           F      G7       C F C
Took his clothes off - in the river went to swim.

G7 C                      Am7   F                C                   D                                                         
Along came a Billy Goat, chewed the buttons off his coat.
                Am7             F          G7            C F C
Ate up his pants ('twas summer they were thin!)

G7    C                Am7   F         C                        D
Now Bill was in a plight had to stay there all the night.
C                      F    G7       C F C
I took his gal, Moriah, to the dance.
G7   C                         Am7          C                      D7
And as we passed him by, just to sympathize, said I,
Am7          C                        F    G7      C
Don't you wish you had my old brown pants.

Refrain

G7    C                     Am7 F          C                         D7
Now Bill and Moriah wed, and the boys and girls all said
         Am7                            F         G7       C F C
Let's surprise them with an old rag carpet bee.
G7      C                      Am7                C                         D
Many colors were in demand, and the old pants came to hand
             Am7                         F             G7         C F C
As they ripped and cut the jokes went 'round on me.

G7 C                              Am7 F               C
My Isabel the waistband tore, something rolled out on the
D
floor.
          Am7                  F             G7      C F C
"It's a thousand dollar bill", said sister Nance.
G7    C                   Am7 F    C                   D7
Said sister Jane to Bill, "That wasn't in the will."
            Am7         C                         F   G7      C
Says I, Don't you wish you had the old brown pants?

Refrain