Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson

Subject: Lyr Add: WALKING IN MY WINTER UNDERWEAR (Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:16 PM

YouTube has 2 versions of this song. This longer one, from an unknown TV show, is the basis for the following transcription. This shorter version was performed on the Lawrence Welk Show.


WALKING IN MY WINTER UNDERWEAR
As sung by Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg
Tune: WINTER WONDERLAND

1. Sleigh bells ring, and I'm listening,
But I'm turning and twisting,
'Cause I'm itching up here and I'm scratching down there,
Walking in my winter underwear.

2. Now the front is all battered,
And the back is all tattered,
But when I'm cold to the core, I crawl through the trap door,
And up into my winter underwear.

BRIDGE: Well, I don't care if it rains or snows or freezes.
I am so warm I just don't give a hoot.
I put on all the stockings I can locate,
Then I wear two pair of trousers with my suit.

3. But when I start to perspire,
Well, then it sets me on fire,
'Cause I'm itching up here and I'm scratching down there,
Walking in my winter underwear.

4. The winter snow is white and glist'ning,
But I'm turning and twisting.
I got to scratch a little here; I got to scratch a little there,
Walking in my winter underwear.

5. I put my bathing suit away in mothballs,
And now I got to duck the snowballs.
When I can't scratch my back, I throw myself out of whack,
Walking in my winter underwear.

BRIDGE 2: For rain and snow and ice I do not worry.
When winter come, I do not give a hoot.
My coat and hat and earmuffs keep me cozy,
And I wear two pair of trousers with my suit.

6. But when it come to other clothing,
Well, the thing that I am loathing
Is when my face turn blue, and contortions I go through,
Walking in my winter underwear—
(They're from Sears Roebuck)
Walking in my winter underwear.

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsadNBgoPio

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SCANDINAVIAN HOTSHOT (FROM DULUTH)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:18 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


THE SCANDINAVIAN HOTSHOT (FROM DULUTH)
As sung by Stan Boreson

1. There is a guy in Minnesota that you should know.
He's not a square and he's not a schmo.
There's a twinkle in his eye and I'll tell you why:
When he does the rumba, he's a real gone guy.

CHORUS: He's a Scandinavian hotshot.
He is a hotshot from Duluth.
He is a Scandinavian killer-diller.
For a polka he don't give a hoot.

2. He's got a herringbone suit and a lutefisk vest,
Not one hair upon his chest,
But the girls go wild when he asks to dance.
Got the rumba shirt and the conga pants. CHORUS

3. There's a girl in Minnesota and she's a queen,
The slickest chick(?) you've ever seen.
Then she heard about the hotshot from Duluth.
She says, "That's cute; he sounds real zoot(?)." CHORUS

4. To make the story shorter and to the point,
They met in a Minnesota jukebox joint.
They got along so good in rumba time
That they got hitched and raised a conga line.

LAST CHORUS: And now the Scandinavian hotshots,
They are the hotshots from Duluth.
They are a Svenska family with a Latin rhythm.
For the polka they don't give a hoot.

Well, that's the truth!

Subject: Lyr Add: JUST A LITTLE LEFSE (Stan Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:20 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


JUST A LITTLE LEFSE
As sung by Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg

CHORUS: Just a little lefse will go a long way.
Gives you indigestion most all of the day.
Put it on you menu; you'll be sure to say:
Just a little lefse will go a long way.

1. Lefse's good for many things; we can give you proof,
For tiling on the kitchen floor or patching up the roof.
People sometimes use it as the soles upon their feet,
And some folks think it's even good to eat.

2. Leif Erickson once had a boat; it was a leaky scow.
He said, "To beat Columbus, we has got to leave right now."
The boat was leaking badly as they neared the USA,
But he plugged the holes; yeah, lefse saved the day.

3. If you know what lefse is, then you can understood. [sic]
It looks and feels like plastic and it tastes just like plywood.
We don't know what invented it; we don't know who's to blame,
But if you are Norsk, you eat it just the same.

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS GOOSE (Stan Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:21 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


CHRISTMAS GOOSE
As sung by Stan Boreson & Doug Setterberg
Tune: SNOWBIRD, famously sung by Anne Murray

1. Well, holy smoke, it's Christmas time again!
My wife just sent me to the store to buy a roasting hen.
Their chickens were all gone, so what's the use?
And I wound up with one old scrawny skinny Christmas goose.

2. On the way back home, I stopped to have a brew,
And stayed for sev'ral hours 'cause I met some guys I knew.
When I got home, I gave my wife the goose.
When she hit me with a rolling pin, I swallowed all my snus. [=snuff]

3. If I had wings, then I would fly away,
And I would leave that old bat home until next Christmas day.
I just can't take no more of this abuse.
Why did she get so mad at me for just one Christmas goose?

4. There's no one quite so mean as Ingeborg
Than she is in the kitchen fixing Christmas smorgasbord.
She's big and strong and, boy, is she obtuse!
And she knocked me silly on account of just one Christmas goose.

5. If I had wings then I would fly away,
And I would leave that old bat home until next Christmas day.
It would be fun to be out on the loose,
But on second thought, I'll hang around and sha-a-a-are that Christmas goo-oose.

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE SVEN IS COMING TO TOWN Stan Boreson
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:24 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


UNCLE SVEN IS COMING TO TOWN
As sung by Stan Boreson
Tune: SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN

1. You better watch out; have yourself a good cry.
You better watch out; I'm telling you why:
Uncle Sven is coming to town.
He's making a list and checking it once.
That is because he is such a dunce.
Uncle Sven is coming to town.
You can't tell if he's sleeping, or if he is awake.
He don't know if you're bad or good, so be bad for goodness' sake.

SPOKEN: Oh, Jiminy Christmas! That uncle Sven!
He's the way oddest fellow since I can't remember when.
Every Christmas he visits us here,
And then he stays over till happy New Year.
He knock on the door and says, "Here I are,"
And brings his own pickled herring in a great big fruit jar.
When he comes in, he says, "I won't be no trouble to you,"
But troubles we got, and there's quite a few.
Sven walks in and says, "Merry Christmas to all!"
And my wife and me, we got to sleep out in the hall.
He stays in the bathroom for two or three hours,
Shaving and things and taking those showers.
He drink up all the booze he can find,
And he says. "It's good for me; it help me unwind."
He takes a drink in the morning his nerves to improve,
And by noon he's so steady he can't even move. (Stoned, huh?)
He eats everything that we have in the house,
And he doesn't even leave nothing for our pet Christmas mouse.
Then after New Years we say, "Goodbye, Uncle Sven,"
But we know that next year it will happen again.

2. Oh, you better watch out; have yourself a good cry
You better watch out; I'm telling you why:
Uncle Sven is coming to town.
He drive us crazy.
Uncle Sven is coming to town,
But we still love him.
Uncle Sven is coming to town.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO GO
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:25 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO GO
As sung by Stan Boreson
Tune: LET IT SNOW

1. Oh, the weather outside is smoggy,
And the fumes make me feel groggy.
The oxygen count is low.
Where to go, where to go, where to go?
It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And my brain just feels like popping.
Pollution is here, and so
Where to go, where to go, where to go?

2. In Wisconsin it gets too cold
When we go out in the storm.
There's some parts that get fifty below,
And those parts we would like to keep warm.
Pollution is universal,
And it keeps on getting worse-al,
So I really would like to know:
Where to go, where to go, where to go?

3. If we finally get to Mars,
You may think you can take a deep breath,
But even way out among the stars,
I'll bet you'll be choking to death.
We're puffing and we're sneezing,
And we're coughing and we're wheezing,
And I sure would like to know
Where to go, where to go, where to go?

It's a puzzlement. And here's my advice to you: If you want to live, don't breathe! That's what I call ecology.

Subject: Lyr Add: HO, HO, HO, DON'T EVER GO (Yorgesson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:27 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:

This song was written by "Yogi Yorgesson" (pseudonym of Harry Stewart) but I couldn't find a recording of him singing it.

HO, HO, HO, DON'T EVER GO
As sung by Stan Boreson
Tune: UP ON THE HOUSETOP

I got a nice red suit because
I think I'll impersonate Santa Claus.
Wearing a Santa Claus disguise
Will give my kids a big surprise.

The climb on the roof will be simple trick.
I'll come down the chimney like old Saint Nick.
Kids will be waiting at the fireplace
To see old Santa Claus' smiling face.

CHORUS: Oh, ho, ho! Don't ever go
Up on the rooftop; please don't go.
Average roof is much too slick.
You go up fast but you come down quick.

I climbed up the ladder and I got on the roof.
I'm a simple-minded goof.
It's very dark and I can't see.
I walk into the aerial of the TV.

I grabbed on the aerial before I know.
I knocked it loose and away we go.
I slip and slide and then I fell.
I land on my head and hear the Christmas bell.

CHORUS

Well, I fall on the fence and I knock down the gate.
The kids run outside to investigate.
I'm so unconscious from fall on head,
The kids think Santa Claus is dead.

Next day, my kids look mad with a frown.
The TV aerial has been knocked down.
Sesame Street they cannot see.
It's a lousy Christmas without the TV.

CHORUS

Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS (Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 04:28 PM

Here's my transcription from YouTube:


I'VE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
As sung by Stan Boreson

Well the shirts were swell and the socks were fine,
All size twelve but my feet are size nine.
I've had a very merry Christmas.
You know, the watch won't run and the wallet's split.
The gloves are small and the pajamas don't fit.
I've had a very merry Christmas.
Ten dozen hankies embroidered up with roses,
Ten dozen hankies! She must think that I'm covered with noses.
Six neckties, they're all handmade.
They're lovely ties, but they're all the same shade.
I've had a very merry Christmas.

Jingle bells, jingle bells give my heart a lift.
Tomorrow I'll be on my way exchanging ev'ry gift.

SPOKEN: Oh I'm so disappointment! [sic] I have never been so disillusioned in my whole life—

'Cause the pen won't write and the slippers gap.
The bathrobe's tight and the camera won't snap,
But I've had a very merry Christmas.
Those darn cigars are much too strong.
The sweater's wide and the shorts are too long.
I've had a very merry Christmas.
I got six pairs of swim trunks, a present that my girl made.
Six pairs of swim trunks! She must think that I'm Minnie the mermaid.
The hat's too small and the ring ain't gold.
The muffler's tin and I caught a good cold.
I've had a very merry Christmas.

SPOKEN: Yeah, fine Christmas I had. Ah, don't get me wrong, though. I'm not too unhappy. I'm just miserable. But just wait till next year.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson
From: GUEST,Lars Wennberg
Date: 09 Oct 11 - 08:15 AM

The Word you couldn't figure out on Christms goose is Ingeborg.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Nov 13 - 02:55 AM

Here's one that's almost "normal" - Enjoy Yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsadNBgoPio

I'm surprised to learn that Stan comes from Seattle - he sounds Hopelessly Midwestern....but see this interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZBWXqOhvyk

How about some Scandahoovian cowboy songs? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhfoy7TVtzg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson
From: GUEST,Beth Kolle
Date: 25 Mar 17 - 07:23 PM

Missing lyrics from Stan's Christmas Goose song:
Christmas hen, not ham
Snooze, not snus
Ingeborg

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Oct 19 - 05:33 PM

"HO, HO, HO, DON'T EVER GO" was one of eight songs recorded by Harry Stewart as the Japanese Harry Kari.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Songs sung by Stan Boreson
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Oct 19 - 11:59 PM

There was a question that came up a few years ago about one of Stan's songs, and I thought "what the heck," and I looked him up. I ended up spending about an hour talking with my childhood hero Stan Boreson, discussing his songs and the songs of the Pacific NW. His wife originally answered the phone and handed it over; I think she's the one who was handling the CD sales.

Stan died in 2017 after a long and happy life. Here is the obituary thread. I'll go back over this thread tomorrow when I get a moment and look at the lyrics. I grew up with most of them (and in a Norwegian family in the Seattle area) so should be able to sort out any unclear lyrics.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWANSON, SWENSON, JENSON (Stan Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Feb 20 - 06:12 PM

You can hear this recording at The Internet Archive:


SWANSON, SWENSON, JENSON
(Harry Stewart)
As recorded by Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg with the Gene Boscacci Trio, Kapp (K-198), 1957.

1. From up on the farm when the harvest was done
  Came Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
Down to the city to have lot of fun
  Came Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
These boys came to town and they made plans to stay
Till they had spent all of their eighteen months' pay,
And they all three got rooms in the YMCA,
  Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.

2. "Let's find three cute girls and go out and have fun,"
  Said Swanson to Swenson and Jenson.
"Yeah, I want to dance like a son of a gun!"
  Said Jenson to Swanson and Swenson.
They met three cute girls in a roller-skate rink
Wearing fur coats made of gopher-dyed mink
And they all got acquainted as quick as a wink
  With Hannah and Anna and Lana.

3. They took the girls dancing and then out to eat,
  Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
The boys ordered cocoa a real special treat
  For Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
While the boys drank their cocoa, the girls they just grinned,
'Cause each cup o' cocoa had knockout drops in.
Yeah, each Swede was given a big Mickey Finn
  By Hannah and Anna and Lana.

4. When these Swedes woke up, it was long after dawn
  For Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
"Our money and watches and jewelry is gone!"
  Said Swanson to Swenson and Jenson.
"My head aches so bad it hurts down to my feet.
I just feel like a cow that ate too much green wheat.
That Lana she even swiped all my gold teeth!"
  Said Swanson to Swenson and Jenson.

5. Back on the farm a new life to begin
  Went Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
"We learned that big cities is hotbeds of sin!"
  Said Swanson and Swenson and Jenson.
These boys will advise you as quick as a wink;
"Don't pick up no girls in that roller-skate rink,
And for goodness sakes, don't order cocoa to drink!"
  Says Swanson to Swenson and Jenson.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN HILDA GOES OUT WITH THE MILKMAN
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 20 - 05:19 PM

You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive:


WHEN HILDA GOES OUT WITH THE MILKMAN
(Henry Ross)
As recorded by Stan Boreson and His Trio, Linden (127 A), date unknown.

When Hilda goes out with the milkman,
She has a glorious time.
She sits on the wagon all satin and silk
And watches the milkman deliver his milk.
He pulls the reins on the wagon.
They come to a halt in the mud.
He asks for a kiss from this virtuous miss,
But she always snips love in the bud.
Ja, she always snips love in the bud.

When Hilda goes out with the bread man,
She never takes any dough.
She sits on his wagon not worried the least
And watches his temperature rise with the yeast.
Now Hilda is not a gold digger(?),
Despite what her name may convey.
She gives the cold shoulder to men who are older,
But older than what she won't say.
Ja, older than what she won't say.

When Hilda goes out with the coal man,
She has a wonderful time.
She sits on the wagon all covered with dust
And watches the coal man all covered with lust.
For Hilda's a gal with a future,
As well as a present and past.
She'll simper and sigh and roll up...
And say: "Leave us not be quite so fast.
Ja, leave us not be quite so fast."

When Hilda goes out with the bus man,
She never pays any fare.
She sits by the driver, at least so we hear,
And watches the bus man while he strips a gear.
Now Hilda's a gal who can handle
Any man from Oslo to Nome.
If they run out of gas or if he makes a pass,
Hilda puts on her skates and goes home.
Ja, she puts on her skates and goes home.

Subject: Lyr Add: SEWED UP IN MY VINTER UNDERVEAR (Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 20 - 06:36 PM

You can hear this recording at the Internet Archive:


SEWED UP IN MY VINTER UNDERVEAR
(Doug Setterberg & Gay Jones)
As recorded by Stan Boreson with Gay Jones, Linden (129 B), 1950.

1. Winter snow is white and glist'ning,
But I'm turning and I'm twisting.
I got to scratch a little here; I got to scratch a little there,
'Cause I'm sewed up in my winter underwear.

2. I put my bathing suit away in mothballs,
And now I got to duck the snowballs,
Then I roll 'em before I fell through the trapdoor.
Now I'm sewed up in my winter underwear.

3. For rain and snow and ice I do not worry.
When winter comes, I do not give a hoot.
My coat and hat and earmuffs keep me cozy,
And I wear two pair of trousers with my suit.

4. But when it comes to other clothing,
The thing that I am loathing
Is when my face turns blue and contortions I go through
'Cause I'm sewed up in my winter underwear.

5. Now it's bound to last till springtime.
When I walk, I walk in swing time.
When I can't scratch my back I throw myself [off-track(?)]
When I'm sewed up in my winter underwear.

6. Outside the snow is snowing.
The fireplace is glowing.
A flat tire needs a patch and an itch needs a scratch,
And I'm sewed up in my winter underwear.

[Repeat 3 & 4]

Subject: Lyr Add: I'LL TAKE HER BACK (Stan Boreson)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 27 Feb 20 - 07:04 PM

This novelty song is NOT sung with a Scandinavian accent. Boreson accompanies himself on accordion. You can hear it at the Internet Archive:


I'LL TAKE HER BACK
As recorded by Stan Boreson, Linden (102 B), 1948.

Though she's cheated me before
And I know she'll cheat some more,
I'll take her back; I'll take her back.
Though she's broken ev'ry part
Of my sad and aching heart,
I'll take her back; I'll take her back.
She told me she's a one-man woman, that gal o' mine.
Yep, she's a one-man woman—one man at a time.
I'll let her go out with men
On the weekends now and then,
If she'll come back, if she'll come back.

Though she's left me all alone
With a mortgage on our home,
I'll take her back; I'll take her back.
Though she's broken ev'ry vow,
Still, the way that I feel now,
I'll take her back; I'll take her back.
[§] My better judgment tells me that she will do me harm,
But you can't hold your better judgment in your empty arms.
As I live, I'll never learn.
If she only will return,
I'll take her back; I'll take her back.

[Repeat from §.]

I'll take her lips.
I'll take her heart.
I'll take her back.
I'll take her back.