Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks)
From: GUEST,Jim Irvine
Date: 27 Jan 22 - 08:08 PM

I can assure you that this song was written by Randy Sparks. In the early 60s two friends of mine and I formed a folk trio (what else??) and we used to get together with him when he was playing at the Hacienda Hotel in Fresno, California. We’d sing a couple of songs together in his hotel room. On one occasion he said he had written a new song called Rosie’s House of Sin and he sang it for us. One of my friends had a very good memory and wrote down the words. A year or so later we had added it to our song list and we’re using it quite regularly. Randy found out and threatened to sue us if we continued. By then it was copyrighted, so we stopped using it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 18 - 06:00 PM

It wasn't my imagination, and it's one of the most improbable gatherings ever.  It was at the grandest motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico (back then), on the north side of the main highway, and the office and reception areas were jammed with people, shoulder to shoulder,  standing room only.  The crowd included Bob Hope, three Catholic Archbishops (Chicago, Los Angeles and Santa Fe), Les Brown's Band of Renown, a few local VIPs and myself.  There was no piano for impromptu music by the band, so somebody went to the bus to fetch my guitar, and I was urged to sing, to entertain the crowd.  This was usual, as we'd just come back from nine countries in Europe, Bob's annual Christmas trip to visit the military.  The band members yelled out, "Sing Rosie's," and I didn't think that was a good idea, considering that we had three prominent clergy in the mob scene, but I looked to Bob for guidance, and he shrugged his shoulders, which I read as 'why not?'  He knew the song, even sang along on occasion. It also helped that the Archbishops all had cocktail glasses, and one was smoking a cigarette.  The stupid song was a part of my nightclub act, basically, what a jingle would sound like if bordellos were allowed to advertise on the radio: 'Just outside the County line, there's a big red neon sign, sayin' Everybody's welcome; come on in!  You can take your troubles there, and come out without a care...It's a little place called Rosie's House of Sin...'  Then the sing-along chorus: 'House of Sin, House of Sin...'  It was at this point that the three Archbishops all turned their faces to the wall, meaning, I'm certain, 'We want NO part of this evil filth!'  I quickly segued into a more acceptable ditty, but the damage had been done. I was totally embarrassed, and Bob, of course, thought it was funny.  The three Archbishops didn't turn back towards me until halfway through my replacement song.  I have come to believe their actions constituted 'Turning the other cheek...'   
It's humorous to me how far society has come in just 59 years.  I'm not certain that it's been an improvement, but my silly song is quite tame by today's standards.
Cheers! RS  

P.S. This is a good example of the ‘folk process.’ When I wrote this song in either late 1956 or early ’57, there was no VISA Card. My lyric made use of the only plastic then available: Diners’ Club Card. This was a piece of my Special Material, strictly off-limits to other performers, but as tape recorders got smaller, exclusive intellectual property virtually disappeared. My copyrights didn’t seem to matter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks)
From: GUEST,One verse for you and the Chorus.
Date: 15 Jul 13 - 12:23 AM

Jimmy Carter just last week, finally got a chance to speak
He said my oh what an awful mess were in
I'm sending peanuts to the moon
And I promise very soon
We'll have a smoother spread at Rosie's House of Sin

House of Sin
House of Sin
If you're ever in the neighborhood drop in
Dew drop in (This line is done with much melodrama, of course.LOL)
If you're ever down and out don't let finances keep you out
'Cuz they give green stamps at Rosie's house of sin.

The verse used to change with the presiding president.    You can reach me at [e-mail] if I can be of further help.   I am trying to find the words to a song called "35 Years Ago."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks?)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 09:50 AM

Part of my e-mail to RS:

"I need to know, please, who wrote the song "Rosie's House of Sin"?

Thank you"


The necessary part of the response from Randy Sparks:

"I did. ...   It was a mainstay of my solo act.   ...

I wrote it aboard my ship, the USS Princeton, when I was in the Navy.

Cheers! RS"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks?)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 12:24 AM

I have just sent an e-mail asking him [RS] who wrote the song, Rosie's House of Sin. I will post the reply if or when.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Preacher and the Bear
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 01:06 PM

April Richards: I found some lyrics for you, but I posted them in a new thread: Lyr Add: Rosie's House of Sin (Randy Sparks?).

Subject: Lyr Add: ROSIE'S HOUSE OF SIN (Randy Sparks?)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 01:03 PM

This was requested in a thread about a different song. I found it in, of all places, a discussion forum at Shirley Maclaine's web site (and I tidied it up a bit). The person who posted these lyrics said "I believe it was written by Damen (sic) Black." I assume that's Damon Black, but I regard that information as unreliable. This song has been mentioned elsewhere at Mudcat and attributed to Randy Sparks; however, I can't find any mention of it at any of the sites I normally use for reference.


ROSIE'S HOUSE OF SIN
(Randy Sparks)

If ya'll would be kind enough to help me out with the chorus, when I say "House of Sin," just yell back, "House of Sin!"

1. Just outside the county line
There's a big red neon sign
Sayin' "Everybody's welcome. Come on in."
You can take your troubles there
And come out without a care.
It's a little place called Rosie's House of Sin.

CHORUS: House of Sin, House of Sin,
Know that everybody's welcome; come on in.
You can take your troubles there,
And come out without a care,
It's a little place called Rosie's House of Sin.

2. Though the shades are pulled and drawn,
Looks like everybody's gone,
But there's always plenty goin' on within.
Duncan Hines recommends
Bring your family and your friends
Use your Visa card at Rosie's House of Sin. CHORUS

3. One day the sheriff came to town.
He thought he'd close old Rosie down.
With bold determination he walked in,
But three days later he came out,
And he proclaimed it with a shout.
It was bargain day at Rosie's House of Sin. CHORUS

4. Now, if you're down and out
Don't let finance keep you out.
Even though your pocket's growin' mighty thin,
Come on in; you won't regret it.
Don't be afraid to ask for credit.
Use our layaway plan at Rosie's House of Sin. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Preacher and the Bear
From: GUEST,April Richards
Date: 06 Sep 11 - 10:50 AM

Can someone post the full original lyrics to Rosie's House of Sin? This is the only reference to the song on the entire internet and I'd be grateful. It's an old family favorite that nobody seems to remember all the verses to.