Lyr Req/Add: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)

Subject: Lyr Req: Lyrics for 'Lily Langtry'
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 08:54 AM

Does anyone know the lyrics for "Lily Langtry" by the New Christy Minstrels? I have the vaguest idea of what it is about. I know there is something to do with a judge, but I can't understand what the storyline is about and I'd really like to know. I know it's on Definitive New Christy Minstrels and The New Christy Minstrels Sing Cowboys and Indians.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics for 'Lily Langtry'
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 11:18 AM

"Judge" Roy Bean was a legendary figure in Texas. If he actually held an official office, it was just as a justice of the peace; he may have just "self-appointed" himself to even that position. He apparently stretched his actual authority considerably as a judge and lawman in the "lawless" frontier context. He was known for being enamored, perhaps obsessed, with actress Lily Langtree, to the point that the town is named Langtree. Beyond that backstory, the events in the song are purely someone's spinoff into imagination.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics for 'Lily Langtry'
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 12:15 PM

I almost promised you the lyrics, but I have them on an ancient cassette tape copied from someone's lp years ago, and I haven't been able to find it yet. If I do, before someone else comes up with the lyrics, I'll copy it for you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics for 'Lily Langtry'
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 12:31 AM

Here's a snippet of the lyrics, taken from a sample at Allmusic.com:


LILY LANGTRY (excerpt)
Vivian Holtzman/Scott Holtzman/Nick Woods

...And Langtry is its name.

The law it was Judge Roy Bean
Who'll black his ... dirty mean,
The Hangin' Judge his name.
His hangin' tree is shame.

He loved Lillie Langtry, lovely Lillie Langry,
Beautiful Miss Lillie.

Lillie Langtry was her name.
Oh, how he longed to meet her.
Ready he was to greet her.
Softly Lillie's face....


* * *

The song title uses the spelling "Lily" but her name was actually "Lillie." She bore the nickname "The Jersey Lily" because she came from the island of Jersey.

Wikipedia says that Roy Bean spread the rumor that the town of Langtry, Texas was named for Lillie Langtry but it was actually named for George Langtry, a railroad foreman.

Subject: ADD: Lily Langtry
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 03:19 AM

Well, here's what I hear. I have trouble understanding some parts, but I think I'm pretty close. i can't quite pick out the accent of the lead singer - maybe Australian?
-Joe-

LILY LANGTRY
(Vivian Holtzman/Scott Holtzman/Nick Woods)

In Texas where there is a town
That's known by all the world around,
The town where Lily came,
And Langtry is its name.

The law it was Judge Roy Bean
Oh, black his heart and dirty mean,
'The Hangin' Judge' his name.
His hangin' tree is shame.

He loved Lily Langtry, lovely Lily Langtry,
Beautiful Miss Lily.
Lily Langtry was her name.

Oh, how he longed to meet her.
Ready he was to greet her.
Softly Lily's face,
His every world and grace (?)

One day a coach come ridin'
High-steppin' stallions guidin';
At the stroke of noon,
It stopped at his saloon.

Out stepped Lily Langtry, lovely Lily Langtry,
Beautiful Miss Lily.
Lily Langtry was her name.

Lily smiled at him so sweetly,
Kissed his cheek so neatly;
Back she quickly swept,
When up Joe Rio stepped.

The drunken gunman, his eyes were gleamin',
Last he heard was Lily screamin';
Fast the judge's law,
But faster still his draw.

All for Lily Langtry, lovely Lily Langtry,
Beautiful Miss Lily.
Lily Langtry was her name.

In Langtry when they tell the story,
Speak of this day of glory,
When Miss Lily came,
They say he spoke her name.

On the day that he lay dyin',
Softly his lips were sighin',
"Better to die like this,
Knowin' the Lily's kiss."

He loved Lily Langtry, lovely Lily Langtry,
Beautiful Miss Lily.
Lily Langtry was her name.

Transcribed by ear from the Definitive New Christy Minstrels box set, disc 2.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 03:32 AM

There's more in the Wikipedia article on Lillie Langtry:

Lillie Langtry (13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey. A renowned beauty, she was nicknamed the "Jersey Lily" and had a number of prominent lovers, including the future king of England, Edward VII....

The town of Langtry, Texas, was not named for her, although its most illustrious inhabitant, Judge Roy Bean, was an ardent admirer, naming the saloon where he held court "The Jersey Lily". Bean himself spread the rumor about the town's name. He also built an opera house in anticipation of a visit, and Mrs. Langtry appeared there after Bean's death. The town was named for railroad supervisor George Langtry.

The Texas Highway Department erected a plaque in the town of Langtry titled Law West of the Pecos. I found the text of the highway marker here (click):

Judge Roy Bean lived a life in which fiction became so intermingled with fact that he became a legend within his lifetime. Basis for his renown were the decisions which he reached in this building as the Law West of the Pecos. Court was held as frequently on the porch, spectators grouped about on horseback, as within the building. Nor was Bean above breaking off proceedings long enough to serve customers seeking services dispensed by the other businesses carried on in his courtroom-home.

The Judge's "Law Library" consisted of a single volume, an 1879 copy of the revised statutes of Texas. He seldom consulted it, however, calling instead on his own ideas about the brand of justice which should apply. This he effectively dispensed together with liberal quantities of bluff and bluster. Since Langtry had no jail, all offenses were deemed finable with Bean pocketing the fines. Drunken prisoners often were chained to mesquite trees in front of the building until they sobered up enough to stand trial.

Bean reached a peak of notoriety when, on February 21, 1896, he staged the banned Fitzsimmons-Maher heavyweight title fight on a sand bar in the Rio Grande River, a stone's throw from his front porch. By holding it on Mexican territory he outwitted Texas Rangers sent to stop the match--and turned a handsome profit for his shrewdness.

This building was named the "Jersey Lilly" for the famous English actress Lillie Langtry whom Bean admired and for whom he claimed to have named the town. His lamp frequently burned into the night as he composed letters to her, but he never saw her since her only visit to Langtry occurred in 1904, less than a year after Bean died.
 
Erected 1963 by Texas Historical Department.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 10:49 AM

Thanks for all the information. It's really quite fascinating. I think I like ballads best that tell of real historical people. Obviously Joe you have a much better ear than I, because I definitely did not get that much merely by listening to the song.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 02:44 PM

The notes from the old album I copied indicated that one of those credited for the song - can't remember which now - actually learned the lyric from his father (or a family member) who always affected a cockney accent when singing it, for no apparent reason. I would suppose he just thought that fitted with the fact that the lady was English.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 06:21 PM

Most of the stories about Judge Roy Bean and Lily are likely apochryphal. He never met her, that much we do know, though I believe he harbored longings for "Biblical knowledge."

During my years in the wine business, I once distributed wine for another ardent admirer who took things a step further. His family bought a large Lake County (CA) property, north of Napa County   which Lily had once owned and on which she had raised wine grapes. He restored her house and used it as a guest facility. Orville Magoon, from a wealthy Hawaiian family, created Guenoc Winery and featured Lily's Picture on the labels. He steeped himself in all things Lily and became a mini-historian on her subject. The winery has since sold, but her legacy lives on.

By the way, Judge Bean's brother was an early sheriff of San Diego County in California and much less "colorful."

The New Christy Minstrels did a similar treatment of another actual historic figure with "Hi Jolly." Hadji Ali was a real imported camel driver brought over to the states when the army did its short "Camel Corps" experiment in the west in the late 1800's. The camels spooked hell out of the horses (and people) and it never worked as planned. A fun song, though. They use it as a theme for "Hi Jolly Days" in Quartzite, Arizona annually.

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: frogprince
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 07:16 PM

Did Bean ever actually sentence anyone to hang?

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: Reiver 2
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 07:48 PM

There's a long piece about Judge Roy Bean on Wikipedia. According to it, in his whole career he only sentenced two men to hang, "and one of them escaped." [The article doesn't say if the sentence of the other man was carried out.] Bean mostly levied fines for offences,
keeping all the money himself. Although was not much of a "hanging judge", it's on record that he shot and killed several men in his lifetime. He claimed falsely [as has been noted by others here] that he named the town of Langtry, TX after Lilly Langtry. She knew about his infatuation of her. Although they never met, Lilly did visit Langtry, but Bean had died shortly before her vivit.

Reiver 2

Subject: RE: req/ADD: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 04 Jun 10 - 08:36 PM

Paul Newman starred in the 1972 John Huston movie "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean". It can hardly be taken as factual, but it's greatly entertaining. The movie ends with Lillie's visit to Langtry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 12 - 08:11 PM

Does anyone know the chords to the song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Lily Langtry (New Christy Minstrels)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 30 May 12 - 08:40 PM

I don't know anything about the song, but years ago PBS's Masterpiece Theatre presented a series about Lillie Langtry. An episode summary is here. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077042/episodes