Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart

Subject: Dr. Iron Beard
From:
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 12:14 PM

Help! I'm going slowly mad trying to recal the lyrics to a song from my childhood, which I think was called "Dr. Iron Beard." (or Doctor Ironbeard?) What I remeber goes like this:

"Oh I am Dr Iron Beard
Twiddly, widdly, wit, boom, boom!
I'll cure your ills with healing arts
Twiddly, widdly, wit, boom, boom!"
There was a simple bridge that ended
"The lame to see,
the blind to walk
Twiddly, widdly, wit, boom, boom!"
I also seem to recall another snippet of it:
"Sing torry-a! Sing torry-a!
Twiddly, widdly, wit, boom, boom, boom, boom!
Sing torry-a! Sing torry-a!
Twiddly, widdly, wit, boom, boom!"

Can anyone help me? (PS-- my email utility doesn't read HTML, please send plain text!) Thanks! Kate Holmes, St. Petersburg Public Library

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: karen k
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 03:58 PM

Dr. Ironbeard

The words I remember from childhood are:

Oh, I am Dr. Ironbeard, twilli willi witt boom, boom
I'll cure your ills with healing art, twilli willi witt boom, boom
Now I can make the dumb to walk, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom, boom
The lame to see, the blind to talk, twilli willi witt boom, boom
Sing tor-i-ay, sing tor-i-ay, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom, boom
Sing tor-i-ay, sing tor-i-ay, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom.

Hope this helps. Boy, was that reaching ffffffaaaaaarrr back!!!
karen k

Subject: Der Doktor Eisenbart
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 09:53 PM

Gee, that was one of my favorite songs when I was in high school - except that I learned it in German, and I've never heard an English version. Click here to get to the German lyrics and melody and (here) for a GIF (picture) of the music notation. I believe the page is wrong about one thing - I think the usual title is "Der Doktor Eisenbart, but "Barth" could well be a regional variation I'm not familiar with - it's pronounced the same, either way.
I'll keep looking to see if I can find an English version.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Sep 99 - 05:35 AM

Eisenbarth is the old spelling, before 1903, when we skipped nearly all of the 'th' with very few exceptions like Thron (at the special and urgent demand of the Kaiser).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Dr. Iron Beard - Doktor Eisenbart
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 99 - 08:20 AM

Aha! I found an easy way to copy the text over.

Der Doktor Eisenbart

1. Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbarth,
Zwilliwilliwick, bumbum! *)
Kurier' die Leut' nach meiner Art,
Zwilliwilliwick, bumbum!
Kann machen daß die Blinden geh'n
Zwilliwilliwick, juch-hei-ras-sa!
Und daß die Lahmen wieder seh'n
Zwilliwilliwick, bumbum!

Lautonia, lautonia,
Zwilliwilliwick, jucheirassa, *)
Lautonia, lautonia,
Zwilliwilliwick, bumbum!

2. In Ulm kuriert' ich einen Mann,
Daß ihm das Blut vom Beine rann,
Er wollte gern gekuhpockt sein,
Ich impft's ihm mit dem Bratspieß ein.

3. Zu Potsdam trepanierte ich,
Den Koch des Großen Friederich:
Ich schlug ihm mit dem Beil vor'n Kopf,
Gestorben ist der arme Tropf.

4. Des Küsters Sohn in Dudeldum,
Dem gab ich zehn Pfund Opium,
Drauf schlief er Jahre, Tag und Nacht,
Und ist bis jetzt noch nicht erwacht.

5. Es hatt' ein Mann in Langensalz
Ein zentnerschweren Kopf am Hals,
Den schnürt ich mit dem Hemmseil zu:
Probatum est, er hat die Ruh'

6. Zu Prag da nahm ich einem Weib
Zehn Fuder Steine aus dem Leib,
Der letzte war ihr Leichenstein,
Sie wird wohl jetzt kurieret sein.

7. Vor Hunger war ein alter Filz
Geplagt mit Schmerzen an der Milz,
Ich hab' ihn Extrapost geschickt,
Wo teure Zeit ihn nicht mehr drückt.

8. Heut früh nahm ich ihn in die Kur,
Just drei Minuten vor zwölf Uhr,
Und als die Glocke Mittag schlug,
Er nicht mehr nach der Suppe frug.

9. Ein alter Bau'r mich zu sich rief,
Der seit zwölf Jahren nichr mehr schlief,
Ich hab' ihn gleich zur Ruh gebracht,
Er ist bis heute nicht erwacht.

10. Zu Wien kuriert' ich einen Mann,
Der hatte einen hohlen Zahn,
Ich schoß ihn 'raus mit dem Pistol,
Ach Gott, wie ist dem Mann so wohl!

11. Mein allergrößtes Meisterstück,
Das macht' ich einst zu Osnabrück:
Podagrisch war ein alter Knab,
Ich schnitt ihm beide Beine ab.

12. Vertraut sich mir ein Patient,
So mach' er erst sein Testament,
Ich schicke niemand aus der Welt,
Bevor er nicht sein Haus bestellt.

13. Das ist die Art, wie ich kurier',
Sie ist probat, ich bürg' dafür,
Daß jedes Mittel Wirkung tut,
Schwör' ich bei meinem Doktorhut.

---

*)Oder:
Va-le-ra-le-ri, juch-he!
Widewidewid, bumbum

Gloria, Viktoria

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 99 - 08:43 AM

I'll come up with a translation sooner or later - unless Wolfgang beats me to it. I don't think I'll do my translation in verse.
We have one more chance - "Doctor Ironbeard" is in a book called SING AND DANCE WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH. I know somebody (grin) who lives in Lancaster, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. I wonder if he could find it in his local library.....
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: Max
Date: 30 Sep 99 - 03:27 PM

Found it in my local libary. (West Chester University) Just as Joe said. It says:

A German folk song, in which Dokter Eisebart brags of his many accomplishments, recalls the many traveling medicine men, who displayed their wares with great showmanship and claimed miraculous cures for all ills.

In addition to their medical prowess, some of them were a "one man orchestra"; the more proserous itinerants had one or more instrumentalists with them to attract the crowds. Hence the flute and drum-like phrases, "Twilli, willi, witt, boom boom!"

O, I am Doctor Eisenbart, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
I'll cure your ills with healing art, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
Now I can Make the dumb to walk, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom boom!
The lame to see, the blind to talk, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
Sing toriay sing toriay! Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom boom boom!
Singtoriay, sing toriay! Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!

Oh, and I guess I had nothing better to do but here is the sheet music.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Oct 99 - 01:17 AM

Thank you very much, Max. You're a good man. Hmmm. Maybe only one or two verses made it into English translation, since the other verses are in German cities that wouldn't make a lot of sense to Americans. I'll have to get around to a translation of the rest....
- or maybe somebody like Wolgfgang would like to help???Hint, hint...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Oct 99 - 04:50 AM

I know Joe, why you didn't try. All those old language and medical terms I even had to look up in German not to speak of the English translation. E.g., my spell check doesn't know podagric, but my three volume Websters does.

Wolfgang

I am the doctor Eisenbarth
I heal the people my way,
can make the blind walk
and the lame see again.

In Ulm I healed a man
in a way that the blood ran down his leg.
He wanted to be vaccinated for cowpox,
I used a BBQ spit to do it.

In Potsdam I trepanned
the cook of Frederik the Great (Friedrich II of Prussia)
I hit an axe again his head
and the poor bloke died.

I gave 10 pounds of Opium
to the son of the sexton in Dudeldum (an invented placename),
from that he slept years, day and night,
and hasn't been awake since.

A man in Langensalz (might be an invented name, might be not)
had a goitre at his neck, heavy as a hundredweight,
(I'm sure that "Kopf" is a typo, it should be "Kropf")
I tied it up with a rope,
probatum est (Latin: something like "it is effective"), he has his peace now.

In Prague, I took a cart-load of stones
out of a woman's womb.
The last stone became her gravestone,
I guess she's cured now.

An old bloke was so hungry
that he had pain at his spleen.
(the next two lines are a very bold guess)
I sent him express delivery
to a place where time's not money anymore.

I started his cure this morning
at three minutes to noon
and when the clock struck noon
he didn't ask for his soup anymore.

An old farmer asked for me
who hadn't slept since twelve years.
I soon brought him to rest,
he didn't wake up until today.

In Vienna I cured a man
who had a hollow tooth.
I shot it out with a pistol.
By God, he's well now.

My greatest masterpiece
I delivered in Osnabrueck.
An old guy was podagric (type of gout)
I cut off both his legs.

If ever a patient entrusted himself to my care,
I first had him make his will.
I send nobody from this world
before he hasn't (very free transl.:) made sure his house will be in good hands.

That's the way I provide cures,
it is tried and tested, I vouch for.
That my means are effective
I swear by my doctor's cap.

Johannes Andreas Eysenbarth (spelling now mostly Eisenbart), 27. 3. 1663 - 11. 11. 1727, successful doctor at his time. However, his very vociferous way of praising himself made him (his name) in Germany the prototype of a quack. Several books exist about him and the above song, most probably written by his students. There's a countless number of verses.

Subject: Lyr Add: DOCTOR IRONBEARD
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 May 03 - 11:22 PM

The Library of Congress American Memory Collection has the sheet music of an English version, dated 1856.

DOCTOR IRONBEARD

I am old Doctor Ironbeard,
        Tol de-rol de-rol lol la.
If ever of the man you'v (sic) hear,
        Tol de-rol de-rol lol la.
Can quickly make a blind man talk,
        Tol de rol de rol lol la.
And that the deaf begin to walk.
        Tol de rol de rol lol la.

[similarly:]
I drove ten cartloads heavy stones...
From the body of old Mrs. Jones....
The last her gravestone also came....
She is since then no longer lame....

There was a man in Diddledum....
I gave him five pounds opium....
He slept ten years in easy rest...
And is as yet with snoozing blest....

That is the way I cure the sick....
My med'cines operate quite quick....
I cut and shoot and this and that...
And therefore wear a doctor's hat....

A woman had a wane, I found....
It weighed exactly 100 pound....
I choked her with a hempen cord...
Which did directly help afford....

A boy of toothache did complain....
Five hollow teeth did explain....
I shot them with a pistol out...
And sent him on a happy rout....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: masato sakurai
Date: 17 May 03 - 11:37 PM

Links to two copies at American Memory:

Doctor Ironbeard / by Blackbeard (St. Louis: J. Ballhouse, 1856)

Doctor Ironbeard / by Blackbeard (St. Louis: J. Ballhouse, 1856)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: Dr. Iron Beard
From: masato sakurai
Date: 18 May 03 - 12:00 AM

This song is known in Japan as "Watashi wa Yabuisha" (I'm a Quack Doctor). A midi from this Japanese site.

Subject: RE: Lyr: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Willi Eisenbarth Cologne
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 01:59 PM

Hello,
have a look on my homepage www.eisenbarth-koeln.de and you can find out what Dr.Eisenbarth (with "h" on the end) make in the yearhundret 1600-1700

with greatings Willi Eisenbarth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Willi Eisenbarth, Gemany
Date: 24 Sep 07 - 11:55 AM

Hello,

the have a look on my Homepage www.eisenbarth-koeln.de and you can read more abaod the name Eisenbarth and the history.

m.g. Willi Eisenbarth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: BanjoRay
Date: 25 Sep 07 - 07:19 AM

I got home late last night having just spend a great musical weekend at Gottingen and Hann Munden in Germany, playing for an Appalachian dance team from Stroud called Roughshod. Dr Eisenbarth is a very well known character in Hann Munden, where he lived his last years - there are images of him everywhere, and people dress as him for the Pumpkin Festival we attended. The outdoor stage at Hann Munden where we performed was sited in the market place just below the town hall clock, which undergoes a very loud process on certain hours. An action tableau emerges from windows alongside the clock showing Dr Eisenbarth extracting a huge tooth from a patient in a chair who's being anaesthetised from behind with a sledgehammer, while the bells play what I assume is the Dr Eisenbarth tune for about five minutes, totally killing whatever's happening on stage at the time, while all the bystanders howl with laughter (including us)
I really recommend a visit if you're in the Kassel/Hannover area - it's a beautiful village on the Weser.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Brigitte
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 10:23 AM

All I remember is "I am Dr. Iron beard, Twiddy-widdly wit boom boom, mt patients think I'm very weird, Twiddy-widdly wit boom boom", and the "Sing tori-ay" chorus, this was in CT elementary school in the early 70s.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: Melissa
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 12:21 PM

Our school songbooks had two verses. The first was Dr Eisenbart, second was Dr Ironbeard.

Oh I am Doctor Ironbeard
Twilli-willi-wit boom boom
My patients think I'm very weird
Twilli-willi-wit boom boom
I've pepper just to make them sneeze
Twilli-willi-wit boom boom boom boom
And pollen that will make them wheeze
Twilli-willi-wit boom boom

Eisenbart made the blind to walk and lame to talk in our version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 05:45 PM

I went to a Catholic school in Springfield Mass. in the 1960`s and this is how we sang it then and how it was taught to us.

I am Doctor Eisenbart,villi villi vick boom boom
People think I`m very smart,villi villi vick boom boom

That`s all my old memory can remember! :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 08 - 12:19 AM

I went to a public school in Iowa in the 1960s and we sang a hybrid version, but otherwise like the Springfield. MA rendition



Ich bin der Doktor Eisenbart,villi villi vick boom boom
People say I`m very smart,villi villi vick boom boom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Callandra Daviot
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 12:29 AM

This is fascinating!! There seem to be a zillion versions of this song out there, and none of them is the one I learned as a child. I am pretty sure my dad picked it up in the Marines during the Korean War. Here's how it went:

My name is Doctor Ironbeard,
Willy willy winkum boom boom,
I make my cure in a manner weird,
Willy willy winkum boom.

Oh I can make the blind man talk,
Willy willy winkum boom boom boom,
The deaf to see and the dumb to walk,
willy willy winkum boom.

Tra-la-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la-la,
Willy willy willy winkum boom,
Tra-la-la-la-la, tra-la-la-la-la
Willy willy winkum boom.

The last time I was in Duluth,
Willy willy winkum boom boom,
A man came in with a hollow tooth,
Willy willy winkum boom.
I filled the hole with bullet lead,
Willy willy winkum boom boom boom.
It hurts no more, for he is dead.
Willy willy winkum boom.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: Leadbelly
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 04:54 PM

Doctor Eisenbar(h)t! A german contribution to american culture! Haha.

Manfred

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Michael
Date: 01 Oct 08 - 02:21 PM

My father, who was born in Covington, Kentucky in 1917, used to sing this song to us when we were kids. His family was German, but his parents were the last generation that could speak the language. I always got the impression that the Doktor Eisenbart character was something that he had heard on the radio -- part of early 20th century pop culture.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Katja
Date: 31 Oct 08 - 08:47 PM

We learned this over 40 years ago I think in both English and German, but I didn't remember a lot of it. I never knew there were so many verses or that he was a real person. I thought it was a made up comic song. We thought it was very funny when we were kids.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Doloris Mixon
Date: 05 Jan 10 - 02:56 AM

My name is Dr. Eisenbar twilli willi wip boom boom.
I cure my patients with my art twilli willi wip boom boom.
Pretoria pretoria twilli willi wip boom boom boom boom
pretoria pretoria twilli willi wip boom boom
...and so on

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 04:45 AM

I think it went, and this is 35 years ago.

My name is Doctor Eisentbart dittily dittily dit boom boom

People think I'm very smart dittily dittily dit boom boom

I give them pills to ease their pain dittily dittily dit dit dit boom boom

They never have to come again dittily dittily dit dit dit boom boom


I hope this makes you feel better. I always thought it was a strange song for 2nd graders to sing. Of course the moral of the song is he over prescribes and his patients die.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 09:13 PM

Oh, I love this song... but I too can only remember some of it.

An aching tooth, a swollen cheek,
A man brought me, relief to seek.
I took a pistol ball and shot,
Now no more ache that man has got.

To sleep a patient tried in vain,
For in his neck he felt great pain.
I took a noose, and pulled it tight,
And now he sleeps both day and night.

I met a man in London town,
Who had no hair upon his crown.
I took an axe and gave a whack,
Now no more hair that man does lack.

So now good folks you clearly see,
How quick and cheap each remedy.
For if you come what ere your pain,
You never need return again!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Gerhard
Date: 14 Oct 10 - 06:48 AM

The first German print in 1814 spells "Eisenbart" already, thus abstracting from the real person. Reducing/restoring "th" to "t" was a process that started before 1800 and finished in 1903 (or 1901. BTW: the story about the Kaiser's "Thron" is a legend; words of Greek origin were exempt). Consequently, early versions in Dutch and English translated the name.

The message of the song is not only to mistrust physicians, but also to be aware that excessive advertising may actually ruin one's reputation.

Note that Eisenbarth had learned his profession of surgery by regular apprenticeship and never saw any academic institution from inside. Doktor was a title reserved to university graduates, who manily dealt with internal diseases and were in fact less successful, but claimed a higher prestige.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 10:02 AM

I don't think our version in Lutheran grade school (a German based Missouri Synod church school) had a Doctor Iron Beard or Eisenbart, but I could be mistaken. Unfortunate to have such thinking mocking the idea that someone could deliver miracle cures like Jesus did being pounded into young minds in a church school.

Chaplain Frank Wm Nagy
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 05:40 PM

Gee, Frank, it would be interesting to find what you did learn back then. I learned it in German in a Catholic high school seminary in Milwaukee in the 1960s. I wish I had the text I had back then, so I could remember what I learned. All I can remember of the version I learned then is, "kann machen daß die Blinden geh'n" - heck, even Christ couldn't do that. Our German prof/choir director would walk the hallways in the evening, talking German with his students. Most of the songs he taught us were drinking songs, and we had a great time of them. I liked this song best of all of them, but I never did get around to memorizing it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 19 Jan 11 - 11:19 PM

It was much different in the music book I had as a child in the 2nd grade. I remember the lyrics ending something like this:

So come to Dr. Ironbeard Toly winkle toll dee ay
You'll wish you never had appeared, Toly winkle toll dee ay
(two lines missing)
A mile away they heard a yell
His back is now entirely well, Toly winkle toll dee ay

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 07:58 PM

Wow I went to an all black school and we even sang this song and loved it. Thanks Russia

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Guest 22
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 11:50 AM

I am 56 years old and I used to sing this song back in the fifth grade. I, also have been looking for the words and music so I could write up the song to play on my banjo with my grandkids. I have found the song, the way I used to sing it, published in two places. The "original" song is in my old singing textbook, the 'American Singer, book 5'. I have also found the music, but only the first verse, in 'Sing and Dance with the Pennsylvania Dutch'. Both of which are on sale on Amazon.com and E-Bay for anywhere from $2.00-10.00. Hope this helps....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 11:37 PM

Thanks. I was having a hard time looking for the lyrics. By the way, the mp3 i found is this.

O, I am Doctor Eisenbart, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
I'll cure your ills with healing art, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
My patients never can complain, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom boom!
They leave without an ache or pain, Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
Sing toriay sing toriay! Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom boom boom!
Singtoriay, sing toriay! Twil-li, wil-li, witt, boom boom!
Repeat 2X

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Russell Cunningham
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:17 PM

Doctor Ironheart was my favourite song that I learned at school in Australia.
It sounds like an adaption of Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart.
Here are the words as I remember them.
If anyone has the correct wording please let me know.

For I am Doctor Ironheart. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho
I heal the folk with curious art. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho
For if you come what ever your pain Fal-a-didle-ay ha ha ho ho
You'll never need return again Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho

There was a man from London town. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho
Who had no wits beneath his crown. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho
He asked me to improve his head. Fal-a-didle-ay ha ha ho ho
I used an axe and now he's dead. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.

An aching tooth a swollen cheek. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
A man brought me relief to seek. Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
With a pistol ball his tooth I shot, Fal-a-didle-ay ha ha ho ho.
And no more aches that man has got! Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.

To sleep the patient tried in vain Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
For in his neck he felt great pain Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
I tied a noose and pulled it tight, Fal-a-didle-ay ha ha ho ho.
And now he sleeps both day and night Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.

Good friends you thus will clearly see Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
How quick and cheap each remedy Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.
For if you come whatever your pain Fal-a-didle-ay ha ha ho ho.
You'll never need return again Fal-a-didle-ay ho ho.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 12 - 06:45 PM

I can't believe this thread has gone on for over 12 YEARS!!! All about Dr. Ironbeard!
I too was looking for lyrics to this song that was one of my favorites in the 5th and 6th grades back in 1955-57. In MY book the lyrics went something like this:

Oh, I am Dr. Ironbeard                   tolly winkle tol dee ay
A man the well have never feared   tolly winkle tol dee ay
My patients never can complain
They leave without an ache or pain
And never are they seen again........tolly winkle tol dee ay

A woman came from London town..tolly winkle tol dee ay
She creaked whenever she sat down tolly winkle tol dee ay
I gave her bitter Calomel (sp?)
A mile away they heard her yell
Her back is now entirely well............tolly winkle tol dee ay

A man who had an aching tooth....... "       "       "    "    "
He came to me and then forsooth....   "      "         "    "    "
I bound the tooth with ball and string
And gave the ball a mighty fling
And never did he come again.............."      "         "    "    "

I had no idea that this song that I loved way back when was of German origin. This has been a MOST interesting thread! I hope someone reads it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Liz
Date: 20 Mar 12 - 06:48 PM

I was wracking my brain about this song too!
I remember it going something like this

I am herr doctor eisenbart
vita vita vit boom boom!
I'll cure your ills with the healing art
Vita vta vit boom boom!
Gloria victoria! vita vita vit boom boom boom boom
Gloria victoria! vita vita vit boom boom!

Anyone else know this version?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,mdgrits
Date: 15 Jul 12 - 12:55 AM

This version sounds the most like the one I recall from over 50 years ago...so glad I found this thread and relieved my troubled mind about these lyrics. About all I could remember were the "twilly willy willy witt bum bums" and the "sing toriay sing toriays". But I did remember that he never cured the ailment that the person had in my version...

Oh, I am Dr. Ironbeard, twilli willi witt boom, boom
I'll cure your ills with healing art, twilli willi witt boom, boom
Now I can make the dumb to walk, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom, boom
The lame to see, the blind to talk, twilli willi witt boom, boom
Sing tor-i-ay, sing tor-i-ay, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom, boom
Sing tor-i-ay, sing tor-i-ay, twilli willi witt boom, boom, boom.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Gary1958
Date: 17 Apr 13 - 02:20 AM

I'm another one from Australia who knew the song as Doctor Ironheart. The lyrics are pretty much as stated by my fellow Australian, but the nonsense word section I remember quite differently. The version I remember goes... My name is Doctor Ironheart, fuddle diddle ay pom pom! Otherwise, the rest of the words sound as I learnt them. I used to have a song book from primary school, but when I changed schools and showed it to one of my new teachers, it somehow disappeared, at which I felt a great loss. It had a lot of other great songs in it like 'Li'l Liza Jane' etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 14 - 12:46 PM

Love this song. Here's what I recall: Kenosha Wisconsin, Catholic grade school circa 1962. Don't recall ever hearing lameness, blindness etc. Very close to Guest 3-15-10 above.

I'm a Dr. Eisenbart Villy villy vick boom boom (vvvbb)
The people think I'm very smart vvvbb
I give them pills to ease their pain vvvbb,bb
The never have to call again VVVBB

I'm a doctor with an art vvvbb
the people know I do my part vvvbb
I make my patients well again vvvbb,bb
the ill are never ill agin vvvbb

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,JimI
Date: 07 Apr 14 - 06:17 PM

I learnt this song in German Class in school in Edinburgh in the 1960s. I can still easily remember the first verse (in German) but the rest (if ever there was more!) has gone from my demented memory.

Thank you Miss Gourley!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 16 - 11:38 AM

oh I am Dr iron beard
I cure your ills with iron pills
oh i can teach the blind to talk
the lame to see the mute to walk

Subject: ADD Version: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Roy, aka 'Dr. Iron Beard'
Date: 06 Jul 18 - 09:56 PM

Here's the version I learned in elementary music class abt 1956:

DOCTOR IRON BEARD

Oh, I'm the Dr. Iron Beard,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
A man the well have never feared,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
But many ill ones come to me,
the blind to walk, the lame to see;
I conquer every misery,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay.

A lady had an aching tooth,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
She came to me and then, forsooth,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
I wound the tooth with ball and string,
then gave the ball a mighty fling;
Her cure was most astonishing!
Tolly winkle toll de-ay.

There was a man in Boston town,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
Who creaked whenever he sat down,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
I gave him bitter Cal-o-mel,
a mile away they heard him yell!
Tolly winkle toll de-ay.

So come to Dr. Iron Beard,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
You'll wish you never had appeared,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay
My patients come through snow and rain
and leave without an ache or pain,
but never do they come again,
Tolly winkle toll de-ay.

As a professional Storyteller, I present as "Dr. Iron Beard." That's my 'handle.' When I present to children, I often sing this song. I never knew here were other words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dr. Iron Beard / Doktor Eisenbart
From: GUEST,Mad Tom 56
Date: 28 Jul 20 - 11:12 PM

I learned the lyrics from the previous post by GUEST,Roy, aka 'Dr. Iron Beard' in the late '60s when I was in 6th Grade and living in Nova Scotia, Canada. I can still hear our Music teacher, an older lady who sang almost exactly like Edith Bunker but with a little bit more warble in her voice.

I learned it was German in the early '70s after we moved to New Jersey and I saw an episode of HOGAN'S HEROES where Hogan and some of his men have a rendezvous with the anti-Nazi Underground in a Hofbrau, and the Oom-Pah band was playing it in the background.

It took me decades of Googling to finally find the complete lyrics to the version I learned. It's just missing one line, the next to last of the third verse: "His back is now entirely well!".

Danke Schön, Herr Roy!