Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Jan 24 - 01:39 PM

the 'breast' in question would have been a feature of memorial statuary.

Absolutely, m. And that stanza goes back at least to the 18th century.

Here's an early version from 'The Maid's Tragedy'.

Now dig my grave both wide and deep,
With a marble stone to cover it,
In the middle thereof a turtle dove,
To shew the world I dy'd for love.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: meself
Date: 06 Jan 24 - 12:01 PM

Just for the academic record, when I was a kid in south-western Ontario in the 1960s, 'Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes' was always sung to the 'London Bridge is Falling Down' melody.

As a kid, I was a little creeped out by the carving of the turtle-dove on her breast, but at some point I realized(?) that the 'breast' in question would have been a feature of memorial statuary.

One post mentioned Rudy Vallee rhyming 'you' with the French pronunciation of 'adieu', for comic effect. This was done in all earnestness in Sound of Music, as I recall: 'And so we bid adieu,/To yieu and yieu and yieu' ... !

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 06 Jan 24 - 08:52 AM

I have the original sheet music for several late 19th century versions and they're all composites with different authors who have simply presented their versions. However the earliest actually state that the 'Died for love' verses came from a Cornish version of that lament and indeed they are close to one of the thousands of versions, one found in the trad song book 'Canow Kernow' of Cornish songs.

The various interesting posts here that take a serious historical note give the origins of just about all of the text in the well-known version as it was sung in the 20th century.

Both American students and the Minstrel diaspora took some popular and traditional material to make some of their repertoire. A good example is 'My Bonny' basically a student song, but closely derived from Harry Clifton's 'Send back my Barney' of the 1860s which was popular in America in the late 19th century. As these songs were rewritten/ put together and given a new tune in America I have no doubts they should be considered American. (with some British input).

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 24 - 04:17 AM

When traditional Bards died, their harps (or fiddles) were broken and/or hung from weeping willow trees as a sign of mourning and respect. The instruments would be left to slowly fall apart in the weather, NEVER to be played by another person. There was considered to be a spiritual connection between player and instrument, and the instruments were treated as entities in their own right. So the song is telling us that the musician is going to die. This was originally sung as a dirge, not a rollicking drinking song.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 12:42 PM

The version on the Levy site does indeed say harp, Jim.

I think some of us are taking this song too seriously. The girl is sensible and independent. She's figured out that her guy is too fond of drink, plus he's been fooling around on her, sparking with a damsel dark.

She's out of there.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Jack Campin
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 03:48 AM

Read some time ago that this song was written in a pub in Mullingar, Ireland by a Presbyterian ministers son who was slighted by a girl in the town.

For any reasonably well known folk song or tune from the English-speaking world, it would be surprising if it DIDN'T have some bullshit legend saying it came from Ireland.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 02:22 AM

I'm quite sure it's supposed to be a harp that is hung on the willow—not a heart or a hat or a head—because the whole trope here is an allusion to scripture, Psalm 137 (KJV):

1. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Hanging one's harp on a willow is symbolic of refusal to sing a joyous song, as it is no occasion for joy. The image is a popular one in religious literature and hymns.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,J murphy
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 06:02 PM

Read some time ago that this song was written in a pub in Mullingar, Ireland by a Presbyterian ministers son who was slighted by a girl in the town.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,EJP
Date: 15 Sep 15 - 10:10 AM

Hilary, I appreciate the obvious thought you've put into what you say. Speculation, yes, but it makes sense, and a plausible explanation is enough to satisfy me. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 07 Sep 15 - 01:10 PM

EJP, I think "the words he wrote" were the chorus of the song: "Fare thee well, for I must leave thee, etc." However, that brings up an interesting point that both parties are ostensibly singing the chorus and, while it might make sense for him to sing "Fare thee well for I must leave thee/ Do not let this parting grieve thee/ And remember that the best of friends must part, must part" but the "I'll hang my heart on the weeping willow tree" would probably be her words. I've always felt that her singing "remember that the best of friends must part," was kind of a reluctantly bitter comment. She'd prefer that they not have to part. It's not necessarily just her saying goodbye to her friends because she's about to die. Think of "Look down look down that lonesome road/ Hang down your head and cry/ The best of friends must part some day/ So why not you and I," which also seems to be a song about one lover not being faithful to another. Maybe the beginning part of the chorus is his words that she's bitterly parroting back at him. So instead it'd read:
Him: "Fare thee well for I must leave thee/ Do not let this parting grieve thee/ Remember that the best of friends must part."
Her: "Adieu, adieu kind friends adieu, yes adieu/ I can no longer stay with you, stay with you/ I'll hang my heart on the weeping willow tree/ And may the world go well with thee."
But obviously all that's just speculation on my part.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 11:01 PM

I looked for the song on the Lester Levy site. A title search didn't work, but it came up under Composition: F.J. Adams.

I played the music, and I don't think it's changed a bit in all these years. I find that remarkable - no change from 1893 (if not before) till today.

It's fun to play.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,EJP
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 10:51 PM

Very good point, Hilary. That makes sense. Now what do you think about this?

"And these were all the words he wrote:"

What did he write? The next verse (about digging the grave, etc.) is her last request, not his note. Is there a verse missing? Or is there another explanation?

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Hilary
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 02:28 PM

Given that the verse in which "pinned" appears also includes a reference to never knocking on the narrator's door, it never struck me as odd because I assumed the note was being pinned to her door.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,EJP
Date: 06 Sep 15 - 08:48 AM

Re the line "Oh woe is me, he pinned a little note..."

is this a mondegreen? Could it possibly be "penned"?

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 12 - 03:17 PM

Late answer to a query by Charley about the "turtle dove carved on the breast."

Looking through a cemetary, I saw a number of graves with tombstones at the head, and small stones at the foot, and a slab of stone covering the coffin area. The slan often had a carving, at about breast height, of flowers, a short saying, or just a design. These stones were from the early 20th C. Didn't see a turtle dove.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Ludy M. Wilkie
Date: 31 Mar 12 - 10:31 AM

Thanks,

I notice a version listed in a Dover songbook and others claim to be traditional.
I guess the thing to do is to find pre-1923 versions and use them.   I used the tune and a line or so of the lyrics in a play I wrote.. . but added some original material.
Thanks,
Mr. Ludy M. Wilkie
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 03:10 PM

There is nothing to prevent a later author from placing copyright on his version.
The musical scores in the book 'SONG SESSION' are copyright as of the date of publication (or specific dates for songs whose scores are copied in the book).

The song may be descended from "an old British song," but later versions are eligible for copyright. Certainly the song as sung by Rudy Vallee and others in the 1930s varies from previous related works, and is copyright. Others also may be copyright if they differ, partly or wholly, in lyrics and/or melody.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Mr. Ludy Marvin Wilkie
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 02:43 PM

What puzzles me is that M. Witmark & Sons had a copyright on the song dated MCMXXXIV--which, I believe, translates into
1934.   It is found in a book SONG SESSION, Community Song Book, published by Remick Music Corp, New York MCMLIII
Yet the Tavern in the Town song is apparently an old British song.    Does anyone know the explanation?
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:08 PM

Snuffy, where's the part that teaches them how to carve that turtle dove? Speed it up and presto! Cubism!

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Snuffy
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 08:35 AM

Head & shoulders, knees & toes, knees & toes,
Head & shoulders, knees & toes, knees & toes,
And eyes and ears and a mouth and a nose
Head & shoulders, knees & toes, knees & toes.

Song for pre-school children - get them to point to each body part as it's mentioned. Greater fun if you speed up a bit each time through.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 07:37 AM

Q-

Seriously, if that is possible when one is contemplating the "carving" of a dove on a loved one's snow white breast, other ballads speak to "placing" a dove there, an easier task if one has access to poultry.

Happy Rudy Valentine's Day, all!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 Feb 11 - 06:05 AM

I've also often wondered about the origin of the tune for this song. To my ear it sounds as though it has a German "Oom-pa" feel to it. Whenever I play it I can almost hear the tuba! But maybe it's just me.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 12:40 PM

In the States and Canada, everyone heard Rudy Vallee sing this song, and no drunken sing was ever without it. Kids, as I was, sang in imitation of the Vallee version, and one that twisted the words somewhat- I can't remember the singer.

Never heard the childrens' rhyme mentioned by guest- could you please post it?

Charlie, all of us sang the line and never thought much about it. Now you point it out and I wonder--- were only unsuccessful suitors treated in that fashion? Did undertakers get art training in incising a sketch of a turtle dove on a corpse? Were hairy chests shaved before the incision?

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 10:22 AM

Now I'm pondering just how the carving was supposed to be done:

"And on my breast carve a turtle dove,"

Is this some bizarre tattooing ritual enacting on the corpse? Is this a common cultural practice of some British or American cult? Inquiring minds would want to know, or not!

Oh, hang that harp!
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 11 - 08:35 AM

fj adams was a great writer of this song in 1891 but i cant believe that the words still are sung today with newer songs. adams tune has become a kids song. when i was 5 years old i used to sing a children's rhyme named head shoulders knees and toes. i was living in glasgow but when i went to edinburgh i met my mum and played the tune on the piano and she said that is the tune of tavern in the the town and i said is it but being only 6 years old i would not know that.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 08:28 AM

Jim-

And a happy holiday bash to you as well!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN (F J Adams)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 04:22 PM

From the sheet music at The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

I have taken the liberty of placing the "response" phrases in parentheses, although there are no parentheses or other instructions in the original sheet music, because in my experience these words are always sung by backup singers in a "call and response" fashion.

I have marked the differences between this version and the DigiTrad version with boldface. Note that the DigiTrad version contains one verse omitted here, beginning "And now I see him nevermore." Also note that here the part beginning "Adieu" is part of the chorus whereas in the DT it is a separate verse.


THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN
Words and music by F. J. Adams
New York: Willis Woodward & Co., 1891.

1. There is a tavern in the town, (in the town)
And there my dear love sits him down, (sits him down)
And drinks his wine 'mid laughter free,
And never, never thinks of me.

CHORUS: Fare thee well, for I must leave thee.
Do not let the parting grieve thee,
And remember that the best of friends must part. (must part)
Adieu, adieu, kind friends, adieu! (adieu, adieu)
I can no longer stay with you. (stay with you)
I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow tree,
And may the world go well with thee.

2. He left me for a damsel dark. (damsel dark)
Each Friday night they used to spark, (used to spark)
And now my love, once true to me,
Takes that dark damsel on his knee.

3. Oh, dig my grave both wide and deep. (wide and deep)
Put tombstones at my head and feet, (head and feet)
And on my breast carve a turtle dove,
To signify I died of love.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 03:08 PM

Another song may have been a precursor- "FARE THEE WELL."

The Chorus:

Fare thee well for I must leave thee,
But O! let not our parting grieve thee;
Happier days may yet be mine,
At least I wish them thine- believe me!

The verses are quite different from those of the 'tavern' song.

Bodleian Collection (19th c., no date range suggested).
2806 d.31(72)
Firth b.27(262)
Harding B11(1812)

The song "RADOO," posted earlier, is given the same aga range as "There Is a Tavern in the Town" by the Bodleian; 1877-1884.

Fuld, in his book of 'world-famous music,' says the first printing of "There Is a Tavern in the Town" is in William H. Hills, "Student Songs," 3rd Edition, copyrighted May 14, 1883, p. 8; the same as posted above by Jim Dixon.
James J. Fuld, 1866 and reprints, "The Book of World-Famous Music, Classical, Popular and Folk." P. 572.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Mar 09 - 11:51 AM

The oldest text that Google Books finds of THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN is in Students' Songs by William Henry Hills (New York: Moses King, [5th edition?], "Copyright, 1880, 1881, 1883, 1884, and 1885").

It includes the musical score.

The introduction says that some songs were added for each edition, but it doesn't say which songs.

However, I found an advertisement for that book in a journal dated June 1883 which lists the contents, and it includes THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN.

I assume the editor is the same "W. H. Hills" that is credited in the Bodleian broadside; however, in the book, he doesn't claim authorship.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,DWR
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 11:47 PM

Yes, so much information spread out over nearly ten years. We seem to have skipped 2001, 2004 and 2007.

The sheet music at Levy that I mentioned in 2000 is still there but relocated, just do a search for it. http://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/levy-search.html

The still untouched web page I referenced in 2003 is also still there with the real audio of the Wally Cox version of Tavern in the Town. That definitely dates it because I wouldn't even think of using real audio anymore.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 09:22 PM

Nice to have this old thread revived again.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,John of Elsie`s Band
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 12:06 PM

I recommend everyone over here to commit this song to memory for surely, at the rate of closures of pubs due to the lunatic Westminster policies, the song will change by the usual folk process to "IS THERE A TAVERN IN THE TOWN?"
                                                 John

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Al Weber
Date: 30 Mar 08 - 02:09 AM

Regarding the Rudy Vallee recording, Jim Dixon wrote, some time ago, "I remember what set off the laughter, too: in one of the choruses, he pronounces "adieu" in strongly accented (but correct) French, and then he pronounces "you" with exactly the same vowel ("yieu"?). That is how I remembered it also, but on rehearing the record recently I found rhyming "adieu" with "witchya" (Brooklynese for "with you"?) came near the end of the record. The first sign of things going off came about halfway through the record, with Vallee singing "I'll hang my heart on a veeping villow tree". The Vallee and Cox versions of Tavern in the Town make as fine a pair of recordings as the Leona Anderson and the Jonathan and Darlene Edwards (Paul Weston and Jo Stafford) renderings, er...renditions of I Love Paris.

Subject: ADD: There Is An Alehouse
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 02:44 PM

This falls into the 'Died For Love' category of songs.
Very popular among Irish Travellers; we recorded half a dozen different versions including this one (my note included).
Jim Carroll

American ballad scholar George Lyman Kittredge in The Journal of American Folklore, suggested that this is an amalgamation of two songs, "The Cruel Father or Deceived Maid", and "There Is An Alehouse In Yonder Town".    H.M. Belden in his introduction to versions of it collected in Missouri, claimed that this amalgamation "is an American product".   It was certainly found widely in America nearly always set in an American location, often Jersey City.   It was also popular in England under various titles including "Sheffield Park", "A Brisk Young Sailor", and from Dorset "There Were Three Worms".
We recorded it from half a dozen singers, three of whom were children or teenagers.
Andy Cash gave it to us with the following additional verse remembered later;

The road is long and the sea is deep,
And thinking of you, sure, I won't sleep,
Oh father dear, what a fool were I,
To hang myself for a butcher boy.

Reference
Ballads And Songs (collected by the Missouri Folklore Society); H.M.Belden (ed)
There Is An Alehouse.   (A)   (Laws P25)   (Roud 60)
Rec. from Andy Cash.
^^
THERE IS AN ALEHOUSE

There are an alehouse all in this town,
It's where my love goes there, he do sit down
And he takes a strange girl all on his knee
And he'll tell her things that he won't tell me.

For I do know the reason why,
Is it because the girl have more gold than I.
But her gold my melt and her silver will fly
And she'll see the day she'll be as poor as I.

Then will he know I can wash and wring,
And then will he will know I can guard and sing, (card and spin?)
For I wish to God he took heed of me
And the day I ganged with my misery.

There are two birds on top of a tree,
Oh some say they are blind and they cannot see,
But I wish to God that old bird could see
And then apples grow on a lily tree.

Oh fye, oh fye, that girl she cried,
It's because she have more gold than I,
It's from Willie's company I'm forced to find,
And the want of money it leaves me behind."

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 11:48 AM

This a good example of an origins thread, with just the right combination of information, speculation and wit.

One can still find the 1934 unusual red and white label of Rudy's 78 R.P.M. (Columbia) Laughing Record on e-Bay from time to time. Our own family copy unfortunately got broken.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Mr Happy
Date: 09 Nov 06 - 09:59 AM

I've also heard it sung as:

'I'll hang my head like the weeping willow tree'

Seems more appropriate somehow.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Feb 05 - 09:26 AM

Of course, if we changed it to "hang YOUR heart" the plot would thicken so to speak.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 07:45 PM

The 19th c. broadside has harp, but I'm with Charlie- always sang HEART.

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Snuffy
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 07:02 PM

I've always heard it as "hang my HARP on a weeping willow tree..." - I suppose the idea is that the wind will play it when I'm gone

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 01:41 PM

Reference to Wally Cox: so I'm not the only one who's been singing the chorus as "I'll hang my HEART on a weeping willow tree..." I believe that Rudy Vallee sang it that way as well in his 1934 recording. Always liked the image.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 12:52 PM

In my opinion the version posted by Allan C in the first post seems cobbled-together. If she's ready to die of unrequited love at the last verse, why is she singing the rapid-fire words "Fare thee well, for I must leave thee, do not let our parting grieve thee" earlier in the song?

The jaunty melody of this song shows that she's more fed-up than devastated. The way I learned it, it ends:

I'll hang my hat on a weeping willow tree
and may the world go well with thee!

Subject: RE: Origins: There Is a Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Feb 05 - 09:04 AM

Here's another theory of the Rudy Vallee 1934 recording where he breaks into laughter in the middle of this song:


Notes by Pete Milley, radio producer of Hideaway (AU)

As a small boy I remember the unusual red and white label of Rudy's 78 R.P.M. (Columbia) Laughing Record. The story follows: one afternoon the band was attempting to achieve the routinely flawless, neatly dovetailed art recordings which were synonymous with Rudy's progressive Cutting Edge, revolutionary approach to musical Product, Placement and Production. The ubiquitous Long Lunch before the recording session was taking its toll on the normally deeply conservative musicians and as a result some of them were rather worse for wear from hitting the juice. To be recorded that fateful afternoon - two motion picture melodies, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" and "There is a Tavern in the Town" (Fox Pictures 'We're Going to be Rich') starring Gracie Fields as a South African diamond fields entertainer of the 1890's (check it out).

"Lydia" went off smoothly, however some distance in to "Tavern" the fiddle played would bump Rudy in the nose etc causing him to first giggle a bit and then finally dissolve into paroxysms of uncontrollable mirth (laughing ho ho ho etc.) So although the record was ruined, like the good troopers they were, they played on until the traverse mechanism of the recording lathe ran out of wax. Thus a complete in every way rendition was saved and later to be sold to the public as a happy accident and finally to become a beacon light to humanity.

As I say this is just another theory, but aren't the details interesting?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Charley Noble
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 10:36 AM

Jim-

Glad to hear that Rudy Vallee recording is still being played.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: Joybell
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 10:24 PM

I did a study,for my own interest, on the "Butcher's Boy" songs. Not the first by a long shot of course. I approached the study as a singer first and scholar second, trusting instinct at times. I came up with about 50 that seemed to be related, but I'm still finding them. There are a great many that are very lovely and I sing about 10 of them. The earliest I found that fitted my criteria was a broadside Ballad called "Arthur's seat shall be my Bed" - from c.1776. Many seem to have related melodies but several are quite distinct. A lot of songs have verses that are floating ones common to many love-story ballads but the critria I came up with (and tried to stick to) were:
1. Young girl falls in love with young man who leaves her pregnant. He often takes another on his knee in the local tavern/alehouse and tells her things he won't tell the deserted maid.
2. She wishes her baby was born and she was dead. The lines "once I wore my apron low" are often used.
3. She plans her burial.
4. She kills herself (usually by hanging and usually leaving a note) I also included some varients where the song ends just before her death.
"Careless Love" seems to fit in too but the tables are turned and the maid plans to shoot her former lover.
I know a lot of this has already been said but I post my thoughts in the hope that they may add something.

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 09:19 PM

Charley Noble: The Rudy Vallee recording you are referring to has been played on our local public radio station a few times. I remember what set off the laughter, too: in one of the choruses, he pronounces "adieu" in strongly accented (but correct) French, and then he pronounces "you" with exactly the same vowel ("yieu"?). This sounded like deliberate but impromptu playfulness on his part, but as you say, it resulted in his (apparently) totally losing his composure. I still find it amazing, first, that both he and the band soldiered on to the end, and secondly, that this version was publicly released. Is it possible the whole thing was planned?

Dale: I enjoyed your site, too. I even followed up the link to Kira Viator's site. She's amazing.

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 04:46 PM

Dick Greenhaus-(if you're still checking in on this thread)

The old Rudy Vallee record I used to listen to this song on had him breaking into hysterical laughter in one of the later choruses. I was amazed at the time, because I didn't realize that recording artists were human. I'm not sure what I thought they were but if they "lost it" in a recording session, that recording would never see the light of day.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: Ferrara
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 03:35 AM

Oh, Dale, thank you, that recording is a Riot! ... And we loved "Mr. Peepers."

Rita Ferrara

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 11:00 PM

Thank you, Masato. I'd consider that a compliment of the highest order. It is a bit unfocused, and wretchedly unfinished, but maybe someday . . .

My Uncle Sid had that record, and I would always play it when I went to visit. And of course, Wally Cox was better known for his part in the TV show, "Mr. Peepers."

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: masato sakurai
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:49 PM

GUEST,Dale, I downloaded the whole of your site last December. It's very interesting.

Subject: RE: Tavern in the Town
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:29 PM

A few years ago I started a website which never got much attention, so I pretty much quit updating it.

Well, anyway, Wally Cox's 1953 version is on this page. It's a downloadable real audio. You need to hear it to believe it.
The Extra Page at Good Old Songs